Transfer news and rumours of the day: December 9, 2015

Garry Monk has been sacked by Swansea CityThe January transfer window opens in another 22 days, and the rumours are gathering apace. The Champions League group stages are also over which means clubs around Europe are quite clear as to what player will help their team go up.Some managers have been facing the axe and, on the other hand, players are being talked into extending their contracts.Whatever the case, we are in for a lot of rumours and some believable news in the coming month.For now, here are the transfer news and rumours of December 9.

#1 Serie A

- Roma are looking to bring in Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho, Gazzetta World reports.

The Giallorossi haven’t had a pleasing season defensively as they have already leaked 18 goals thus far in the league and are looking for a defender who can provide stability to their faltering defence. The club is currently in the fourth place and will want to submit a bid for the Frenchman in January itself.

- AC Milan forward Suso is set to leave the club in January, Calciomercato.com reports.

The ex-Liverpool player is reportedly being scouted by Villarreal, Malaga, Palermo and Genoa. The Spaniard has played only 4 matches for the Rossoneri and might want to move back to his home country.

- Roma left-back Ashley Cole is being scouted by MLS outfit New York City FC, Calciomercato.com reports.

Patrick Vieira, NYCFC coach is looking to bolster his squad and Cole, his ex-teammate is believed to be one of his targets who has fallen down the pecking order at Roma.

#2 La Liga

- Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken about his embrace with Paris Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc, which led to speculation that the Portuguese star might make a move to the French club in the next summer transfer window.

Ronaldo said: “I have talked to many people. When people treat me well, I treat [them] well. A muddle that does not exist was put together. What happened with Blanc was that he had spoken very well about me before and I only thanked him for his declarations and I told him that I had liked them a lot. And with the Paris president, I have known him for many years. He seems very nice and he has always treated me well. That’s what happened.”

- Neymar is expected to put pen on paper for a new deal with Barcelona which will keep him at the club till 2021, Sky Sports reports.

According to news published in Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona board is looking to offer the Brazilian a contract in January itself. The 23-year old has garnered a lot of attention after a string of scintillating performances and Manchester United are reportedly ready to offer around £150m for the forward.

- Barcelona sent scouts to watch Juventus striker Paolo Dybala, Mundo Deportivo reports.

The Old Lady played Sevilla in the last group stage match of the Champions League and scouts from the Catalan club were reportedly in attendance to monitor the Argentine. The 22-year old is currently in contract with the Bianconeri till 2020.

#3 English Premier League

- Swansea City have sacked their manager Gary Monk. The 36-year old has been associated with the Welsh club for 14 years, however, an unreasonable dip in the team’s performances has urged the board to relieve the manager of his duties.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said: “The decision has been made very reluctantly and with a heavy heart.

“To find ourselves in our current situation from where we were in the first week of September, and considering the drop of performance levels and run of results over the last three months, it has brought us to this unfortunate decision today.”

- Manchester United are set to spend big in the summer transfer window if they fail to achieve a top-three finish in the Premier League, Sky Sports reports.

According to news published in English daily, Express, United are "preparing a £200m" kitty for the summer, with Riyad Mahrez, Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku on top of their transfer list.

- Arsenal have made an enquiry for in-form Celta Vigo striker Nolito, Daily Mirror reports.

The 29-year old has been in great form recently and has been scouted by his boyhood club Barcelona as well. The fee expected by Celta Vigo is believed to be around £15m which the Blaugranas are reluctant to pay, as a result of which the Gunners might move and snap the forward in the January transfer window.

- Chelsea might let striker Diego Costa return to Atletico Madrid in a swap deal which will see Antoine Griezmann move to the Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window, Sky Sports reports.

Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Terry Gibson said: “It is being talked about a lot and from the outside there is surely a swap there with Griezmann and Diego Costa somewhere along the line. But I do not expect that to happen in January as that does not suit either club, because if they are both in the Champions League then they will have a player they cannot use. So Griezmann will stay put until the summer. “

#4 Rest of Europe

- Bayern Munich’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said that Xabi Alonso will not leave the German club as the Spaniard is loving the city of Munich.

“Recently, I had a talk with Xabi. He feels very good at Bayern Munich and in the city of Munich too.

“He signalled to me he is interested in staying in Munich. Rumours he would plan to leave are wrong.”

- Turkish side Besiktas are weighing up a move for Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina, Daily Mirror reports.

The Columbian has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates since the arrival of summer signing Petr Cech from Arsenal and might want to move to greener pastures.

Edited by Staff Editor