Another day in football, another wave of transfer rumours to keep up on. Take a look at the most recent names and gossip being floated around in the media.
Will any of the following deals happen in January?
Lionel Messi will not renew his Barcelona contract and will become a free agent next summer, according to Onda Cero.
The Argentine has agreed to sign a new four year deal at the Camp Nou, but has still not put pen to paper.
Barcelona have maintained that Messi will stay, but following Neymar’s world record move to PSG, the possibility of a club paying his bumper €300 million buyout clause seems realistic.
With no contract signed, the 29-year-old has been linked strongly with a move to the Etihad Stadium in 2018, due to his close relationship with Pep Guardiola and director of football Txiki Begiristain.
Messi may have stalled a new Barcelona contract but he is expected to stay at the Camp Nou beyond next summer.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is understandably in no rush to sort out a new deal and will bide his time until a much improved offer comes along, despite strong links to Manchester.
Lionel Messi.
Riyad Mahrez will seek a move away from Leicester in January after missing out on a transfer in the summer window, according to the Daily Mail.
The Algerian has been linked with a host of clubs over recent months, and is likely to cost around €50 million after Roma had a series of bids rejected for the Foxes star.
The likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are reported to be interested in Mahrez, but will only sign him if he replicates his 2015-16 form after a key role in Leicester’s shock Premier League title win that season.
The 26-year-old expressed his desire to leave the King Power Stadium in May, and a move to Chelsea looked likely on transfer deadline day but the club priced him out of a summer switch.
Although €50 million is an expensive figure to meet, it may be a fee that one of the Premier League’s elite are willing to pay if he can string together a series of impressive displays over the coming months.
Riyad Mahrez.
Manchester United are set to lose out to Borussia Dortmund in the race to sign Kasper Dolberg, according to the Sun.
The 19-year-old impressed for the Dutch giants last season, firing 23 goals in all competitions.
Monaco had reportedly tabled a bid worth €50 million for the young striker during the final weeks of the summer transfer window but Ajax rejected the offer.
His exploits on the domestic and European stage have well and truly put his name in lights, and as a result, speculation is rich as to where his future might lie.
Speculation surrounding Dolberg will likely dominate the transfer agenda for the rest of the season – if no move is forced through in January.
The feeling among the Dutch press is the teen will stay in Holland for at least one more season but a big-money offer would really test Ajax’s resolve, especially the opportunity to work under old boss Peter Bosz in Dortmund.
Kasper Dolberg.
