Live Transfer Talk: Pulisic still on Juve radar amid Chelsea uncertainty
Frank Leboeuf says he was “disappointed” with Chelsea’s performance in their 1-1 draw vs. FC Salzburg. (1:42)
The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
Christian Pulisic is among the players Juventus are looking at as they aim to strengthen on the right wing in 2023, according to Tuttosport.
The need for reinforcements in that area come due to the situations of Juan Cuadrado and Angel Di Maria, both 34 and with contracts that are due to end upon this season’s culmination.
Cuadrado is unlikely to get a new contract, while Di Maria’s largely depends on him, as the Argentine requested a one-year deal when he joined from PSG this summer so he could then have the option to return to his beloved Rosario Central next summer.
Pulisic’s future at Chelsea is seemingly uncertain, with the USMNT star’s contract ending in 2024 and links with Juventus during the summer.. He made headlines earlier this week when an excerpt from his upcoming book revealed a rocky relationship with former Blues manager Thomas Tuchel.
Along with Pulisic, Juventus are keen on AS Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo and Wolves winger Adama Traore. Zaniolo has been eyed by the Bianconeri for some time as his contract at Roma also ends in 2024.
Traore, who has managed just 53 minutes in the Premier League so far this term, could be available as a free agent with his contract ending in the summer of 2023.
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13.17 BST: AC Milan are in talks with midfielder Ismael Bennacer over a new contract, but Liverpool are monitoring the situation, says Sport Mediaset.
Bennacer, 24, spent two years of his youth career at Arsenal before moving on to Empoli, then Milan in 2019.
The Algeria international helped Milan win the Serie A title last season but his contract expires in 2024 and he wants to increase his €1.7m-a-season wages to €4m.
The report says that while Milan may be reluctant to do so, Liverpool could offer him that level of payrise without too much trouble.
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11.41 BST: Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi is on Tottenham’s radar, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Frattesi, 23, has also been tracked by West Ham after scoring four goals in 36 Serie A games last season — he has two goals in seven games this season.
The Italy international has evidently caught the eye of Antonio Conte at Spurs, though Sassuolo value his services at around €25m.
10.50 BST: Belgium forward Eden Hazard said he was starting to find his form again after a solid 65 minutes in their 2-1 Nations League home win over Wales on Thursday, but admitted he needed more game time at Real Madrid before the World Cup.
Hazard has barely featured for Real this season after making only one start, something he called a “delicate situation,” and by his own admission it has thrown his place at the finals in Qatar in doubt. He showed flashes of his quality in the first half against the Welsh and was pleased with his contribution before being substituted just past the hour mark.
“I was happy to start another match,” Hazard told RTL. “You saw that, I think. I’m happy when I play and it was nice to play for the supporters here [in Brussels] again. Our first half was very good. I know what I can do. Now I want to get in shape for the World Cup. We’ll see what the coach [Roberto Martinez] decides, but I’m happiest when I play.
“When I play, I give it my all. It’s a delicate situation at Real Madrid. I feel like playing more, but I can’t do more. I’ve always said the old Eden Hazard will come back when he plays. I just need to get back into the rhythm.”
10.22 BST: Liverpool are keen to sign Rennes midfielder Lovro Majer, says The Daily Express.
Majer, 24, has impressed in Ligue 1 this season and Rennes have placed a €60m valuation on his services.
The Croatia international has also attracted interest from Barcelona, but Liverpool are keen to sort their midfield issues out and have also been linked with a €120m move for Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.
09.42 BST: Manchester City could make a move to sign Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, says The Manchester Evening News.
City boss Pep Guardiola heaped praise on Aouar back in 2018 — after the two sides drew 2-2 in the Champions League — and labelled him “incredible,” adding: “He’s always very calm with the ball at his feet, with an excellent technical quality.”
Aouar, 24, has 40 goals and 35 assists in 216 games for Lyon but is likely to leave as a free agent in the 2023 summer transfer window.
The France international has been linked with Arsenal, Barcelona and PSG in the past, but last summer agreed terms with Real Betis and found himself the target of a number of Premier League sides including Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Brighton, as well as Benfica and Nice.
08.52 BST: Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is delighted that PSG have found a way to play that fits Lionel Messi.
Messi, 35, admitted it took him time to adapt to PSG in his maiden campaign with the French giants after spending more than 20 years in Barcelona.
The Argentina captain scored only 11 goals and set up 14 more in all competitions for PSG last season. But he has already netted six goals and assisted on eight others in 11 appearances this campaign and Scaloni believes Messi has taken a step forward.
“I have spoken to him,” Scaloni said. “He always wants to play. I’ve always said it, he will always play unless something unexpected happens. He is a totally different case from everyone else. He is well, happy, playing well. I think that PSG have found a way to play that understands him and I think he has taken a step ahead in his team. We are very happy with how things are currently going.”
08.33 BST: Brazil international Alex Telles believes his loan move to Sevilla from Manchester United was the right “strategy” to make the World Cup squad.
The Manchester United left-back has made seven appearances in all competitions for Sevilla this season.
“I think it was a good strategy [going to Sevilla] especially when it comes to an important year for all of us players,” he said. “I believe both the Premier League and LaLiga are two of the greatest tournaments in the world. But I’m at a very big club too, Sevilla has a very good structure. I also had contact with the coach [Julen Lopetegui], who called me, and I thought it was a very good opportunity. I feel really good.”
Telles, 29, believes LaLiga suits his style better. “There was a lot of movement there in England, so we have to find our space to be able to feel more comfortable on the field,” he added.
08.00 BST: England manager Gareth Southgate said he is willing to put his reputation on the line to back Manchester United defender Harry Maguire but his place in the squad will become complicated if he continues to sit out games at club level.
Maguire, who helped England reach the Euro 2020 last year, has not started Manchester United’s last four Premier League games. United have won four straight in the league since Maguire’s last domestic start — a 4-0 defeat at Brentford.
“Clearly, it’s not an ideal situation [with Maguire.] We’re only a few weeks on from preseason so, physically, if they’ve had a few 90 minutes, that’s fine,” Southgate told reporters ahead of England’s Nations League clash against Italy.
“Another seven to eight weeks, that does start to become more complicated. But he is an important player for us and it’s important to back our best players. Whatever reputation I have, I’m putting it on there.”
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– After Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Kenneth Taylor made his debut on Tuesday for Netherlands in a Nations League 2-0 win over Poland, Fabrizio Romano stated that many top clubs have been monitoring him for a long time. The 20-year-old has impressed this season following Ryan Gravenberch‘s move to Bayern Munich, scoring three goals and two assists in seven Eredivisie appearances, while he has also started both of Ajax’s Champions League matches this term.
– Galatasaray have long been linked with Roma’s Matias Vina as they aim to sign a left-back, but Calciomercato have suggested that they are also looking at AC Milan‘s Fode Ballo-Toure. The Turkish club had come close to signing Vina in the latter stages of the summer window but couldn’t complete the move due to a lack of time.
– Andrea Ranocchia announced on Instagram that he is retiring as a professional footballer. The centre-back only joined Monza three months ago but terminated his contract after suffering a fibular fracture against Napoli. The former Italy international has played numerous clubs including Internazionale, Sampdoria and Hull City.
– Bruma is set to stay at Fenerbahce past January to fight for his place in the side despite not being named in their Turkish Super Lig or Europa League squad for the first half of the season, reports Ekrem Konur. The winger is currently on loan from PSV Eindhoven but is currently unavailable due to injury.
– Mark Noble is returning to West Ham United to take up the role of sporting director starting in January, the club announced on Thursday. The former midfielder made 550 appearances for West Ham across 18 years as a player after coming through their academy.