Transfer News

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has said Arturo Vidal remains with the club, but he will wait to see if things develop with the Chilean amid reported transfer links with Manchester United.

According to Phil Haigh of Metro, Valverde said he might name the midfielder in Thursday's Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia:

"I speak with him as I speak with others. He is a player who is with us and we do not have to think that he is going to leave. Then we will see what happens. Tomorrow [in the Super Cup] we will see if he starts out.

"Arturo Vidal plays with us and tomorrow he will be on the field, on the bench or nearby.

"In the same way that we do not serve players from other teams, we do not pay attention to our interest."

Vidal has been consistently linked with United over the years, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's immediate need for midfield reinforcements could finally see the player land at Old Trafford.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (h/t Adam Shergold for MailOnline) reported Barca might be open to selling Vidal, with United and Inter Milan both interested in agreeing a deal. The player's agent has been speaking to prospective buyers, and the former Juventus star is reportedly available for £17 million.

United are dealing with long-term injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, and the club's midfield is left with few options.

Fred has established himself as a starter in recent months alongside Andreas Pereira, but their lightweight pairing has made them vulnerable against physical sides.

Vidal could quickly solve this problem, and with the 32-year-old's career in decline, a fresh challenge might be accepted in January.

The midfielder is also in dispute with the Spanish champions over an alleged unpaid £2 million bonus, with Vidal launching legal proceedings over the matter against the club, per Shergold.

The former Bayern Munich man is no longer the world-class talent who dominated for the Old Lady next to Pogba, but he could offer short-term relief and add vital experience for United.

Solskjaer's team have displayed plenty of promise this season. United have competed hard against the biggest sides in England, but their lack of knowledge and diversity against deep-lying teams have seen the Red Devils fail in games they expect to win.

Vidal would offer United leadership at a vital point in the season. Manchester United, who are fifth in the table, retain their aspirations of a top-four finish, but impact signings must be captured in January.

Manchester United captain Ashley Young will reportedly join Inter Milan when his contract expires at the end of the season. 

Simon Stone of BBC Sport reported the England international might leave in the January transfer window, but the Red Devils haven't agreed a deal with the San Siro giants.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Tuesday "it was not the right time" to discuss a potential exit for the skipper, instead insisting the Red Devils must strengthen their options.

Young would be the third player in quick succession to leave Old Trafford for Antonio Conte's side after Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.

Lukaku's goals have helped fire Inter to the top of Serie A, but the addition of Young would be a surprising twist.

The 34-year-old is now eligible to speak to clubs outside of England as an impending free agent, and a transfer to the Nerazzurri would be a dream final move for the player.

Young was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011 after an impressive four-year spell at Aston Villa, but the player previously found himself on the outskirts of the starting XI.

However, a transformation from winger to full-back has helped the player become a consistent starter, and Young now has 261 appearances for United, per Stone.

Solskjaer has opted to form his squad around youth following his arrival in Manchester 13 months ago, but the loss of Young would see the club's lack of experience heighten.

Young remains an important leadership figure for the club. However, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot are now the preferred options at right-back, limiting the veteran's first-team chances.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has said striker Moussa Dembele "wants to stay" and win something with the French outfit despite recent reports suggesting Chelsea are hunting his signature. 

The Premier League giants are free to sign players this winter after having their transfer ban reduced, but Aulas remains adamant Lyon's frontman will not be sold in January, per the Evening Standard's Jack Rosser:

"Moussa Dembele will not leave because he wants to stay to win something with Lyon. There have been offers for him and for other players but none of those that we want to keep will leave in January."

Lyon will be particularly reluctant to sell their star after attacking gem Memphis Depay ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in December, a blow that could rule the Netherlands international out of UEFA Euro 2020.

Aulas confirmed clubs have already made bids for Dembele, 23, and Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol reported in early January that one of those offers came from Stamford Bridge:

Chelsea willing to pay €40m (£34m) for Moussa Dembélé but Lyon don’t want to sell the French striker. One source has told us Chelsea had a €40m bid rejected this morning

— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) January 2, 2020

Tammy Abraham has made the most of his chance to finally start for his boyhood club this season, and his development has been one of the few positives to come from their transfer suspension over the summer.

The 22-year-old's form has tailed off somewhat following an extremely promising start to the campaign. The Independent highlighted him as one of numerous English strikers impressing in the Premier League this term, not to mention one who's outscored England captain Harry Kane (who is currently injured) thus far:

Top goal scorers in the Premier League this season:

1️⃣ Jamie Vardy = 1️⃣7️⃣ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
2️⃣ P E Aubameyang = 1️⃣3️⃣ 🇬🇦
2️⃣ Danny Ings = 1️⃣3️⃣ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
4️⃣ Tammy Abraham = 1️⃣2️⃣ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
4️⃣ Marcus Rashford = 1️⃣2️⃣ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
6️⃣ Harry Kane = 1️⃣1️⃣ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
6️⃣ Sadio Mane = 1️⃣1️⃣ 🇸🇳
6️⃣ Raheem Sterling = 1️⃣1️⃣ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/zq1pbySNob

— Indy Football (@IndyFootball) January 3, 2020

Dembele has scored 12 times in 26 games across all competitions this season. However, Lyon sit 12th in Ligue 1 and are in need of a major upset if they're to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals ahead of last-16 opponents, Juventus.

Lampard already has alternative striker options in Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi, though the manager has suggested the former could leave in January if a replacement is signed:

Lampard addresses Giroud exit talk 🧐 pic.twitter.com/atHww82RNG

— GOAL (@goal) January 5, 2020

Former Chelsea talisman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is a fan of former Fulham and Celtic star Dembele, who scored 51 times in 94 appearances for the Bhoys before he left for Lyon in 2018. He told the Daily Mail (h/t Metro's Tom Olver): 

"More importantly, he is a killer. He is a goalscorer. He lives for goals. He scores goals in different ways, with his head, with his feet, left and right. He is quick, he is strong, he can still improve, he is still very young.

"Frank will improve him with Jody Morris, in his combination play, that can be better and improved. But what you can't teach a player is being somewhere at the right time, and he has that a lot. Tammy has that as well, but at a big club you have to have a couple of strikers who are really good. You need competition."

RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner is another attacking target said to be high on Chelsea's priorities of late, but competition for his signature could be a lot more fierce, per Football.London.

The Blues are hoping to reinforce their squad after being held back from doing so over the summer, though Aulas is adamant Dembele wants to realise his title aspirations with Lyon.

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly "adamant" Jadon Sancho will not switch clubs in January amid rumours linking the England international with Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

According to Sky in Germany (h/t Sky Sports), BVB do not believe they could find an adequate replacement during the January window, and as a result, they will not sanction a sale. A summer transfer remains likely, however.

The report does not come as a surprise, with few rumours swirling around the 19-year-old early in the January window.

Per the Daily Mail (h/t Anfield Watch) and The Sun's Duncan Wright, both the Reds and Blues do not have plans for him:

https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1214223355211071488

EXC: Not the news Chelsea fans will want, but club have cooled interest in Sancho for this month at least. A striker is a higher priority- https://t.co/9yWugUyhWv @TheSunFootball

— Duncan Wright (@dwright75) January 3, 2020

Sancho has been a regular for Dortmund so far this season, starting 14 Bundesliga matches. He has already scored nine goals and added nine assists and is well on track to set career-high marks in both categories.

Here's a look at some of his highlights so far:

His exceptional development and sky-high potential have made him a popular transfer target, and he's expected to be a hot commodity when he becomes available.

Sancho left the Manchester City academy for the Signa Iduna Park in 2017, a bold move that has paid off in a big way. He needed little time to get settled in Germany and has developed at a rapid pace since making his Bundesliga debut, playing his first minutes for the national team less than a year later.

The speedster's current contract doesn't include a buyout clause and will run until 2022. That gives Dortmund plenty of leverage in transfer talks, and with seemingly every top club in Europe expressing some interest, Die Schwarzgelben will hope they can start a bidding war.

A January sale makes little sense, however. Barring catastrophic injury, Sancho's value shouldn't go down between now and summer, and Dortmund need the teenager at his best for the rest of the campaign.

The team has not enjoyed a great first half of the season domestically and sit in fourth place in the Bundesliga, tied with fifth-placed Schalke on points. Competition for a top-four spot and a ticket to the Champions League is tight, with eighth-placed Freiburg just four points back.  

Manchester City star Fernandinho has revealed he is close to signing a new contract with the club, courtesy of a clause in his current deal.

Per ESPN Brasil, the 34-year-old explained how his contract will be renewed automatically once he reaches specific targets, and talks are ongoing:

"When I renewed at the end of 2018, we put a clause that if I reached certain goals, my contract would be renewed automatically.

"Conversations have already started, we talked about it last month. I am close to reaching those goals and renewing the contract, but we can only confirm it after signing.

"The club have already shown interest in me staying, I have also shown [my interest] in staying."

He also said he doesn't mind playing as a centre-back, even though his natural role is in midfield:

"It's good as long as you can be at the highest level. Playing in a different position opens up the range of learning.

"In defence, I see the game in a different way. It has been very cool, and the guidance I have received from Pep (Guardiola) has been very good.

"At 34, playing in the Premier League is a source of pride. Many, many players wanted to be experiencing what I am experiencing."

The veteran's current contract is set to run out in the summer. Last month, manager Pep Guardiola said the club wouldn't make a decision on his future until the end of the season, per James Robson of the Evening Standard.

The Brazilian has been with the Sky Blues since 2013, playing a key role as the holding midfielder. He has proved a perfect fit under Guardiola the last few seasons, opening up space for the many creative players around him with his steady defensive work.

The departure of Vincent Kompany and an injury to Aymeric Laporte saw him move into central defence for much of the 2019-20 season, but the transition was almost seamless for the veteran.

Sky Sports Football reserved high praise for Fernandinho after the 3-1 win over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup:

Manchester City's most important player?

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 8, 2020

Fernandinho appears to have found a perfect home at the Etihad Stadium and doesn't appear to have any desire to leave. The feeling appears to be mutual, with Guardiola joking after the United win, per Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News:

Guardiola's response to praise of Fernandinho in defence:
"Yeah, but he has to play in central midfield. It's a big mistake for the manager, he has to play holding midfield." 🙃

— Simon Bajkowski (@spbajko) January 7, 2020

The clause should make the negotiations a little easier, but even without it, the two parties likely would have found a solution. Fernandinho is too important to the team to let walk, even at the age of 34.

Inter Milan are reportedly in transfer talks with Manchester United over a January move for captain Ashley Young, according to Sky in Italy:

BREAKING: Inter Milan are in talks with Manchester United over signing Ashley Young, according to Sky in Italy.

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 7, 2020

Antonio Conte's side are willing to offer the versatile 34-year-old an 18-month contract at the club, per the report (h/t Sky Sports News).

Young joined Manchester United from Aston Villa in 2011. His contract expires in the summer, and he does not expect to be offered a new deal, according to Rob Dawson at ESPN FC.

The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano said Young is ready to accept Inter's offer and is wanted by the manager:

Inter Milan have asked for Ashley Young. Talks ongoing with Man United - the player is ready to accept. Antonio Conte wants him strongly.  #MUFC #ManUnited #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 7, 2020

Manchester United and Inter Milan appear to have a good working relationship. The Red Devils sold Romelu Lukaku to the Nerazzurri and allowed Alexis Sanchez to move to the San Siro on a season-long loan last summer.

The Red Devils are also likely to be willing to wave goodbye to Young. The 34-year-old can play on either flank at full-back or further forward, but he has been criticised for some poor performances in recent seasons.

Young was even booed by his own supporters in a 1-0 win over Inter in Singapore during the club's pre-season tour, per Simon Peach at The Independent.

United already have younger options at full-back. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was signed from Crystal Palace in June 2019 and has emerged as the club's first-choice right-back, with Diogo Dalot available as back-up.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Brandon Williams is enjoying a breakthrough season at left-back and looks set to rival Luke Shaw for a starting spot:

Brandon Williams vs Burnley:

89% pass accuracy
39/44 passes completed
6 times possession won
3 clearances
3 fouls won
2 chances created

The teenager was voted Man Utd’s man of the match 👏 pic.twitter.com/ntpp9aEO4p

— GOAL (@goal) December 28, 2019

Since Young is entering the final months of his current contract, he is free to talk to other clubs. He caught Conte's eye during his time in charge of Chelsea, according to Samuel Luckhurst at the Manchester Evening News:

Ashley Young not in #mufc squad tonight and understand he's not injured. Antonio Conte tried to sign him when he was Chelsea manager on deadline day in 2017.

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) January 7, 2020

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave little away when asked about Young's future after the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday:

OGS on Ashley Young: "Tonight is not the time to talk about players leaving. We can’t weaken ourselves we have to strengthen ourselves."

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) January 7, 2020

Young would not be the first Manchester United defender to move to Italy this season if he were to join Inter. Chris Smalling went on loan to Roma in August and has shone with the Giallorossi, which may help convince Young to make the switch to Serie A.

Chelsea have loaned midfielder Danny Drinkwater to Aston Villa for the remainder of the season.

Villa announced the news via their official Twitter account on Tuesday:

Danny Drinkwater has joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season! 🙌#AVFC @eToro

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 7, 2020

Drinkwater spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Burnley, but he made just two appearances for the club in all competitions.

The 29-year-old had played just once for the Clarets, against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup on August 28, before he suffered an ankle injury in September when he was attacked by six men outside a Manchester nightclub. 

He only made one more appearance for Burnley, when he played 59 minutes in their 4-1 Premier League defeat to Manchester City on December 3.

Chelsea signed Drinkwater for £35 million in 2017, a year after he had played an important role in Leicester City's sensational Premier League title win.

The Englishman had partnered N'Golo Kante—who also moved to Stamford Bridge—in midfield for the Foxes and developed great chemistry with striker Jamie Vardy, whose runs he excelled in anticipating.

He failed to find his feet with the Blues, though. Drinkwater made 22 appearances under Antonio Conte in his first season at the club that was hampered by calf injuries at both ends of the campaign.

Last season, he only got on the pitch once under Maurizio Sarri: a 30-minute cameo in the Community Shield.

Football writer Daniel Storey and BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty observed his need to revive his Premier League career:

Danny Drinkwater has earned £77,000 for every Premier League minute played over the last two years. Really, really needs to get back on track.

— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) January 7, 2020

As per @Matt_Law_DT - Danny Drinkwater at @AVFCOfficial training HQ to undergo medical & sign on loan for the rest of the season. Big chance for him at a big club. Won't get a better one to try & revive his career.

— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) January 7, 2020

According to the Telegraph's Matt Law, Villa will not be covering the entirety of his wages, which total £110,000 per week.

The West Midlands outfit sit 17th in the Premier League after 21 matches, one point clear of Bournemouth in the drop zone, and they'll hope Drinkwater can help keep them up.

The midfielder's contract with Chelsea expires at the end of the season. Nothing will salvage a future for him at Stamford Bridge, but this is his last opportunity to keep alive his top-flight career.

Keeping Villa in the division could earn him a permanent move there in the summer, but if he fails to impress it's unlikely to convince them or another Premier League side to take a risk on him.

The B/R Football Ranks transfer column is your guide to which rumours are legit and which ones you can dismiss.

Our secret sources have top intelligence on the inside stories, and our informants have details on all the delicate dealings between top clubs and superstar names.

The aim here is to open up the truths inside this transfer window—we kick off this week with some good news for West Ham United...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQzfwmSd3Gk

     

Nailed on: Darren Randolph to West Ham

The Middlesbrough goalkeeper is keen on a Premier League switch, and the final details of a reported £4 million transfer were being ironed out on Tuesday morning.

Randolph is one of Boro's top earners on around £30,000 per week, and sources told B/R he will earn a pay rise as part of the move back to his former club, thought to be worth an extra £5,000 per week.

The Hammers have been searching for new back-up options for Lukasz Fabianski, and this transfer is very likely to open the door for Roberto to find a new club after his disappointing season.

       

Looking Likely: Olivier Giroud to Inter Milan

Frank Lampard is open to Giroud leaving if the right deal arrives, and it's looking increasingly likely he will land in Serie A by the end of this month.

There has been interest in the player from England, France and Spain, but Matt Law of the Telegraph reported Inter Milan now lead the race—and B/R sources confirmed this possibility is starting to open up.

Manager Antonio Conte wants one more forward option as his side chase success in the coming months, and sources say it could cost as little as £3 million to secure Giroud—who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Aston Villa and Newcastle have shown interest, too, but the player does not fancy a battle at the wrong end of the table.

         

Chances growing: Mariano Diaz to Lyon 

His move to Real Madrid in 2018 turned him into a global name—especially as some wondered if he was seen as the player to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

But he has barely featured at the Santiago Bernabeu since joining and hasn't played at all this term, meaning a return to Lyon is beginning to look a good idea.

The French club have injuries to key players (Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adelaide) and want a couple of trusty reinforcements to come in for the second half of the season; indications from sources in France suggest the deal is starting to look likely.

       

Don't rule out: Achraf Hakimi to Bayern Munich

Currently on loan to Dortmund from Real Madrid, Hakimi is a great right-back, who would understandably grab the attention of a club like Bayern.

Marca reported a deal could be on the cards as initial contact over his future availability has now been made. B/R sources insist no formal inquiry has yet been lodged, but it is an option they are aware could open up at the end of the season.

      

Very unlikely: James Maddison to Manchester United

Finally United are being linked to a player who excites the fanbase—but the chances of it coming to fruition this month are so slim.

Maddison is loving life under Brendan Rodgers at Leicester, and while he does have ambitions to test himself at other clubs, this is not a moment in which he is considering his future.

Steve Bates of the Mirror reported United will offer £45 million plus Jesse Lingard, which doesn't sound very tempting from a Foxes point of view.

Sources close to Leicester insist they are comfortable with the situation and are pretty sure he will stay, with one insider even suggesting Maddison could soon sign a new bumper contract that makes him one of the club's highest earners alongside Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel.

      

Not Happening: Caglar Soyuncu to Manchester City

Since Harry Maguire packed his bags and moved to United in the summer, Soyuncu has emerged as Leicester's new defensive rock. He's been superb all season, and it's no surprise he is being linked with a big club like City already. Reports in Turkey (h/t Leicester Mercury) suggest he has already been the subject of a £38.5 million offer.

However, there's nothing to see here. City sources insist the club have no interest in the player at this stage and no offer will be going in this month.

Download the B/R Football Ranks Podcast. New episodes every Wednesday. 

Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani on a free transfer this summer. 

The Uruguay international, whose deal runs out at the end of the season, is said to have a pre-contract agreement with Atletico Madrid, per football writer Jeremy Smith:

Reports from @DiMarzio that Cavani and Atletico have agreed a deal for the striker to move to Madrid for 2 yrs in June. Unlikely to happen in Jan as PSG not keen and because of Atletico's salary payments (they're keen to sell Lemar to lighten those payments). https://t.co/utDVex7t2V

— Jeremy Smith (@jeremysmith98) January 5, 2020

However, according to L'Equipe (h/t Get French Football News), he is yet to sign that deal and both United and Chelsea are exploring the possibility of luring him to the Premier League.

GFFN stated the former are said to have made "initial contact," while the latter have made an "opening formal enquiry."

Cavani has been one of the most prolific strikers in European football over the last decade, and no one can match his record in France:

136 - Edinson Cavani 🇺🇾 has scored 136 in Ligue 1 in the past decade, more than any other player. Goleador ⚽️.@PSG_English @ECavaniOfficial #Opta2010s pic.twitter.com/3XA9hWnAFO

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) December 31, 2019

Overall, he has 196 goals and 40 assists in 290 appearances for PSG.

He has only scored three times this season, but that is because injuries have restricted him to just 11 appearances, only four of which have been starts.

Cavani will be 33 in February, so he'd only be a short-term solution for either club. Given he would arrive on a free transfer, he would also likely command some hefty wages, but the lack of a fee would still make it a relatively low-risk move.

Chelsea have Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud to back up Tammy Abraham, but manager Frank Lampard hasn't used either of them too much. They've spent a combined total of 741 minutes on the pitch this season.

The latter's contract is up in the summer, so he'll almost certainly leave then if he doesn't in January.

As for United, they have Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood as their options following Romelu Lukaku's departure last summer.

The trio have performed admirably given the team often struggles to provide them with much service, producing a combined 34 goals and 11 assists.

Having an experienced player like Cavani alongside them, particularly one who has managed to be so prolific despite also being a selfless and hardworking forward, could be a useful option.

However, those qualities would also make him well-suited to thriving in Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid side, so tempting him away from that move could be beyond them.

Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has said the club are not actively pursuing a deal to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen. 

The Dane has been linked with a move to the Serie A club, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:

Christian Eriksen was always going to be one of the major storylines of this transfer window and an agreement to join Inter Milan is now 'very close' (h/t @EkstraBladet)

— Dean Jones (@DeanJonesSoccer) January 3, 2020

However, Marotta told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Goal's Tom Webber):

"Inter are often linked with players of great quality, and that is flattering, but we have not had any contact with Tottenham.

"Eriksen is a talented player, I don't need to tell you that, and he will be a free agent in June.

"I think many clubs are interested. He is an interesting player, but I will not stand here and tell you that we are in negotiations with his club or agent."

Eriksen's contract in north London expires at the end of the season, so the January transfer window is Spurs' last chance to cash in on him before then.

He's also free to talk with foreign clubs to negotiate a deal to join them in the summer upon the expiration of his contract.

The 27-year-old playmaker has been a key figure for the Lilywhites since his arrival in 2013, racking up 69 goals and 89 assists in 301 appearances.

His recent form has been disappointing, though:

He was a fantastic player for us in his pomp and a heartbeat of the Poch side so I wish him well wherever he’s going. But I won’t miss him, and that is damning in my opinion (2/2) #COYS

— Emma Storey (@emmastorey81) January 4, 2020

His drop-off has been discussed by plenty of people:

His form has dipped massively. He's been fine but I actually think he should have gone in the summer so we could make a clean break. He's not quite as good as the people who lionise him think he is but he's not as bad as has been made out either. We're his level

— Harry Sherlock (@Harry_Sherlock) January 4, 2020

A new club could revitalise him while he's still in his prime, and Inter would not be a bad choice.

The club could be on the verge of returning to Europe's elite under Antonio Conte. The Nerazzurri haven't finished higher than fourth since 2011, but after 18 matches the Italian has guided them to the top of Serie A, where they lead Juventus on goal difference.

With Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez leading the line at Inter, Eriksen's ability to provide ammunition could make them an even greater attacking force.

Sports journalist Paul Brown suggested he would prefer a different destination, though:

#Eriksen in no hurry to leave #thfc. And prefers Spain... https://t.co/Gg7LdX7bKr

— Paul Brown (@pbsportswriter) January 6, 2020

Real Madrid's midfield could use freshening up. They've been relying on first-choice trio Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos for around five years, and with the former now 34 it could be the right time to bring in a fresh face.

As for Barcelona, Ivan Rakitic—who will be 32 in March—looks to be on his way out as he's started just eight matches this season, while Arturo Vidal will be 33 in May, so there's scope for him to carve out a place there.