Transfer Talk: Joao Felix to Manchester United amid Atletico Madrid overhaul?

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: Joao Felix to Man United amid Atletico revamp?

Atletico Madrid want to transfer up to four players — including Joao Felix — during the January transfer window, but will also aim to sign January replacements, according to Cadena SER.

The report states that Manchester United remain interested in Felix but will no longer offer the reported €130 million proposal made this summer to sign the Portugal international

Felix, 22, is said to be at an impasse with Atleti manager Diego Simeone, who saw his side condemned to last place in their Champions League group following Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to FC Porto. The defeat ensured that Los Colchoneros will also miss out on the Europa League.

Along with Felix, Atleti president Enrique Cerezo wants to offload an additional star on big wages — either Thomas Lemar, Yannick Carrasco or Rodrigo De Paul.

Despite their unexpected European exit, Simeone’s side are interested in shoring up the squad in the next window with an additional defender, midfielder and a right winger — so long as they can free up funds from any of those aforementioned players.

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15.19 GMT: Manchester United are confident they will be able to extend the contracts of Marcus Rashford and Diogo Dalot, says 90min.

Dalot, 23, has taken over from Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back and the club hold an option to extend his deal beyond 2023 by a year. However, they want to ensure the Portugal international stays with them for a lot longer, while also signing a new defender in the summer — with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Henrichs, Inter’s Denzel Dumfries, Norwich’s Max Aarons and Celtic’s Josip Juranovic linked.

Meanwhile Rashford is under the same contract situation and his form has improved on last season.

14.55 GMT: Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag said Donny van de Beek must improve when given the chance to prove his worth at the club, but is not giving up on the midfielder just yet.

Into his third season at United, Van de Beek is no closer to holding down a regular first-team spot, having played just 19 minutes of Premier League football this term after spending the latter half of last season on loan at Everton.

The 25-year-old was handed his first start of the season in the Europa League against Real Sociedad on Thursday night, but was ineffective as United stuttered to a 1-0 win.

“He had a good preseason and then got injured, now he is back,” Ten Hag said in a news conference ahead of United’s clash with Aston Villa on Sunday. “I think it was a decent performance [against Sociedad] but he can do better. I know him very well [from Ajax].

“He delivered what I expected in terms of positioning, pressing and in the transition. I can only talk about him [at United] from my time here and I think he can do more.”

14.22 GMT: Barcelona and Juventus are both eyeing moves for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, says The Evening Standard.

Zaha, 29, is keen to move on from Palace when his contract expires in 2022. The Ivory Coast international almost joined Arsenal a few years ago but that ship has sailed and he wants to make a step up to play for a club in the Champions League.

The report claims Barcelona would be tempted by a quality free transfer, while “bosses at Juventus are thought to see Zaha as a potential foil for attacking talents such as Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic.”

13.42 GMT: PSG teenager Ilyes Housni has caught the eye of Barcelona, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Housni, 17, has scored eight goals and two assists in six games in the UEFA in the Youth League but his contract ends in 2023.

13.04 GMT: Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez says overseeing Gerard Pique‘s retirement from football has been one of the most difficult moments of his managerial career to date.

Pique, 35, has fallen down the pecking order at Barca under former teammate Xavi this season, prompting him to call time on his career after Tuesday’s game away at Osasuna, the final fixture before LaLiga breaks for the World Cup.

Before then, the former Spain defender will play his final match at Camp Nou against Almeria on Saturday.

“The Almeria game will be conditioned by Pique’s goodbye,” Xavi said in a news conference on Friday. “He deserves all the praise that comes his way. I have been lucky enough to be his teammate and now his coach. Certain circumstances have led him to take this decision and I understand them.

“I passed through a similar situation and it is normal to step to the side. He was not playing regularly and he didn’t feel as important. He had a contract [until 2024] and decided to leave it, which is a sign of his greatness.

“He has won everything here, is one of the best centre-backs ever and his decision is respected. He earned the right to decide. He is a club legend and he deserves to be remembered as such.”

12.37 GMT: Barcelona are in advanced to negotiations to extend Marcos Alonso‘s contract by an additional two seasons with his terms due to expire next summer, sources told ESPN.

Alonso, 31, joined as a free agent from Chelsea at the start of September after his contract with the Premier League side was mutually terminated. The Spain left-back only signed an initial one-year deal at Camp Nou, but Barca have already expressed a desire to prolong his stay by an additional two seasons.

12.00 GMT: Would you choose Liverpool or Man City?

11.03 GMT: Signing Brazilian wonderkid Endrick is now “a priority” for Real Madrid, Marca reports, with a club representative in Sao Paolo to scout the 16-year-old Palmeiras forward.

According to the newspaper, Madrid will move to begin talks with Palmeiras if those scouting reports are positive, looking to wrap up an agreement in the face of competition from Paris Saint-Germain.

Endrick’s release clause is €60m, Marca says, but a deal could be done for €35m-€40m. The teenager will not be able to leave Brazil until July 2024, when he turns 18.

10.11 GMT: Lyon winger Tete could be set for a move to the Premier League, says The Sun.

Tete, 22, is keen to make a £25m transfer in January and West Ham, Leicester, Southampton and Brentford are all reportedly interested in him.

The Brazilian is on loan from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk and has five goals and three assists in 11 Ligue 1 games this season.

09.44 GMT: Barcelona will turn to the transfer market again in January in part due to fears they could be forced to work under tighter financial restrictions again next summer, sources told ESPN.

Barca’s primary targets are a right-back and a deep-lying midfielder to eventually replace Sergio Busquets, sources said, with the club captain expected to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

09.08 GMT: Liverpool are viewed as the favourites to sign Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, multiple sources told ESPN, and are leading the chase despite Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid also tracking the 19-year-old.

One source connected to a rival bidding club believes Liverpool are forging a close relationship with the player’s camp which could prove a significant factor. Another source said the broad framework of a deal to take Bellingham to Anfield may even be advancing, although both the player and his father, Mark, have previously publicly dismissed the idea a decision on his next club has been made.

Dortmund are expected to allow Bellingham to depart either in January or, far more likely, next summer and the most obvious glimmer of hope for Liverpool’s rivals comes in the Bundesliga club’s valuation.

08.35 GMT: LaLiga president Javier Tebas has no doubt in his mind that Gerard Pique can one day become a great president of FC Barcelona.

Pique, 35, surprisingly announced he is retiring from football later this month.

Asked if he believes the veteran defender will one day preside over Barcelona, Tebas said: “I have no doubt. He has three conditions to become Barcelona [president]. He has been at the club for 25 years. He knows the world of football as a player, and he knows the industry of football and sports as a businessman.

“He knows they are very different facets. He’s had experience of decision making as a businessman, with his success and failures, and he can become a great president of FC Barcelona. I believe he can. I believe he has the capacity to do so. He is very young, and he has many years to become Barcelona president. He knows you need to have experience to take on the role of president of one of the biggest clubs, if not among the top two clubs in the world.”

08.00 GMT: Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa has extended his contract with FC Porto until June 2027, the club announced.

A reported target of Manchester United and Barcelona, the 23 year old has put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension.

The new deal will see Costa’s release clause rise from €60m to €75m.

He joined Porto in 2011, made his debut with the first team in the 2019-20 campaign and has 85 appearances across all competitions for Porto.

“This is my home,” he said. “I want to help FC Porto have as many titles as possible. It’s a huge honour to renew a contract with the club of my heart.”

PAPER GOSSIP

– Barcelona boss Xavi is considering Martin Zubimendi as a possible replacement for Sergio Busquets, according to Sport. With Jorginho seemingly wanting to stay at Chelsea, Barca are considering other midfield options and the Real Sociedad man is who Xavi thinks most closely resembles Busquets. Zubimendi, 23, has a €60m release clause and has just signed a new contract, which could be a stumbling block given Barca’s ongoing financial difficulties.

– AS Roma are considering moving back in for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, according to Calciomercato. The Frenchman’s contract expires at the end of the season, and as such he is free to talk to clubs from other countries in January. With Europa League knockout rounds secured and in the chase for a top-four spot in Serie A, the Giallorossi are looking to strengthen for the second half of the season. Manager Jose Mourinho is an admirer of the 24-year-old Aouar, with talks to commence during the World Cup break.

– AC Milan are set to celebrate qualifying for the knockout phase of the Champions League by strengthening the side in January, with Hakim Ziyech on their radar. That’s according to Calciomercato, who believe the 29-year-old winger is keen to leave Chelsea amid struggles for playing time under Graham Potter. Along with the Rossoneri, Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in landing the Morocco star.

– Juventus and Internazionale are set to compete for the signature Benfica left-back Alejandro Grimaldo in January, according to Calciomercato. The two Italian giants are readying themselves for a battle with the clubs aiming to tempt the 27-year-old away from the Estádio da Luz. Arsenal were offered the chance to sign the Spanish left-back in the summer, but instead moved for Oleksandr Zinchenko.

– Major League Soccer side Orlando City SC are eyeing Argentine midfielder Martin Ojeda, according to Cesar Luis Merlo. The 24-year-old scored 13 goals in 45 appearances for Godoy Cruz in Argentina’s top division this season. Orlando could be searching for a new playmaker, with Facundo Torres reportedly being scouted by European clubs including Arsenal.