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: Barcelona, PSG, Madrid all in for Endrick
Barcelona remain in the race alongside Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid to sign highly rated Palmeiras forward Endrick, according to Diario Sport.
It is suggested that PSG are the 16-year-old’s most likely eventual destination, while Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will do everything possible to bring him to the Bernabeu.
All of this comes despite the fact that, like his Brazilian compatriots Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo before him, Endrick is not allowed to make a big European move until he turns 18 due to FIFA rules. Endrick can still sign a pre-agreement before then, which has resulted in the scramble to sign the teenager who is considered a major talent.
Barcelona had been working to ensure they wrapped up his signature for 2024, but that has changed after their Champions League elimination and El Clasico defeat this month. Barcelona may now concentrate their resources towards signing a defensive midfielder and right-back in January as they battle for the LaLiga and Europa League titles.
While Endrick has been told he should wait until the summer before signing any future agreement, Barcelona could miss out should a deal be finalised elsewhere. Even so, the Blaugrana have a good relationship with those around the forward and have received a commitment that they will be kept up to date with any market movements surrounding him.
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LIVE BLOG
09.25 BST: PSV forward Cody Gakpo has a host of top European clubs after his signature, but Der Telegraaf says he could be available for as little as €30m.
Gakpo, 23, has 13 goals and 14 assists from 21 games this season and was linked with a €60m to Manchester United over the summer.
The Netherlands international is one of the most in-form players who could move in January, but the Dutch club’s financial situation mean he could be allowed to leave on the cheap.
09.00 BST: New Villarreal coach Quique Setien said he should have left the Barcelona job after just one month in charge due to difficulties in fulfilling the role how he wanted to.
Setien, 64, said certain habits had set in that he was unable to change and made him compromise on his coaching style.
The former Barca boss also spoke about the difficulties he experienced coaching Lionel Messi, although he said he wanted to remember the positive elements of the Paris Saint-Germain forward.
“Barca was the team I had always dreamed of coaching, but if you see there are things you can’t change, you should leave,” he told El Larguero after his first game in charge of Villarreal, a 2-2 draw against Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Europa Conference League.
“But it is an opportunity you have dreamed of forever. And arriving through one door and leaving through another the next month like [Jose Antonio] Camacho did [at Real Madrid in 1998]… There was a moment I thought about it, but you overcome those moments. If there are things that don’t fit, you should not be a hypocrite and you should go.”
1:03
Barcelona manager Xavi believes the club still has a lot to fight for after Champions League exit.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Ekrem Konur reports that that Manchester City are among the clubs hoping to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhailo Mudryk, with scouts recently watching the Ukraine international against Celtic. The 21-year-old marked a lively performance by scoring Shakhtar’s goal in a 1-1 draw to stay third in their Champions League group.
– Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Marseille are among the clubs that could reignite their interest in Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi in January, reports Calciomercato. The Ukraine international has found meaningful game time hard to come by this season, which could lead to his winter departure.
– Fabrizio Romano has reported that work is in progress to extend Alejandro Garnacho‘s contract with Manchester United. The Red Devils’ offer for a new long-term contract has been ready since June, with the 18-year-old forward’s deal set to expire at the end of the season.
– After a possible summer move to Chelsea fell through, Dynamo Moscow attacking midfielder Arsen Zakharyan has told Sport24 that he hopes a move to Stamford Bridge is still on the cards. Having also been linked with Zenit St. Petersburg, Zakharyan stated: “I want to go to Chelsea now, I don’t want to go to Zenit … I have a year and a half contract. I am happy to play in Dynamo, the only place I want to go is Chelsea.”
— Zidan Sertdemir could leave Bayer Leverkusen in January with various clubs actively working to sign the 17-year-old Danish midfielder, reports Fabrizio Romano. Having joined the Bundesliga side in 2021, Sertdemir has made three late substitute appearances for the first team so far with all of them coming last season.
