CHELSEA failed in a bid to sign PSG defender Marquinhos over the summer, according to reports.
But the Blues are said to be front runners to sign Matthijs de Ligt, three seasons after joining Juventus.
Thomas Tuchel's side are bracing themselves for an exodus of defenders and either need to tie their rearguard down to new deals or fish around.
And the Dutch defender, 22, would fit the profile.
His agent Mino Raiola said: "We can all think of the clubs Matthijs could go to.
"That can be the Premier League, but also Barcelona, Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain."
Newcastle are keen on a striker and are looking it Manchester United outcast Anthony Martial as well as former Celtic star Moussa Dembele.
The struggling Magpies are also said to be keen to bring Edin Dzeko to Tyneside as the club's Saudi owners look to splash the cash.
When does the January transfer window open and close?
The transfer window opens on January 1 and closes on the 31st at 11pm.
Clubs will be able to sign and sell players during that time, with the Premier League's winter break due to take place while the final week of the window is going on.
Get all the latest transfer news, gossip and updates here…
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
- Jake Lambourne
Gav some of that
Barcelona wonderkid Gavi earns just £1,600-a-week, according to reports.
The 17-year-old is still on his youth team salary but is reportedly in line for a bumper new deal which will make him a multi-millionaire in no time.
He will also be given a signing on fee of up to £1.7million.
The youngster was given his debut by Ronald Koeman and has continued to develop under new boss Xavi.
His new contract will see him commit his future to the Catalans until 2026, according to 'Què t'hi jugues' on Cadena SER.
He pulls in just £85k-a-year at the moment despite having played 21 times in LaLiga and the Champions League this season.
- Jake Lambourne
View to a Kyl
Kylian Mbappe could RETIRE at Paris Saint-Germain – if his cheeky team-mates have anything to do with it.
The Ligue 1 leaders gathered to celebrate the France superstar’s 23rd birthday on Sunday.
And the squad hilariously chipped in to give him a PSG home shirt with ‘Mbappe 2050’ printed on the back.
That would mean the striker staying at the Parcs des Princes for another 29 years.
But reports suggest he is unlikely to remain a PSG player this SUMMER as Real Madrid look set to announce his signature.
The wonderkid is out of contract in the French capital at the end of the season and looks set to move to Spain.
- Jake Lambourne
Heartbreak call for Chelsea's Musonda
Charly Musonda has revealed that he broke down in tears after deciding to leave Chelsea.
The 25-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge back in 2012 with the Blues having huge hopes for the Belgian.
However, last month he revealed on Instagram that he will become a free agent and leave the club once his contract expires at the end of the season.
Speaking to The Beautiful Game Podcast, Musonda said: “It’s been a difficult one.
“Even the post on Instagram, I wasn’t going to be too emotional with it because I didn’t want to go long into the details and go long into the memories of everything.
“I spoke with Petr Cech in August on the phone and after those talks, I knew straight away, okay, I’m going to leave in August here, there is nothing else I can do.
“After the phone call, I was literally crying because I’d been there for a while. Even now, it’s going to take some time to get around it.”
- Jake Lambourne
Life's a beach for some
Ronaldinho and Romario show they’ve lost none of the sublime skills as they enjoy themselves at a Rio de Janeiro beach tournament.
The retired stars wowed the crowds and showed their appreciation for each other with high fives and hugs – despite being rivals on the day.
Barcelona legend Ronaldinho, 41, displayed one of his trademark tricks by looking away before trying to surprise the 55-year-old Romario with a kicked-in serve.
Ronaldinho’s team-mate even went down on one knee to hero-worship him after the ex-AC Milan striker set him up for a winning point with a mid-air flick.
But Romario, now a politician in Brazil, had the last laugh as he and his partner took victory in the footvolley match.
The scenic beach setting near Rio’s iconic Copacabana beach was a world away from the Paraguayan prison where Ronaldinho was pictured playing footvolley in March last year.
Read more HERE.
- Jake Lambourne
Newcastle in for Lyon's Dembele
Eddie Howe will reportedly look to bring Lyon striker Moussa Dembele to St James' Park in the New Year.
The Magpies are in need of a new centre-forward to compete with Callum Wilson up top.
Flop club-record singing Joelinton has scored just once in 17 Premier League games this term.
According to the Daily Mail, Dembele is a loan target for the Toon in January.
And Newcastle are also said to be in for Lille centre-back Sven Botman and Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier.
- Jake Lambourne
Chelsea shot down for Marquinhos
Chelsea reportedly had a bid rejected by Paris Saint-Germain in the summer for centre-back Marquinhos.
According to L'Equipe, the Blues saw their £72.5million offer for the Brazilian turned down by Les Parisiens.
Mauricio Pochettino's side were unwilling to negotiate a deal as they declared he was not for sale.
Should Marquinhos have linked up with Chelsea, he would have been reunited with former defensive partner Thiago Silva, who joined the club on a free transfer last year.
- Jake Lambourne
Lew being serious right now?
Chelsea's forgotten man Lewis Baker could play his second game for the club… almost EIGHT years after his debut.
The Premier League teams voted to continue the season on Monday meaning matches will go ahead as planned.
If sides are able to name 13 outfield players and a goalkeeper, their games must go ahead, even if that means calling up players from the Under-23s.
And with Chelsea's squad decimated by injuries and Covid cases – at least seven players have tested positive – it could see Baker brought back into the fold.
The midfielder has been on Chelsea's books since 2005 and made his only senior appearance in the FA Cup way back on January 5, 2014.
Since then, Baker has been a mainstay in the famous loans army out of Stamford Bridge with nine loan spells to the EFL, Holland, Germany and Turkey, making 36 appearances for Trabzonspor last season.
- Jake Lambourne
Out of Luc
Newcastle have reportedly been knocked back in their pursuit of Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta.
The midfielder is under contract at Lyon until 2025 but the French side are willing to cash in now.
Newcastle were allegedly keen on bringing him to the Premier League.
And Toon even offered the 24-year-old a whopping £180,000-a-week wage package to secure his services, it's claimed.
However, Foot Mercato claims that Paqueta has rejected a switch to Newcastle.
This latest report states that he is happy to stay at Lyon instead and will only consider leaving if a bigger club comes in for him.
- Jake Lambourne
Vit for action
Everton have reportedly agreed a £17million deal for Vitaliy Mykolenko – paving the way for Lucas Digne to depart.
The Toffees have ‘completed negotiations’ with Dynamo Kiev for the Ukrainian international full-back.
And The Mirror also claims that the 22-year-old has already passed a medical at Goodison Park on Friday.
Mykolenko will Everton cost £15m up front, with a further £2m included in the package as add-ons.
His arrival could now signal the end of fan favourite Digne’s time on Merseyside.
The French star is wanted by both Leicester City and Newcastle United.
- Etienne Fermie
Mar to come
Mikel Arteta has gushed over in-form forward Gabriel Martinelli.
Ahead of tonight’s League Cup quarter-final against Sunderland, the Spaniard said: “You cannot play every action at 100mph, it is impossible.
“It is not very efficient for you because you burn yourself out after a few minutes, and then you just chasing a situation and not reading exactly what is needed.
“Gabi is doing much better at that. We have to try to [develop] that without losing the passion, the energy and this capacity he has to just affect the game with the way he acts on the pitch.
“He trains incredibly hard, he is always willing to do more and he is not scared or afraid to take risks, and that is what I like about him.
“I can imagine [playing against him] – you’re not going to have any time on the ball, every time the ball is 50/50 he is going to chase it and he’s going to use his body, his speed, his technical ability to get away from you.
“You have to be careful, because he can attack you one v one, he can attack your back, he can make movements off the ball… he is a real threat in front of goal.”
- Etienne Fermie
Looks Al-right
Manchester United have reportedly made contact with River Plate over signing their super-striker Julian Alvarez.
And the Red Devils could snap him up for just £17million – £4m less than his release clause – if they act fast.
United put in a call to the South American side in the last few weeks, according to Argentine newspaper Ole.
Alvarez, 21, has been in scintillating form – scoring 24 and providing 15 assists in 46 games.
Some of Europe's biggest clubs are said to be keen on the five-cap Argentina international.
Bayern Munich, Juventus, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid have all been linked.
- Etienne Fermie
Playing the field
Erling Haaland hasn’t ruled out staying at Dortmund next season.
The in-demand striker’s agent Mino Raiola said: “Haaland can wait for everyone.
“We don’t have a pre-agreement with any club.
“We will look for the best option, and I also never ruled out another year at B. Dortmund”.
- Etienne Fermie
New Camp
Barcelona have approved a £1.3billion renovation of the Nou Camp despite the club being in financial crisis.
The Catalan giants' first ever online vote was held on Sunday as the plan was passed through with 42,693 club members backing the stadium overhaul.
A total of 5,055 voted against the project while 875 abstained. More than 40 per cent of Barcelona's members chose to have their say in the decision.
The project – which has been titled 'Espai Barca' – will be funded by a third-party loan.
And members had vocalised their concerns around the financial aspect of the plan, particularly given the club's debt already stands at more than £1bn.
This forced president Joan Laporta to call the referendum to push the plan through.
The project is expected to be finished in 2025, with part of the stadium set to be closed for the 2022-23 season.
Then for the 2023-24 campaign Barca will likely have to play elsewhere – potentially at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic.
- Etienne Fermie
The kids are alright
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has called up TWELVE academy and Under-23 stars to train with the first team, according to reports.
The Blues' squad has been decimated by injuries and Covid-related absences and the German has had to turn to their youth ranks to make up the numbers.
Teddy Sharman-Lowe, 18, Josh Brooking, 19, Xavier Mbuyamba, 19, Alfie Gilchrist, 18, Dion Rankine, 19, and Xavier Simons, 18, all trained with the available first team squad players on Monday, according to Football London.
As, reportedly, did Lewis Baker, 26, Lewis Hall, 17, Joe Haigh, 18, Harvey Vale, 18, Bryan Fiabema, 18, and Jay Wareham, 18.
- William Pugh
Good morning football fans
Chelsea are on red alert as Juventus star Matthijs de Ligt is ready for a "new step".
De Ligt is being tracked as a solution to the Blues’ defensive headache as Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen's contracts expire in June.
De Ligt's agent Mino Raiola has said his client is ready to look beyond Serie A.
Raiola told NRC: “[De Ligt] is ready for a new step… he thinks that too.”
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke confirmed Real Madrid’s interest in Erling Haaland.
Haaland has also been linked with Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Watzke told BILD TV: “No matter where I go, everyone speaks to you about Erling Haaland.
“All I know is a guarantee that Real Madrid are very interested in him. I could name 25 others now.
“But I know for sure, it can be that he leaves, but it can also be that he stays.
“A few days ago I had a very good conversation with Mino Raiola. When we are in a corridor, the conversations are always quite friendly.
“And that phone call was quite friendly. We will certainly have another meeting in the next few weeks.
“The overall development of Haaland is in the foreground.
"Just like with [Robert] Lewandowski, I would like to be proud of Erling at some point if he wins the Champions League.
“Personally, I think it’s good for him if he stays in the Bundesliga a little longer.”
And Newcastle are keeping tabs on both Anthony Martial and Edin Dzeko ahead of the January transfer window, according to SunSport's Phil Thomas and Duncan Wright.
The Magpies are willing to pay a hefty loan fee of around £6million to tempt United's Martial to St James’ Park.
The Toon are also eyeing Inter Milan star Dzeko, who scored 50 goals and recorded 24 assists for City in the Premier League.
Finally, Arsenal's out-of-favour star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is being targeted by Juventus ahead of the January transfer window.
That is according to Tuttosport, who report that Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is desperate for attacking reinforcements.
And Aubameyang is a serious option after falling out of favour at the Emirates.
A six-month loan deal has been touted, ahead of a possible permanent move in the summer.
Barcelona have also been credited with an interest in the centre-forward, who now seems destined to leave north London after his latest disciplinary breach, which cost him the captain’s armband
- Kostas Lianos
O-Mi not again
Premier League games could take place behind closed doors once more.
A meeting between Prem clubs decided matches would continue as normal after Christmas despite a rise in positive COVID-19 cases.
According to The Times, fixtures could end up taking place without the presence of fans.
Omicron cases are on the rise and although supporters have carried proof of a negative test or a coronavirus passport to gain admittance, they could soon be blocked from attending if the government steps in.
Fears around a high R figure mean the government could introduce further restrictions.
And if Premier League grounds are needed as makeshift vaccination centres, fans may have to be excluded from live matches for the foreseeable future.
In such a scenario, matches could be shown live on TV, as was the case from Project Restart until the end of last term
- Kostas Lianos
Out of the race
Newcastle have ‘pulled out of the race’ for Manchester United's Jesse Lingard.
That is according to The Athletic, who claim that Lingard has opted to stay and ‘fight for his place’ after interim manager Ralf Rangnick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
That means the Toon, who have found themselves in a desperate bid to avoid relegation, will have to look for reinforcements elsewhere.
The England international is into the final months of his deal and is also targeted by West Ham
- Kostas Lianos
‘No pre-agreement’
Borussia Dortmund ace Erling Haaland’s representative Mino Raiola confirmed his client doesn’t have a “pre-agreement” with any of his suitors, including Manchester United.
Raiola told NOS: “Haaland can wait for everyone.
“We don’t have a pre-agreement with any club.
“We will look for the best option, and I also never ruled out another year at Borussia Dortmund”
- Kostas Lianos
Cavani caution
Barcelona are cautious about signing Manchester United ace Edinson Cavani in the January transfer window because of the his continued injury woes.
Barca have been strongly linked with a bid for Cavani next month.
According to SPORT, however, the centre-forward's latest injury setback means the club are thinking twice about making an offer.
The Uruguay international’s latest injury is a recurring problem to his Achilles tendon.
It’s caused him to miss United’s last eight league matches, meaning the Blaugrana may shelve their pursuit for the 34-year-old
- Kostas Lianos
More on Juve trio
Arsenal are reportedly targeting Juventus trio Aaron Ramsey, Arthur and Dejan Kulusevski ahead of next month's transfer window.
Juve boss Massimiliano Max Allegri is ready to cut former Gunners star Ramsey loose on a free transfer, with a Premier League return highly likely.
Fellow midfielder Arthur has also struggled for regular minutes under Allegri, playing just four times in the Campionato.
Kulusevski hasn’t found the net in 12 Serie A matches this term and the Bianconeri are open to offers
- Kostas Lianos
Barc in business
Barcelona want to sign Manchester United ace Edinson Cavani and Manchester City star Ferran Torres next month.
That is according to Mundo Deportivo, who report that Barca want to secure two signings next month ahead of their clash with Real Madrid.
The Blaugrana are desperate to sign Torres, who wants to return to Spain and it’s claimed he has already verbally agreed a five-year deal with Xavi’s side.
Barcelona also want another centre-forward, however, to provide ‘malice and mischief’ in the box – with Cavani an experienced option.
Ideally, Xavi would like both signings completed by the time he takes his squad to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup.
Both legs against rivals Real will take place between January 12 and January 16
- Kostas Lianos
More from Watzke
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke added that he had a “friendly” discussion with Manchester United target Erling Haaland’s representative Mino Raiola and claimed the striker should consider staying in the Bundesliga.
Watzke added: “And that phone call [with Raiola] was quite friendly. We will certainly have another meeting in the next few weeks.
“The overall development of Haaland is in the foreground. Just like with [Robert] Lewandowski, I would like to be proud of Erling at some point if he wins the Champions League.
“Personally, I think it’s good for him if he stays in the Bundesliga a little longer”
- Kostas Lianos
Juventus eye Aubameyang
Arsenal's out-of-favour star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is being targeted by Juventus ahead of the January transfer window.
That is according to Tuttosport, who report that Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is desperate for attacking reinforcements to boost his flailing offence.
And Aubameyang is a serious option after falling out of favour at the Emirates.
A six-month loan deal has been touted, ahead of a possible permanent move in the summer.
Barcelona have also been credited with an interest in the centre-forward, who now seems destined to leave north London after his latest disciplinary breach, which cost him the captain’s armband
- Kostas Lianos
Mad for him
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke confirmed Real Madrid’s interest in Erling Haaland.
Haaland has also been linked with Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Watzke told BILD TV: “No matter where I go, everyone speaks to you about Erling Haaland.
“All I know is a guarantee that Real Madrid are very interested in him. I could name 25 others now.
“But I know for sure, it can be that he leaves, but it can also be that he stays.
“A few days ago I had a very good conversation with Mino Raiola. When we are in a target corridor, the conversations are always quite friendly”
- Kostas Lianos
Toon eye Tony
Newcastle are keeping tabs on both Anthony Martial and Edin Dzeko ahead of the January transfer window, according to SunSport's Phil Thomas and Duncan Wright.
The Toon are willing to pay a hefty loan fee of around £6million to tempt Manchester United's Martial to St James’ Park.
The Magpies are also eyeing Inter Milan star Dzeko.
The ex-Manchester City centre-forward scored 50 goals and recorded 24 assists in the Premier League
Source: Read Full Article