Transfer Talk – Ronaldo to MLS as Inter Miami plot move

The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Miami to move for Ronaldo?

Major League Soccer side Inter Miami CF are lining up a January move for Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo, according to The Daily Star.

United are prepared for Ronaldo to mount another push to leave Old Trafford if he cannot win a regular place in Erik ten Hag’s team. United are aware that he could look to move in January in a bid to find regular first-team football.

However, sources have told ESPN that United are confident Ronaldo will stay at the club, mainly because of a lack of interest in him from elite European sides. United only received one firm offer from a club in Saudi Arabia this summer, a bid that was dismissed by Ronaldo’s camp.

Nonetheless, the Star report states that Miami are keen on Ronaldo. It adds that the club — co-owned by David Beckham and coached by Phil Neville — would offer Ronaldo £30 million annually, although that figure would seem unlikely given the MLS salary structure. For comparison, the highest-paid player in MLS is Chicago’s Xherdan Shaqiri with a salary of about £7.3m.

Miami are also insisting that the move would need to be a free transfer, which could prove a stumbling block for the deal with United. It is expected that it would take around £10m for any January deal to become possible.

Gonzalo Higuain is Miami’s current big-name striker but is retiring at the end of the season, meaning the Designated Player roster spot needed for Ronaldo would become available.

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20.42 BST: Arsenal are in talks to extend Gabriel Martinelli’s contract at the Emirates, according to Football Insider. Martinelli was key in Arsenal’s recent win over Liverpool, and the 21-year-old Brazilian has been instrumental in Arsenal’s season.

His current deal expires in the summer of 2024, and Arsenal will look to extend and improve that deal. Martinelli joined Arsenal in July 2019, for a reported fee of £6m from Brazilian club Ituano.

19.04 BST: In more Spurs news, the club are offering Antonio Conte a new deal to extend his contract as manager, according to Football Insider.

The Italian’s current deal expires at the end of the season. The deal is reportedly worth £20m, which would make him the highest paid manager in the Premier League. With talks underway, Spurs are eyeing a deal to be agreed on before the January transfer window begins.

18.02 BST: Tottenham are looking to re-sign Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin, reports The Sun. The 20-year-old defender came through Spurs’ academy system, and was let go by the club in Aug. 2021.

17.08 BST: Barcelona’s search for a right-back has led them to look at Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot, according to Sport. The 23-year-old signed for the Red Devils four years ago from Porto, and has featured in every game this season so far under Erik ten Hag.

Barcelona currently have Hector Bellerin as their right-back, but he has only signed a one-year contract.

16.12 BST: Do Bayern need a new striker?

14.34 BST: Nice signed goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for free after he left Leicester City over the summer, but he could be on the move again in the January transfer window.

Schmeichel, 35, reportedly wants to quit the Ligue 1 club already and has clashed with manager Lucien Favre, according to L’Equipe.

The Denmark international has played 10 matches this season, including seven in Ligue 1, and has a contract until June 2025.

13.57 BST: Arsenal are in talks with forward Gabriel Martinelli over a new contract, says Football Insider.

Martinelli, 21, has impressed this season and has become first choice on the left side of attack.

The Brazil international’s terms currently end in 2024 but a new deal would last until 2026 with an option for a further year.

12.45 BST: Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is on the radar of Manchester United, according to Media Foot.

United reportedly want Vlachodimos, 28, to replace David de Gea, though could face competition from Leicester City.

The Greece international has conceded nine goals in 16 games so far this season.

11.30 BST: RB Leipzig have signed Norway international goalkeeper Orjan Nyland on a free transfer until the end of the season

Leipzig No.1 Peter Gulacsi suffered a serious knee injury, so Nyland has signed a nine-month deal, having left Reading over the summer.

“I’m proud to be part of RB Leipzig and that I had the opportunity to support the goalkeeping team at such short notice,” said Nyland. “Of course, I would have preferred different circumstances for my move and I very much hope that Peter Gulacsi’s healing process will go quickly and going positively. I’m really looking forward to getting to know the team and having a successful season together with my teammates.”

11.10 BST: Could Juventus be set to sack their manager?

10.27 BST: Liverpool could also try to sign Rennes forward Jeremy Doku in January, says Calciomercato.

Doku, 21, moved to Ligue 1 from Anderlecht in 2020 for around €26m but now has Liverpool, Juventus and Napoli on his trail.

The Belgium international has yet to score or assist in seven games so far this season, having struggled with injury.

10.03 BST: As we all know, Liverpool are looking to sign a midfielder so it’s no surprise to see them linked with West Ham’s Declan Rice.

Football Insider claims the Reds have a strong interest in Rice, who could come a little cheaper than Borussia’s Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.

Rice, 23, has a contract which expires in 2024 — though the club have the option to extend it by another 12 months — and isn’t ready to commit his future.

Chelsea and Man United have been linked with the England international before, but Liverpool could make a £100m move in January.

09.25 BST: After failing to find an agreement with Inter Milan over the transfer of Milan Skriniar, Paris Saint-Germain will try to recruit the Slovakia defender again in January, sources told ESPN.

PSG had bids of around €60m rejected by Inter who wanted €80m. Now, the Ligue 1 champions are preparing a new €30m offer for the winter transfer window.

Skriniar, 27, is out of contract at the end of the season and does not want to extend his deal with Inter. The Nerazzurri, who announced losses of €140m last week, can’t afford to let Skriniar leave on a free transfer so they could be open to accepting PSG’s new offer.

09.00 BST: AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini recently confirmed that Chelsea made a late summer offer for Rafael Leao but ESPN can reveal just how late the Blues left it to make their interest known.

Chelsea made contact with the Serie A side over the Portuguese winger earlier in the summer but waited until the final three days to make a verbal offer — not a formal, written bid — thought to have been below €100m, significantly lower than Milan’s valuation and his €150m release clause. The move was a non-starter given just how late Chelsea’s interest appeared as there was so little time to identify and sign a replacement.

Milan also have a firm desire to retain the 23-year-old by agreeing a new long-term contract — his existing agreement expires in 2024 — with talks expected to begin soon over an extension.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)

– Leeds United are set to beat Manchester United and Arsenal to the signing of PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo after agreeing personal terms with the Netherlands international, according to The Daily Mirror. The Yorkshire club are now in discussions with PSV about their €35m valuation for Gakpo, with the Dutch side wanting to let him leave to bring in funds after their inability to reach the Champions League group stages this season.

– Fabrizio Romano has reported that the documents are ready for Antoine Griezmann‘s permanent transfer from Barcelona to Atletico Madrid. The transfer will be worth €20m and a possible €4m in add-ons, with it only being a matter of time before the official announcement is made.

– AC Milan and Juventus are set to go head to head in their attempts to sign FC Salzburg forward Noah Okafor, reports Calciomercato. Milan will contact the Switzerland international’s agent in the coming days, while Juventus have scouted him on various occasions. Premier League sides are also expected to be interested in him due to the 22-year-old’s contract expiring in 2024.

– Empoli are demanding between €12m and €15m for left-back Fabiano Parisi‘s transfer, according to Calciomercato. This comes with Lazio and Internazionale both wanting to sign the Italy youngster.

– Despite Nicola Zalewski having a contract that runs until 2025, AS Roma are looking to further extend it to keep him with them until 2027, reports Calciomercato. This comes as the Serie A side try to see off interest from elsewhere to keep the 20-year-old Poland international, with Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain both keen.