Ferran Torres £55m to Barcelona, Chelsea eye Kimpembe to replace Rudiger, Newcastle ‘want Moussa Dembele loan transfer’

Tor blimey

Barcelona are reportedly closing in on a stunning £50million swoop for Man City forward Ferran Torres.

That’s after the debt-ridden Spaniards were granted permission to take out a ‘huge’ loan.

Guillem Balague claims a transfer is near after Barca agreed to borrow more money ahead of the January window.

However, the deal for Torres means they will be forced to sell at least one current player in order to meet LaLiga Financial Fair Play requirements.

Newcastle eyeing move for Rodon

Newcastle are reportedly interested in out of favour Tottenham defender Joe Rodon to bolster their defensive ranks.

The Welshman has played just 20 times for Spurs since his 2020 £11million transfer from Swansea.

And according to the Telegraph, Spurs are willing to let the defender leave on loan in January with Newcastle one of the clubs interested in acquiring his services.

The Magpies are deep in a relegation battle to stay in the Premier League, and after the weekend’s defensive display against champions Manchester City, they’re in desperate need of reinforcements.

Azpilicueta eager for Chelsea stay

Cesar Azpilicueta wants to stay and fight for his place in Chelsea’s starting XI, it’s been claimed.

The Blues skipper has no intention of going elsewhere to play regular first-team football.

That’s according to The Athletic, who claim the 32-year-old Spaniard is eager to stay at Stamford Bridge past the expiration of his contract.

Azpilicueta’s current deal with the west Londoners is set to expire at the end of the season.

Spanish big boys Barcelona are reportedly interested in bringing the two-time Premier League winner to the Nou Camp.

But their bid to acquire his services could be hindered by his desire to remain in west London.

Mykolenko doing his manager proud

Vitaliy Mykolenko is set to make his boss proud with his impending arrival at Everton.

The Dynamo Kiev youngster is in line for a £17million move to Goodison Park in January.

And manager Mircea Lucescu revealed he was delighted to see one of his academy graduates heading for the Premier League.

He told UA Football: “I am glad that a young player from my team is now moving to Everton. I mean Mykolenko.

“Another 18-19-year-old footballer will take his place. The rest in defence are 19-20 years old. Therefore, we continue to play as a very young team.

“They have to work much harder than experienced ones.”

Arsenal ‘ready to pay’ £68m

The Gunners are reportedly ‘ready to pay’ £68million to snap up Fiorentina hitman Dusan Vlahovic.

Gazzetta Dello Sport claim Arsenal are willing to pay the fee ‘immediately’ in order to secure a deal for the much wanted forward.

However, a potential issue is the Serbian wanting to stay with the club until the end of the season.

Arsenal meanwhile are in need of reinforcements at the top of the pitch sooner rather than later.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has now been frozen out, with a new striker said to be a priority.

Newcastle in Jones January enquiry

Manchester United defender Phil Jones is a wanted man, after reports linking him to Benfica surfaced earlier.

And now 90min report that Newcastle have enquired after Jones’ services.

Eddie Howe is desperate for reinforcements in a bid to keep the Magpies in the Premier League.

A loan deal is the most likely option, with the 29-year-old not playing competitive football until January 2020.

Keane tips City for title

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has backed City to win the league yet again this campaign.

Speaking on Micah Richards & Roy Keane Driving Home for Christmas, Keane said: “We did a game last year. I didn’t write off City, but I said they lost their mojo. Then they won the league like a doddle.

“I know they put in the hard work, but they won it from United being second. I’d never bet against City, I’ve learned my lesson from last year.

“It doesn’t mean Liverpool and Chelsea can’t pip them to the title, but Pep’s the man.

“I look at all the managers and he’s the best.

“You look at Pep’s CV and people say ‘he’s got the best players’, but you still have to manage them, find a style of play. If you were going to pick a team to watch, it’d be Man City.”

Utd ‘make contact’ with Haaland

Manchester United have ‘made contact’ with Erling Haalan over a possible deal, reports suggest.

According to FourFourTwo, Ralf Rangnick is making it his personal mission to sign Haaland once again, having done so already for RB Salzburg.

Rangick is also said to be good friends with Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge.

It’s understood that the Borussia Dortmund sensation has a £68million release clause inserted in his contract.

And Rangnick is set to personally try and convince the Norwegian to move to Old Trafford.

Conte tips Dier for greatness

Antonio Conte has said Eric Dier can become ‘one of the best central defenders’ in the world.

Dier, 27, has played in the middle of Conte’s centre-back trio, and has evidently impressed his new boss.

Conte said: “That position is perfect for him. Eric Dier can become one of the best players in the world in that position.

“For sure he needs to work and continue to improve and understand the movement with the defensive line.

“He has to lead more, because in that position you have to speak a lot because you have to stay in the middle, at the back where you can see everything.

“He has a great space for improvement but we are talking about a really good player, strong physically with a good personality and good technically because he was a midfielder.

“This role is perfect for him. He has to continue this way because he can become one of the best central defenders.”

Szczesny slams cocky Juve teammates

Wojciech Szczesny has fired a warning shot at cocky Juventus team-mates as the Serie A giants battle for a top-four spot.

The Old Lady are well off the pace in the league this campaign, and have a fight on their hands just finishing in a Champions League space.

And Szczesny told broadcaster DAZN: “We worked hard, but I think there’s a lot we need to improve still, both in defence and upfront.

“Sometimes at 1-0 we relax and sit a bit too deep, but that’s not good in the long run, we play arrogantly in those situations and I don’t like it.

“It happened many times, including in Venezia when we conceded.

“We sit too deep in the second half, we can’t keep lowering the level of intensity for 10-15 minutes every time.

“It went alright today, but we dropped two points against Venezia, so we can’t keep doing that.”

Arsenal ‘open’ to Aubameyang offers

Arsenal are ‘willing to listen’ to offers for former club-captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January, reports suggest.

ESPN claim the club will entertain offers for the 32-year-old in the New Year.

Aubameyang has been linked with a move to Barcelona, who are in need of reinforcements up front.

Juventus too are claimed to be interested, with AC Milan and Inter both monitoring the situation.

The club don’t believe that relations have completely broken down with Aubameyang after stripping him of the captaincy, but remain willing to listen to any offers that come their way.

Musonda offered services for free

Charly Musonda has revealed he told Chelsea he would play for free in a last ditch effort to stay with the club.

Following talks with Blues legend Petr Cech, who is their current technical director, Musonda decided he would leave at the end of the season.

He said on The Beautiful Game Podcast: “I spoke with the manager and I obviously knew what he thought of me in training.

“I explained to him the same thing, I will play here for free. It’s not to do with the contract, I will literally play for free this year.

“I can be the last guy in the squad. Train hard, basically build my way through training, pay with the 23s, get some fitness back and from there see.

“It’s a long season, there’s a lot of games. I’m not even asking to start those games, I was just saying, if I can come on, get 15, 20 minutes here and there.

“He (Tuchel) understood. We had a good chat and he said, “Listen, it’s not up to me. The contract talks are something else’.”

Xavi building something at Barca

Struggling Barcelona could be on the verge of building something ‘special’.

That’s the view of Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui, who heaped praise on the wonderkids coming through the ranks at the Nou Camp.

New boss Xavi is trying to breathe new life into a Barca side that sits seventh in LaLiga.

And he boasts among his squad the likes of European Golden Boy Pedri and the teenager dubbed as his heir in midfield, Gavi.

Lopetegui said: “I seriously doubt that signing players from outside they’ll be able to find anyone like those (kids they have).”

Jordan Henderson player welfare concerns

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has voiced his concerns over the welfare of Premier League players in an interview with the BBC.

The Christmas schedule in the UK is famously hectic, and Henderson has spoken about just how difficult it is on players.

He said: “I don’t think people can appreciate how intense it is until you actually see it first hand.

“Football to us is everything and we want to be able to perform at the highest level every time we set foot on the pitch. And unfortunately, in this period it is difficult to do that.

“That has been like this for a few years now and it has been difficult but then, on top of that, you chuck in Covid and it becomes even harder and even worse.

“I am concerned that nobody really takes player welfare seriously.

Liverpool join Utd in chase

Manchester United are set to battle old rivals Liverpool for the signature of Dortmund wonderkid Erling Haaland.

The striker is understood to be available for as little as £64million if a potential buyer can match that trigger.

And Sky Sports report that Liverpool have entered the fray as they search for a genuine No.9 to lead the line.

Both Premier League giants will also face competition from Spain’s heavyweights in a likely bidding war.

Real Madrid are known to have been in contact with Dortmund over a possible move.

And Barcelona are hopeful their close ties with the player’s agent Mino Raiola can tempt the player in their direction.

Bergwijn subject of transfer speculation

Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn is rumoured to be attracting interest from all over Europe.

The Dutchman has started just three games in the Premier League this campaign and is said to be open to a January move.

Ajax are keen, with clubs in Italy, Spain, Germany AND France also all monitoring the 24-year-old, according to the Athletic.

Antonio Conte is yet to green-light a transfer though as he wants to continue assessing the wide-man in training.

But should he decide he can live without Bergwijn, a January loan is being touted as a possibility.

Dalot ‘blocked’ from leaving Utd

Ralf Rangnick has reportedly ‘blocked’ Diogo Dalot from leaving Manchester United in January.

Former United boss Jose Mourinho was said to be keen on bring Dalot to Roma on loan.

But Italian outlet Calciomercato claim Rangnick has rejected the offer, and wants the Portuguese full-back to stay at Old Trafford.

Dalot has impressed under Rangnick, starting in both Premier League games since the German arrived at the club.

The 22-year-old had been largely frozen out under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But now Rangnick seems to prefer him to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and sees him as part of his plans.

Dembele to stay at Barca

Ousmane Dembele has chosen to turn down transfer interest from the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool in order to stay at Barcelona.

The Frenchman is out-of-contract at the end of the season and had been linked with a move away.

Barca though were always keen for Dembele to sign a new deal.

And now it seems that they have got their wish, with the wide-man looking like he is close to agreeing terms to stay.

As cited by Barca Universal, Xavi said: “I feel positive with him again.

“Ousmane says that he wants to continue, that he is happy here.

“It is a matter of agreeing with his representative. He knows about the importance he will have if he stays.”

Madrid eyeing Joe Gomez move

Real Madrid are reportedly keeping tabs on Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez ahead of a potential January move.

But Los Blancos have also shortlisted Antonio Rudiger, Pau Torres and Jules Kounde as they look to shore up their defence.

Real are determined to improve their attack first but are monitoring Gomez’s situation, according to the Mail.

Jurgen Klopp though is said to have no plans to let Gomez leave in January.

Kenedy close to permanent exit

Chelsea exile Kenedy could be about to swap his loan deal for a permanent move away from Stamford Bridge.

The winger is currently on loan at Brazilian side Flamengo, but Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk are reportedly lining up a bid when the window reopens next month.

New boss Roberto De Zerbi is understood to have singled out the 25-year-old as a top name on his transfer shortlist.

The Italian will soon be without forwards Dentinho and Marlos, whose contracts are expiring this winter.

Any move would require an agreement with Flamengo, who paid Chelsea a £425,000 loan fee last summer.

The Brazilian side are also said to have an £8.5million option to buy within the deal.

Three sides in for Martial

Anthony Martial looks destined to leave Manchester United in January after his agent publicly revealed that the Frenchman wanted out.

And reports suggest there are three clubs in the race for the 26-year-old forward.

Barcelona, Juventus and Sevilla are all said to be keen on a move for the Frenchman, according to Sky Sports.

All three clubs are targeting an initial loan deal, with the option for a permanent move later down the line.

Martial is understood to be most interested by the prospect of joining Sevilla, as that is where he would be likely to get the most game time out of the three interested parties.