Euro paper talk: Real Madrid target Milan playmaker Suso
Sunday 4 November 2018 11:03, UK
The European headlines are dominated by talk of what Spanish rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona will do in January, and beyond, while there's a new take on the Lionel Messi to Manchester City saga.
Our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the press on the continent to round up the latest transfer news.
Italy
Real Madrid have identified AC Milan winger Suso as the successor to Gareth Bale with a release clause of around €40m set out in the Spaniard's contract. Formerly of Liverpool, Suso has four goals and seven assists in Serie A this season. (Mediaset)
AC Milan sporting director Leonardo is in negotiations with Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent, Mino Raiola, about a possible return in January. The Swedish international scored 22 goals in just 24 starts for LA Galaxy as they failed to reach the Major League Soccer playoffs and could be tempted to return to the club where he won the Scudetto in 2011, scoring 42 league goals in two seasons with the Rossoneri. (Calcio Mercato)
Juventus would be interested in the possibility of selling star man Paulo Dybala to Bayern Munich in order to fund a move to bring Paul Pogba back to the club from Manchester United where his relationship with manager Jose Mourinho is fractious, at best. (Corriere Torino)
Spain
While Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola went to great lengths to deny it this week, Barcelona star Lionel Messi was reportedly interested by a switch to the Premier League in 2016. The Argentine had felt uncomfortable in Spain due to an ongoing lawsuit brought against him for alleged tax evasion. (Mundo Deportivo)
Having fallen out of favour under new Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac, James Rodriguez is not happy in Bavaria and would like to return to Madrid when his two-year loan deal comes to an end. Bayern have the option to make the move permanent but Rodriguez, who has made just five Bundesliga starts this season, hopes to return to the Bernabeu. (Don Balon)
Barcelona are keen to sign Bayern Munich's versatile defender and midfielder Joshua Kimmich and will make their move next summer. (Mundo Deportivo)
Borussia Dortmund have emerged as surprise contenders to sign Real Madrid's young Brazilian Vinicius Junior in a deal worth €45m. The winger only joined Los Blancos from Flamengo in the summer but found first-team minutes hard to come by under former coach Julen Lopetegui - a factor in his sacking by Real.
Vinicius made his full debut in the Copa del Rey win over Melilla in midweek and came off the bench in Saturday's win over Real Valladolid to inspire Real to a 2-0 win, having a hand in the first goal. (Don Balon)
Also on Barcelona's shortlist is Ajax centre-back Matthijs De Ligt. However, the Amsterdam club will not let the 19-year-old go cheaply and have reportedly raised their asking price to €60m. (Mundo Deportivo)
France
Outspoken Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas has left the door open for Paris Saint-Germain to make an offer for midfielder Tanguy Ndombele. Responding to former French national team player Vikash Dhorasoo, who said: "Ndombele? I do not think Aulas will let him go to PSG", Aulas replied: "But how can Vikash Dhorasoo say this type of information: obviously PSG can consider making an offer, it is the player who decides."
West Ham United are reportedly keen to sign former Fulham flop Kostas Mitroglou on loan from Olympique Marseille. The 30-year-old Greek international has managed 12 goals in 28 Ligue 1 starts for OM since the start of last season. (Le10Sport)
