Transfer news live: Barcelona urged to sign Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho, Manchester United target Inter star

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All the latest transfer news live plus gossip and rumours

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Thursday's transfer talk

Mesut Ozil is said to be favouring a move to Manchester United over Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo is attempting to lower the release clause in his Real Madrid contract

Manchester United are looking at Inter Milan's Joao Mario as a replacement for Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Temperatures are plummeting outside which can only mean one thing - the winter transfer window must be just around the corner. 

Some of world football's biggest names swapped clubs for monster money in the summer, Neymar smashing the world transfer record by moving from Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain being the headline-grabber, but many closer to home could follow him in January with speculation about the futures of Philippe Coutinho, Alexis Sanchez and more refusing to go away.

Manchester City were the summer's biggest spenders splashing over £200m on new arrivals but Pep Guardiola isn't likely to stop there with a title there for the taking. Crosstown rivals United were busy too and will want more despite adding Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof in the summer with Jose Mourinho keen on an attacking wide player and a new full back.

Liverpool struggled to get deals over the line and could still lose Coutinho while Chelsea are still in need of bodies as Antonio Conte continues to battle with a hectic fixture list.

We will have all the latest news for you right here so don't touch that dial.

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Live Updates

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is still being linked with a move away from the club, despite making his first league start of the season against Bournemouth last night.
 
With Tottenham and Newcastle both potentially interested, the club have been keen to play up his fitness in recent weeks, and the Bournemouth game may have been used as an opportunity for Mourinho to put the 22-year-old in the shop window, with the Portuguese manager keen to praise the young defender afterwards.
 
Mourinho wants to make additions this January, with Inter Milan's Joao Mario among those linked to the Red Devils (see below), and the £20m that could be recouped from Shaw's sale would be a big boost to their hopes of making a signing.
 
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere has admitted that there has been no progress on contract talks with the club, just days after West Ham manager David Moyes admitted his interest in the midfielder.

Wilshere's current deal expires in the summer, and despite a good performance in last night's 0-0 draw with the Hammers, the Englishman told The Guardian that there was no date set for contract talks.

With Wilshere available to talk to clubs from January under Bosman rules, the news will put his suitors, like West Ham and Newcastle United, on high alert.
Willian has had to deny reports that he wants to leave Chelsea after he scored in Chelsea 3-1 win over Huddersfield on Tuesday.
 
The Brazilian's first team opportunities have been limited in recent weeks, and he has been linked with Barcelona, as well as with a reunion with former boss Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.
 
However, the winger, who has scored 36 goals in over 200 appearances for the London club, reaffirmed his commitment to the club, telling the Evening Standard "I am always happy at Chelsea."
Fabinho has confirmed he will leave Monaco in the summer.
 
"It should be my last season at Monaco," the Brazilian said. "Atletico or PSG? I’m a Monaco player. 
 
"I need to prove I can play on teams like that. We'll see in May. I used to read the papers. I don't anymore. I'm OK with that."
 
Corriere dello Sport over in Italy reports that Manchester United are also looking into buying Joao Mario, the Euro 2016 star who is struggling to nail down a first team spot at Serie A leaders Inter Milan. 
 
With Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata both failing to convince Jose Mourinho in attacking midfield, the Portuguese is considering turning to his countryman. Mata and Mkhitaryan could both be at risk, with a swap deal with Inter possible, although the Italians are keen to recoup the £40m they spent on Mario.
Remember Iker Casillas? The Real Madrid legend is reportedly close to leaving current club Porto after falling down the pecking, with Portuguese paper A Bola declaring he wants to move elsewhere in January.
 
There are a few Premier League sides who could do with a keeper of Casillas's quality - but a move to Turkey or the US seems more likely for the 36-year-old.
Manchester United target Gareth Bale marked his return from injury with a goal as Real Madrid won in the World Club Cup semi-finals against Al-Jazira.

The Welsh winger struck late against the Emirati club in what was just his second appearance since September after calf and hamstring problems in recent weeks.
 
The 28-year-old has had an injury-hit spell in Madrid, despite scoring in the Champions League final in his first season. With Jose Mourinho reportedly hopeful of improving his injury record if he arrived at Old Trafford however, this performance could have cemented his place in Manchester United's transfer plans this summer, with an £85m fee mooted.
Rafa Benitez may be reportedly interested in Danny Ings and Luke Shaw (see below), but with takeover rumours still swirling the Spaniard remains unsure of what Newcastle's transfer kitty will be in January. 
 
"I need to know how much money we will have for January as soon as possible, that's it," said the former Liverpool manager after yesterday's loss against Everton.
 
 

Pep Guardiola basked in Manchester City's Premier League record of 15 consecutive wins but admits the landmark will count for nothing if they do not win the title.

City broke the 14-game winning streak set by Arsenal in 2002 with a 4-0 thrashing of bottom-placed Swansea on Wednesday night.

David Silva scored twice to cap another man-of-the-match display, and Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero were also on target.

 

 

Jose Mourinho was pleased with Manchester United's response to their derby loss as they overcame Bournemouth 1-0 at Old Trafford.

Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal on Wednesday as United got back to winning ways after their damaging, demoralising and controversial defeat to arch-rivals and Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday.

United boss Mourinho said of his players: "I think (they had a) very good attitude, very good determination to win.

 

 

Eric Bailly may require surgery that could threaten the remainder of his season. The defender has not played for Manchester United since the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea on November 5 and his manager, Jose Mourinho, admitted he could offer no guarantees as to his return.

Bailly injured his ankle while playing for Ivory Coast in their World Cup qualifier against Mali in October, but although he returned to play against Tottenham at the end of that month, he broke down again. He has now missed eight matches for Manchester United.

 

 

Kyle Scott is in stalemate with Chelsea over a new contract, The Sun claims, with a host of clubs keeping a watchful eye on him.
 
The paper reports that the 19-year-old midfielder, who has 18 months to run on his current deal, has impressed Leicester and Huddersfield, but Chelsea are keen for him to stay.
 
 
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Super Sunday?
 
Wonder no more.
 

Real Madrid are considering changing strategy over their next goalkeeper, in a development that could be welcomed atManchester United but not at Chelsea, as the European champions believe Thibaut Courtois could be much easier to sign than David De Gea.

One plan now being mooted at the top levels of the Bernabeu right now is to try and sign Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga in January and for the future, before moving for Courtois in the summer.

Both Courtois and De Gea see their current contracts run out in June 2019, but after years of Real pursuing the United keeper, the view is that the Belgian would be less complicated to sign.

 

 

Senior figures at Atletico Madrid and Manchester United now believe Antoine Griezmann will go to Barcelona in the summer, in a mega-money deal.

The French star has been widely expected to leave the Spanish capital club in the next year after a deal with United fell apart in June in the wake of Atletico's transfer ban, and Barcelona have now surged well ahead in the pursuit of his signature.

The Catalans, who are intent on undertaking a major team restructuring after the controversial exit of Neymar, badly want to add more mobility to their attack and see Griezmann as one of the best potential options.

More here:

 

Arsene Wenger has confirmed Arsenal are continuing to try and tie Mesut Ozil down to a new contract with Manchester Unitedwaiting in the wings.

The 28-year-old's current deal runs out at the end of the season and he is yet to show any real willingness to remain at the Emirates beyond this campaign.

United want to sign him on a free transfer next summer and manager Jose Mourinho recently publicly refused to rule out such a possibility ahead of their meeting a fortnight ago.

Wenger confirmed the club are continuing their efforts to keep one of their star men.

 

Manchester City will return with a big offer for Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez in January, as they attempt to finally clinch the deal thatPep Guardiola was desperate for in the summer.

While City have been in supreme attacking form despite the failure to land the Chilean on deadline day in August, Guardiola is said by sources to feel that the unbeaten Premier League leaders can do a double of domestic title and Champions League this season, so wants to press home with the purchase and add real strength in depth to his squad to seize the opportunity.

Arsene Wenger's position is still that Arsenal do not want to sell despite the 28-year-old's contract running out at the end of the season, but that stance was shown to be malleable in the summer when the London club ultimately agreed to sell the striker on the provision that they would be able to bring in a replacement.

 

Manchester United now see Juventus' Alex Sandro as their primary left-back target for January, as there is a growing belief it could be difficult to prise Danny Rose out of Tottenham Hotspur.

Jose Mourinho is determined to solve a position that has been a problem for a long time at Old Trafford, even allowing for Ashley Young's impressive displays there is a stand-in, and sees it as his main task for the mid-season window.

It had for a long time looked like Rose could be that option, given the has fallen out of favour at Spurs due to injury and the connected issues of a controversial interview about the club's transfer policy at the start of the season.

 

Let's take a look around today's papers shall we?

Barcelona's bid to sign Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho continues, but the Catalan giants are unwilling to let the issue run throughout the transfer window, according to the Mirror. The paper says reports in Spain suggest club bosses have decided that if a deal cannot be done by the end of December, then they will need to move on. They could then look to sign Arsenal's Mesut Ozil, the paper adds.

However, according to the Daily Mail, Ozil favours signing for Manchester United over Barcelona should he leave Arsenal. The paper says the Germany international has made it plain to friends that he is eyeing a switch to United, while Jose Mourinho is said to be watching his situation closely.

Newcastle are reportedly eyeing Liverpool striker Danny Ings and Manchester United defender Luke Shaw. The Daily Star claims manager Rafael Benitez wants to bring in the two players as he bids to avoid the drop, and will make a move if the club's takeover goes through.

Bournemouth are demanding £15million for striker Benik Afobe, The Sun reports. The paper says West Brom and former club Wolves are interested in the 24-year-old, but Eddie Howe wants more than the £10million they splashed out on him two years ago.

 
Good morning and welcome to today's Independent transfer live blog.
 
The winter transfer window is now just around the corner with some of world football's biggest names possibly on the move.
 
Neymar smashed the world transfer record by swapping Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer but with money seemingly to burn January could be the biggest ever with many closer to home possibly following the Brazilian in making multi-million pound moves.
 
We'll bring you all the latest news, done deals and breaking rumours throughout the day right here so don't touch that dial.
 
 

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