With the opening of the winter transfer window on Jan. 1, there's plenty of gossip swirling about who's moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Man United could move for Thuram
France star Marcus Thuram is allowed to begin pre-contract talks with other clubs as of today, as his deal with Borussia Monchengladbach runs out in the summer, and Manchester United are keeping a close eye.
The Mail on Sunday reports that Thuram is one option being considered by United boss Erik ten Hag as he continues his impressive rebuilding job at Old Trafford.
According to Bild, the 25-year-old will stay at Gladbach for the rest of season unless any of his four "dream clubs" -- Bayern Munich, Internazionale, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain -- make an offer in the January window.
Thuram wants to help Gladbach qualify for the Europa League next season and compete for the Bundesliga's top scorer prize. He has 10 goals so far this season, with RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku on 12.
The Mail says that United aren't expected to be busy in the transfer market this month and may only look for loan signings. However, they may be forced into action if one of their rivals for the forward's signature offers Gladbach a transfer fee worth considering this month -- €12m could be enough, says Bild.
United, who are looking for a striker to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, have also been linked with Barcelona's Memphis Depay and Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar -- who plays for Ronaldo's new club, Al-Nassr.
"We are looking for the right player for our squad," Ten Hag said last week, "but it has to match our sporting criteria, definitely, but also some financial criteria."
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LIVE BLOG
21.25 GMT: L'Equipe reports that AC Milan are pushing to sign 18-year-old Santos winger Angelo Gabriel. The Brazil youth international has two years remaining on his contract and could command a transfer fee of €15m.
20.08 GMT: Rodrigo De Paul and Atletico Madrid seemed a match made in heaven, but just 18 months since the midfielder moved to the Spanish capital from Udinese, the newly crowned World Cup winner is seemingly poised to return to Serie A, according to Mundo Deportivo. Juventus and Inter Milan lead the race for the signature of the 28-year-old Argentina international, with AC Milan and AS Roma also said to be interested, and Altietco will be more than willing to move on from De Paul so long as they receive a transfer fee similar to the €35m they paid in the summer of 2021.
18.51 GMT: While recent reports have noted an offer from Leicester City for Angers midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, Le10 Sport writes that it's Napoli who are in the lead for one of the World Cup's breakout stars. Barcelona are also credited with interest in the 22-year-old Morocco international, but any acceleration in negotiations reportedly will make Ounahi's move to Serie A "a formality."
17.34 GMT: Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku has conducted another interview with Sky Sport Italia, although this one is sure to be less jarring than the one from 12 months ago that all but assured his quick exit from Chelsea. Coming as little surprise, the 30-year-old Belgium international suggests that he has no desire to return to west London, and hopes to remain at San Siro.
"Everyone knows what I want," Lukaku is quoted as saying. "I'm 30 years old, my son started school [in Milan] and plays in the Inter academy. Inter always have the ambition to continue growing. I want to stay here and do things right. I hope to do well with Inter in the next six months, work hard and then in the end we talk to Chelsea and hope to find a solution."
16.17 GMT: Juventus have built something of a reputation in recent years for recruiting free agents, and that's set to continue in 2023, according to Calciomercato. The outlet's reporting suggests that while Alex Sandro, Juan Cuadrado, Angel Di Maria and Adrien Rabiot all are likely to leave the club as free agents at the end of the season, the Bianconeri have already identified potential replacements to join on free transfers this summer.
At the back, Alejandro Grimaldo of Benfica could fill the void left by Alex Sandro, while Raphael Guerreiro of Borussia Dortmund could be another option at left-back. AS Roma centre-back Chris Smalling is of interest, as is Evan Ndicka of Eintracht Frankfurt.
Up front, Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram is being monitored, although Bayern Munich and Inter Milan are ahead of Juve in the queue for the France international. In midfield, Youri Tielemans of Leicester City has intriguing the Turin club for some time, but they face stiff competition from several of Europe's biggest clubs.
15.00 GMT: Marca says that Cristiano Ronaldo was desperately holding out for a contract offer from Real Madrid before he signed for Saudia Arabian club Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo had been training at the club's base following the World Cup after his contract at Manchester United was ripped up. However, no call came from his former club.
14.13 GMT: Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri is being tracked by Ligue 1 side Marseille.
Mejbri, 19, has come of age on loan at Birmingham City this season and was named in the Tunisia squad for the World Cup finals.
United have been unconvinced he will make it at Old Trafford so may be open to a permanent deal with Marseille, reports the Sun on Sunday.
The midfielder joined United from AS Monaco at the age of 16.
13.29 GMT: A Bola in Portugal reports that Tottenham want to re-sign Marcus Edwards.
Edwards came through the youth ranks at Spurs but made just one appearance in the League Cup. After loan spells at Norwich City and Excelsior he moved to Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes, with his form leading to a move to Sporting CP in 2022.
The attacking midfielder has continued to impress -- and scored against Spurs in the Champions League earlier this season.
The report says that Spurs have made the first tentative enquiries for Edwards, who has a £52m release clause. However, any deal would come at half the price, as Spurs still hold a clause for 50% of any transfer fee when the player leaves Sporting.
12.42 GMT: Martin Dubravka has been recalled by Newcastle United from his season-long loan at Manchester United.
The goalkeeper made two appearances after moving to Old Trafford in the summer but will now return to St James' Park.
United paid £2 million to loan Dubravka ahead of the season and had an option to sign him permanently for £6m if the Slovakia international made a certain number of appearances.
Sources have told ESPN it was Newcastle's decision to end the 33-year-old's loan spell early.
12.00 GMT: We're tracking every major transfer throughout the window, and grading the clubs on their performance.
Liverpool get an "A" for the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. Check out how we've rated the rest of the big deals.
11.18 GMT: Chelsea have agreed terms with AS Monaco for the transfer of Benoit Badiashile, reports The Athletic.
Badiashile has been linked with Graham Potter's side for the last few weeks, and the defender was left on the bench for the midweek game against Auxerre.
Monaco coach Philippe Clement had warned that Chelsea weren't the only club showing an interest in the 21-year-old, but it seems the Blues are now on the verge of getting their man.
The report says that Chelsea will pay around £33m for the France international, who has two senior caps which were both won this season.
Personal terms have already been agreed and the player will now need a medical.
10.30 GMT: Tottenham are closing in on Sporting CP defender Pedro Porro, reports the Star on Sunday.
The 23-year-old, who spent three years at Manchester City but never played a first-team game for the club, is expected to become Antonio Conte's first signing of the window.
Spurs are looking for reinforcements as the battle for a place in the Champions League next season hots up.
Porro, who has one senior cap for Spain, plays as a right-back or right wing-back and will cost a transfer fee of £35m.
City have a first-refusal clause to re-sign the player for £17.6m but appear unlikely to take that up.
09.43 GMT: Inter Milan are tracking Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby, who is out of contract in the summer, but the LaLiga club are making moves to keep the 26-year-old.
Diakhaby, who has four caps for Guinea, joined Valencia from Lyon in 2018 and is considered a key player.
Superdeporte reports that Valencia have offered the player a big contract to persuade him to stay, but he is free to discuss a precontract with any other club as of today.
09.00 GMT: Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has joined Brazilian Serie A side Gremio on a free transfer on a two-year contract until the end of 2024, the club announced on Saturday.
Suarez bid farewell to his boyhood club Nacional in October after three months in which he scored eight goals in 16 games and won the Uruguayan championship.
Previously the 35-year-old enjoyed success in Europe with Ajax Amsterdam, Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
"One of the biggest in Uruguay's history, Luis Suarez is coming to continue his victorious trajectory," Gremio said on social media.
"A top goal scorer, a multiple champion, and a fighter. Welcome, Luisito."
Preparado para este lindo desafío en @gremio, con muchas ganas de estar ahí y disfrutar ⚽️🇪🇪
— Luis Suárez (@LuisSuarez9) December 31, 2022
VAMOS TRICOLOR! 😉 pic.twitter.com/q2zhztqCmr
PAPER GOSSIP
- Manchester City are close to signing talented Argentina youngster Maximo Perrone, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Velez Sarsfield midfielder and Argentina under-20 star is also wanted by Newcastle United and Benfica, but City are believed to be already holding talks with the 19-year-old. Perrone made his professional debut in March, and is now set for an $8m move to the Etihad Stadium following the conclusion of the Sudamericano Sub 20 in mid-February.
- Aston Villa are making plans to replace goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and are monitoring the situation between Everton and Jordan Pickford, according to The Sun. Pickford, 28, is yet to agree a new deal at Goodison Park, which has alerted Villa who are bracing themselves for offers for World Cup winner Martinez. The Villa keeper is said to be on the radar of several clubs, including Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
- Salernitana are keen to follow the signing of Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa with a move for former Real Madrid midfielder Isco, according to Corriere Dello Sport. Isco, 30, is available on a free transfer following the termination of his contract by Sevilla, but his salary expectations could be an issue for the Italian side. Isco's agent Jorge Mendes has revealed that he's been talking to Major League Soccer clubs but Salernitana are hoping they can pull off the signing of the former Spain international.
- Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga is wanted by Everton on loan, according to the Manchester Evening News. The United academy graduate knows that his chances are increasingly limited after having featured just six times this season, and the Toffees are keen to take the 20-year-old for the rest of the season in an effort to boost their chances of Premier League survival. Elanga now sits behind Alejandro Garnacho in the pecking order, though the Reds are unwilling to let him leave until they've reinforced their attacking options.
- Morocco star Yassine Bounou could leave Sevilla for Manchester United or Bayern Munich in January, according to Footmercato. The 31-year-old goalkeeper was one of the standout players at the World Cup, his performances against Spain and Portugal in particular reinforcing the view of some of Europe's top clubs that he has what it takes to play at the top level. The report states that talks have already taken place between Bounou's entourage and Bayern who are keen to fill the void left by the injured Manuel Neuer. United have also tested the waters about his availability, and see him as a long-term No. 1 if David de Gea moves on.