CLUBS are preparing for a winter spending spree, with Chelsea hoping to join the party after being forbidden to sign anyone other than Mateo Kovacic in the summer.
Lionel Messi has spoken out on Neymar, saying he had hoped would return to Barcelona over the summer – while Manchester United have suffered a setback in their bid to sign Bruno Fernandes.
Follow all the latest transfer news and gossip here…
ROMELU LUKAKU claims he was overweight at Manchester United due to a digestive problem.
SunSport revealed last month that Lukaku was flogged to Inter Milan after returning for pre-season 9lb over his ideal weight.
So Inter manager Antonio Conte sent him for tests to find out what was wrong.
Lukaku said: “Normally I have a fine digestive system. I digest everything very quickly. That's how it had been my entire life.
“But what the nutritionist said to me was, it had stopped working.”
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN is “happy” with Spurs, according to Mauricio Pochettino.
The boss said: “He never said he was not happy here – he always was.
“I said before the Arsenal game that he was in the right mind – that's why I selected him for that game and I will continue to select him.
“He has always been such an important player for us and he will continue to be.”
ARSENE WENGER is finally “on the verge” of a return to football – but the ex-Arsenal manager will not be back in the dug-out.
The 69-year-old ended his 21-year stint in charge of the Gunners in May 2018 and has since kept himself busy with TV punditry work.
However, Goal are now reporting the Frenchman is close to accepting a new job – with Fifa.
Wenger is believed to taking up a new technical role with football’s governing body, and he will be responsible for the work done by the recently departed Zvonimir Boban.
BILLY GILMOUR has penned a new four-year contract at Chelsea.
The Scottish midfielder, 18, has put pen to paper after making his Premier League in the 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.
He told the club website: “It's really exciting for me and my family to sign a four-year deal with the club.
“Frank has come in and everyone is buzzing, training is really good and there's a high standard to everything we do.
“There are exciting times ahead and hopefully I can work hard to get more opportunities as well.”
BARCA star Lionel Messi has claimed he would have “loved” the club to have re-signed Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
The Argentinian international has also revealed that his former team-mate was “desperate” to return to the Nou Camp – two years after leaving to join Les Parisiens.
Speaking to Spanish news outlet Sport, he said: “He was desperate to come back. I don't know if the club really tried or not.”
Before adding: “I would have loved to have Neymar back. I understand those people who are against his return and it's understandable for what happened with 'Ney' and the way that he left.
“But thinking about it on a sporting level, I personally think Neymar is one of the best players in the world and having him in our squad would increase our chances of achieving our objectives.”
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