Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski eyes exit to Real Madrid

The summer season switch window was in contrast to some other, see all the major deals and check out how we graded the largest signings. And simply because the window is shut till January, that does not imply the rumours will not maintain coming. This is the newest gossip and hypothesis.

TOP STORY: Lewandowski needs Actual transfer

Robert Lewandowski has determined to prioritise a transfer to Real Madrid as he continues to float in direction of the exit doorways at Bayern Munich, in keeping with studies in Spain.

AS writes that the 33-year-old Poland striker — ranked No. 1 in the position in ESPN FC 100 — has knowledgeable his agent of a desired switch to Madrid, with the hopes of heading to the Santiago Bernabeu on the finish of the season.

Nevertheless, the transfer hinges on the place Borussia Dortmund‘s Erling Haaland (ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s listing) finally ends up. Los Blancos want to make investments closely subsequent summer season, and so they have additionally been linked with Paris Saint-Germain‘s Kylian Mbappe, although Karim Benzema‘s stellar kind means there’s solely room for one marquee signing on the striker place.

Lewandowski has remained in chic kind this season, scoring 25 targets in 23 video games for Bayern Munich, and narrowly missed out profitable the Ballon d’Or, which went to PSG’s Lionel Messi.

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LIVE BLOG

21.28 GMT: Serie A ahead Jeremie Boga might be set for a swap from Sassuolo to Atalanta, with the 2 golf equipment in superior negotiations over a deal concerning his companies, in keeping with Calciomercato.

A charge within the area of €20 million might be required to land the 24-year-old, who was beforehand linked with AC Milan.

20.55 GMT: Aston Villa are getting ready for a swoop of Ryan Kent as new supervisor Steven Gerrard appears to be like to his former membership for reinforcements, in keeping with Ekrem Konur.

The 25-year-old winger was a number one star within the Rangers facet that received the Scottish Premier League title final season, and he might be set to comply with his former supervisor to England, with the Villains getting ready for talks within the January switch window. .

20.22 GMT: Arsenal may transfer on a pair of strikers in January as Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun think about exits from the membership.

That is in keeping with the Standard, which writes that Middlesbrough are eager to take 20-year-old Balogun on mortgage, with the striker wanting to show himself on a short-term transfer away from the Emirates.

However the state of affairs is totally different for Nketiah, who’s but to signal an extension with Arsenal. He’s reported to be attracting curiosity from the Bundesliga, and the 22-year-old is ready to go away on a everlasting foundation looking for common first-team minutes.

19.49 GMT: The Columbus Crew have signed attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan to a brand new three-year contract that may maintain him with the crew by means of not less than 2024, sources advised ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle. The Designated Participant deal additionally comprises a membership choice for 2025. Read the full story.

19.16 GMT: O Jogo writes that Benfica will block Newcastle United’s makes an attempt to signal goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos in January. The Portuguese facet are locked in a title race with FC Porto and Sporting CP whereas difficult in Europe, and they’re decided to not lose any key gamers within the winter switch market.

18.43 GMT: Barcelona have contacted Edinson Cavani‘s representatives to gauge his curiosity on leaving Manchester United for the Camp Nou in the course of the January switch window, numerous sources advised ESPN’s Moises Llorens and Sam Marsden. ESPN has realized {that a} Barcelona consultant contacted Cavani’s atmosphere to inquire out about his state of affairs. Read the full story.

18.10 GMT: AC Milan want to swiftly purchase a centre-back with Simon Kjaer set for a while on the sidelines after struggling a knee harm. Sport Italia studies that the Serie A membership may goal both 20-year-old Benoit Badiashile of AS Monaco or VfL Wolfsburg ‘s 21-year-old Maxence Lacroix, each of whom may require a switch charge of round €30m.

17.37 GMT: Sport writes that Chelsea are delaying negotiations over strikes for Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner to Barcelona as they look ahead to the LaLiga membership’s destiny within the Champions League. It’s reported that they don’t need to reinforce a possible competitor within the knockout phases. Ziyech, 28, has discovered some promising type of late, straight contributing to 4 targets in his previous 5 video games, whereas 25-year-old Werner final scored in opposition to Juventus final week.

17.04 GMT: The Telegraph studies that Newcastle United have mentioned the potential of focusing on six English gamers within the January switch window. Three of these are defenders; with Nat Phillips, James Tarkowski and Kieran Trippier all being monitored by the St. James’ Park hierarchy.

However with the Magpies all-time low of the Premier League desk, there are additionally reinforcements being thought of additional ahead. Harry Winks and Ross Barkley have been recognized as additions in midfield, whereas Eddie Howe can be eager on Jesse Lingard, who needs to go away Manchester United for first-team minutes, as reported by ESPN’s Rob Dawson in November.

16.31 GMT: El Nacional says that Actual Madrid have distanced themselves from a transfer for Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca.

Roca, 25, left relegated Espanyol for a €15m transfer to Bayern in 2020 however has solely performed 12 occasions for the membership since.

He’s eager to go away Bayern however Actual Madrid aren’t wanting so as to add one other midfielder after spending round €30m to signal Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes in the summertime.

15.22 GMT: The Times claims that Man United striker Edinson Cavani needs to hitch Barcelona on a free switch subsequent summer season.

Cavani, 34, agreed a one-year extension to his contract not too long ago however is eager for a brand new problem and needs to play on the prime degree for not less than one other two seasons.

The Uruguay worldwide has 18 targets in 47 video games for United since he arrived in 2020 and Barca might have a substitute for Sergio Aguero if he’s unable to recover from the heart issue which is retaining him out of motion for 3 months.

14.45 GMT: Liverpool landed Diogo Jota for round £45m from Wolves in 2020 and that looks like a cut price.

14.04 GMT: ICYMI – LAFC has picked up its short-term contract option on Carlos Vela, extending his deal till subsequent summer season.

Vela, 32, had some of the dominant seasons in MLS historical past in 2019 as he scored a document 34 targets whereas LAFC received the Supporters’ Protect with the league’s finest common season document.

However accidents have dramatically restricted the Mexico striker’s effectiveness prior to now two seasons. He scored solely 4 targets whereas showing in simply seven video games in the course of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and he made solely 15 begins for LAFC this yr, scoring 5 targets.

Regardless of the brand new deal, the previous Actual Sociedad star nonetheless may go away within the January switch window. The membership is present process a major reboot after lacking the playoffs final month for the primary time of their existence, most notably parting methods with authentic coach Bob Bradley.

LAFC mentioned it additionally exercised its choices on ahead Danny Musovski and midfielder Eduard Atuesta.

13.28 GMT: Denmark’s Inter Milan midfielder Christian Eriksen has begun understanding on the coaching floor of his youth membership in Denmark following his rehabilitation after struggling a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, a spokesperson for the club said on Thursday.

Eriksen, 29, has not performed since struggling the cardiac arrest whereas working close to the left touchline throughout Denmark’s opening sport of the event in opposition to Finland in June and acquired life-saving remedy on the pitch.

“Eriksen reached out to us, and he’s now coaching by himself,” a spokesperson for Odense Boldklub (OB) advised Reuters. “It is pure for him since he performed right here in his youth and lives across the nook. We’re very completely happy to have the ability to present coaching amenities for him,” he mentioned.

Eriksen performed for OB earlier than becoming a member of Ajax Amsterdam in 2008, the place he turned a global. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, enjoying within the 2019 Champions League ultimate, after which signed for Inter Milan final yr.

13.03 GMT: Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti confronted a group of fans after they blocked his car whereas he left the membership’s coaching floor on Wednesday.

Video of the incident confirmed that three followers stood in the course of the highway and jumped up and down in entrance of the participant’s automobile. One fan climbed on prime of the automobile’s bonnet whereas Umtiti, who has but to play for the LaLiga facet this season, was behind the wheel.

Umtiti was jeered by Barcelona followers in preseason after rejecting the chance to go away the membership without spending a dime this summer season. Some supporters felt his determination to remain was one of many causes the membership couldn’t afford to maintain Lionel Messi, who later joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free switch.

The defender is decided to see out his contract on the Camp Nou, which runs till 2023.

12.34 GMT: Ralf Rangnick has been given the inexperienced mild to take over as Manchester United’s interim coach after acquiring a piece visa, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.

Rangnick’s reign at Outdated Trafford, introduced on Monday, has been delayed whereas United work by means of the mandatory paperwork. With the method now full, the 63-year-old can start his position, which features a contract to guide the crew till the top of the season earlier than taking on a two-year consultancy place.

Sources have advised ESPN that Rangnick, who toured Outdated Trafford on Wednesday with soccer director John Murtough, will watch the Premier League conflict with Arsenal on Thursday evening from the stands however ought to be within the dugout for Sunday’s fixture in opposition to Crystal Palace.

Caretaker boss Michael Carrick might be in cost on the touchline in opposition to Arsenal and sources have advised ESPN that Rangnick has had no enter within the build-up.

12.20 GMT: Manchester United have a choice to make over Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Steve Nicol and Craig Burley focus on if Diogo Jota has knocked Roberto Firmino out of Liverpool’s beginning XI completely.

11.37 GMT: Antonio Conte has mentioned being Tottenham Hotspur supervisor is the largest problem of his profession up to now and that the membership is paying the value for letting requirements slip through the years.

Tottenham, who’re ninth within the Premier League, have received two of their 4 video games in all competitions since Conte took cost final month. They suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat by Slovenian crew NS Mura within the Europa Convention League final week.

Conte received three Serie A titles with Juventus earlier than profitable the Premier League and FA Cup with Chelsea. He then guided Inter Milan to their first league title in 11 years in Might.

“[This is] my largest problem, sure,” Conte said. “I’ve a whole lot of enthusiasm… Now a very powerful factor is to create an excellent base after which to construct one thing necessary. The membership, within the final years, has been slipping. If I examine Tottenham to after I was in Chelsea, Tottenham was very, very aggressive, was a extremely, actually robust crew.

“And I feel that to lose necessary gamers or somebody turned previous after which to have a change of era, I feel Tottenham now’s paying a bit for this. Now we’ve to create, to start out once more… We want a little bit of time however I am positive we are able to enhance loads.”

11.15 GMT: Brazilian membership Flamengo have acquired a proposal from MLS facet Charlotte FC for his or her right-back Rodinei, in keeping with Globo.

Rodinei, 29, is underneath contract with Flamengo by means of December 2022 and returned to the membership in June after a mortgage spell at Internacional.

Charlotte FC have provided the Brazilian a two-year contract with an choice to increase it for an additional season.

Rodinei arrived at Flamengo in 2016 and has scored 9 targets in 181 appearances for the Rio de Janeiro outfit.

10.33 GMT: Manchester Metropolis coach Pep Guardiola needs U.S. worldwide Sergino Dest to be included as a part of the deal that might see Spain ahead Ferran Torres be a part of Barcelona within the January switch window, in keeping with Sport.

ESPN sources revealed that Barca have held talks with Metropolis to signal Torres however up to now they’ve proved unsuccessful. Nevertheless, talks may re-open if Barca embody a participant within the deal.

Guardiola is eager on Dest and Barca can be open to letting him go away. Dest, 21, has made 14 appearances in all competitions for Barca this season however his performances haven’t satisfied coach Xavi Hernandez.

Dest joined Barca from Ajax in the summertime of 2020 in a €21m switch and has a contract with the Catalan giants by means of June 2025. Torres, contracted to Metropolis by means of June 2025, joined the Premier League giants in 2020 in a €28m switch from Valencia.

10.11 GMT: Barcelona have given Ousmane Dembele a 15-day ultimatum to decide on his future, Mundo Deportivo reports.

Dembele, 24, has but to signal a brand new contract at Camp Nou and his deal expires on the finish of the season. The France worldwide has a proposal on the desk however has but to provide a solution and Barca are rising impatient.

Manchester United and Newcastle are reportedly focused on signing him, however haven’t made a agency supply but. Dembele has reportedly advised his teammates he needs to stay at Barca as a result of he’s completely happy there and needs to provide again the boldness given by the membership. Nevertheless, Dembele can be having doubts and his agent Moussa Sissoko needs him to hearken to different affords that might be higher financially.

Barca signed Dembele for €105m from Borussia Dortmund in 2017. Since becoming a member of he has managed simply 30 targets in 120 video games in all competitions in an injury-laden spell.

09.43 GMT: Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta has played down the prospect of spending significant sums in the January transfer window.

The Gunners dedicated £140m on six summer season signings as Arteta embarked upon a serious overhaul of his squad with Aaron Ramsdale, Nuno Tavares, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Martin Odegaard all arriving at Emirates Stadium.

The membership have 5 gamers about to enter the ultimate six months of their present contracts, probably the most high-profile of which is striker Alexandre Lacazette, who hinted at an exit when chatting with French outlet Telefoot final month by claiming “my brokers at the moment are wanting left and proper a bit, however not earlier than Janaury.”

Arteta alluded to the complexity of this and different conditions — Eddie Nketiah can be out of contract subsequent summer season and was near a transfer to Crystal Palace in the summertime — when requested whether or not supporters may anticipate a serious outlay on new gamers in January.

“We’re in discussions, we’ve talks each week about it: how we are able to enhance the crew, what issues can occur within the January switch window can have an effect on our squad,” Arteta mentioned on Wednesday morning.

“As you recognize, we’ve sure gamers with slightly little bit of uncertainty in the summertime so we’ve to plan what will occur now and what will occur in the summertime. Loads needed to be finished as properly.

“We all know and we do not anticipate massive issues taking place however we’re going to be very alert available in the market to see if we are able to enhance the crew. And as properly, we’ve to be ready as a result of issues can occur, accidents come up on this interval and you need to be ready.”

08.49 GMT: Jan Oblak‘s agent is due in Madrid within the coming weeks for talks with Atletico Madrid over a contract extension, Marca studies.

The 28-year-old Slovenia worldwide — who was voted No. 1 among goalkeepers in ESPN’s FC 100 for 2021 — has a present deal which expires in June 2023, with a €120m launch clause.

Oblak conceded a weird objective at Cadiz on Sunday however, in keeping with Marca, each Atletico and coach Diego Simeone have “no doubts” about him.

The newspaper says negotiations with agent Miha Mlakar are anticipated to be “a tough highway,” as they had been the final time a brand new contract was agreed in 2019, with long-term curiosity in Oblak from the Premier League.

08.00 GMT: Manchester United caretaker Michael Carrick says it’s a “myth” that Cristiano Ronaldo can’t play in a pressing team as Ralf Rangnick’s arrival has sparked questions concerning the ahead’s place in his crew..

Ronaldo’s position at Outdated Trafford has been underneath scrutiny following the appointment of interim supervisor Rangnick, who has a repute for teaching an intense, urgent fashion. The Portugal captain’s statistics this season and final season at Juventus recommend he doesn’t shut down defenders fairly often, however Carrick insists the 36-year-old will have the ability to adapt to Rangnick’s calls for.

“Perhaps it’s a delusion,” Carrick advised a information convention on Wednesday. “Perhaps that’s how it’s. He is performed in sufficient groups through the years being profitable to play in quite a lot of methods and stored scoring targets for each crew. I am positive he’ll proceed to attain targets, there is no such thing as a doubt about that.”

Rangnick has not but been capable of work with the gamers due to ongoing points acquiring a piece visa and Carrick will stay in cost for Arsenal’s go to to Outdated Trafford on Thursday.

It means the squad might be set for a crash course in Rangnick’s strategies as soon as he takes over throughout a busy schedule of eight video games in 30 days earlier than the top of 2021.

“Gamers adapt, there’s totally different expertise and kinds you need to have,” added Carrick. “We now have performed totally different kinds since we got here right here. Ralf has a terrific pedigree over an extended time period and had good success with that so I’m positive that the gamers are wanting ahead to the times and weeks forward.”

– Rangnick has used ‘wheel of misfortune’ to keep discipline

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Jan Oblak says it was all the time his dream to be a goalkeeper after being named finest on this planet within the ESPN FC 100.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)

– Napoli are persevering with their seek for a left-back and have begun talks with the agent of Besiktas star Umut Meras. That is in keeping with Calciomercato, which writes that the 25-year-old is open to a transfer to Serie A, however is remaining targeted on Besiktas till an official supply is made.

– Jonathan Ikone is ready for a swap to Serie A in January after agreeing on a take care of Fiorentina. Fabrizio Romano writes that Lille will obtain a charge of €15m for the 23-year-old. Ikone has had a combined marketing campaign after being a standout performer when his facet received the Ligue 1 title final season.

– In the meantime, Lille have set their sights on FC Midtjylland‘s Gustav Isaksen for a transfer in January, in keeping with Sport Italia TV. The 20-year-old star was a standout performer as his facet defeated Braga 3-2 within the Europa League, and he has additionally impressed whereas on worldwide responsibility with the Denmark U21 nationwide crew.

– Nicolo Schira reveals that Manchester City have scouted Bologna‘s Mattias Svanberg, who scored the winner in his facet’s 1-0 victory over AS Roma on Wednesday. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has been in good kind this season and has beforehand been linked with Arsenal.

– Barcelona are focused on Las Palmas star Alberto Moleiro, says Mundo Deportivo. The Blaugrana are reported to have been following the 18-year-old for a while with hopes he might be the following Pedri, however the Canaries are planning to make it harder for golf equipment to accumulate Moleiro, with plans to triple his launch clause in a brand new contract extension.

– Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reaffirmed his need to remain on the San Siro after scoring the opening objective in AC Milan‘s 3-0 win over Genoa on Wednesday. Talking after the sport, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano, he mentioned: “I am completely happy for our supervisor [Stefano Pioli] however now it is time for me to increase the contract. These guys make me have enjoyable.”