Transfer rumors, news: Barça view Nico Williams as priority

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen could replace Joshua Zirkzee at Manchester United, while Liverpool are interested in Marcus Thuram and Rayan Cherki. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumours, and gossip from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Manchester United are looking to do a swap deal that would see striker Joshua Zirkzee join Napoli in exchange for Victor Osimhen, says Il Mattino. Zirkzee, 23, only signed from Bologna for €42.5m in the summer but is reportedly set to be moved on by new United manager Ruben Amorim after managing just one goal and two assists across the 17 matches so far. Osimhen, 25, has been a target at Old Trafford for some time and is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, with a release clause now set at around €75m. A reported offer of €30m plus Zirkzee to sign the Nigeria international is said to be incoming.

– Liverpool continue to watch Internazionale forward Marcus Thuram, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport, who add that the Reds have appreciated him since Jurgen Klopp’s time at Anfield. Despite that interest, the 27-year-old is solely focused on Inter and becoming as central a figure as possible for the Serie A club.

– Olympique Lyonnais are demanding between €30m and €35m for Rayan Cherki in the January transfer window, reports Foot Mercato. This comes with Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen showing an interest in the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, while Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked having made an attempt to sign him during the summer.

– Barcelona‘s priority to reinforce on the left wing is still Athletic Club‘s Nico Williams, reports Diario Sport. The 22-year-old has a €60m release clause but his wage demands of a net €9m to €10m-per-season could be a hinderance for the Blaugrana, and Napoli‘s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is being viewed as the main alternative to the Spain international.

– AC Milan are serious about Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci, reports Sky Sports Italia. It is unlikely that a move for the 23-year-old will be completed in January but he is a priority for the summer transfer window, with Milan anticipating strong competition to sign him even if a contract renewal is agreed at Il Toro.

EXPERT TAKE

Tor-Kristian Karlsen assesses how Victor Osimhen might fit at Man United in place of Joshua Zirkzee.

As one of the most coveted strikers in world football, Osimhen’s loan to Turkish side Galatasaray this summer may have seemed puzzling, but his spat with parent club Napoli has hardly affected him. He has adapted quickly to partnering Mauro Icardi (who has now been ruled out for the season through injury) in a “double No. 9” formation and has scored nine goals in 10 games so far, looking motivated, sharp, and in optimal physical condition.

Despite dropping down a level, it’s clear that Osimhen belongs in one of Europe top leagues. Upon joining Napoli from Lille in 2020, the Nigeria international had a rough first touch and uncoordinated movement patterns that sometimes left him disconnected from his teammates. But he has continuously refined his game and now looks like a complete striker who would thrive under new boss Ruben Amorim.

His ability to latch on to passes played in behind (or at the side of) defenders, exceptional pace, and penetrative runs behind opposing defenders make him almost unplayable in transitional play, or when he has space to exploit. Yet his piercing runs into the box, ability to pounce on the ball ahead of his markers, and superb finishing skills are also impactful in a crowded penalty area.

With Zirkzee struggling to adapt to the Premier League at Man United, a swap deal with Napoli appears an alluring proposition. The Netherlands international’s link-up play and neat ball control in the final third has already proven effective in Serie A for his former club Bologna, so Napoli could benefit there, while Osimhen’s athleticism, hyper-intense movement and high-volume finishing appear tailormade for a big Premier League side struggling to get enough goals from their No. 9.

OTHER RUMORS

Real Madrid and some top Premier League clubs are interested in RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, who has a €90m release coming into effect in summer 2025. (Fabrizio Romano)

AC Milan want to sign Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz permanently. The Morocco international is struggling for playing time in Madrid but spent a successful three-year spell on loan at Milan and could return. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Juventus have identified Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile as a potential solution to their defensive injury crisis. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for Antony during the January transfer window, while new manager Amorim wants Sporting CP’s Geovany Quenda to replace him. The Red Devils are keen to save on the 24-year-old’s wages, so are open to a loan or permanent departure. (Daily Star)

Barcelona are tracking Wolves left-back Hugo Bueno, who is on loan at Feyenoord. (Sport)

Real Madrid and Barça are set to go head-to-head to sign Málaga’s 18-year-old winger Antonio Cordero, who could be out of contract in June if he doesn’t pen new terms. (Mundo Deportivo)

Barça are also keen on 19-year-old midfielder Dário Essugo, who is on loan at Las Palmas from Sporting CP. (Mundo Deportivo)

Borussia Dortmund are in contact with Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham, although there has not yet been a concrete approach for the 19-year-old. Bellingham’s transfer is expected to cost around €25m and his development is being closely monitored by the Bundesliga club, while top English clubs are also interested. (Sky Sports Deutschland)

Juventus are interested in signing Olympique Lyonnais striker Georges Mikautadze, with the Ligue 1 club needing to offload players to avoid being relegated. Juve have previously been linked with Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Lille’s Jonathan David amid the uncertainty surrounding Dušan Vlahović‘s situation. (Tuttosport)

Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen will leave the club in the summer when his contract expires. (Fabrizio Romano)

West Ham won’t listen to offers below £85m to sign forward Mohammed Kudus, with Liverpool and Arsenal reported to be keen. (Football Insider)

Manchester City midfielder James McAtee is on the radar of West Ham and Fulham, as the England Under-21 international has yet to break into the first team. (Guardian)

Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi is at the centre of a battle from Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham. (TEAMtalk)

Tottenham are tracking Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra, with the 21-year-old potentially available for less than his €100m release clause. (GiveMeSport)

Cruzeiro are closing in on the signing of Brazilian forward Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa from Flamengo on a four-year contract. (TNT)

Inter Milan are looking to sign Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa on loan. (Tuttosport)

Benfica’s Antonio Silva is the latest centre-back to be linked with Juventus as they look for a Gleison Bremer replacement. (Gianluca Di Marzio)

Chelsea are preparing a summer move for Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher. (The Sun)

Bayern Munich are planning to make Jamal Musiala the highest-paid German player in Europe with a contract worth up to €25m-per-year that would last until 2029. (Sky Sports Deutschland)

FC Cincinnati have completed an MLS-record deal to sign Cercle Brugge striker Kévin Denkey for $16.2m. (Tom Bogart)

Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot is ready for the next step in his career and favours Paris Saint-Germain. (Florian Plettenberg)

Crystal Palace are among the several clubs interested in Middlesbrough defender Rav van den Berg and try and sign the 20-year-old as soon as January. (Football Insider)

Heidenheim defensive midfielder Lennard Maloney is increasingly likely to leave in January, as the 25-year-old has decided not to renew his expiring contract. The USMNT international has received concrete offers from the Premier League and Bundesliga. (Florian Plettenberg)

Matteo Gabbia is one step away from extending his AC Milan contract, with the 25-year-old centre-back’s new deal worth €2.2m-per-year and to run to 2029 with the option for another year. (Nicolo Schira)