The Winter transfer market is here already and teams around Europe are identifying players to help strengthen them in the second half of the season.
There may be some big moves in January with players like Lionel Messi, Diego Costa, Isco and Erling Haaland all in the news.
Below are some of the transfer rumours today, 31 December, 2020:
Man Utd renew interest in Aarons
Manchester United have renewed their interest in Norwich defender Max Aarons – but may have to wait until the summer, according to The SUN.
The highly-rated England under-21 international is wanted by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and would jump at the chance of a move.
Yet the Championship leaders are in no need to sell financially having banked over £40million in the summer after selling Ben Godfrey to Everton and Jamal Lewis to Newcastle.
Aarons, 20, was frustrated with the Canaries after they blocked a summer move to Barcelona.
But the LaLiga giants were only offering a loan switch with a view to a permanent move.
It was a deal which did not interest Norwich for that reason.
Spurs also had an offer worth up to £30m turned down 18 months ago although due to the COVID-19 crisis, Aarons’ current value is worth nearer £20m.
Haaland to Barcelona?
Emili Rousaud has made moves to bring Erling Haaland to the Camp Nou if he is elected as Barcelona’s new president, according to Marca.
Elections at the club will take place on January 24.
On Wednesday, Rousaud announced that he would appoint Josep Maria Minguella as his sporting vice-president should he come into office.
As part of that announcement, Rousaud let slip that Minguella had reached a pre-agreement with Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola.
“He was able to bring [Diego] Maradona, [Hristo] Stoichkov, Romario, [Lionel] Messi and, with his son, Ansu Fati,” Rousaud said of Minguella.
“He’s always been there. He was the protagonist in many of the important chapters in the club’s history.”
Although Minguella didn’t mention Haaland by name, he spoke of a transfer target.
“He’s a person with a contract in place [at another club] and we have to be discrete,” Minguella said.”What we won’t do is filter news through. That’s very good for the newspapers and very bad for the club.”
Tottenham in for Costa
Tottenham have joined the queue to sign Diego Costa following his release by Atletico Madrid, according to Spanish outlet La Razon.
The forward worked with current Spurs boss Jose Mourinho when the two were together at Chelsea in their title-winning side of 2014/15.
Mourinho brought Costa to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2014 after he fired Atletico to the La Liga title and Champions League final.
He helped the Blues win the Premier League again in 2017 under Antonio Conte.
The Italian wanted rid of Costa and he was eventually sold back to Atletico in January 2018 for a reported fee of £50million.
Manchester City eye move for Alaba
Manchester City are considering a January move for Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, according to Sport Witness.
Alaba is out of contract at the Allianz Arena next summer.
PSG turn to Alli
Mauricio Pochettino is set for his long-awaited return to football with Paris Saint-Germain and will immediately weigh up a loan move for Dele Alli, according to the Daily Mail.
PSG failed with three separate loan offers for Alli in the summer and could be reunited with his former manager in France should Spurs let him leave.
