Thursday 20 September 2018 13:18, UK
The Champions League has dominated the media agenda this week across Europe but that does not mean the continent's elite clubs do not have extra business to attend to.
Our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the media landscape from the continent to bring you the best stories of the day.
Contract talks between Mauro Icardi and Internazionale have stalled over the striker's salary demands. Inter thought they had reached an agreement to pay the 25-year-old €6.5m a year, but the Argentine's representatives are now requesting €8m. The club are keen to get Icardi tied down to a new contract and raise his €110m release clause to €130m. (Corriere della Serra)
Juventus have edged to the front of the queue to sign Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella in 2019. Barella, 21, who has been capped for Italy at every level from U15 up to U21 scored six goals in 34 Serie A matches last season and was pursued throughout the summer by Inter and Milan, although neither was able to match Calgiari's €35m valuation. Ligue 1 side Monaco are also interested but Juve may already have a verbal agreement with Barella as the Bianconeri are the best route for him getting into the full Italy squad. (Calciomercato)
Celta Vigo midfielder Stanislav Lobotka has admitted he could leave Galicia in January to seek Champions League football. Slovakian Lobotka, 23, whose situation is being monitored by Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter, Napoli and Tottenham, has a release clause of €42m. "It's clear all Celta players want to try and adventure with one of the bigger clubs in Europe." (Tuttosport)
He was a Chelsea transfer target in January but Edin Dzeko also spoke with Real Madrid about a move to the Bernabeu. Both clubs were keen to bring in a new No 9 for the second half of the 2017/18 season but the Bosnia international elected to remain with Roma, who eventually reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. (Marca)
Atletico Madrid players are concerned about the state of the pitch at the Wanda Metropolitano following their poor start to the La Liga season. After four matches, Atleti lie ninth in the Spanish top flight after being tipped as Barcelona's most likely title rivals. Several first-team players including Diego Costa have complained about the state of the turf at their stadium, which hosts the Champions League final in May. The grass was re-laid in July after the Wanda Metropolitano hosted Bruno Mars and Iron Maiden concerts over the summer. (Marca)
PSG sporting director Antero Henrique is under increasing pressure following the club's lack of recruitment this summer. Coach Thomas Tuchel was known to be disappointed by the lack of signings made but chief among them was the lack of a defensive midfielder following the retirement of Thiago Motta. N'Golo Kante was linked but a transfer never materialised and after PSG's 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League, defender Thiago Silva replied "ask Antero" as to why the Parisians didn't have a proper No 6 at Anfield. (L'Equipe)
Injury problems are mounting up at Bayern Munich with Kingsley Coman's return to first-team action delayed until the start of 2019. The France winger was expected to return to training in the coming days having not played for six months due to a ligament injury in his lower leg, but his recovery date has now been moved back until after the winter break. Bayern currently have just 18 fit first-team players with midfielder Corentin Tolisso and Rafinha also suffering serious injuries. (Sport Bild)
Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insists relations with defender Jerome Boateng remain positive despite the Germany international blasting the board for a lack of support. PSG came close to signing Boateng this summer but the defender has insisted he remains committed to Bayern despite a "lack of support" from Rumminegge and president Uli Hoeness. However, Rummenigge has insisted Boateng remains a key and popular player and his "door is always open" to talk. (Various)
