Transfer Talk: Arsenal look to Brandt to resurrect their season
The Premier League transfer window will reopen on Saturday, Jan. 2, with most other European leagues in early January, and speculation is heating up about potential deals. Check out the latest gossip below and see all official deals here.
TOP STORY: Gunners go after Brandt
Arsenal are interested in making a move to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt, Sport Bild's Christian Falk reports.
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The Germany international has made just six starts in the Bundesliga so far this season, and while many BVB fans still can't picture him leaving, it seems as if the Gunners are ramping up their efforts to secure the 24-year-old's signature.
Arsenal have endured a shocking start to the Premier League 2020-21 season, managing just 20 points in 16 games as rookie boss Mikel Arteta looks to transform the way they play.
An imminent deal for Brandt is reportedly already a primary topic of discussion at the Emirates, with Arteta looking to make a big splash in the January transfer window to revitalise his squad.
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12.07 GMT: The Daily Mail says that Man United are still keen to sign Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish.
United failed to sign any of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's priority targets during the summer transfer window, sources have told ESPN, and Villa's £80m valuation of Grealish, who ultimately signed a new contract at Villa Park, scuppered prospects of a deal for the England midfielder.
But a deal for the 25-year-old could be reignited in the summer.
11.15 GMT: Will Man United have to move on Paul Pogba and David de Gea soon?
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10.42 GMT: Real Madrid are "calm" about claims Erling Haaland could be a Barcelona target this year, Diario AS reports, with the club confident it will be "impossible to get him out of Borussia [Dortmund] for a reasonable price before the summer of 2022."
Haaland was linked to Barca this week when Josep Maria Minguella -- part of the team of presidential candidate and ex-director Emili Rousaud -- suggested a deal could be in place if he wins the club's elections on Jan. 24.
"I've spoken to [agent Mino] Raiola personally and I have all of the information if Emili Rousaud becomes president," Minguella said. "The sporting director would have to approve it."
Raiola rejected the claims immediately and, according to AS, Real Madrid "have been working on Haaland for months and know the forward's situation perfectly well."
The newspaper says that there are various factors -- the fact that Haaland's childhood idol was Cristiano Ronaldo, the presence of fellow Norway international Martin Odegaard at the Bernabeu, and the "magnificent" relationship of Raiola with director general Jose Angel Sanchez -- that put Madrid in pole position for 2022. Some reports suggest that Haaland has a release clause of €75m which comes into effect in 2022.
09.30 GMT: ICYMI - Manchester United have discussed the possibility of signing Norwich City defender Max Aarons but believe they may have to wait until the summer to firm up their interest, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.
Aarons has been a target since last summer when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the recruitment department drew up a list of Championship players who could be signed after the Premier League's transfer deadline.
United remain interested in the 20-year-old but Norwich's asking price is a stumbling block. Norwich are also keen to keep their best players in January as they attempt to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
08.55 GMT: Liverpool have reportedly made two teenage signings, according to The Athletic.
The Reds have landed 16-year-old defender Stefan Bajcetic from Celta Vigo for €250,000, despite interest from Manchester United.
And Birmingham City's 15-year-old left-back Calum Scanlon has joined for a fee in the region of £400,000.
08.31 GMT: Leicester City defender Jonny Evans has signed a new contract that will keep him at the King Power Stadium until the end of the 2022-23 season, the Premier League club said.
Evans' contract was due to expire at the end of the campaign and British media had linked him with a return to Manchester United, where he won three Premier League titles.
The 32-year-old Northern Ireland international has made 89 appearances in all competitions following his arrival from West Bromwich Albion in 2018 and was instrumental in Leicester's fifth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
"I'm delighted to commit myself to the club, and delighted the club have committed themselves to me," Evans said in a statement on Leicester's website. "I've loved it here since the day I came in. The players are ambitious... and it's been great for me to come in alongside that and be a part of it."
Evans has been a mainstay in Leicester's defence this season, making 15 appearances in all competitions, helping them to third in the Premier League table and qualification to the last 32 of the Europa League.
08.00 GMT: Happy New Year! Let's hope that 2021 is a LOT better than 2020!
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PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle) Liverpool not looking to sell Origi
The Liverpool Echo is reporting that Liverpool are not planning on letting striker Divock Origi leave during the January transfer window.
In fact, the Reds have received no indication whatsoever that any first-team players are interested in departing next month despite recent speculation suggesting otherwise.
Origi had been linked with a move to a plethora of different teams across England and beyond, but despite that, it's looking like the cult hero is going to remain at Anfield for the time being.
Toffees and Khedira in talks
Juventus outcast Sami Khedira is set for talks with Everton over a possible move to Goodison Park, the Daily Mail reports.
The veteran midfielder has made it clear that he is interested in a switch over to the Premier League in recent interviews, but a handful of other teams have thus far been in the running -- including Tottenham Hotspur.
However, the German is now gearing up for discussions with the Toffees during January with his Juventus deal set to expire in the summer.
Tap-ins
- Chelsea have positioned themselves to try to sign Strasbourg star Mohamed Simakan, Le10Sport reports. While the Blues do have plenty of strong defensive options at their disposal right now, Frank Lampard is on the search for someone who could eventually serve as Thiago Silva's long-term replacement -- and the 20-year-old may well fit the criteria.
- Fiorentina are tabling an offer to bring Lazio striker Felipe Caicedo to the club, Calciomercato reports. The 32-year-old's contract isn't set to expire for another few years, but with La Viola attempting to climb the Serie A table, they are willing to pay €6m if it means adding Caicedo to their ranks.
- Sky Sports is reporting that West Bromwich Albion have made contact with Celtic over the potential signing of Olivier Ntcham. The Scottish champions previously rejected a deadline-day bid from Brest for his services, but with a handful of French clubs still in the race, new Baggies manager Sam Allardyce is set to pounce upon the opening on the transfer window this week.
Source: espn.co.uk
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