LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United and Barcelona battle for Ronaldo… Camara

Gab Marcotti cites Arsene Wenger’s rocky relationship with Ivan Gazidis as a primary reason why he’s unlikely to take over at Milan.
The FC crew answer your tweets on what constitutes a bad day at work, if Alvaro Morata or Romelu Lukaku will score more goals this season and more.

The transfer window for all of Europe’s big five leagues is closed, but that doesn’t stop Transfer Talk from rummaging around to find out who will be moving where come January.

TOP STORY: Man United and Barcelona battle for Ronaldo… Camara

When your name is Ronaldo and you are Portuguese, it’s fair to say there’s going to be a fair amount of pressure on your shoulders as a young player.

So it’s no surprise that Benfica’s 15-year-old star Ronaldo Camara is attracting attention from Man United and Barcelona — presumably for more than just a famous name — according to Record.

Camara (who was only born eight months before United signed CR7) made his debut for Portugal’s U17s at the age 14, which proves there’s something special about him, and the attacking midfielder is not short of suitors with Manchester City and Chelsea also reportedly monitoring the situation.

If he turns out to be half as good as his namesake, he’ll have done OK.

LIVE BLOG

20.48 BST: Here’s a potential big one: Anthony Martial to Inter Milan.

Italian outlet Tuttosport claims that if Man United and Martial are unable to come to an agreement on a new contract extension, Inter are the favourites to sign the France international in June.

The 22-year-old has undergone a star turn at Man United of late, having scored five goals in his last five games but the two sides remain divided when it comes to contract talks.

Inter have Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic in attack at present but both have been rumoured with moves to even bigger clubs in recent years. Enter Martial, a player who could not only help Inter in the present but one who could be part of a program that seems to be returning to prominence.

Would United let Martial leave Old Trafford? Based on recent form that would seem silly.

19.28 GMT: Aston Villa already have one Chelsea youngster on loan in Tammy Abraham but could Dean Smith’s side soon add another?

In the market for more defensive help, Villa are being linked by Birmingham Live with a move for Chelsea and Wales starlet Ethan Ampadu.

The 18-year-old has impressed when given the chance for club and country but has found playing time under Maurizio Sarri scarce at Chelsea. Now fit, Ampadu has yet to appear for the senior team this season and Chelsea, a club who are no strangers to loaning players out, could be keen to get the young Welshman regular playing time.

That’s where Villa come in. With a bunch of players in on loan and having already sacked a manager, Villa are all-in on making a push for promotion and could use a player of Ampadu’s skill set to boost their squad.

18.42 GMT: Alvaro Morata has turned the corner at Chelsea but that doesn’t mean the Blues are out of the market for a striker. The Mirror claims that Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson has played himself onto Chelsea’s radar. 

The 26-year-old has battled a couple of serious knee injuries over the past few years but is healthy again and his play is now attracting the attention of bigger clubs.

Wilson has been the Cherries’ standout performer this season, scoring six goals and providing five assists for an upstart Bournemouth squad that currently sit sixth in the Premier League table.

With Morata back in the goals, Chelsea’s striker needs are not as dire as they once wore but with Olivier Giroud still not off the mark, Wilson would be a nice option to have in case Morata cools off again.

Don’t be surprised if Wilson is called up by Gareth Southgate for England’s upcoming matches vs. the United States and Croatia.

17.55 GMT: Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno has his heart set on returning to boyhood and hometown club Sevilla, according to reports from Spanish paper Marca.

The 26-year-old left-back has fallen well down the pecking order at Liverpool and has made just three appearances this season for the Reds. Moreno, who excelled during his time in Seville, has never really adapted to his time in England and with playing time scarce could seek a change and return to the familiar.

Moreno is a free agent come June but according to the report, don’t be surprised if the Spaniard seeks to push the move early in January.

16.32 GMT: AC Milan forward Andre Silva may not have wanted to join Sevilla on loan, but his seven goals in 14 appearances suggest everything is going OK.

“I didn’t want to leave AC Milan, I wanted to play,” he told Portuguese paper A Bola. “I wanted to have opportunities and be the Andre that I always was. But I definitely needed more game time. I had many options but in the end, I said yes to Sevilla. Now I am here and I feel I’ve done the best possible choice.”

16.10 GMT: Oh West Brom. Darren Fletcher evidently urged the club to sign Virgil van Dijk when he was at Celtic.

“I said ‘go and get Van Dijk’, I think it was before he went to Southampton for £10m, £11m,” he said. “Obviously West Brom felt it was a little bit too much.”

It wasn’t. Van Dijk, of course, eventually moved to Liverpool for £75m.

15.12 GMT: In a statement to ESPN, La Liga has urged UEFA to take action against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain after leaked documents showed the clubs had allegedly breached financial fair play (FFP) regulations.

14.56 GMT: Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti is not concerned that captain Mauro Icardi will be leaving to move to Real Madrid anytime soon.

“Icardi is our captain, he is very happy at Inter. We are not aware of any interest from Madrid,” he told Marca. “Inter is a healthy club so that we do not have to sell and continue to respect Financial Fair Play.”

14.18 GMT: Pep Guardiola has defended Manchester City in light of allegations the club breached financial fair play regulations and said they have to “accept it” if people claim they only win because of because of their spending power.

13.48 GMT: Nabil Fekir failed to get a move to Liverpool in the summer but that might not stop him departing Lyon in January, with Chelsea and Bayern Munich after his signature according to L’Equipe.

12.54 GMT: Bournemouth are weighing up a move for Stoke and Wales midfielder Joe Allen in January, sources have told ESPN.

12.36 GMT: Speaking of Real Madrid, they have won the race to sign River Plate midfielder Exequiel Palacios, according to reports in the Spanish press.

11.47 GMT: Real Madrid are following the progress of Villarreal’s Spain Under-21 international Alfonso Pedraza, as they continue their policy of monitoring the best emerging young Spanish talent, a source has told ESPN.

Pedraza, 22, can play either left-back or left-wing and already has over 100 senior appearances. He is under contract at Villarreal until June 2021 and has a release clause of €22m.

11.08 GMT: AC Milan’s new director Ivan Gazidis is looking to bring Gilles Grimandi as chief scout with him from Arsenal, according to a report in Gazzetta dello Sport.

The report adds that Gazidis is creating “his own Milan” — who else could he bring with him from the Emirates?

10.12 GMT: Leonardo Jardim is under consideration by Real Madrid to be their next permanent first team coach, a source close to the former Monaco manager has told ESPN FC.

09.26 GMT: Jurgen Klinsmann would pick up the phone if Stuttgart were to call, his agent, Roland Eitel, told SWR amid reports of a Bundesliga return for the former United States head coach.

09.00 GMT: West Ham defender Issa Diop tells beIN Sports he’s not sure about links to PSG. “Honestly, I know nothing about a PSG winter move,” he said. “I learned the information like you did, I saw them via social media. Perhaps my agent knows more… I need to check with him! I am very good with West Ham right now. I am enjoying getting to know the Premier League each weekend.”

PAPER TALK

Pochettino ‘dismisses Real links’ as Spurs eye De Jong, Lascelles

Tottenham’s transfer plans could soon go full steam ahead after manager Mauricio Pochettino ended uncertainty over his future, according to the Sun.

Pochettino has been linked with Real Madrid following the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui, “but has told them to forget it.” Reports suggested he was frustrated after the club failed to make any summer signings and has made it clear he wants winter additions.

Spurs have been linked with players including Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles. The Sun says Pochettino opted to stay in London after “constant disruption behind the scenes” put him off the idea of a move to Madrid.

Man City face competition for Pepe

Manchester City are interested in Lille’s Ivory Coast international forward Nicolas Pepe, but they are far from alone, says the Manchester Evening News.

Pepe has eight goals this season, with his form reported to have caught the attention of Manchester United and Barcelona, and is valued at almost £45 million by the Ligue 1 club.

Reports last month suggested both Arsenal and Everton were on the list of those interested, while Lyon and Southampton were said to have had bids rejected.

Why Benatia could be a bargain for United

Barcelona are reported to be leading the race for Juventus defender Medhi Benatia, but the Manchester Evening News reports that Manchester United “are keeping a close eye” on things.

United boss Jose Mourinho has endured frustration in his search for a new defender, with mooted moves for Leicester’s Harry Maguire, Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng and Tottenham’s Toby Alderweirled coming to nothing.

Citing reports in Italy, the Evening News says Benatia may cost United less than some of their previous targets would have done because he has only 18 months remaining on his contract.

Burnley poised for Rodriguez reunion

Burnley could be reunited with their former striker Jay Rodriguez, according to Sky Sports.

It reports that West Bromwich Albion’s Rodriguez, a target for the Clarets during the summer, would be likely to cost around £18m.

However, Burnley are reported to have backed away from a move for Brentford forward Ollie Watkins after he was valued at more than £20m by the Championship club.

Tap-ins

– Several clubs are interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Cameron John on loan, according to the Mail, which says Wolves have turned down a £500,000 bid from a Championship club. Wolves are prepared to allow the 19-year-old to leave for the second half of the season to gain first-team experience after regular appearances for their under-23s.

– Things are looking up at Sunderland, who have swept into the League One promotion places, and Sky Sports reports that they are close to a new deal for nine-goal forward Josh Maja. It says club owner Stewart Donald “has held positive talks, and Sunderland hope to make an announcement in due course.”

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