The summer transfer window is closed for the top leagues in Europe! After a summer full of international football, countless clubs waited until the last minute to pull off their transfers. See all the major deals here and check out how we graded the biggest signings. But just because the window is shut until January, that doesn’t mean the rumours won’t keep coming.
TOP STORY: Dortmund eye Chiesa as Haaland replacement
Borussia Dortmund will move for Juventus star Federico Chiesa if Erling Haaland moves on next summer, according to Calciomercato.
Chiesa was a standout performer at Euro 2020 as he helped Italy win the tournament, but Juventus could demand a club record transfer fee if they are to part ways with one of the brightest talents in world football.
The Serie A side have reportedly rejected a number of approaches for Chiesa, with Chelsea and Liverpool rumoured to be have been prepared to pay a transfer fee of around €100 million during the summer.
Haaland is reported to have a €75m release clause in his contract which can be activated next summer, and that should provide the Bundesliga club with the funds to go for Chiesa.
Every top club in Europe will begin a huge transfer battle for Haaland next year.
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09.46 BST: In case you missed it… Everton midfielder James Rodriguez has joined Qatari side Al Rayyan for an undisclosed fee.
Sources previously told ESPN that Rodriguez was discussing a move with the Qatari club after Everton gave him permission to leave Goodison Park. The 30-year-old was told by manager Rafa Benitez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti this summer, that he was not in his plans.
The midfielder made an impressive start after he joined from Real Madrid in September 2020, scoring three goals in his first five games, but injury and loss of form saw his contribution diminish markedly in the second half of the season. He made a total of 26 appearances in all competitions during his time at the club.
09.00 BST: Real Madrid are looking at extending the contract of Take Kubo — who’s on loan at Real Mallorca this season, and played in their 6-1 defeat at the Bernabeu on Wednesday — according to Cadena SER radio. The 20-year-old winger’s current deal expires in 2024.
Kubo joined Madrid in 2019, after previously spending time at Barcelona’s academy, but is yet to make his competitive debut for the club with loan spells at Mallorca, Villarreal, Getafe and Mallorca a second time.
SER’s El Larguero programme on Wednesday night reported that a number of European clubs had enquired about signing Kubo permanently this summer, but he preferred to keep developing in LaLiga.
🚨⚽ Informa @antonmeana
🏟️ Kubo ha debutado en el Bernabéu
💸 En verano eligió cesión al Mallorca para jugar y crecer, aunque clubes europeos querían ficharle en propiedad
✍️ El Madrid estudia renovar su contrato, que termina en 2024 pic.twitter.com/bZykMsiLGV
— El Larguero (@ellarguero) September 22, 2021
PAPER GOSSIP
– The race for Luka Jovic is heating up with Serie A clubs reported to be interested, according to Calciomercato. Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan could all look to acquire a striker in the winter window, and with reports on Wednesday claiming that Real Madrid striker Jovic could leave, a queue could begin to form for the former Eintracht Frankfurt star.
– Benfica are keen to move Gabriel on in January, according to O Jogo. The Portuguese media outlet reports that the midfielder is not in manager Jorge Jesus’ plans for the future. The 28-year-old is yet to be involved this season, last featuring in a 2-0 win over Estoril in March.
– Ronald Koeman could be dismissed if Barcelona are beaten by Cadiz on Thursday, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Blaugrana manager is under pressure and some members of the board are reported to have lost patience with the manager. Koeman refused to take questions at a prematch news conference on Wednesday but did ask to be given more time to rebuild the team following a summer of upheaval at Camp Nou.
– A contract extension for Liverpool’s Naby Keita may not be as close as thought, according to Bild reporter Christian Falk. Talks with the Guinea international could be delayed with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2023, as Jurgen Klopp’s side continues to be linked with Borussia Dortmund youngster Jude Bellingham.
– Tottenham Hotspur will make another move for Fiorentina playmaker Dusan Vlahovic in January, reports Calciomercato. The Premier League club could face a battle against Atletico Madrid and Juventus to acquire the in-demand Serbian star, who is yet to agree to a new contract. A fee in the region of €70m-€80m is reported to be the demands of the Viola. Vlahovic was wanted by all three clubs in the summer but the 21-year-old stayed committed to Fiorentina.
