The transfer window is closed until January but that doesn’t keep the rumour mill churning as clubs look to get a leg up on potential transfers.
Here are three big stories dominating the headlines on Thursday.
Will any of the following deals happen?
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REAL PLAN SWOOP FOR INTER STAR ICARDI
Real Madrid are set to launch a bid for Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi in the January transfer window, according to Marca.
Club president Florentino Perez has made no secret that significant funds will be made available to boss Zinedine Zidane to strengthen the Whites – and Icardi is at the top of the club’s shopping list.
The Nerazzurri ace has already plundered 15 goals in 14 appearances this term – and while he’s contracted to the San Siro club until 2023 – Real are confident they can force Inter’s hand with a bid in the region of €100m.
Icardi has been in talks with the Milan outfit to extend his current deal but so far, negotiations seemed to have stalled.
Los Blancos are ready to step in and test Inter’s mettle come January, given they believe the Argentine can help take some of the goalscoring workload off of club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
RATING: 7/10
VERDICT
It remains to be seen whether Inter would want to offload their star man mid-season, but when Real come calling, they are difficult to turn down for club and player alike.
Icardi has been billed as a potential replacement for Karim Benzema and very much fits the mould of striker Madrid are looking for, given his potency in front of goal.
Icardi has been a key man behind Inter’s rise to second place in the Serie A table.
NAVAS HAS ‘NOTHING TO PROVE’ AS REAL CONSIDER OTHER KEEPING OPTIONS
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas is unmoved by speculation linking the club with Athletic Bilbao stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga, insisting he has nothing to prove.
Zidane’s men are reportedly ready to swoop for the highly-rated Spain international, casting further doubts over the Costa Rican’s future and indeed that of Kiko Casilla.
“I don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” Navas, who is currently on the sidelines due to injury, told FOX Sports.
“I must enjoy my career and being what Real Madrid is, you never know what may happen in the future.”
RATING: 8/10
VERDICT
While the 30-year-old, ironically, could be back for this weekend’s trip to Bilbao – it is clear Real have made signing a new shot-stopper one of their big priorities.
Zidane has previously gone on record to publicly back Navas but now it seems the Whites will rev up their attempts to sign a replacement.
Arrizabalaga seems the man most likely to come in while the club have also been linked with Manchester United star David de Gea again in recent weeks.
Navas has been sidelined with an adductor issue in recent weeks.
WORK STILL TO BE DONE ON NEW SERGI ROBERTO CONTRACT
Barcelona have agreed the length of Sergi Roberto’s new contract extension, but have yet to finalise financial terms of the deal.
According to Sport, Blaugrana will extend the 25-year-old’s current contract by three years from 2019 to 2022, and have also negotiated a staggering release clause of €400m.
The one sticking point however is the full-back’s annual salary – although the homegrown La Masia graduate is expected to agree those terms sooner rather than later.
RATING: 8/10
VERDICT
The right-back come right winger has been linked with the likes of the Red Devils, Chelsea and Manchester City – but after reinstalling himself as a key man at the Nou Camp club again – his future clearly lies at Barcelona.
Expect all parties to come to an agreement soon.
Sergi Roberto is a valuable player for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
