Transfer news and rumors of the day: 7 December 2015

There’s still a wee bit of time to go before the doors to the winter transfer window fly open, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mills from spinning stories on a daily basis. All of Europe’s elite have a pretty good idea of where their weaknesses lie this season, and will undoubtedly be looking to strengthen in the coming weeks.As always, there are a host of players up for grabs with a fair amount of suitors keen for their services, making this January’s transfer window another one to watch out for. We take a look at the juiciest transfer gossip in Europe today.

#1 Serie A

Will Gundogan be on the move this winter?

- Reigning Serie A champions Juventus currently sit fifth in their respective league, and will surely be on the lookout for players worthy of elevating their position in the coming months.

According to Sportsmole, the Old Lady have a £40 million winter war chest at their disposal, and will disperse some of those funds to secure the services of Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan. The German has been an integral part of Dortmund’s resurgence this season but has reportedly declined to sign an extension on his contract which runs out in 2017.

- Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli, currently on loan with former club AC Milan, may very likely never play a game for the Reds again, but is already set on his next destination which is none other than Real Madrid. At least that’s what his Milan teammate Diego Lopez revealed, reports Daily Mail.

“Mario isn't like people paint him out to be,” Lopez told Marca Plus. “He is a nice guy and a good player and you know what? His dream is to play for Real Madrid.”

#2 La Liga

Vardy may trade clubs or even shores this January

- Newly appointed Valencia manager Gary Neville is already eyeing up potential recruits to snap up in January and Leicester City sensation Jamie Vardy is at the top of his list, reports Sportsmole.

The former Manchester United defender is a keen admirer of Vardy and spoke of his heroics for Leicester City during his time as a pundit on Sky Sports, saying: “It's been an incredible rise from non-league football right through to the Premier League, but the biggest jump in some ways has been the meteoric rise in the last 12 months.”

Whether any potential move materialises remains to be seen but it seems highly unlikely with the Foxes currently top of the league.

- According to Daily Mail, Espanyol are keen to end Victor Valdes’s Manchester United nightmare and are considering launching a bid for the former Barcelona goalkeeper in January.

Valdes is completely out of favour at Manchester United after a fallout with manager Louis van Gaal, which cropped up after the former refused to play for the club’s reserve team. The 33-year-old currently trains away from the first team and is one of the players certain to leave in January, but reportedly prefers a move within the Premier League.

#3 English Premier League

Butland has pledged his future to Stoke City for now

- According to Daily Mail, Liverpool are set to be frustrated in their attempts to prise Jack Butland away from Stoke City, after the player himself shot down any possibility of a transfer in January or anywhere in the near future.

“I do want to play at the top but, at the minute, I can't fault where I am,” said Butland, while speaking to Sky Sports News HQ. “I'm in a brilliant, brilliant squad who are playing extremely well and things are looking really bright for the club.”

The goalkeeper’s comments are likely to put a smile on the face of Stoke City manager Mark Huges, who previously insisted that his player was ‘going nowhere’.

- Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly looking to add more firepower up front in his squad, and is rumoured to be eyeing West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino, according to the Daily Mail. The youngster was the subject of four failed bids from Tottenham this summer, the failure of which infuriated the player so much that he took to Twitter to launch a tirade at West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace and even threatened to go on a strike.

Pochettino refused to confirm his club’s reignited interest in the striker, saying, “I’m very happy with my squad but always in every position you can improve. We have offensive players who can play like Harry. There is Son (Heung-min) or (Nacer) Chadli or Clinton (N’Jie) – they can play like a striker.

“But maybe it’s true [that Spurs will sign a striker in January]. I recognise they are not specifically strikers so maybe we will work to try to find such a player who we can add in the next transfer window or in the summer to try to help the team. It is important we find someone who is very specific.”

#4 Rest of Europe

Ron Vlaar has found a temporary home at AZ

- ESPN reports that former Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar, who became a free agent at the end of last season after declining to extend his contract with the Villains, has put pen to paper on a six-month contract with Eredivisie side and former club AZ Alkmaar. AZ director of football Max Huiberts confirmed the move, saying: “We are delighted with the capture of Ron Vlaar. He gives our squad a huge boost in quality.”

- Highly rated Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot is keen for a loan move in January and has a host of Premier League clubs on alert – reports The Independent.

“I’ve asked the president for a loan move in January if my time on the field is insufficient,” the 20-year-old said. “It’s something that he can’t refuse me – I know he likes me very much.”

The youngster, who has made over 100 appearances for PSG, has reportedly caught the attention of Arsenal, who are in desperate need of reinforcements at the centre of the park after a slew of injuries to key players.