Welcome to our daily transfer news roundup from across Europe. With the winter transfer window only six days away now, clubs will be looking to zero in on targets that they believe will make their squad stronger for the second half of the season.
On Christmas Day too, the rumour mills have not taken a break, as the big news for the day involves a Bundesliga superstar who is interesting Arsene Wenger
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Here are all the transfer news and rumours from December 25, 2016:
Serie A
Milan eye Nantes youngster
AC Milan are said to be interested in signing French youngster Amine Harit. Harit, 19, plays for Nantes in France and his style of play has experts and fans gushing alike. He has been called the next Hatem Ben Arfa, with an uncanny resemblance between both the players’ dribbling styles.
Milan are on a high after winning the SuperCoppa Italia and Vincenzo Montella is building a squad centred around young talent.
Players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessio Romagnoli, Suso and Manuel Locatelli have been integral to Milan’s success this season, and Harit will only be an addition to the list of talented youngsters with immense potential playing for the Rossoneri.
Roma eye permanent Fazio deal
After impressing in his current loan spell at the club, Federico Fazio is set to be rewarded with a permanent deal at AS Roma. Fazio struggled to cut it in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and Luciano Spalleti is eager to ensure that Fazio does not have to go back to North London.
Roma are said to be offering €4 million for the services of Fazio, on a three-year contract.
Roma have already paid Spurs €1.2 million as an initial loan fee for Fazio in the summer. It is likely that the club from the Italian capital will have that amount as part of the final deal and pay the remainder to Spurs as soon as the window opens in January.
Juventus deal for Caldara will be made official in January
Juventus have had a Christmas present for themselves as they have seemingly sealed the deal for Atalanta defender Mattia Caldara. The deal is said to be worth between €15 million and €20 million.
Juventus’s CEO Beppe Marrotta said that the deal has been completed and will be made official in January. But he also added that Caldara will join the club only in the summer of 2018.
Caldara will be loaned back to Atalanta for the one-and-a-half year period in between.
Juventus will add Caldara to already having Daniele Rugani as potential replacements for Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini who aren’t getting any younger.
Bundesliga
Dortmund eye Spurs raid
Thomas Tuchel is looking to improve his defensive reserves as he looks to sign Kevin Wimmer from Tottenham Hotspur. Marc Bartra and Sokratis Papastathopoulous are Dortmund's first choice centre-backs but Matthias Ginter is the only other recognized centre-back.
Wimmer has played second-fiddle to Toby Alderweireld and Jam Vertonghen through his time at Spurs. But this season, Mauricio Pochettino has preferred to play Eric Dier at centre-back if one of the two Belgians have missed out.
Dortmund could well be the route for the Austrian to play regular first-team football.
Bayern confident of Robben renewal
The German champions are confident that their Dutch superstar Arjen Robben will renew his deal with them. Robben’s contract at the Allianz Arena expires at the end of the season and there has been speculation that he might be lured into a big-money move to China.
But Bayern’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is confident that Robben is going nowhere.
"We are very optimistic. Both sides want it. These are good pre-conditions," Rummenigge told reporters.
Bayern raid Benfica for young right-back
The young Portuguese right-back Nelson Semedo is interesting Bayern Munich, as they look to find a long-term replacement for the brilliant Philipp Lahm. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had also identified him as one of his targets, and the two European giants look to be heading towards a tug-of-war.
Benfica are ready to make the most of the situation and demand a hefty sum for Semedo’s services. But given the financial might of both Bayern and United, it is very likely that Benfica will get what they want for Semedo.
Premier League
Arsenal have Reus as option to replace Ozil or Sanchez
The contract saga of both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal is now well documented. But now it seems like Arsene Wenger has got a replacement lined up should either of his two stars refuse to sign extensions.
Dortmund’s Marco Reus could be making the much-anticipated move to the Premier League and Bild are reporting that Arsenal could get him at a cut-price of around £20 million.
Koeman interested in Barkley swap deal with Spurs
Ronald Koeman has gone public on several occasions in his six months as Everton manager, voicing his displeasure over the performances of his young star, Ross Barkley. It appears that Koeman has had enough and will now test the waters with Tottenham Hotspur in a swap deal involving Moussa Sissoko.
Sky Sports are reporting that there could be no cash involved at all as both clubs look to part ways with players who are unsettled at the moment. Sissoko has not made an impression since arriving in the summer from Newcastle United as it appears that he is not a player who suits Mauricio Pochettino’s style.
Foster signs contract extension
West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster has signed a two-year extension to his contract at the Hawthorns. Foster has been in stunning form this season and his manager has given him the credit for his performances.
Tony Pulis said, “His form this season has been there for all to see and he continues to set the standards at the club all the goalkeepers have to aspire to.”
La Liga
Barcelona to sign Joao Cancelo
Barcelona have reportedly ended their quest for a right-back by signing Joao Cancelo from Valencia. The deal will go through only in the summer as the Portuguese is expected to be loaned back to Valencia for the remainder of the season.
When Dani Alves left in the summer, Barca put their faith in Sergi Roberto and Aleix Vidal to deliver at the right-back position, but it now seems like Luis Enrique has lost his faith in them and will sign a specialist right-back.
Courtois to leave Chelsea in summer of 2017
Thibaut Courtois is reportedly heading back to Madrid, but this time to Real Madrid as the Spanish giants seem hugely interested in securing his services.
Marca are reporting that Real are willing to offer Chelsea up to €70 million for the services of the Belgian goalkeeper. Courtois has kept nine clean sheets in his last 11 games as he marshalls the goal for Antonio Conte’s all-conquering Premier League leaders.
Valencia interested in Rojo
Struggling Valencia are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United’s Argentine defender Marcos Rojo. Cesare Prandelli is reportedly working on a £14 million deal to sign the Argentine.
Rojo has recently found his place back in the Manchester United lineup after coming in when injuries to Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling meant that United lacked defensive options otherwise. He has formed a solid partnership with Phil Jones.
Rest of the World
Di Maria China-bound?
Angel Di Maria could be the latest high-profile name to move from a European giant to the Chinese Super League. L’Equipe are reporting that several Chinese clubs are interested in signing Di Maria and are prepared to offer him enough money to make him the highest paid player in the world.
Di Maria has had a fallout with manager Unai Emery and with Julian Draxler being signed, his spot looks to be in danger.
PSG enquire about Son
The French champions are not in as much ease in Ligue 1 as in the past few seasons and they now want to sign Son Heung-Min from Tottenham hotspur to bolster their title hopes.
PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi wants to sign the South Korean to erase the “mistake” of signing Jese Rodriguez from Real Madrid in the summer. PSG will have to fork out somewhere in the region of £30 million to secure the services of Son, who has been in stunning form for Spurs this season.
