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: Dortmund to step up interest in Werner
Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing Chelsea forward Timo Werner, according to Sky Germany.
Werner, 25, scored 91 goals and provided 42 assists in 222 Bundesliga appearances across his time with Stuttgart and RB Leipzig and, while there haven’t been any concrete negotiations yet, Dortmund feel that the Germany international could enhance Marco Rose’s squad.
While Werner hasn’t proved quite as productive in the Premier League — 18 goals and 17 assists in 75 matches — Dortmund believe they can get him back to his best and there is further reason for optimism as the striker’s agent, Volker Struth, recently engineered an agreement for defender Niklas Sule to make a free transfer from Bayern Munich to Dortmund this summer.
Money could prove an obstacle, though, as Werner joined Chelsea for €50 million in 2020 and currently earns a reported €16m-per-season — €4m more than Marco Reus, who is Dortmund’s top-earner.
There is also the fact that Chelsea are not dissatisfied with Werner or pushing to move him on, even if the Blues are willing to discuss a possible move.
Any deal could also depend on the situation surrounding FC Salzburg striker Karim Adeyemi. Dortmund have been heavily linked with a move for the Germany international striker but don’t want to pay over €30m, with the Austrian club wanting at least €40m to sign him.
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08.30 GMT: The Houston Dynamo have acquired Atletico Madrid and Mexico international midfielder Hector Herrera on a Designated Player deal, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Herrera, 31, will join up with Houston on a free transfer when his contract with Atletico expires in the summer.
TUDN was the first to report that a deal between the Dynamo and Herrera and been agreed.
The move amounts to the second massive acquisition of general manager Pat Onstad’s tenure. Earlier this year, thanks to the deep pockets of new owner Ted Segal, Onstad signed Libertad forward Sebastian Ferreira. In Herrera, Houston has now acquired a well-known El Tri player in a city with deep ties to Mexico, one that should generate a significant uptick in interest for the club.
Julien Laurens doesn’t think anyone is playing better than PSG’s Kylian Mbappe right now.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Paris Saint-Germain‘s hopes of signing Kylian Mbappe to a new deal have long been reported, but Le Parisien have published new details that the French giants will hope can be a turning point. The 23-year-old’s contract ends in the summer, but PSG have now offered him a new two-year contract that is worth a net €50m annually and includes “an XXL bonus.”
- A deal between Chelsea centre-back Andreas Christensen and Barcelona is in its advanced stages after the Catalans improved their offer and had direct contact with the Denmark defender, according to Fabrizio Romano. Christensen’s contract at Stamford Bridge ends in the summer and Barcelona are now confident of signing him on a free transfer in the summer, though Bayern Munich have still not given up hope.
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AC Milan, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are all interested in signing Ajax Amsterdam right-back Noussair Mazraoui, as has been reported by De Telegraaf. The 24-year-old, who will leave Ajax when his contract ends in the summer, also has attracted the attention of numerous Premier League clubs. However, the Morocco international currently has no interest in moving to England.
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Sassuolo and Lazio have inquired about signing Empoli‘s Nedim Bajrami in recent weeks, says Calciomercato. The Albania international has impressed this season and Sassuolo would have liked to sign him immediately, while Lazio would prefer to wait until next summer before making their move.
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Atletico Madrid are moving for Gil Vicente winger Samuel Lino, according to AS. The Brazilian has 15 goal contributions in all competitions, which has led to Atleti aiming to bring in the 22-year-old before he makes a move to a bigger Portuguese club.
– Marca has suggested that Ousmane Dembele‘s situation at Barcelona will be resolved at the end of the season and that patience will be key. The Frenchman’s current deal comes to an end this summer, making it vital that an agreement is reached. There are currently differences of opinion when it comes to the contract being offered to the 24-year-old, meaning there is plenty of work to be done before Dembele’s future is secured.
