With the January transfer window just over two months away, clubs are formulating their strategies as well as considering targets for next summer.
Paul Pogba remains open to the idea of returning to Juventus in 2019 following the warm reception he got from the club’s fans and former team-mates on Tuesday at Old Trafford. The Manchester United midfielder is Juve’s No.1 transfer priority next summer and the France international is said to be impressed by coach Massimiliano Allegri and is excited by the idea of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Pogba also embraced chairman Andrea Agnelli before the 1-0 win over United. (Tuttosport)
Paris Saint-Germain have lined up Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne as a replacement for Neymar, if the Brazil international leaves the Parc des Princes next summer. Neymar remains a target of Real Madrid and Barcelona and while PSG would like to hold onto their star asset have formulated a contingency plan. Insigne is a like-for-like replacement on the left-wing, although Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis values him at €200m (£175m). (Calciomercato)
Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis claims the club will not listen to any offers for Brazilian midfielder Allan, who he believes is worth more than €90m (£80m). Allan was outstanding in Napoli’s 2-2 draw at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday and has admirers in the Premier League and La Liga. The 27-year-old is under contract at the Stadio San Paolo until 2023. (Calciomercato)
Spain
Real Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez stopped Florentino Perez from sacking Julen Lopetegui 20 minutes after their 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League. Perez was so incensed by the performance he wanted to dismiss the coach after the match but Sanchez, his closest confidante, told the president to prolong the decision until after the Clasico. Antonio Conte remains the most likely replacement with Jose Mourinho unavailable in the short-term. (El Confidencial)
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos insists the players want embattled coach Julen Lopetegui to stay. Despite the 2-1 Champions League victory over Viktoria Plzen – Madrid’s first for five matches – there were claims Lopetegui would be sacked ahead of the Clasico. After Madrid director Emiliano Butragueno insisted the former Spain coach would be in charge for the Barcelona game, Kroos said: “He is a good coach… we have had other complicated moments.” (AS)
Inter and Napoli wanted to sign Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez in the summer but were put off by the club’s €40m (£35m) price-tag. The 24-year-old suffered an injury during Barca’s pre-season tour of America and despite being declared fit on September 16 is yet to return to first-team action. The Spanish champions were willing to sell the former Manchester City youth-term prospect but Inter and Napoli thought the price was too high. (Mundo Deportivo)
France
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde never asked the club to sign former Tottenham transfer target Malcom. The Brazilian winger has barely featured since arriving in the summer from Bordeaux after Barca signed him under the noses of Roma who thought they had a deal in place. Director of football Eric Abidal and sporting director Pep Segura wanted the 21-year-old because they felt he represented good value. (France Football)
PSG could make an ambitious attempt to sign Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak next summer for a world record €100m (£88m). The Slovenia international is yet to sign a contract extension in Madrid and PSG are prepared to pay his release clause despite already having Alphonse Areola and Gianluigi Buffon on their books. (Le 10 Sport)
Germany
Former Manchester City academy player Javairo Dilrosun signed for Hertha Berlin over Borussia Dortmund and Benfica because he knew he would receive more first-team football. The Dutch winger is the latest ex-City player to earn plaudits in the Bundesliga with two goals and three assists in his first seven games. The 20-year-old was also being chased by Dortmund and Benfica but wanted to play every week. (Sport Bild)
