Transfer Talk: Ramos to reunite with ex-Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia?
With the opening of the January transfer window coming closer, 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: Ronaldo-Ramos reunion at Al-Nassr?
Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr are awaiting the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and want his former Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos to reunite with him in the summer, according to Marca.
Ronaldo, who terminated his Manchester United contract by mutual agreement last month, is expected to sign with Al-Nassr soon on a deal that will pay him over €200 million a year in wages.
Like Ronaldo, Al-Nassr would be able to sign Ramos as a free agent with the 36-year-old’s contract at Paris Saint-Germain expiring at the end of this season.
Ramos and Ronaldo playing alongside each other in Madrid from 2009 to 2018, winning four Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles. However, with Ramos having secured a key role in PSG’s squad, a move to Saudi Arabia may be deemed complicated.
Al-Nassr’s priority for now is still to get Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia, as they have already released three players and delayed two other signings in anticipation.
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09.21 GMT: Fresh from impressing at the World Cup, France striker Olivier Giroud has agreed a two-year contract extension with AC Milan, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Giroud, 36, overtook Thierry Henry to become France’s all-time men’s top scorer in Qatar and will continue at the Serie A champions until 2024.
He has nine goals in 19 games for his club this season.
09.00 GMT: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said that Cody Gakpo did not need convincing to join the club, despite Netherlands teammate Virgil van Dijk talking to the forward before his move from PSV Eindhoven.
Klopp’s side beat Manchester United to the signing of the Dutch forward for a transfer fee which sources told ESPN was worth around £37m (€42m).
Klopp described the signing as a “home run” and said the 23-year-old did not need to be persuaded to join the club.
When asked whether Van Dijk spoke to Gakpo before signing, Klopp said: “Before he technically signed, yes, but Virg was involved from a specific moment on. But we didn’t tell him ‘Talk to him’ because there was no reason for it. When I was allowed to speak to him, I spoke to him.
“There are some of these nice moments when you are manager of Liverpool FC and you realise you think you have to convince somebody and then you realise during your talk, ‘Oh, the door is wide open, it’s more or less a home run.’ And it was cool.
“So we didn’t need Virgil to convince him. But after that, obviously Virgil likes to be involved in these kind of things and from a specific moment on he had his say as well. But all good.”
– Ogden: Gakpo signing piles pressure on Nunez
1:29
Mark Ogden explains why Manchester United missed out on Cody Gakpo, who looks set for a Liverpool move.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Manchester City are set to trigger the $8m release clause of Velez Sarsfield midfielder Maximo Perrone, according to Fabrizio Romano. The move is expected to be completed soon if all goes to plan, and the 19-year-old would join City after the Campeonato Sudamericano Sub-20.
– Marseille want to replace Gerson with Angers midfielder and Morocco breakout star Azzedine Ounahi, reports Foot Mercato, which adds that the Brazilian’s destination in January is likely to be Flamengo. While OM want to sign Ounahi, they refuse to pay a World Cup premium and will negotiate the €25m transfer fee that Angers are asking for.
– Barcelona scouts have been following the development of 16-year-old Velez Sarsfield winger Gianluca Prestianni, according to Ekrem Konur. It is also suggested that Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are keeping an eye on the Argentina youngster.
– Brendan Rodgers is keen to strengthen his Leicester City side in January, reports the Guardian, with the priorities a speedy winger, a left-back and another centre-back. The Foxes currently sit 13th in the Premier League table after their 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United and are four points above the relegation zone.
– Lille still want to sign AS Monaco attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche after looking at the 20-year-old in the summer, according to L’Equipe, which adds that Atalanta have also made contact about him in recent weeks. Monaco don’t want Akliouche to leave and are taking steps to extend his contract.
