With the calendar soon turning over to the new year, the gossip ahead of the January transfer window is heating up. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest rumours.
Manchester United to splash out on Dybala
Manchester United may have just spent a whopping £75 million on a new striker, but it seems they are not done yet. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic likely to leave at the end of his contract this summer and Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford still learning the ropes, it seems there may still be space for Juventus' Paulo Dybala.
The Daily Star report that the Argentine, who has been likened to Lionel Messi in terms of style, is on Jose Mourinho's shopping list and United hold an ace in the hole to get him. Javier Ribalta was appointed as their head scout in the summer and he previously worked with Dybala at Juventus... you see where this is going?
Henrikh Mkhitaryan's failure to cement his place could open up room for another No. 10 at the club and Dybala certainly ticks all the right boxes. But he would cost a pretty penny.
Or is it Malcom?
A cheaper option for United would be to snap up Brazilian wunderkind Malcom from Bordeaux.
The 20-year-old would cost around £33m, according to the Daily Mail, and the paper reports that the two clubs have started talks about a January deal which would see him immediately loaned back.
Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the winger, but when Jose Mourinho sets his sights on someone, he rarely loses.
Man City's defensive move
All the focus on Manchester City has come up front this season, but you don't win 18 of 19 games without a pretty solid defence too. So why, we hear you ask, is Pep Guardiola after a new defender? Well, his options are a little short at the back, especially when John Stones is injured, so why not throw another £60m at a player who may well end up on the bench.
Southampton and Virgil van Dijk have not been on good terms for some time now, and though Liverpool may ruin Pep's party if they can cement their interest, the Dutch defender looks like he will move on in January.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona are all keeping tabs on him, according to the Daily Telegraph, but City are favourites to land anyone at this point.
Who will replace Alexis Sanchez?
It's a pretty well known fact that Alexis Sanchez won't be staying at Arsenal beyond this summer, so the Gunners have got to do something about a replacement. And the Daily Mirror claim they may only get £35m for their Chilean star now.
The rumour mill is going into overdrive about who could replace him, but The Sun reckon it might be £40m PSG winger Julian Draxler. Though they did say yesterday that Leon Bailey of Leverkusen was a possibility too.
If you'd rather believe the Daily Star, then Mexico international Hirving "Chucky" Lozano will be making his way from PSV to London. But he'd cost £42m and Liverpool are also interested.
It's going to be a long window.
Tap-ins
- David Moyes has a tough job on his hands at West Ham, but that job could be made easier by the signing of Steven Nzonzi. The former Blackburn midfielder has looked a new player at Sevilla, but has had a falling out recently and could well be available.
- Brighton have yet to agree a fee with Celtic for striker Moussa Dembele, but the two clubs are in talks over a move, according to ESPN FC sources. Reports suggested the 21-year-old would be leaving for around £18m, but it would likely take at least £25m to prise him away, says the Daily Mail.
- Pay attention Tottenham, Man City and Chelsea... Roy Hodgson has stopped chatting to his lookalike and instead reckons that star winger Wilfried Zaha will be leaving Crystal Palace. Manchester United? Not so keen...
Source: espn.co.uk