Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news snippets from across the footballing world, including another instalment of the Aubameyang-Dortmund war of words, Jurgen Klopp's interest in Ben Chillwell and Jermain Defoe's career plans. Scroll down for more!
Dortmund hit back at Aubameyang
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Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has waded into the row between chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke and Arsenal playmaker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Speaking last week, Watzke suggested that Aubameyang left Dortmund for the Gunners in 2018 for purely financial reasons - and the player duly responded by branding his former boss a "clown".
Zorc subsequently told the press: "My feeling is that Auba took the wrong tone here and had the wrong choice of words. Hans-Joachim Watzke did not say anything bad and did not mean anything bad. In the time Auba was with us, during four-and-a-half years, we have always stood behind him even in difficult situations. In that sense, I cannot understand now why he's had such a strong and exaggerated reaction."
Klopp admits Chilwell interest
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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he was interested in Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell in 2016 but was unable to convince the Foxes to sell him. The German was tipped off to Chilwell's talents by David Wagner, a close friend and then-manager of Huddersfield Town, where Chilwell had been on loan. "Dave Wagner was in my ear pretty much every day," Klopp said, "but Leicester didn't want to let him go."
Bristol City keen on Bony?
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Bristol City are reportedly eyeing up a move for Wilfried Bony, who has been a free agent since his release from Swansea City over the summer. Bristol Live says that City boss Lee Johnson is considering a move for the 30-year-old as a replacement for the injured Benik Afobe.
Hasselbaink urges Abraham to displace Kane
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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has advised Chelsea youngster Tammy Abraham to challenge Harry Kane for his place in the England squad. The 22-year-old has had a blistering start to the season for Frank Lampard's side, scoring eight goals in eight games to date, and has been called up by Gareth Southgate for the Three Lions' Euro 2020 qualifiers this month.
"As a young boy when you dream of being a footballer you want to play at the highest level and the highest level is England," Hasselbaink told Sky Sports News. "He has been called up. He is going to get the chance and he has to compare himself with the best [striker] and that is Kane at the moment.
"He has to try to get Kane's position. It is not easy but that is going to be the next step. He has been invited for the England national squad. Now can you make that place yours? The only way is to do well for Chelsea, keep on scoring and when you go with England show that you can do it on that level as well."
Hakimi not thinking about Madrid return
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Achraf Hakimi has insisted that he has not given any thought about his club future beyond the current season. The Real Madrid right-back is halfway through a two-year loan spell with Borussia Dortmund and recent rumours have suggested that the German side could look to make the move permanent.
Asked about his future by AS, the 20-year-old said: "Right now, I'm only focusing on taking each game as it comes and performing to the best of my ability. Next summer's still a little way off and we'll just have to see what happens. I shouldn't start thinking about next year; I just have to concentrate on having a good campaign. That's the only way I'll have options open to me come the end of the season.
"When the time comes, I'll see whether I've done enough over these two years and whether I'm ready for Real Madrid. Right now I feel like I'm doing well, and that if keep playing like this I could do a job for Madrid. But I can't say whether or not I'm ready until the end of the season. Ask me in May."
Ben Arfa heading for Fiorentina?
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Hatem Ben Arfa will sign a deal with Serie A side Fiorentina in the coming days, according to Tuttosport. The 32-year-old - formerly of Newcastle and PSG - has been a free agent since leaving Rennes at the end of last season and has since been linked with West Ham, Sampdoria and Fenerbahce.
Defoe reveals talks over permanent Rangers switch
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Jermain Defoe has revealed that he is in talks with Rangers over joining the club permanently at the end of the season. The 37-year-old is halfway through a two-year loan with Steven Gerrard's side from Bournemouth, where his contract expires at the end of the season.
"I've spoken to the manager and he knows how much I've enjoyed my time here," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Record. "I haven't been here that long but the appreciation you get from the fans is something special. I sat down and had a relaxed chat with the gaffer.
"For me, it's not just about being happy on the pitch but off it as well. The younger players at Rangers are always asking me questions and it's nice to help them, it's nice to be able to give something back. The manager knows I love it here and I know he wants me here."
Millwall interested in Forest Green boss?
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Millwall are interested in talking to Forest Green Rovers manager Mark Cooper about their managerial vacancy, according to the Daily Mail. The Lions are in search of a new boss after Neil Harris stepped down last week and are impressed by Cooper, whose side currently sit second in League Two and made the playoffs last term. Roy Keane, Gary Rowett and Stephen Robinson have also been linked.
Neil Wilkes
