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LIVE Transfer Talk: Man United enter race for Havertz

The transfer windows in Europe's top leagues are closed, but it's never too early to look forward to January. Click here to view the latest transfers, and keep up to date with the newest gossip below.

TOP STORY: Man United enter race for Havertz

The future of Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz is up for debate and SportBild reports that Manchester United are making moves to land the star in the coming months.

Havertz, 20, is one of the most highly rated midfielders in Europe and looks set to leave the club in the summer. Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and "the two Manchester clubs" are keen, with United evidently very interested in the Germany international.

The fact that it would need a bid of over €100 million would rule out a few clubs -- possibly even Bayern given they tend not to spend big -- but "the new Mesut Ozil" could be on the move soon. Just not to Arsenal.

LIVE BLOG

22.43 GMT: An update on Erling Braut Haaland Watch, this time coming from the Telegraph, which reports that despite the strong interest of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, Manchester United remain favourites for the 19-year-old's signature, in no small part because of the Norwegian's relationship with Red Devils manager and countryman Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

21.50 GMT: The representatives of AC Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu have sat down with the club to discuss a new contract for the 25-year-old, who has 18 months remaining on his Rossoneri deal, according to Calciomercato.

20.57 GMT: Despite his lack of opportunities under Antonio Conte and requesting to leave Chelsea two years ago, Nathan Ake holds no ill will toward the West London club, the Athletic writes, with the Blues being credited with interest in bringing the 24-year-old centre-back back to the club via a £40m buy-back clause they inserted in his 2017 sale to Bournemouth.

20.04 GMT: Erling Braut Haaland is considering offers from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, and according to the Guardian, is prioritising playing time, something that Manchester United and Juventus cannot guarantee, leaving the German clubs in pole position to sign the 19-year-old FC Salzburg striker.

19.11 GMT: Catalan outlet Sport reports that Real Madrid will wait for the summer of 2021 to bid for Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, when he will have just one year remaining on his contract. Los Blancos are reportedly under the impression that the 20-year-old will not sign a new deal in the French capital, and will wait until Mbappe has 12 months remaining on his deal before bidding in an effort to maintain the cordial relationship between the two clubs.

18.18 GMT: MLS Cup runners-up and 2017 MLS Cup champions Toronto FC announced on Thursday that they have signed captain and U.S. international Michael Bradley to a new contract using Targeted Allocation Money.

17.25 GMT: Leicester stars James Maddison and Ben Chilwell have been linked with moves away, but manager Brendan Rodgers was pretty firm when asked about the futures of his players.

"There will be no one leaving in January. Categorically," he said.

Adding later: "It's pretty clear we want to keep this squad together, it's a very exciting team with a lot of growth and development in it. So we want to make sure that they stay around and beyond January."

16.27 GMT: El Desmarque claims that Real Madrid are ready to do a deal for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

The Spanish giants are reportedly willing to offer Luka Modric to Napoli, plus €50m for Koulibaly.

Modric, 34, has a contract which expires in the summer but is evidently deemed surplus to requirements by the club. The question is: Will Napoli wait, or sell in January?

15.40 GMT: PSG have a fight on their hands to keep hold of Kylian Mbappe. Is the hottest prospect in world football set to leave?

14.47 GMT: We're going Salzburg crazy today! Wolves are tracking forward Hwang Hee-chan from FC Salzburg, according to the Telegraph.

The South Korean will cost between €20m-€25m, which makes you wonder why they don't go for Takumi Minamino instead: at €7.5m as he would be a lot cheaper.

The report reads: "Telegraph Sport understands a move for the 23-year-old is more likely for the summer, but Wolves may pursue a permanent deal in January which would see Hwang loaned back to Salzburg for the remainder of the season."

14.04 GMT: Barcelona are reportedly set to make a move for ex-Chelsea youngster Jeremie Boga, according to Sport, but it could be ruined by his former club.

Boga, 22, has been starring for Italian side Sassuolo this season with 14 goals already, which has caught the eye of those at Camp Nou.

However, Chelsea have a £3.5m buyback clause in his contract and are in the market for a new winger. Though why Boga would want to return to the club that gave him just one game in three years is beyond us.

13.09 GMT: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen to sign Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal if the club lose Leroy Sane to Bayern as expected.

El Confidencial reports that City's interest in the Spain winger is firm and that Guardiola thinks the €75m pricetag is "nothing" to the club.

12.54 GMT: UPDATE on Liverpool's move for FC Salzburg forward Takumi Minamino...

Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund told a news conference ahead of their clash with Hartberg: "I won't comment on contract details. But it's true there are talks with Liverpool. It's an honour for our club that the current Champions League winners and other big clubs are looking at our players."

Asked whether a January transfer is happen, he added: "That could be possible."

12.38 GMT: Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has told Sky Sports: "If Man United come in for James Maddison and pay enough, he's gone."

But why might Chelsea not manage a move for the Leicester midfielder?

11.54 GMT: Chelsea seem to be making some progress over a new contract for Brazil winger Willian.

Willian, 31, saw interest from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the summer and has a deal which expires at the end of the season. However, he could be set to stay on in London.

"I have stated several times my wish is to stay at Chelsea," he told Yahoo Sport. "I like the club very much, I feel very welcomed here, as well as my family, and we love living in London. However, I'm in the middle of the season and I try not to think about it so as not to lose focus on the field. My agent and the club are talking and I hope we can have some good news soon.

"In transfer windows it is normal to have bids and speculations, especially for players who are in final contract. But my focus is 100% on Chelsea and the season."

11.15 GMT: Liverpool have moved ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign FC Salzburg forward Takumi Minamino, with sources having told ESPN the Anfield club have agreed to trigger the Japan international's £7.25m release clause in January.

Minamino, 24, impressed Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during Salzburg's two Champions League Group E fixtures this season and sources have said the club's sporting director, Michael Edwards, has negotiated with the Austrian champions after discovering the nature of the player's clause.

11.03 GMT: Thomas Lemar was being tracked by Liverpool and Arsenal before he moved to Atletico Madrid for €70m from Monaco in 2018, but now the Spanish club are looking to sell, says France Football.

Lemar, 24, is yet to score or assist in 13 appearances this season and Atletico are reportedly lining up Valencia forward Rodrigo to replace him.

Liverpool and Arsenal could come back for the France international at a much lower price than they were quoted two years ago, but equally they might just have moved on.

10.12 GMT: Unai Emery has held talks with Everton and would be keen on a return to the Premier League, although a deal now looks unlikely, sources have told ESPN.

The 48-year-old was sacked by Arsenal in November after 18 months in charge and a run of seven games without a win.

Sources close to the coach have told ESPN that Emery was intrigued by the possibility of taking over at Everton and is open to the idea of taking another Premier League job. He feels his communication skills in English improved during his time at Arsenal and the way his time there ended means he has a point to prove.

09.45 GMT: PSG star Neymar was being linked to Liverpool yesterday, but what do the FC TV crew think of it?

09.25 GMT: Chelsea are featuring in these pages a lot since their transfer ban was overturned but it's a new deal on the cards this time.

Defender Fikayo Tomori has impressed this season with The Times reporting that the 22-year-old is now expected to sign a lucrative five-year contract.

08.56 GMT: Leicester City midfielder Dennis Praet has played down reports linking him with Fiorentina just months after joining the Foxes.

Praet, who arrived in the summer for £18m from Sampdoria, has made 11 Premier League appearances for Brendan Rodgers' side this term, although only four as a starter.

"The rumors about my return in January? False," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I also read, for example, about Fiorentina, but I'm happy here. I am not yet a starter, but I aim to become one soon.

08.28 GMT: Chelsea midfielder Willian says he is in talks with the club with a view to signing a new contract.

The 31-year-old, who has been linked with interest from Barcelona and Juventus, is due to become a free agent next summer when his contract expires and is keen to remain with the club he joined in 2013.

Asked about a possible move to Barcelona, the Brazil international told Esporte Interativo. "Everyone knows I like Chelsea a lot. I identified myself with the club, with the fans, with London.

"My contract is coming to an end and we are talking. We will see what happens and what is best for both parties. But everyone knows how I desire to remain."

The Brazil international has been a key part of the Chelsea team under Frank Lampard's management this season, starting 11 matches in the Premier League and all six of their Champions League group-stage fixtures.

08.00 GMT: Former Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti is not on Arsenal's list of potential managerial candidates, sources have told ESPN.

The Italian was sacked by Napoli despite guiding them to the Champions League knockout stage, following a dreadful run of form domestically, which had seen them plummet to seventh in Serie A.

Arsenal recently parted company with manager Unai Emery and are looking for a replacements, with reports having suggested Ancelotti could become their next permanent boss.

However, sources have told ESPN Ancelotti, 60, does not fit the profile of manager Arsenal are looking for, while they are not convinced by his most recent experiences.

He was sacked by Bayern Munich in 2017 and then Napoli midway through his second season with both clubs languishing outside the Champions League places.

Furthermore, according to ESPN sources, Arsenal have received several applications for the vacant role and in the process of conducting interviews in order to narrow down the list.

PAPER TALK (by Harry Kettle)

Manchester United to pay big for Saul

Manchester United will need to pay the big bucks -- up to £128m of them, to be exact -- to land Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez during the January transfer window, Mundo Deportivo reports.

The popular midfielder is believed to be an integral part of Atletico's first-team squad, to the point that many fans are worried about the prospect of him leaving. Alas, though the money required would likely put a lot of pressure on United, the report says it will come to that only if the club loses Paul Pogba to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Real boss Zinedine Zidane is still invested in the idea of signing the World Cup winner and might go after him as soon as the winter window opens.

Chelsea scout Werner, Dembele

By now, it's no secret: Chelsea have a bucket of cash at their disposal, and they're ready to spend it in January, now that their transfer ban has been rescinded.

The Blues have been linked with a number of defenders and attackers, but the Mail reports that the West London club sent scouts to monitor RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner and Lyon striker Moussa Dembele on Tuesday in the Champions League.

With Olivier Giroud seemingly on his way out and Michy Batshuayi's form erratic, the Chelsea hierarchy is said to desire another forward who can push Tammy Abraham and provide Frank Lampard a reliable option up front when his XI needs rotating.

Werner is reportedly valued at £52 million -- something of a pittance in this market for a 23-year-old Germany international with 20 goals in 22 appearances this season -- but the Premier League side will find prying him out of the Bundesliga a challenge as Leipzig sit second in the table and are on course for a serious title fight.

Juventus to try to keep Higuain?

Italian giants Juventus are attempting to figure out a deal that would allow them to keep star striker Gonzalo Higuain on the books, Calciomercato reports.

The Argentine has been heavily linked with a move away from the champions once again, despite being viewed by many as one of the most underrated goal scorers in all of Europe. Juve are believed to have begun negotiations with Higuain's representatives, but there are still quite a few obstacles to overcome.

They want to extend his contract, but alongside that, the Turin club is aiming to reduce his salary, which is currently at €7.5 million per season -- with rumours of a return to River Plate still rife.

-- When does the transfer window reopen?
-- All major completed transfer deals

Tap-ins

-- Veteran midfielder Sacha Kljestan has signed with the LA Galaxy as a free agent, the club announced Wednesday. After a successful five-year stint with Belgium's Anderlecht, Kljestan spent the past five seasons with New York Red Bulls and Orlando City. He is expected to provide veteran leadership for a Galaxy roster in transition after the departures of its top two goal scorers: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Uriel Antuna.

-- Roma are expected to go ahead with the sale of Alessandro Florenzi in the January transfer window, Calciomercato reports. The club isn't willing to look at offers of anything less than €25 million, with the likes of Fiorentina, Inter Milan and Napoli all interested in the man who hasn't been able to find a consistent place in Roma's starting XI this season. 

-- Napoli are preparing for an overhaul of their squad, which will begin during the January transfer window, Corriere dello Sport reports. In addition to bringing in a new manager in the form of Gennaro Gattuso, the aim is for them to sign a left-back, a midfielder and a forward once the window opens, with Dries Mertens and Jose Callejon being linked with moves away from the club. 

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