LIVE Transfer Talk: Arsenal and Man United to battle for Leicester's Youri Tielemans

15.38 GMT: Carlo Ancelotti has backed Gareth Bale to "deliver" for Real Madrid for the remainder of the season and praised the forward's "committed" attitude in training after returning from his latest injury setback.

Bale, 32, has not played for his club since August and has been an unused substitute in Madrid's last four matches. Madrid are going into a crucial period, travelling to sixth-placed Villarreal in LaLiga on Saturday before facing Paris Saint-Germain in the first-leg of their Champions League round-of-16 clash on Tuesday.

"He's training well, and he's committed," Ancelotti said in a news conference on Friday when asked if Bale could still contribute this year. "It's one thing seeing something in training and another to see it in a game. I think when I pick him, he'll deliver. You might ask why I haven't picked him yet, but since his last injury it's been hard for him to get back to a good physical condition... I think he's ready to play."

15.15 GMT: Are Manchester United better with or without Cristiano Ronaldo?

In terms of potential performance over the rest of the season, United have the widest array of possibilities of any team in England, if not the world. Ryan O'Hanlon looks at the four questions that will determine how their final 15 Premier League games play out -- sign up to read on ESPN+ here.

- Is Ralf Rangnick's system actually working?
- Can Man United score?
- Is goalkeeper David de Gea human?
- Will it work against good teams?

15.06 GMT: There were proud scenes in the Ronaldo household this week as Cristiano Ronaldo's eldest son, Cristiano Jr., passed another important milestone as he continues to follow in his father's footballing footsteps.

Cristiano Jr. has been playing for the Manchester United academy this season and has obviously impressed those in charge. Indeed, it has been revealed this week that the 11-year-old has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The news was inadvertently revealed in a post shared on Instagram by fellow wonderkid Gabriel, who has also been signed up by United following a successful stint in the youth team.

"Delighted to finally have my signing day done [and] even better to have mine with teammates @cristiano JR," Gabriel wrote in his caption.

14.53 GMT: Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez is being watched by PSG as his contract expires in 2023, says the Daily Mirror.

Mahrez, 30, has 16 goals in 27 games so far this season but has yet to agree new terms on his reported £120,000-a-week contract.

The Algeria international can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January 2023 and PSG would be interested if he still hasn't committed by then.

14.16 GMT: AS Roma are preparing a summer overhaul across the pitch, says Gazzetta dello Sport, which could cost them around €100m.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is one player that Roma have been chasing for some time, while Feyenoord defender Marcos Senesi and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Filip Kostic are two others who manager Jose Mourinho wants to bring in.

Xhaka, 29, was on the verge of leaving the club last summer but now the Gunners are ready to sanction his exit.

13.50 GMT: West Ham boss David Moyes has said his side were "close" to making at least one signing in the January window, but ESPN can reveal just how near they were to signing Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata: one missing signature.

Sources told ESPN's James Olley the deal was hastily arranged as it only became a realistic proposition a few hours before the window closed on deadline day. The presence of multiple agents on the Italian side of the transaction complicated negotiations but nevertheless an agreement was reached and paperwork was exchanged between the clubs with sufficient time remaining on Jan. 31.

Sources involved in the negotiations claim a representative from West Ham signed the final deal sheet, as did Zapata, before it was sent to Atalanta for their final contribution to complete the deal. However, sources suggest the Italian club "went missing" as the deadline approached and then passed, meaning the deal collapsed.

13.29 GMT: Manchester United need a new striker and Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland, Tottenham's Harry Kane, Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez and Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin are on their shortlist, according to The Sun.

With Edinson Cavani out of contract and likely to leave at the end of the season and Cristiano Ronaldo now 37, United are focusing on other options to solve their search for a proven goal scorer.

But sources told ESPN that senior figures at Old Trafford believe that Haaland is destined for Real Madrid this summer and that United are not in a position to persuade the player or his advisers to reconsider his options.

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski could also potentially be available if the Bundesliga club decide to offload the 33-year-old should he reject the opportunity to extend his contract beyond its June 2023 expiry date.

12.47 GMT: Barcelona have made extending Gavi and Ronald Araujo's contracts a priority following the closing of the January transfer window, sources told ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

Initial talks between Barca and the players' respective representatives have revealed some differences in terms of expectations, but there's a desire from all parties to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

Sources close to the Gavi and Araujo, whose terms expire in 2023, confirm several top European clubs have made contact with regards to a possible transfer. ESPN revealed in November that Liverpool and Manchester United are tracking Araujo.

However, both players have made it clear they want to stay at Camp Nou -- although they also want to be compensated in relation to their new status at the club.

12.00 GMT: West Ham defender Kurt Zouma was filmed on video kicking his cat recently.

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11.26 GMT: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said newly-signed winger Luis Diaz had "one of the best" debuts he has ever seen when he appeared in the Premier League for the first time on Thursday.

Diaz started alongside Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Leicester City on Thursday after joining the club from FC Porto shortly before the January transfer deadline.

"He has the skillset and character. It was one of the best first games I saw from a new player but we have to see how he adapts, there's no rush," Klopp told a news conference on Friday. "It was a good chance to start him with Sadio [Mane] not here and Mo [Salah] back from an intense tournament. Yes, Luis showed up."

11.11 GMT: Leeds United's Illan Meslier is reportedly one of five goalkeepers being monitored by Barcelona as they look to bring in competition for Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Mundo Deportivo claim Sevilla's Yassine Bounou, Nantes' Alban Lafont, Genk's Maarten Vandevoordt and Fiorentina's Bartlomiej Dragowski are the other four on the list.

The report says new Barca coach Xavi Hernandez is happy with Ter Stegen, whose form has been criticised at times this season, but that the club want to bring in a new backup this summer.

Neto is expected to leave Camp Nou after failing to get a move away in January, which would create space in the squad for a new goalkeeper. Third-choice keeper Inaki Pena joined Galatasaray on loan in January but could return for a more prominent role next season if Barca don't sign someone else.

10.45 GMT: Barcelona will turn their attention to Real Sociedad forward Alexander Isak this summer if they fail in their pursuit of Erling Haaland, according to Diario Sport.

Haaland is Barca's first choice as they look to bring in a new striker ahead of next season, but they are aware the competition for the Borussia Dortmund No. 9 will be fierce, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City all linked with a €75m move once his release clause comes into effect in 2022.

Therefore, Barca are also exploring alternative options, with Sweden international Isak a long-term target. He renewed his contract last July, with his release clause rising to €90m, but Sport saya an agreement for less would be possible due to the "good relationship" between the two clubs.

Isak, who has scored eight goals in 27 appearances this season for his club, has also drawn interest from Arsenal in recent weeks as the Premier League side search for a new attacker.

ESPN revealed on Thursday that Barca are eyeing low-cost signings in defence and midfield this summer to save money for their striker search.

10.08 GMT: River Plate are interested in signing New York City FC striker Valentin Castellanos on loan, according to coach Marcelo Gallardo.

The Argentinian club are keen to strengthen their attacking line after the departure of Jorge Carrascal and are considering several options. "We have two or three alternatives and one of them is Valentin Castellanos, which is difficult," Gallardo told La Nacion.

Sources told ESPN that the MLS team has already turned down several offers from Brazilian clubs for the striker, who is under contract with NYCFC until December 2025, including a $7m offer from Palmeiras.

With Argentina's transfer window closing on Feb. 19, River are looking to sign Castellanos on loan with an option to sign him permanently included in the deal, while NYCFC want between $15m-$20m.

Castellanos, 23, was hoping to make a move to Europe in the last transfer window but, despite interest from Italian side Fiorentina, no offer was made. The Mendoza-born player joined NYCFC on loan from Uruguayan side Montevideo City Torque in 2018 before making a permanent move soon after. In 35 league and playoff appearances in 2021, Castellanos scored 22 goals and added eight assists while winning the Golden Boot.

09.55 GMT: Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette is out of contract in June and his former club Lyon will try everything possible to bring him back to the club, sources have told ESPN's Julien Laurens.

Lacazette, 30, spent several years at the club's academy and was with the first team for seven years before moving to Arsenal for €53m in 2017.

With 100 goals in 203 Ligue 1 appearances, he is one of Lyon's all-time great players and club president Jean-Michel Aulas is dreaming of signing the France forward in the summer.

09.19 GMT: Marco Asensio's future is "a real dilemma for Real Madrid," Marca reports, with the forward's contract up in 2023 and doubts at the club over whether or not to offer him an extension.

Asensio, 26, has played an increasingly important role in the team this year, scoring eight goals in all competitions and becoming coach Carlo Ancelotti's favoured option on the right wing ahead of Rodrygo, Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard.

According to Marca, Madrid's thinking at the start of the season was not to renew the forward's deal after several frustrating, injury-hit campaigns, but his performances have now forced a rethink.

A final decision is yet to be taken, with three options -- allowing his contract to expire, proposing an extension, or accepting a bid this summer -- all on the table.

09.04 GMT: Manchester United players are becoming frustrated with Ralf Rangnick's methods with a section of the squad believing his training sessions are "old fashioned," sources told ESPN's Rob Dawson.

There has been some bemusement, too, that Rangnick has left the bulk of the coaching sessions to assistant Chris Armas. Sources told ESPN that some players on the training ground have jokingly likened Armas to fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso, the hapless American parachuted in to manage fictional side AFC Richmond in the hit Apple+ comedy show.

Former United States international Armas had never coached outside North America before landing the job as Rangnick's No. 2 in December. The 49-year-old's last coaching job ended in his dismissal by Toronto FC after winning two of his 15 games in charge.

Elsewhere, some players have complained among themselves that Rangnick's sessions are often based on 11 vs. 11 work rather than dynamic drills they feel help to keep them sharp between games. Sources told ESPN that much of the work being done on the training pitch is built around improving organisation and shape with less emphasis placed on sessions designed to hone particular skills.

08.30 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino says he does not believe Kylian Mbappe's future will depend on the outcome of the Champions League round-of-16 tie against Real Madrid.

Mbappe, who becomes a free agent this summer and has been a target of Real Madrid in previous transfer windows, recently said he had not made a decision on his future. Moreover, that playing against Real Madrid in the Champions League "changes a lot of things" for him.

"I think such an important decision cannot be down to a game or a tie," Pochettino said. " He is an intelligent chap, mature, with a tremendous analytical capacity and always knowing what he wants for his career and his future. He has people around him that I'm certain advise him in the best possible way. I see him calm, focused on doing his best for PSG and as he said, and we must respect it, he will make a decision once this tie is over."

Pochettino, meanwhile, said he is not bothered by ongoing speculation that Zinedine Zidane could replace him at PSG while he is linked with the job at Manchester United.

"I don't know, it's not up to me to decide," Pochettino said when asked if he sees Zidane as his replacement once he leaves. "Zidane is a great coach, he already showed it at Real Madrid. The rumours don't bother me.

"He can train any trainer in the world. Also, he is French. That is one more question for the sporting director or the president. Look, when Zinedine Zidane was at Real Madrid, how many rumours didn't come out of me [when I was] in England? When we take charge of a club with the visibility of PSG, we know that this comes with the position. That has to be accepted, otherwise I could not be sitting here in front of you right now as PSG coach. We are 200%t focused on PSG and on giving this club the happiness they expect from us."

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PAPER GOSSIP (by Luke Thrower)

- Paris Saint-Germain are not planning to extend Angel Di Maria's contract, says journalist Ekrem Konur. The 33-year-old's deal with Les Parisiens expires in the summer, though there is a club option of a further year. The report says that a number of teams across Europe and Brazil are monitoring his situation.

Juventus are considering making a move to sign AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie in the summer, reports Nicolo Schira. Kessie, 25, is a free agent once his contract expires in 2022 and has been linked with a host of Europe's top clubs including PSG, Barcelona, Man United, Liverpool and Tottenham. Schira claims that the Ivory Coast international is not interested in extending his deal with the Rossoneri, with Juventus the latest to be offered the chance to land him.

- Wolves and Barcelona are agreeing a swap deal that would see Adama Traore join Barcelona permanently, with Francisco Trincao set to stay at Molineux. Sport reports that both players' loan deals will be made permanent, with their options to sign negotiated to €30m each, allowing them to make a swap.

- West Ham United are still interested in signing Jesse Lingard in the summer, according to Calciomercato. The Manchester United playmaker was told he was free to leave the club on loan in January, however a move didn't materialise. Both West Ham and Newcastle United were linked, but may have the chance to sign him at the end of the season, with the 29-year-old out of contract.

- Barcelona could accept less than the €40m permanent option in Philippe Coutinho's loan deal at Aston Villa, according to Sport. The 29-year-old has had an explosive return to the Premier League, scoring twice and assisting twice in three appearances. €40m is the figure Villa need to sign him, however the report claims that the Blaugrana are likely to accept less to free up wage space.

- Borussia Dortmund have made striker Karim Adeyemi their top target for the summer, says Fabrizio Romano. The Bundesliga side have already agreed to sign defender Niklas Sule from rivals Bayern Munich on a free transfer in the summer, and have now turned their attention to Adeyemi. The 20-year-old has impressed for FC Salzburg and the club are confident of reaching an agreement with both the player and his team.