The 2022 January transfer window is open (find out when it closes here), and there’s 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: Inter eye Dybala amid Juve drama
Serie A leaders Inter Milan already have a strong squad, but are struggling financially, so they have switched their attention to players whose contracts come to an end in the summer, says Gazzetta dello Sport.
The big name in the report is that of Juventus‘ Paulo Dybala, who has been the centre of much concern in Turin, as the Argentine has not yet signed a contract extension despite being in negotiations for months.
Dybala seemingly glared toward Juventus directors after scoring in the team’s 2-0 win on Sunday against Udinese in an apparent gesture of frustration, saying later that: “I have nothing to prove to anyone. The club decided that we will talk in February or March.”
While there is no indication that Inter have made a move yet, CEO Giuseppe Marotta is carefully monitoring the situation. If Dybala’s contract is allowed to come to an end, it is likely there would be plenty of competition for his signature in the summer.
With a deal for Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Andre Onana pretty much certain — as has been the case for some time — Inter are also working to sign Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back Matthias Ginter. This could involve moving for the Germany international this window, rather than waiting for him to become a free agent, in order to avoid the added competition in the summer.
Inter could also move for a midfielder if one or both of Matias Vecino and Stefano Sensi depart, while renewals are being worked on for Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic.
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10.20 GMT: Rennes, Real Madrid and two unnamed Premier League clubs have sent scouts to Brazil to keep tabs on 15-year-old Palmeiras wonderkid Endrick, according to ESPN Brazil.
Endrick still doesn’t have a professional contract with Palmeiras but the Brazilian club are confident of keeping the forward due to their good relationship.
09.58 GMT: Corinthians are ready to make a move for Diego Costa but, according to ESPN Brazil, the 33-year-old will have to cut his wages if he wants to continue his career there.
ESPN Brazil is that Corinthian are expected to offer him a two-year deal in the coming days in order to convince him to make the move. Costa, who recently bid his farewell to Atletico MG, is currently a free agent and has also been linked with a return to LaLiga or the Premier League.
09.40 GMT: Sporting Lisbon president Frederico Varandas has confirmed his club are interested in signing English winger Marcus Edwards from Vitoria Guimaraes.
A youth product of Tottenham, Edwards has stood out at Vitoria Guimaraes, scoring seven goals and setting up two more in 16 league appearances. It’s not the first time Sporting has tried to sign the player either.
“I’m not going to lie,” Varandas told Record. “He is a player that interests Sporting, our coach. He is interesting and has been for some time on our radar but at the time, we didn’t reach an agreement. One thing is that you like something and another that you put at risk the sustainability of the club.”
Edwards, 23, joined the Portuguese club in the summer of 2019 as a free agent. He is under contract until June 2024.
09.33 GMT: Dutch midfielder Tonny Vilhena has joined Espanyol on loan for the remainder of the season from FC Krasnodar.
The LaLiga club has an option, not an obligation, to make the deal permanent for the 27-year-old this summer.
09.14 GMT: Sevilla have reached a preliminary agreement with Getafe to loan Oscar Rodriguez for the remainder of the season, the Andalusian club announced.
The Spanish midfielder joined Sevilla from Real Madrid in the summer of 2020 and has made 44 appearances in all competitions for Sevilla.
09.02 GMT: Spanish second division club Almeria turned down a €16m offer from Shakhtar Donetsk for Largie Ramazani, according to Estadio Deportivo.
The Belgium winger joined Almeria as a free agent in the summer of 2020 after his contract with Manchester United expired.
Ramazani, 20, has scored six goals in 18 appearances for Almeria this season and has a contract until June 2025. Following Almeria’s decision, Shakhtar signed Ajax winger David Neres on a permanent transfer in a deal worth an initial €16m.
08.50 GMT: Boca Juniors goalkeeper Agustin Rossi says he is pleasantly surprised to be a reported target of Barcelona.
Reports in Spain claim Barcelona are monitoring Rossi as a potential candidate to replace Neto, who is expected to leave in the January transfer window in search of playing time after failing to dislodge Marc-Andre ter Stegen from the No. 1 spot.
Asked about those reports, the 26-year-old told ESPN Argentina: “I’m a bit surprised for what may be. Today it’s just rumours. It’s good to be linked to a club, more so one like Barcelona. I’m training and just thinking about Boca. We will then see if anything arrives. My head is in Boca.”
Rossi has a contract with Boca until December 2023.
08.39 GMT: Celtic manager Ange Postecoglu has confirmed that striker Leigh Griffiths will be released by the club this month.
Griffiths, 31, has scored 123 goals for Celtic in 261 appearances since signing for them in 2014, but he has been loaned out to Dundee this season and will not be returning to play at Parkhead.
“I think that’s come to an end, yeah,” Postecoglou told Sky. “Leigh is now looking for the next chapter of his career. An outstanding football career at Celtic.
“All of us, we kind of pass through clubs, but you want to leave a mark there when you do. Leigh has certainly done that. I think he can look back on his Celtic career with great pride and he goes on to the next chapter of his football career. We wish him all the best.”
Dundee boss James McPake has indicated that he could be interested in signing his former Livingston teammate on a free transfer.
08.00 GMT: Brentford are in talks to sign Christian Eriksen on an initial six-month contract, sources have told ESPN’s James Olley.
Eriksen, 29, is a free agent after his contract with Inter Milan was terminated last month following the Italian medical authority’s refusal to allow him to play with a cardiac device implant.
Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening game of Euro 2020 against Finland in June last year and received life-saving treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital.
He was subsequently fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Serie A rules prohibit any player using such a device, but Eriksen believes he can continue to play at the highest level.
And Brentford are believed to have offered a six-month contract with the option for a further year. Negotiations are said to be at an early stage and sources have told ESPN that a number of clubs in England and other countries are talking to Eriksen’s representatives about a possible deal.
Gab and Juls discuss Newcastle’s decision to sign Chris Wood from fellow relegation candidates Burnley.
PAPER GOSSIP
– Newcastle United are hoping to capitalise on Barcelona‘s loss of patience with winger Ousmane Dembele by persuading the Frenchman to sign for them, reports Nicolo Schira. Should Dembele depart Camp Nou, Calciomercato says that Barcelona will make a move to sign Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid, ending his loan with Juventus.
- Tottenham Hotspur have reached a verbal agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Adama Traore on personal terms, according to Ekrem Konur. While Spurs haven’t come to an agreement with Wolves yet, it is added that negotiations are continuing in a positive direction.
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AC Milan, West Ham United and Newcastle are all looking to sign Fenerbahce centre-back Attila Szalai, reports Sky Sports, with the Hungary international valued in the region of €20m. The Magpies’ desire to bring in someone to strengthen the heart of their defence has been well documented, and TEAMtalk have suggested that Everton‘s Yerry Mina is also someone Eddie Howe is looking at as the relegation battle threatens the club’s options.
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Belgian club Kortrijk have asked AS Roma about Bryan Reynolds, who is set to leave the Serie A outfit on loan this January, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. The United States international has also received interest from Anderlecht, but nothing is completed yet. While there is attention from MLS clubs, Belgium is likely to be the right-back’s next destination.
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Roma, Lille, Genoa and Bordeaux are all hoping to sign full-back Bouna Sarr from Bayern Munich, as has been reported by Foot Mercato. The Senegal international is at the Africa Cup of Nations and while that is all the 29-year-old is focused on for now, there is the suggestion that he could move before the window is over, having played just 55 Bundesliga minutes this season.
– Former New York City FC midfielder Jesus Medina joined CSKA Moscow of the Russian Premier League on Monday. The 24-year-old Paraguay native signed with the club through the 2024-25 season. Medina helped NYCFC win the MLS Cup in 2021, but his contract option was declined after the season.
