Transfer news and rumours of the day: December 23, 2015

Chelsea and Manchester City to fight for GuardiolaThe winter window gets closer with each passing day and the transfer rumour mill is starting to pick up steam. There has been a buzz around many players and clubs, some needing reinforcements, others seeking moves away from their respective clubs for more than a single reason. Nonetheless, the January window is poised to give us some interesting news.Here are the top transfer news and rumours of the day from leagues around Europe.

#1 Serie A

- Roma are set to go head to head with Chelsea for the appointment of Antonio Conte as their manager, Football Italia reports.

The ex-Juventus boss is currently coaching the Italy national football team and has a contract with them until the Euro 2016. Chelsea have appointed Guus Hiddink as their interim coach and will constantly be looking for an established manager. On the other hand, Rudi Garcia has had an indifferent season thus far with the Giallorossi and reportedly he has been given a chance to prove himself till the end of the season.

- Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has said that he will be interested in bringing in Giuseppe Rossi from Fiorentina if the Florence-based club is ready to pay his wages.

"Rossi is a player of great talent, a real champion," Ferrero said.

"If Fiorentina were prepared to pay his wages, I'd gladly bring him here. I'd have to talk it over with Montella first. If he gave the all-clear, then why not?”

#2 La Liga

- Real Madrid are planning to make a move for Dynamo Kiev forward Andriy Yarmolenko, Sportsmole reports.

The Ukraine international was previously linked with a move to Barcelona, however, the Catalan giants have reportedly withdrawn their interest in him. The Los Blancos are prepared to launch a bid for the 26-year-old in the January transfer window.

- Barcelona youngster Gerard Gumbau is set to join Malaga on loan, Sportsmole reports.

The 21-year-old has made eight first team appearances for the Catalan giants and Barcelona are eager to present him with more first team opportunities as the midfielder is set to join Malaga on a loan after the January transfer window opens.

- Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is looking to replace under-fire manager Rafa Benitez with Jose Mourinho, El Larguero reports.

The ex-Valencia manager has been under fire for team’s performances this season and has been jeered a number of times by the Bernabeu faithuls. The club succumbed to a rather embarrassing loss in the El Clasico as they were beaten 4-0 by the Blaugrana. The Madrid-based club have not won the La Liga since Mourinho last guided them to first place finish back in 2012.

#3 English Premier League

- Manchester United have been given the green light to sign Lucas Moura from Paris Saint-Germain, The Telegraph reports.

The Brazilian has failed to cement his spot in the starting lineup this season and might be open or a move to Old Trafford. The 23-year-old will attract a bid of around £22m, and supposedly Liverpool will try their best to snatch him from the Red Devils.

- Liverpool are considering to make a move for reportedly ‘unsettled’ Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Segen, The Independent reports.

The German shot-stopper is supposedly unhappy at the Camp Nou and is looking for a new club in the January transfer window. He has made four La Liga appearances for the club since his arrival and was also not included in starting XI of the Barcelona team in the Club World Cup.

- Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has said that he is no hurry to sign a contract extension with the North-London based club as his current deal still has more than two years to go on it.

“There is no rush to sign a new contract. My current deal runs until 2018. That is still two-and-a-half years. There are no talks at the moment. I can only say that I am very happy in London. My decision to leave Real Madrid for Arsenal was the right one. There has not been a single day, apart from whenever I was injured, that I did not feel great here.”

Ozil was recently linked with a move back to Real Madrid and has been scintillating form this term.

- Sky Sports’ Spanish football pundit Guillem Balague has said that Chelsea will lock horns with Manchester City in the quest to appoint Pep Guardiola as their club’s manager.

“Roman Abramovich is aware of that and is trying to convince Pep by giving him a blank chequebook.

“The only thing that is clear is that his next job is in the Premier League. That's the only thing that nobody doubts.”

#4 Rest of Europe

- Serbian football club Red Star Belgrade have released an official statement stating that their 18-year-old midfielder Marko Grujic will join Liverpool after the January transfer window opens.

“We received offers from Anderlecht for 2m euros, Stuttgart for 5m and Liverpool for 7m and 10% of the next transfer.

“The club want to thank Marko Grujic for 10 years of service but the financial situation dictates the decision. The board considered the offer and accepted the proposal from Liverpool to pay the money immediately and the player to stay at Red Star until 1/07/2016.

"Marko Grujic should continue to develop at one of the biggest clubs in the world. We are convinced, just like Liverpool, that he has the qualities to have a great career in England."

- Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has admitted that contract talks with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan have not yet started. The German’s contract with the club gets over in 2017.

"Ilkay is one of our key players. We'll talk with him in due time on the future, but we still have a little time," Zorc said.

Gundogan has been linked with a move to Serie A giants Juventus in the past few weeks.