Transfer Talk: Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal eye Gravenberch

The January transfer window may be closed around Europe, but teams are looking ahead to the summer and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal eye Gravenberch

Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, says Footmercato.

Gravenberch, 20, moved to Bayern from Ajax for around €18 million last summer but has only played 17 times in the Bundesliga, with only one appearance from the start, and was an unused sub for the 3-0 Champions League defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday.

Gravenberch will try and impress new Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel, but if he fails then the Netherlands international will explore a move in the summer.

Bayern are also set to sign Konrad Laimer from RB Leipzig on a free transfer, with Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich currently the first-choice midfielders, leaving Gravenberch with more competition for a place.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are all looking to upgrade their options in midfield when the transfer window opens and have asked to be kept informed of any developments over Gravenberch’s future.

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21.27 BST: Aston Villa will ditch plans to sign a first-choice striker in the summer amid Ollie Watkins‘ impressive recent form, according to Football Insider. The 27-year-old England international has netted 13 goals in all competitions, including four goals in his past five outings, leading manager Unai Emery to try to build a team around his impressive front man.

20.54 BST: Borussia Dortmund are confident they can agree a deal with midfielder Marco Reus regarding a new contract, reports Fabrizio Romano. Negotiations are said to be advanced, with the 33-year-old Germany international and pending free agent prepared to undergo a salary reduction to stay with the Bundesliga outfit.

20.21 BST: PSV Eindhoven midfielder Xavi Simons is on the radar of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, according to Ekrem Konur. The 19-year-old Netherlands international has been in sparkling form for the Dutch outfit this season, netting 14 goals alongside eight assists in the Eredivisie.

19.48 BST: Torino are doubtful of signing on-loan forward duo Aleksei Miranchuk and Nikola Vlasic permanently, reports Calciomercato. The Serie A club will have to spend €25m in transfer fee to secure the pair. Miranchuk has netted four goals coupled with five assists in 22 Serie A appearances since joining from Atalanta, while Vlasic of West Ham United has managed four goals for Il Toro.

19.15 BST: Barcelona are still eyeing a striker to partner Robert Lewandowski, with Vitor Roque the main target, according to Sport. Lewandowski’s 27 goals this season place him as a comfortable leader in the goal-scoring ranks at Barcelona, with Raphina’s nine goals second, which has left the club’s hierarchy eager for another striker in the summer. 18-year-old Roque has been heavily linked with a move to the Catalan club, however, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been lined up as a plan B, if the club cannot secure the signature of the Brazilian striker.

18.42 BST: Liverpool are happy to allow midfielder Fabio Carvalho to leave on loan, according to Football Insider. Since signing from Fulham last summer, the 20-year-old Portugal U21 international has made just 12 appearances in the Premier League for the Reds, and could join another Premier League team next season if he can be guaranteed first-team football.

18.09 BST: Rangers are interested in a loan move for Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Scottish giants were interested in the 20-year-old Spain youth international last summer, but Torre opted to sign for the Catalan club instead. He has featured just three times in LaLiga this season, and the report suggests that a loan move in the summer for the youngster is likely, as he looks to continue his development.

17.36 BST: Leicester City will demand a £50m transfer fee from Newcastle United for winger Harvey Barnes, according to Football Insider. Despite the Foxes facing relegation, the report suggests this will not change Leicester’s asking price for the 25-year-old once-capped England international, who has managed to net ten goals this season.

17.00 BST: Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Arsenal are all monitoring the situation of Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, reports Ekrem Konur. The 21-year-old France youth international has backed up an impressive 2021-22 season with two goals and eight assists in all competitions this campaign. Olise signed a five-year contract in the summer of 2021, meaning the south London club could demand a hefty transfer fee.

16.21 BST: Athletic Club centre-back Inigo Martinez is set to join Barcelona in the summer, according to Relevo.

Martinez, 31, will reportedly leave Athletic on a free transfer and sign a two-year contract at Camp Nou.

Barca’s financial issues may cause problems with registering the signing though, unless they can move €150m to free up space in their salary cap.

15.10 BST: Jose Mourinho, anyone?

14.45 BST: Al Nassr have parted company with head coach Rudi Garcia, the club have confirmed.

Garcia leaves the Saudi Arabian team amid reports of an uneasy relationship with star player Cristiano Ronaldo.

A statement read: “The board and everyone at AlNassr would like to thank Rudi and his staff for their dedicated work.”

ESPN reported on Wednesday that former Roma, Marseille and Lyon boss Garcia had one game to save his job at Al Nassr due to their standing in the Saudi Pro League.

Despite guiding Al Nassr to seven wins from their past eight league games, Garcia’s failure to claim top spot in the division left him fighting for his future at the Riyadh-based club.

13.52 BST: Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City are scouting AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi, says Le Parisien.

Disasi, 25, has a contract until 2025 but, after making Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the World Cup, the centre-back is keen to make the step up in club football.

PSG are set to sign Milan Skriniar on a free transfer from Inter Milan. but are reportedly also keen on Disasi, while both Premier League sides have been looking to add to their defence.

The Daily Mail has reported that Man United are also interested.

13.04 BST: Bild reports that Chelsea have invited coach Julian Nagelsmann “to introduce himself and present his ideas” to the board,

Nagelsmann was sacked by Bayern Munich recently and struggling Chelsea are looking for a replacement for Graham Potter, with Frank Lampard handed an interim role.

Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell worked with Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig, which could play a part in the interest.

12.32 BST: Contract negotiations can sometimes become a long and arduous process, but not for Bram van Polen, captain of Dutch club PEC Zwolle.

The 37-year-old defender has attained genuine legendary status with the Blauwvingers (“Bluefingers”) having spent his entire senior career there, even leading them to glory in the 2014 Dutch Cup with a shock victory over Ajax in the final.

Van Polen signed his first professional contract at PEC in 2007, and this week he signed an extension committing him to the club until the end of next season. But Van Polen’s contract signings are not like those of other players; he has earned a reputation for the unusual clauses and conditions he throws into negotiations to make things interesting and to keep the club on their toes.

Read about it all here.

11.45 BST: How much will Man United miss Marcus Rashford?

10.19 BST: Roma coach Jose Mourinho has been offered a two-year contract worth €100m to guide Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr from this summer, Record reports.

If accepted, Mourinho, 60, would become the highest-paid coach in the world but it would also see him work with Cristiano Ronaldo again. Mourinho coached Portuguese compatriot Ronaldo at Real Madrid from 2010 until 2013. He is under contract with Roma until June 2024.

Al Nassr are looking at potential candidates, with sources telling ESPN that current coach Rudi Garcia could be sacked if his team lose against Al Hilal on Tuesday. According to reports, there is an uneasy rapport between Garcia and Ronaldo.

09.34 BST: Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez will not stay at Olympiakos once his contract expires this summer, according to Diario AS.

James, 31, joined the Greek giants in September on a one-year contract, with the club holding an option to extend it for a further season. However, Olympiakos will not offer James that option because of his high wages and due to the player not living up to expectations.

The former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star has scored five goals and set up six more in 24 appearances across all competitions this season.

James reportedly wants to leave Greece anyway and join a more competitive league, with Turkish sides Galatasaray and Besiktas monitoring his situation.

08.50 BST: Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal want to sign FC Porto forward Mehdi Taremi this summer, according to Record.

Taremi, 30, has attracted the attention of many clubs following strong performances at the World Cup and with FC Porto. He has scored 23 goals and set up 12 more in 42 appearances across all competitions this season..

The Iran international becomes a free agent in June 2024 and has not signed a contract extension with the Portuguese giants yet, so Al Hilal are ready to offer him a lucrative three-year deal.

08.21 BST: Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. says he is looking forward to the arrival of Brazil compatriot Endrick.

Los Blancos announced in December they had reached a €72m deal with Palmeiras to sign the 16-year-old forward when he turns 18 in July 2024.

“I have great affection for Endrick, I’m always rooting for him,” Vinicius said. “I was happy that he won the Campeonato Paulista and that he scored both goals in the final. We’re expecting him here soon.”

Endrick has made 14 appearances in all competitions for Palmeiras this season, scoring two goals.

08.00 BST: Manchester City are leading the race for Jude Bellingham after Liverpool backed away from a deal for the England midfielder, sources have told ESPN.

Real Madrid remain interested in Bellingham but City are growing increasingly confident they can land the 19-year-old from Borussia Dortmund.

City are actively looking to sign at least one midfielder in the summer window because of doubts over the long-term futures of Ilkay Gundogan, whose contract is due to expire in June, and Bernardo Silva.

Bellingham’s transfer is likely to cost more than €130m, although Dortmund have not given up hope of keeping the teenager for one more season.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)

– Barcelona will push ahead in their efforts to sign Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan in the summer, as has been reported by Diario Sport. The 32-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of this campaign and he will turn down any new offer from Man City as he wants to move to Camp Nou.

– Arsenal have made an enquiry about Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, reports Le Parisien, which adds that the 32-year-old is likely to stay at Stamford Bridge. This comes with Kante’s deal expiring at the end of the season, although it is expected that he will sign a new one. The report also states that he could go to the Middle East “in two or three years.”

– With the contractual situation surrounding Gavi at Barcelona remaining unresolved, the 18-year-old midfielder could be available as a free agent during the summer transfer window. Marca has reported that this has unsurprisingly resulted in interest from the biggest clubs in Europe, although there have not yet been any negotiations. Gavi and Barcelona remain calm about the situation, with the club making assurances that his is the first contract they will sort out.

– Fulham, Everton, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Newcastle United are all considering signing Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino in the summer, reports Ekrem Konur. The 31-year-old will be a free agent, and it has been confirmed that the Brazilian will not renew his contract before its expiration at the end of the season, meaning he will leave Anfield after initially moving there in 2015.

– Real Madrid, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Arsenal all have scouts monitoring the development of Flamengo winger Matheus Goncalves, according to Ekrem Konur. The 17-year-old has made 11 first-team appearances for the club, only one of those being a start, scoring twice.

– French right-back Sacha Boey wants to leave Galatasaray as he wants to take a new step in his career, reports Foot Mercato. Crystal Palace and Wolfsburg have previously looked at the 22-year-old. It’s reported that Premier League and Bundesliga interest remains and these leagues are the priority for Boey.