Friday 21 September 2018 13:26, UK
The Champions League and Europa League have dominated the media agenda this week, but that does not mean the continent's elite clubs do not have extra business to attend to.
So we asked our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the media landscape on the continent to bring you the best stories of the day.
Manchester United and Arsenal are both eyeing up Hertha Berlin midfielder Arne Maier. The teenager has been compared to Toni Kroos due to his passing ability in deep areas and build-up play through midfield. These attributes also have Barcelona keeping tabs on the player who could leave Berlin next year. (SportBild)
Borussia Dortmund will return for Ajax winger David Neres next year after initially showing interest in the Brazilian during the previous transfer window. The 21-year-old winger has over three years left on his deal at the Eredivisie club, but a release fee of £40m could tempt a number of sides, including Dortmund, to make a move as early as January. (Various)
Juventus have dropped out of the race to sign Liverpool transfer target Nicolo Barella having failed to secure a deal in the summer. The Turin club are reported to have turned their attention elsewhere, leaving the Reds as favourites to sign the midfielder should they follow up their initial interest. The Cagliari star is considered one of the brightest young talents in Serie A, and is also interesting Inter and Roma. (Calciomercato)
"The violin has stopped playing," said Sky Italia as they reported the end of Alberto Gilardino's playing career. The well-travelled striker won a Champions League with AC Milan in 2007, and a World Cup with Italy in 2006, and will now focus on coaching. (Sky Sport)
Bayer Leverkusen forward Leon Bailey has not ruled out a move away in the near future despite signing a new contract with the Bundesliga club this summer. An Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea transfer target, the Jamaican has also been strongly linked with Roma who want him to replace winger Malcom, who left for Barcelona this summer. (Calciomercato)
Manchester City are one of a number of clubs looking at the possibility of signing Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil star Neymar. Barcelona and Real Madrid are the other teams mentioned, and it remains to see whether more concrete interest emerges from Manchester.
Neymar joined Barcelona after Pep Guardiola had left, but the pair had met previously when Barcelona faced Santos in the 2011 World Club Cup final. Guardiola wanted to sign Neymar then and the PSG man has spoken of his desire to play under the City boss. (Don Balon)
Anderlecht's sporting director Luc Devroe has said that he is glad the club didn't sign Liverpool's Lazar Markovic this summer. The two clubs had agreed a fee for a permanent deal after the Serbian spent some time on loan at Anderlecht last season, but the player turned down the contract offer from the Belgian club.
Devroe said: "Good thing we didn't sign him in the end. No offense, but I'm glad. Look at his stats: he played a few games for Anderlecht, and that's basically it. The fans like him, but nostalgia is not a good basis for making decisions." (Het Nieuwsblad)
