THE season is near the halfway mark and clubs are eyeing the January transfer window.
More than three months after the window slammed shut for teams in England and around Europe, it's nearly time for the wheeling and dealing to start all over again.
And Liverpool appear to be acting quickly as they enter talks with Salzburg over a deal for Takeshi Minamino.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are set for a busy January after their transfer ban was overturned – with Nathan Ake a key target of theirs.
Follow all the latest updates and gossip below…
EXCLUSIVE by Dan Cutts: MANCHESTER UNITED and Arsenal are keeping tabs on £42m-rated Parma star Dejan Kulusevski.
The Swedish midfielder has had a stunning season so far while on loan from high-flying Atalanta.
It is understood a number of other top European clubs including Juventus and Inter Milan are also after him.
Kulusevski was available for just £8.5m last summer, before he was sent out on loan from the campaign.
Some of the Premier League’s top sides have sent scouts to watch him in recent weeks, including United and the Gunners.
The 19-year-old’s agent is believed to have already met clubs over a transfer before the Euro’s next summer.
LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has signed a new five-year contract keeping him at the club until at least 2024.
The German chief's assistants Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders have also penned new deals.
After signing on the dotted line, Klopp revealed: “For me personally this is a statement of intent, one which is built on my knowledge of what we as a partnership have achieved so far and what is still there for us to achieve.
“When I see the development of the club and the collaborative work that continues to take place, I feel my contribution can only grow.
“People see what happens on the pitch as a measure of our progress and although it is the best measure, it’s not the only measure.
“I have seen the commitment from ownership through to every aspect and function of the club you can think of.
“When the call came in autumn 2015, I felt we were perfect for each other; if anything, now I feel I underestimated that.
“It is only with a total belief that the collaboration remains totally complementary on both sides that I am able to make this commitment to 2024.
“If I didn’t I would not be re-signing.”
CHELSEA could finally be set to get rid of Marcos Alonso with Atletico Madrid keen on taking the Spaniard back to the capital.
The left-back has been frozen out of the squad by Frank Lampard with Emerson Palmieri preferred.
Yet, he could be gone for good as Atletico eye a loan deal in January before sealing a permanent transfer in the summer, according to Cadena Cope.
That would make Alonso the second Blues star to join the Spanish outfit at the end of the season, with Alvaro Morata signing for the club permanently in July.
This would also hand Chelsea an open spot to sign Ben Chilwell from Leicester City, with the Blues able to sign players next month after their transfer ban was overturned.
CRYSTAL PALACE are stepping up their interest in Chelsea outcast Olivier Giroud.
The Frenchman wants to leave Stamford Bridge having started just two games under Frank Lampard this season.
Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid are also chasing the 33-year-old, but the Mirror claim Giroud may end up at Palace as Chelsea further their interest in Wilfried Zaha.
EXCLUSIVE by Dan Cutts: MANCHESTER CITY are set to hand Eric Garcia a new five-year deal in the coming weeks.
The 18-year-old made his first start in the Champions League in their 4-1 win at away at Dinamo Zagreb earlier this week.
The central defender has already made five appearances this season after breaking into Pep Guardiola’s first-team plans.
And City want to tie him down with a long-term contract, with an increase on his £10,000-a-week terms.
It is understood he will head towards the £25,000-a-week mark, to be on par with fellow academy graduate Phil Foden.
Garcia has two-years left on his present deal, but want to stop him leaving with Real Madrid and Barcelona both interested.
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