Transfer Talk: Man United join Chelsea, Barcelona for Mexico's Alvarez

The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, 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 Utd eye Mexico’s Alvarez

Manchester United have joined the list of top clubs who are eyeing Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Edson Alvarez, with Chelsea and Barcelona also keeping tabs on the Mexico star, according to Calciomercato.

Alvarez, 25, was strongly linked with a move to Chelsea in August, with sources telling ESPN that the Blues made a €50 million bid to sign him before the summer transfer deadline. That bid was turned down by Ajax, but it now looks as though Chelsea are set to face significantly more competition for his signature when the January window opens.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has already acquired both Antony and Lisandro Martinez from his former club, and that could provide an advantage to the Red Devils with two of Alvarez’s former teammates making the switch to Old Trafford.

Recent reports have also indicated that Barcelona see Alvarez — who has made 18 appearances for Ajax this season and is expected to anchor Mexico’s midfield at the World Cup — as a potential successor for Sergio Busquets.

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12.00 BST: Where do Juventus go from here?

11.09 BST: Liverpool could move for AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali next summer, says The Daily Express.

Tonali, 22, has impressed for Milan since making the move from Brescia in 2021, helping the club to the Serie A title last season.

The Italy international is considered one of the best young midfielders in Europe and has previously listed Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara among players he considers an “inspiration.”

Milan are reportedly keen on signing Liverpool’s Naby Keita, who is a free agent in the summer, but a deal could be worked out in January too.

10.14 BST: Lionel Messi‘s PSG contract is set to expire in 2023 but the club are looking to offer an extension for another year, according to Le Parisien.

Messi, 35, has impressed this season with 11 goals and 12 assists from 16 games, having struggled to make a mark last year after moving from Barcelona on a free transfer.

09.47 BST: Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas is convinced coach Ruben Amorim will honor his contract with the club.

Amorim, 37, is considered amongst the most exciting young managers in Europe and the former Braga coach was a reported target of Aston Villa before the club announced on Monday that Unai Emery would replace Steve Gerrard.

“He has a contract until 2024,” Varandas said of Amorim. “We couldn’t be more satisfied and prouder.”

Amorim has not ruled out coaching in Europe’s top leagues in the future and said on Tuesday: “I don’t have a specific dream of coaching a particular club. I’m happy when everyone rows in the same direction. Obviously, I want to be in big tournaments, but that’s not what attracts me.What attracts me is having a good project, good players, to be able to convey my identity to the players, that the team represents what I am as a coach.

“I am already at a great club. I’m very young. And I really like this uncertainty, of not knowing tomorrow, of not having to think that my dream is here in England, Spain or Italy. It might be one of my goals, but I don’t make any plans. I have no intentions of making any plans for what I’m going to do in the future. I wouldn’t say it’s a dream. I just want to be a coach and have a project that I identify with.”

Sporting finished runners-up to FC Porto in the domestic league last season.

08.50 BST: Brazilian starlet Endrick became the youngest player to score for Palmeiras in Tuesday’s 3-1 league win at Paranense.

At age 16, three months and four days, Endrick scored his first professional goal and beat the record previously held since 1916 by the club’s all-time top scorer Heitor, who was 16, 11 months and 14 days.

A reported target of Real Madrid and PSG, Endrick said: “This goal is the result of my work, which I do at home and outside Palmeiras. We still haven’t won anything. We have more finals, we’re going to keep our feet on the ground and we’re going to keep working with humility.”

Endrick, who has made four appearances for the first team, says he still has a lot of room for improvement and added: “It’s still not good for me. I have to train, and I have a lot to improve. I have to work harder to improve, I want to make people believe in me, have faith and make them believe in me.”

Tuesday’s win placed league leaders Palmeiras a step closer to the title. They are 13 points clear of nearest rivals Internacional with four league games remaining.

08.26 BST: Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim has ruled out an imminent return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the club.

“Ronaldo is a top player, he is a Manchester United player,” Amorim said as reported in Record. “Everybody at Sporting dreams of the return of Cristiano. He is a Manchester United player I think he will be for a few [more] months. We don’t have the money to pay his wages. He is happy in Manchester, but he is not playing so that’s the problem.”

Asked about Ronaldo’s delicate situation at United, with the player having recently been disciplined by coach Erik ten Hag after he refused to come off the bench.

“I have my problems with some of Sporting players,” he said. “It’s Ten Hag’s problem. I’m very happy with my players, no problem at all.”

08.00 BST: Bobby Madley will referee a Premier League match for the first time in four years on Saturday after losing his job over a controversial video in 2018.

Madley was sacked by the refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) after sending a video mocking a disabled person to a friend. He returned to English football in 2020, taking charge of matches at League One and League Two level, and has officiated 10 games in the Championship this season.

The 37-year-old is set to take charge of Brentford’s home game against Wolves, according to a list of officials for weekend fixtures on the Premier League’s website.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)

– Antonio Silva looks to be attracting more interest from around Europe, with Chelsea keeping tabs on the 18-year-old Benfica defender, according to Fabrizio Romano. Chelsea are also keen on RB Leipzig‘s Josko Gvardiol as the Blues remain in the market for a centre-back. Silva scored the opening goal on Tuesday night as Benfica defeated Juventus 4-3 in the Champions League.

– Barcelona will be unable to contest for the signature of young Brazilian star Endrick until next summer, reports Sport. The Blaugrana are currently focusing on other areas of their squad to improve, and though they maintain interest in the 16-year-old Palmeiras forward, it looks as though they won’t be part of any race in the January transfer window. He has recently been linked with Paris Saint-Germain but can’t leave Brazil until he turns 18.

– Arsenal have received a boost in their pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk‘s Mykhailo Mudryk. Speaking over a potential move to the north London club, the 21-year-old forward revealed to CBS that he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to join Mikel Arteta’s side if they agreed a deal for his services. The Ukrainian side are reported to be looking for a fee in excess of €60m to part ways with him.

– Chelsea considering a proposal for Newcastle United standout Bruno Guimaraes in January, according to Goal. The 24-year-old midfielder has been been a star performer for Newcastle this season and has also been linked with Real Madrid. It is reported that the Magpies are looking to offer him a new deal at St. James’ Park to ward off interest from other clubs.

– Juventus could struggle to beat Arsenal for the signature of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, reports Calciomercato. Arsenal are understood to be preparing a €60m offer that includes Albert Sambi Lokonga in an effort to bring Milinkovic-Savic from Rome to London, and the latest indicates that the Gunners are leading the Bianconeri in the race to sign the 27-year-old Serbia international.