The 2022 January transfer window is closed, but there’s still plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich in for Wirtz
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are monitoring a move for Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, writes Fabrizio Romano.
Wirtz, 18, is the latest youngster to come through at the Bundesliga club, having replaced Kai Havertz, who left for Chelsea in 2020 for a deal worth a potential €69.3 million.
The Germany international has scored seven goals and assisted 10 in the league this season, winning Bundesliga Player of the Month in September 2021. Leverkusen are hoping to keep the youngster despite the interest, but could face a battle to do so.
Romano reports that a move could be unlikely for this summer, prompting a potential move in 2023. For the three sides listed, the extra year could be seen as a positive, with all of them linked with a €75m move for Borussia Dortmund‘s Erling Haaland this summer.
Real Madrid have been in search of younger players in midfield, with the likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro all entering their 30s underscoring the need for central players in the future.
Barcelona could rival them, with the move for Wirtz fitting their model of bringing through youth talent, though whether they could compete financially during the club’s fiscal crisis is another question. For Bayern, Wirtz could serve as a potential replacement for Thomas Muller, whose deal expires in 2023.
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14.05 GMT: Real Madrid will move to speak to Borussia Dortmund about Erling Haaland‘s situation in the coming days, sources have told ESPN’s Rodri Faez and Alex Kirkland.
The club chose some time ago to focus their efforts on landing Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer from PSG this summer, believing Manchester City lead the race to sign Haaland. However Madrid are not ruling out the possibility of trying to bring in both superstars. They want to analyse the numbers and terms involved in a deal for Haaland to decide whether to compete for his signing.
Sources close to Barcelona have told ESPN that the Norway forward is a priority for president Joan Laporta, but there are doubts at the Bernabeu as to whether Barca could afford a deal that between transfer fee, commission and salary could rise to over €350m.
There’s a feeling in both Spain and Germany that City are best positioned to sign Haaland once his release clause of €75m becomes active this year. The Premier League club have been working on his signing since last August, and could offer superior term to his LaLiga suitors.
13.27 GMT: AC Milan director Paolo Maldini has hinted Zlatan Ibrahimovic could stay at the club beyond his playing days.
The 40-year-old is in his second spell with the Rossoneri and looking to help them win their first title since he was last at the club in 2011.
Maldini told reporters: “We may win [the Scudetto] this year but regardless Ibra could still have a future with us [beyond his playing days].”
13.06 GMT: Lazio are looking to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Kepa has history with Maurizio Sarri after the Spain goalkeeper refused to be substituted during the 2019 Carabao Cup final ahead of a penalty shootout against Manchester City when Sarri was in charge of Chelsea.
Lazio would be interested in a loan deal, with Chelsea paying 50% of Kepa’s wages. Despite this, the report claims Lazio are still trying to extend current No. 1 goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha‘s contract.
12.44 GMT: USMNT star Sergino Dest was offered to Sevilla last summer as part of a deal for Barcelona to sign Jules Kounde, claims Sport.
Dest, 21, looked set to leave Camp Nou but has turned his career around under new manager Xavi with some fine recent performances at right-back.
Still, Barca made an effort to include him in a swap deal for centre-back Kounde, whose services Sevilla value at €80m, and they may return for the France international in the upcoming window.
12.02 GMT: Declan Rice believes he has become one of the best players in the world, and stressed his “urgent” desire to play Champions League football and win trophies.
The West Ham midfielder was named Premier League Player of the Year at Thursday’s London Football Awards after a fine season to date as the Hammers sit just two points outside the top four with 11 games remaining.
David Moyes’ side narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification last season and when asked how desperate he is to reach Europe’s top competition, Rice told ESPN: “It is as urgent as possible. I feel like, not only for me, that’s for every young player as well.
“We were really close with West Ham at the minute and last season, it was gutting to lose out on it last year but we are pushing. Look, we’ll keep going. Champions League is a big aim of mine and hopefully one day I can play in it and do well.
“I feel like I am one of the established top players around the world. I am only 23 so I am still young — that’s what I mean in that sense — but in terms of my playing ability and the way I’ve performed consistently, I see myself as an established player now who has got good experience and can play at any level if required.”
Rice has a contract at West Ham until 2024 with the club retaining an option to extend by a further year but there has been speculation Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City could test their resolve to keep the midfielder, who has been valued in excess of £100m.
11.45 GMT: Eintracht Frankfurt have confirmed the signing of striker Randal Kolo-Muani from Ligue 1 side Nantes.
Kolo-Muani, 23, will join Eintracht on a free transfer at the end of the season when his contract expires and has signed a five-year deal until 2027.
The France U23 international played at the 2020 Olympics as the country failed to get out of the group stages, while he has 10 goals in 29 games for Nantes this season.
11.33 GMT: Marca reports that Barcelona are nearing an agreement with Racing Santander to sign young star Pablo Torre.
Torre, 18, has made 21 appearances in the Spanish third-tier this season, scoring six goals and laying on six assists. The Spain U19 attacking midfielder reportedly has an €8m release clause in his contract and has also attracted interest from Real Madrid.
However, Torre’s agent Arturo Canales also represents Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez and defender Gerard Pique, which may help to smooth the deal to Camp Nou.
10.52 GMT: What happens next for Chelsea?
0:57
Gab & Juls debate whether Thomas Tuchel and his Chelsea players will be affected by Roman Abramovich’s decision.
10.28 GMT: AC Milan have reached an agreement with French club Lille to sign defender Sven Botman in the summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Botman helped Lille win the Ligue 1 title ahead of Paris Saint-Germain last season, finishing the 2020-21 season with the best defensive record in the division.
The Netherlands international had been the subject of interest from Premier League side Newcastle United in the January window, but Lille would not countenance letting him leave mid-season.
10.01 GMT: Aston Villa full-back Matty Cash is a target for Atletico Madrid, the Daily Mail reports.
Reigning LaLiga champions Atletico are looking for a new specialist right-back to replace Kieran Trippier, who left the club to join Newcastle United in January.
Cash, 24, signed for Villa from Championship club Nottingham Forest in 2020, and has impressed since making the step up to the Premier League.
The Poland international has made 55 appearances in all competitions since his £14m transfer, and has been regular under both manager Steven Gerrard and his predecessor at Villa Park, Dean Smith.
09.32 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo says the club “will do everything possible to retain” Kylian Mbappe.
A long-term target of Real Madrid, Mbappe has not signed a new contract with PSG and becomes a free agent in the summer.
“We have a possibility,” Leonardo said of Mbappe’s options of staying. “As long as there is no signature [with another club], we will try everything, we will do everything possible to retain him.”
While PSG have not given up hope of keeping the France international, Leonardo denied recent reports the club had offered Mbappe a two-year contract extension that would see him earn around €50m-a-season in addition to a €100m loyalty bonus.
“It is not true,” Leonardo said. “We have not sent a specific offer. There is an important element: I think the last thing we will put into this contract will be money… It’s not about that [money]. Kylian has such a great value that I believe that is secondary. I think that to put a figure he will take two minutes.
08.55 GMT: Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is on the radar of both Manchester United and Real Madrid, says Calciomercato.
Osimhen, 23, moved to the club for €70m from Lille in 2020 and has 21 goals from 52 games for the club.
The Nigeria international is rated as one of the best young strikers around but won’t come cheap as his contract does not expire until 2025.
08.21 GMT: Barcelona are reportedly in talks with Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, according to the Daily Mail.
Neves, 24, has been linked with Man United and Arsenal in a £35m move, but Barcelona could work out a deal after the successfully negotiated the transfers of Adama Traore and Francisco Trincao between the two clubs.
Barcelona have a host of talented young midfielders, but need a bit more experience and the Portugal international could fit their style of play if they can manage to raise some cash.
08.00 GMT: Barcelona are in advanced talks to sign Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen and AC Milan’s Franck Kessie on free transfers when their respective contracts expire in the summer, various sources have told ESPN.
Sources add that Barca remain optimistic of closing a deal to bring in Christensen’s Chelsea teammate Cesar Azpilicueta, who is also in the final few months of his deal at Stamford Bridge.
An agreement has not yet been closed with either Christensen or Kessie, but a source close to the negotiations has told ESPN that both players are expected to move to Camp Nou ahead of next season “save any late twists.”
Talks have intensified with the pair following the closing of the January transfer window, with Barca hopeful of finalising the deals as soon as possible.
ESPN previously reported that Barca would target Christensen, Azpilicueta and Kessie on free transfers to strengthen in defence and midfield this summer to save money to fund a move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
1:18
Gab and Juls discuss which of the Chelsea defenders would be a better fit for Xavi’s new-look defence?
PAPER GOSSIP (by Luke Thrower)
– Lyon are set to begin talks with Chelsea over the permanent signing of wing-back Emerson Palmieri, reports Ekrem Konur. The Blues made an attempt to recall the Italy international from his loan with the Ligue 1 club in January following an injury to Ben Chilwell that has ruled him out for the rest of the season, however Emerson stayed on his loan. The 27-year-old has made 21 appearances in the league and now could stay longer.
– Amid reports of a potential exit for striker Lautaro Martinez in the summer, Tuttosport says that Internazionale are interested in Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram. Thuram, 24, has less than 18 months left on his deal and has struggled for minutes in the Bundesliga this season. That could lead to an exit for the forward, who can play anywhere across the front three.
– January saw the first two signings for Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur in Juventus duo Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, but the summer window could provide a better barometer for how his Spurs side will look going forward. And with so much time to plan how his squad will look, the Daily Mail reports that the club are interested in adding RB Leipzig youngster Josko Gvardiol. The defender often plays on the left of a back three, something that would suit Conte’s style. The Bundesliga side are said to be reluctant to let the 20-year-old leave the club, though.
– Chelsea remain interested in a move for Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt in the summer, but the Netherlands international could yet sign a new deal with the Bianconeri, according to Calciomercato. The Blues have been linked with a number of centre-backs for the future, with Thomas Tuchel set to lose as many as three of their own defenders as free agents at the end of the season. De Ligt, 22, is one of those that has been linked in a €120m move and the club remain interested. However, despite comments about the potential of leaving the Turin-based club a few months back, De Ligt could now sign a new deal after a change of heart.
– AC Milan have been offered a number of strikers for the summer as the Rossoneri look to freshen up their attacking ranks, says Rudy Galetti. The Serie A club have Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 40, out of contract soon, leaving Olivier Giroud, 35, as one of their only central striking options at the end of the season. As a result, the hierarchy have been offered a number of strikers who are set to be free agents themselves. Galetti reports that Torino‘s Andrea Belotti, Liverpool‘s Divock Origi and Andrej Kramaric of Hoffenheim have been suggested, with the club set to evaluate the options.
