Nov 11, 2024, 04:00 AM ET
Manchester United have been linked with a move for Christopher Nkunku, who is reportedly unhappy at Chelsea, while Barcelona have joined the race for in-form Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumours, and gossip from around the globe.
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TOP STORIES
– Rúben Amorim facing delay with Man Utd start – source
– Mikel Arteta ‘praying’ for no more injuries at Arsenal
– Ivan Juric becomes second Roma boss fired this season
Christopher Nkunku has found playing time hard to come by at Chelsea. Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket
TRENDING RUMORS
– Manchester United have opened talks with Chelsea over the availability of Christopher Nkunku, who is reportedly unhappy about his playing time under Enzo Maresca, according to L’Equipe. The France international has struggled for minutes this season, with Nicolas Jackson generally being preferred in the striker position by the Blues boss. While Nkunku has yet to inform Chelsea of his desire to leave the club, he is said to be considering his future at Stamford Bridge. United are one of several clubs to have enquired about the 26-year-old’s availability, who has also been linked with a return to Paris Saint-Germain, where he started his footballing career in 2015.
– Barcelona have joined the race to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres, says Ekrem Konur. With a reported €100 million release clause, the 26-year-old has attracted interest from clubs around Europe, including Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Gyökeres is expected to leave Sporting at the end of the season, having already netted 16 goals in 11 league appearances. He has also impressed in the Champions League, scoring a hat trick in Sporting’s 4-1 win against Manchester City last week.
– Real Madrid are looking at Bayer Leverkusen‘s Jonathan Tah as a potential January signings to help solve their defensive injury crisis, AS reports. Los Blancos were dealt another major blow at the weekend as centre-back Éder Militão is set to join right-back Dani Carvajal on the sidelines for the rest of the season with an ACL injury. According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham Hotspur‘s Cristian Romero and Everton‘s Jarrad Branthwaite are two other names in the frame.
– Manchester City have been told they must stump up £60m if they wish to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush, Football Insider claims. The 25-year-old striker has been in supreme form this season, scoring 10 goals in nine Bundesliga games. Naturally, he has been linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Man City the latest side to register their interest. The Egypt international is said to be keen on making the “step up” to an elite club where he can compete for trophies and regularly feature in the Champions League.
– Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endō is looking for a new club do to his lack of playing time at Anfield, according to CaughtOffside. The Japan international, 31, made 42 appearances for the Reds last season after signing from Stuttgart for £16.2m, but so far this term his only two starts have both come in the Carabao Cup. Premier League sides Fulham, Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all interested in Endō, as are Serie A giants AC Milan and Scottish champions Celtic.
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Marcotti: Real Madrid need to sign a centre-back in January
Gab & Juls discuss Real Madrid’s injury woes after Éder Militão was stretchered off with an ACL injury.
EXPERT TAKE
Sam Tighe looks at how Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku could help Manchester United get the goals flowing again:
One thing that’s very clear is that this Manchester United side doesn’t score enough goals. They’ve notched just 12 in 11 games this Premier League season — only Everton, Crystal Palace and Southampton have scored fewer — and that number was actually boosted by 25% thanks to the weekend’s 3-0 win over Leicester City.
Another thing that’s clear is that Christopher Nkunku does score goals: 36 across his final two Bundesliga seasons with RB Leipzig and 10 this term with Chelsea — nine of which have come in the cups, which is the only time he really ever gets onto the pitch.
Most importantly, he feels like a very strong tactical fit for what many presume Rúben Amorim’s style and shape will be: the 3-4-2-1, which places a lot of goalscoring onus on the two attacking players behind the striker. That’s a position that suits Nkunku’s skillset very well, as he has always shone when given a role somewhere between a No. 8 and a No. 10, with the license to drift wide, run in behind and get shots away.
Naturally, there are still many unknowns about the form Amorim’s Red Devils take, but on paper at least, this one fits.
OTHER RUMORS
– Paris Saint-Germain remain “very optimistic” that Achraf Hakimi will sign a new contract, and they are also pushing to finalize a new deal for 16-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye. (RMC Sport)
– Dani Ceballos had “fed the rumours” about him leaving Real Madrid by attending former club Real Betis’ game with Celta Vigo, watching from a VIP box. (AS)
– West Ham majority shareholder David Sullivan and technical director Tim Steidten will discuss manager Julen Lopetegui’s future in a meeting next week. (The Times)
– Preston North End are considering a move for free agent Ryan Kent, who was released by Fenerbahçe last month (Alan Nixon)
