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Maresca to extend olive branch to struggling Chelsea attacker?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F47%2Fchristopher-nkunku-mykhaylo-mudryk.jpg "Chelsea duo Christopher Nkunku and Mykhaylo Mudryk in November 2024.")
Chelsea have reportedly told Mykhaylo Mudryk that he is still in their first-team plans ahead of the January transfer window.
The Ukrainian international has struggled for minutes in the Premier League this season, with Chelsea's bloated squad allowing manager Enzo Maresca to field two entirely different teams in separate competitions.
Maresca's Premier League XI includes their most important players such as Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo.
However, in the EFL Cup and the Conference League, Mudryk, along with the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix, and more recently Enzo Fernandez, has been given game time.
Which legendary striker was close to joining Manchester United in 2012?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F40%2Fsir-alex-ferguson.jpg "Sir Alex Ferguson pictured in December 2012")
Legendary striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he was close to joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2012.
Lewandowski was fresh off the back of a phenomenal season at Borussia Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp where they sealed a second-straight Bundesliga title.
The Polish striker scored 30 goals that year, and was one of the hottest prospects on the markets for Europe's top-tier clubs.
After staying at Dortmund, Lewandowski then helped the club to the Champions League final, before controversially moving to rivals Bayern Munich on a free transfer in the summer of 2014.
Chelsea set eye-watering Fernandez asking price amid Real Madrid interest?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F44%2Fenzo-fernandez.jpg "Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez on September 21, 2024")
Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid.
The 23-year-old is likely to feature for the Blues on Saturday afternoon, when the international break will end with a trip to Leicester City.
Fernandez is not guaranteed to start for Chelsea, though, with the midfielder spending the past fortnight in South America with Argentina.
The 2022 World Cup started both of his nation's matches during the November schedule against Peru and Paraguay, with Lionel Scaloni's side collecting maximum points.
Juventus, Napoli 'chase shock loan deal' for Chelsea outcast
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F34%2Fben-chilwell-raheem-sterling.jpeg "Chelsea's Ben Chilwell and Raheem Sterling on September 13, 2022")
Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli.
The 27-year-old was recently linked to Premier League giants Manchester United, who are looking for alternatives to Bayern Munich and Canada star Alphonso Davies.
Chilwell has suffered massively from the arrival of new head coach Enzo Maresca over the summer, with the Italian deeming the defender surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
As a result, the 21-time England international has not featured in a Premier League matchday squad for Chelsea this term after failing to secure a move away during the summer transfer window.
Shock transfer? Real Madrid 'considering mid-season move' for Man United star
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F47%2Falejandro-garnacho-casemiro.jpg "Manchester United duo Alejandro Garnacho and Casemiro on October 30, 2024")
Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January.
Casemiro represented Real Madrid between 2013 and 2022, making 336 appearances for the Spanish giants, winning three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and five Champions League trophies in the process.
Man United purchased the Brazilian in the summer of 2022, and he was in outstanding form for the Red Devils during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring seven times in 51 appearances in all competitions.
The 32-year-old found it difficult to make his mark during the 2023-24 season, though, being restricted to just 32 appearances, and he was heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford over the summer.
January move? Tottenham emerge as 'possible destination' for Chelsea ace
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F42%2Fjoao-felix-jadon-sancho.jpg "Joao Felix and Jadon Sancho for Chelsea on September 21, 2024")
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea loanee Jadon Sancho in the near future.
The 24-year-old is enduring a temporary spell at Stamford Bridge from Manchester United, where he fell out with former head coach Erik ten Hag last season.
After refusing to apologise publicly to the Dutchman, Sancho was sent out on loan to Borussia Dortmund for the second half of the 2023-24 campaign.
The winger featured 14 times in the Bundesliga and on seven occasions in Europe for the German giants, who reached the Champions League final, losing to Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium.
Three Premier League clubs 'fight for extremely dangerous' Brazilian starlet
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F47%2Frayan.jpg "Rayan of Vasco da Gama on October 5, 2024")
Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town and Southampton are all reportedly interested in signing Vasco da Gama youngster Rayan.
The 18-year-old is a towering presence for the Brazilian side in attack despite his tender age, standing at over 186cm, while also possessing a quick turn of pace.
Rayan has featured in 22 Brasileiro matches for Vasco da Gama, who are fighting to keep their spot in the top 12 and subsequent Copa Sudamericana qualification.
Despite finding the net on just one occasion across those fixtures, the winger has impressed scouts of sides operating in the European ecosystem.
'One to watch': Could Liverpool-linked attacker leave in January?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fricardo-pepi.jpg "PSV Eindhoven's Ricardo Pepi celebrates scoring on October 26, 2024")
Liverpool have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit of PSV Eindhoven attacker Ricardo Pepi ahead of the January transfer window.
After scoring nine goals in 41 matches for PSV last season, Pepi has since made a bright start to the 2024-25 campaign, scoring six goals in his opening 11 Eredivisie games.
The 21-year-old, PSV's joint-top scorer in the Eredivisie this season, has also excelled on international duty with USA, scoring twice in as many CONCACAF Nations League games under new boss Mauricio Pochettino this month.
Pepi's impressive form is understood to have caught the eye of several top clubs in Europe, including Liverpool who are allegedly considering a move for the attacker.
Hot property: Liverpool 'to battle' Newcastle for Premier League attacker
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F47%2Fbryan-mbeumo-yoane-wissa.jpg "Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and Brentford's Yoane Wissa take a selfie on October 26, 2024")
Liverpool and Newcastle United are reportedly set to battle for the signature of Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo.
The 25-year-old has spent the last five-and-a-half years with the Bees, scoring 58 goals and registering 43 assists in 213 appearances across all competitions.
Mbeumo recorded nine goals and six assists in 25 Premier League matches last season and has since been a standout performer for Thomas Frank's side this term.
Indeed, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland has scored more Premier League goals than Mbeumo (eight) across the opening 11 games this season, and the versatile attacker has subsequently been tipped by his own manager to join a "bigger club" in the near future.
Man City? Real Madrid? Liverpool? Who are the 'favourites' to sign Wirtz?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fflorian-wirtz_1.jpg "Germany's Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring on November 16, 2024")
Manchester City are reportedly leading Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder is widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents in Europe and has developed into an integral first-team player at Leverkusen under head coach Xabi Alonso.
Wirtz has already made a total of 169 senior appearances for Leverkusen across all competitions, scoring 48 goals and registering 52 assists.
The Germany international was named 2023-24 Bundesliga Player of the Season after recording 11 goals and 12 assists in 32 league matches to help Leverkusen with their first-ever German top-flight title and go the entire campaign unbeaten.
Man City 'preparing £100m package' for star player after Guardiola 'agreement'
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F43%2Ferlphi.jpg "Erling Haaland celebrates scoring for Manchester City on October 26, 2024")
Manchester City will reportedly step up their efforts to tie one of their star players down to a new contract after persuading manager Pep Guardiola to stay at the club.
Reports emerged on Tuesday claiming that Guardiola has agreed to sign a one-year contract extension at the Etihad Stadium, with the option of a further 12 months.
Guardiola is therefore set to extend his stay at Man City to at least a decade and it is understood that an official announcement confirming the 53-year-old's new contract is expected 'in the coming days'.
It is thought that Guardiola's relationship with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak supersedes the need for a clause in writing referencing the outcome of the club's hearing into the 115 charges levelled at the club by the Premier League.
'I didn't sulk': Chalobah opens up on Chelsea exile ahead of Palace move
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F32%2Ftrevoh-chalobah.jpg "Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah on May 2, 2024")
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has revealed that he 'decided not to sulk' when being exiled from the first-team squad by Enzo Maresca.
Having missed the first half of last season through injury, Chalobah was arguably Chelsea's star performer behind Cole Palmer from February onwards.
The versatile defender helped Mauricio Pochettino's side record 24 points from his 10 Premier League appearances, playing a pivotal role in the Blues finishing in sixth place.
However, soon after Maresca replaced Pochettino as head coach, it became apparent that Chalobah was not part of the Italian's plans, much to the frustration of the majority of the club's fanbase at the time.
Man United 'planning stunning swap deal' for Inter's prolific striker Martinez
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F47%2Flautaro-martinez.jpg "Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez on November 10, 2024")
Manchester United have reportedly identified Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez as their leading forward target for next summer, with the Red Devils believed to have put a plan in place to sign the Argentina international.
Martinez, 27, has scored six goals and registered four assists in 15 appearances for Inter this season, while he has 135 goals and 47 assists in 297 games in total for the Italian giants.
The Argentine only signed a new contract at San Siro in August, with his current terms running until June 2029, but according to Fichajes, he could be on the move to England during next summer's transfer window.
The report claims that Man United view Martinez as their leading forward target ahead of Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, who is being heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford.
Sporting 'bracing themselves' for Man United bid for £83m star
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fgeovany-quenda-viktor-gyokeres.jpg "Sporting Lisbon's Geovany Quenda and Viktor Gyokeres on September 22, 2024")
Sporting Lisbon are reportedly expecting Manchester United to make an attempt to sign Geovany Quenda next year, with the Green and Whites facing a huge battle to keep hold of the in-demand youngster.
The 17-year-old has made the breakthrough into the Sporting first team this season, representing the Lisbon giants on 18 occasions, scoring twice and registering two assists in the process.
Quenda came through the Sporting academy as an attacker, but he has been developed into a right-sided wing-back by Ruben Amorim, who has left the Portuguese giants to take charge of Man United.
The Portuguese became Sporting's youngest-ever goalscorer in the league when he found the back of the net against Famalicao at the end of October, surpassing the record previously held by Simao Sabrosa.
David update: Lille president addresses future of Man United, Barca-linked striker
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F40%2Fjonathan-david.jpg "Lille's Jonathan David in action on August 6, 2024")
Lille president Olivier Letang has ruled out a January departure for Jonathan David, as the French outfit battle to convince the in-demand centre-forward to sign a new contract at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
David, 24, has again been in impressive form for Lille during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring 13 goals and registering two assists in 19 appearances, including four goals in four outings in the league phase of the Champions League.
Including the qualifying rounds, David has six goals and two assists in eight European matches this term, while he has found the back of the net on seven occasions in 11 Ligue 1 appearances.
David's contract with Lille is due to expire next June, though, and there is currently widespread speculation surrounding his future, with a number of the world's biggest clubs said to be interested.
Revealed! What is Man United's main transfer priority under Amorim?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F45%2Fruben-amorim_2.jpg "Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim on November 5, 2024")
Manchester United are allegedly planning to sign a new left-back next year, with an incoming in that area of the field during the January transfer window regarded as a possibility.
New Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim is widely expected to implement a 3-4-3 system at Old Trafford, having had huge success with that formation at Sporting Lisbon.
Man United have again had left-back issues this season due to the absences of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, but the pair are both now back to fitness at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Shaw has returned to training after recovering from a calf issue, while Malacia played 45 minutes for Man United Under-21s in the EFL Trophy against Huddersfield Town last week - his first appearance since May 2023.
Reunion at Man United: Amorim 'has spoken' to Sporting star over 2025 transfer
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F44%2Fruben-amorim_2.jpg "Ruben Amorim of Sporting Lisbon, October 2024")
New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly spoken to Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande about a possible move to Old Trafford next year.
Amorim insisted in the latter stages of his time as Sporting manager that he would not be raiding his former club in January, but he refused to rule out incomings from the Green and Whites next summer.
Viktor Gyokeres and Geovany Quenda are currently being heavily linked with moves to Old Trafford, but there have also been claims of firm interest from the Red Devils in central defender Diomande.
According to Sky Sport Switzerland, Amorim has spoken with Diomande about a potential move to Manchester, with the new Red Devils head coach desperate not to miss out on his signature.
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