The 2022 January transfer window is closed, but there’s still plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Wijnaldum ready to leave PSG?
Georginio Wijnaldum made the switch to Paris Saint-Germain last summer as one of a number of star-studded free transfers for Les Parisiens during the transfer window.
However, it has not quite gone to plan for the Netherlands international, who has struggled to break into the first team since his arrival at the Parc des Princes.
As a result, AS reports a number of teams are eyeing a potential move if the 31-year-old leaves at the end of the season. Among those reportedly interested are Atletico Madrid, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa.
Part of Wijnaldum’s struggles in the French capital could be due to the system, with the side often playing a 4-2-3-1 rather than a 4-3-3, which he often played in at Liverpool.
For Atletico Madrid, Wijnaldum is seen as player to fill a void in their midfield ranks, with 27-year-old summer signing Rodrigo De Paul — starting just 15 times in the league this season — having not quite settled into life in LaLiga since his switch from Udinese.
Atleti’s midfield clearout includes the departure of Saul, who scored in Chelsea‘s FA Cup win over Luton Town on Wednesday, after leaving the Rojiblancos for the Blues on loan last summer, and Hector Herrera, who is on his way to Major League Soccer side the Houston Dynamo at the end of the campaign.
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10.16 GMT: Southampton full-back Tino Livramento has made a real name for himself in the Premier League this season and is now on the radar of Tottenham, says Football Insider.
Livramento, 19, signed for Southampton for £5m from Chelsea over the summer but the Blues have a £38m option to bring him back.
Tottenham want to improve their options in defence, despite Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal being options at right-back currently.
09.50 GMT: Ronald Koeman has questioned Barcelona’s motives for letting Lionel Messi leave last summer and says president Joan Laporta did not give the coach the time he deserved to turn things around.
Speaking for the first time since being sacked as Barca coach in October, Koeman revealed his surprise at seeing Ferran Torres join the club for €55m from Man City in January after he was forced to let several players leave during his tenure.
Messi was one of them. The Argentina forward joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer last August because Barca could not afford to renew his contract.
“It was at the insistence of the club’s hierarchy that I agreed to the departure of certain players to help put the finances in order,” Koeman told the Dutch newspaper AD. “But then when you see that they sign someone for €55m shortly after letting Messi go, it makes you wonder if something else was happening. Why did Messi have to leave?”
Barca have improved since Koeman was replaced by Xavi Hernandez, rising from ninth in LaLiga to fourth and a Champions League spot. However, they have also been knocked out of the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercopa in that time.
As well as Torres, Xavi has benefitted from the January arrivals of Dani Alves (free), Adama Traore (loan from Wolves) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (free), while other key players have returned from long-term injuries since he was appointed.
As a result, Barca, who scored four goals in four different games in February, are now unbeaten in 10 league games and have progressed to the Europa League round of 16, where they will face Galatasaray.
“Barcelona didn’t give me the same time as Xavi,” Koeman complained. “It is still painful for me. I was working with many injured players. Now Pedri is back in shape. Ousmane Dembele’s back. Every coach needs time and patience from the board.
“Laporta told me a thousand times that Xavi would not be his coach because he lacked experience. But I was not Laporta’s coach. I had that feeling from the first moment. After he was elected [in March] there was no click. There was a lack of the necessary support from above. I really wanted to succeed at Barcelona, but I realised that Laporta wanted to get rid of me because I was not appointed by him. You won’t see me at Camp Nou for a while, I can’t do that yet. With this president, I can’t pretend that nothing happened.”
09.14 GMT: PSG sporting director Leonardo has denied reports the club have offered Kylian Mbappe an annual net salary of €50m to remain with the French giants.
Le Parisien reported that Mbappe, who becomes a free agent this summer and is a long-term target of Real Madrid, has been offered a two-year extension that could see him earn around €50m a season in addition to a €100m loyalty bonus. But Leonardo says money is not the biggest factor to convince Mbappe to remain in Paris.
“It is not true,” Leonardo told L’Equipe about the reported offer. “We have not sent a specific offer. There is an important element: I think the last thing we will put into this contract will be money. We want to put him in the best conditions to be the best possible player.
“It’s not about that [money]. Kylian has such a great value that I believe that is secondary. I think that to put a figure he will take two minutes. Kylian is the best in the world right now. [Lionel] Messi has always been at this level, and I believe he continues to be, but it’s normal that others arrive there… It’s not a case of judging who is best. One is 23 years old, and the other is 34.”
Leonardo still has hope that Mbappe will continue at the club beyond this summer.
“We have a possibility,” Leonardo said of Mbappe’s options of staying. “As long as there is no signature [with another club], we will try everything, we will do everything possible to retain him.”
Meanwhile, things haven’t worked out with Sergio Ramos but Leonardo believes the 35-year-old defender’s career is not over. Injuries have limited Ramos to five appearances in all competitions since joining PSG as a free agent from Real Madrid in July.
“He was well physically when we signed him,” Leonardo said. “Up to now he has played five games. Unfortunately, what we wanted has not happened. It’s difficult for him, for us. But our reports are clear. The day we say he can’t play anymore, it will be clear for everyone. But it’s not the case. We will wait before drawing conclusions, the season is not over. But I’m not afraid to own up to mistakes when I make them.”
Leonardo also denied the club have considered making a coaching change at the end of the season with reports that former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane could arrive at PSG with Mauricio Pochettino joining Manchester United.
“He [Pochettino] has a year left on his contract [June 2023],” Leonardo said. “Honestly, we haven’t thought about a coaching change. Truthfully. We’ve never contacted Zidane or anyone else. Before he came here, Pochettino was among the best five coaches, and he still is.”
08.52 GMT: FC Zenit’s Ukrainian defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy has terminated his contract early with the Russian club.
The St. Petersburg outfit announced in a statement the decision taken by the Ukraine international and that it was granted by the club.
“Yaroslav Rakitskiy requested an early end to his contract and this has been agreed by the club,” the statement said. “The club and our supporters wish to thank Yaroslav Rakitskiy for his time here and recognize the professionalism and passion he displayed while with us. We sincerely wish the best to Yaroslav, his friends and his family.”
Raktskiy, 32, joined Zenit in January 2019 from Shakhtar Donetsk and scored seven goals in 108 games. With Zenit, he won three league titles, the Russian Cup and two Super Cups.
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08.00 GMT: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has emerged as a surprise short-term option as Manchester United explore contingency plans in their pursuit of a new manager, sources have told ESPN’s Rob Dawson.
Ancelotti has a close personal relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, someone new United CEO Richard Arnold has sought advice from since taking over from Ed Woodward earlier this year.
United are hopeful of making a long-term appointment ahead of next season after drawing up a five-man shortlist which includes Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag.
Sources have told ESPN that Ferguson is an admirer of Pochettino but has recommended that the club consider Ancelotti if the former Tottenham Hotspur boss rules himself out of the running.
Ancelotti, in charge at Real Madrid, is seen as the type of coach who could be successful during a short stint because of his extensive experience in the Premier League and Champions League while also having a track record of managing squads full of high-profile players.
Craig Burley debates whether Carlo Ancelotti would be interested in taking the Manchester United job.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Luke Thrower)
– Real Madrid and Manchester United are interested in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, reports Calciomercato. Osimhen, 23, has impressed in Serie A since making his switch from Lille in 2020 for roughly €70m. A mixture of injuries and AFCON duty have kept him out of a number of games, but the Nigeria international has managed to score seven and assist three times in his 17 league appearances this season. His current deal runs until 2025, meaning he could be a tough one for the two chasing sides to attain without offering a significant fee.
- A whole host of clubs are said to be monitoring the progress of Montreal attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic, reports Calciomercato. The 23-year-old’s current deal with the MLS side expires in 2023, meaning a number of clubs are eyeing a move. Among them, the report claims, are AS Roma, Bologna, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Everton, Newcastle United, Leeds United and Nice. Montreal are supposedly holding out for €8m.
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Bayer Leverkusen are willing to move on young full-back Jeremie Frimpong if an offer matches their demands in the summer, according to Ekrem Konur. Frimpong, 21, has been a regular feature at right-back for the Bundesliga side since making the move from Celtic last January for €12m. The Netherlands youth international has featured in 23 league games this season, prompting potential interest from other clubs. Leverkusen are said to value his services at €30m.
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Serie A side Hellas Verona are prepared to sign striker Giovanni Simeone on a permanent deal once his loan ends, reports Nicolo Schira. Giovanni is the son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego and has impressed for the club this season in his loan move from Cagliari. The 26-year-old has scored 15 goals in the league, with Verona ready to trigger a €10m permanent clause in his loan that will see him stay with the club until 2026.
– Internazionale midfielder Matias Vecino is set to leave the club at the end of the season as a free agent, says Nicolo Schira. Vecino, 30, has spent nearly five-years with the Nerazzurri, but is willing to leave when his contract expires in the summer. Lazio are said to be particularly keen on a deal, while LaLiga and Premier League clubs are also weighing a potential move.
