/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F21%2F37%2Fwelcome-to-sports-mole-transparent-click-area.png "Welcome to Sports Mole")
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F20%2F31%2Fsports-mole-favicon-32x32.png "Sports Mole FAVICON"){kind=small}
World Cup hint? Messi 'makes crucial decision' over Inter Miami future
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F44%2Flionel-messi.jpg "Inter Miami's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring on October 19, 2024")
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has reportedly indicated the he wants to sign a new deal with the MLS franchise.
The Herons have experienced a busy week, having recruited a new head coach and secured the future of one of their star players.
Inter Miami unveiled Messi's former teammate Javier Mascherano as their new coach following the resignation of Tata Martino.
The MLS club then announced the big news that Luis Suarez had penned a new deal to keep him at Chase Stadium for the 2025 season.
Arsenal 'actively scouting' Serie A star to 'bolster title chances'
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fmateo-retegui.jpg "Mateo Retegui of Italy, October 2024")
Arsenal have reportedly sent scouts to watch Atalanta BC striker Mateo Retegui in a bid to bolster their frontline in the race for the Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta's side are down in fourth, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, with almost one-third of the season played.
No team in the top six at present have scored fewer goals than Arsenal, and their attacking output has come in for some criticism this season.
Questions were raised when the Gunners lost to Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Inter Milan without scoring recently, but they have silenced those critics for now, scoring eight across two wins versus Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon.
Brentford 'observe' Serie A star ahead of January window
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fmorten-frendrup.jpg "Genoa's Morten Frendrup celebrates after scoring on November 24, 2024")
Brentford have reportedly sent scouts to watch Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup.
The 23-year-old has made over 100 competitive appearances since he joined Genoa from Brondby in the summer of 2022.
Frendrup has been a regular fixture in the Genoa side this season, having started 12 of the club's 13 Serie A matches.
The Dane netted his first goal of the season in Genoa's recent 2-2 draw against Cagliari, scoring in the 12th minute to cancel out Razvan Marin's opener.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa targeting bargain buy from crisis-club Lyon?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fmalick-fofana.jpg "Lyon's Malick Fofana pictured on November 10, 2024")
Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa have reportedly emerged as some of the main clubs in the race for Lyon winger Malick Fofana.
Lyon were handed a provisional relegation to Ligue 2 during the recent international break, and must pay off their debts by the end of the season to avoid being demoted.
It is believed owner John Textor must find roughly €100m (£83m) before next summer to avoid relegation, meaning a fire sale could be in store at the Groupama Stadium this January.
Lyon are among one of the most in-form clubs in France at present, having now gone seven games unbeaten domestically, and they thrashed Qarabag 4-1 in the Europa League on Thursday evening, making many of their players enticing targets for the upcoming transfer window.
Man United could 'fast-track' £66.5m transfer as Amorim's 'strong bond' emerges
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fmorten-hjulmand.jpg "Sporting Lisbon's Morten Hjulmand pictured on November 4, 2024")
Manchester United will reportedly have to fend off the threat of arch-nemesis Manchester City if they wish to land Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand in 2025.
The Denmark international has excelled both domestically and internationally over the past couple of years, memorably scoring a long-range thunderbolt in Denmark's 1-1 draw with England at Euro 2024.
After the conclusion of the summer championships, Hjulmand was promoted to club captain at Sporting by now-Man United boss Ruben Amorim and already has two goals and one assist under his belt from a defensive midfield position this season.
Under Hjulmand's on-field leadership, Sporting have started the 2024-25 Primeira Liga season with an unrivalled 11 wins from 11, although they were demolished 5-1 by Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Real Madrid following Arsenal blueprint as 'concrete option' for January revealed
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fjhon-lucumi.jpg "Bologna's Jhon Lucumi pictured on November 10, 2024")
Real Madrid reportedly had a representative in attendance to watch Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumi during their Champions League clash with Lille in midweek.
Carlo Ancelotti's men have been hit incredibly hard by rearguard injuries in the current campaign, as Eder Militao and David Alaba are both on the mend from devastating ACL problems.
Alaba has spent nearly a year out with his concern and is not scheduled to come back until 2025, while Militao had just recovered from one severe issue before suffering another debilitating knee injury earlier this month.
Makeshift defender Aurelien Tchouameni has also been sidelined by an ankle concern of late, forcing Ancelotti to deploy 21-year-old Raul Asencio alongside Antonio Rudiger in the middle of defence.
Barcelona star 'sparks' Liverpool transfer interest
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Ffrenkie-de-jong_1.jpg "Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong with Robert Lewandowski on October 26, 2024")
Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong next summer.
De Jong was linked with a potential move to Liverpool's rivals Manchester United during Erik ten Hag's tenure in the Old Trafford dugout.
The former Man United boss was seemingly keen to reunite with the Netherlands international after the pair previously worked together at Ajax.
However, De Jong has ultimately stayed put in Barcelona despite being consistently linked with a move away due to his significant salary.
Arsenal target 'has heart set' on Man United switch
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F45%2Fviktor-gyokeres_2.jpg "Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring a hat-trick for Sporting Lisbon on November 5, 2024")
Arsenal have reportedly suffered a huge setback in their bid to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.
The Gunners are one of a number of teams who have emerged as potential contenders for Gyokeres' signature following his impressive form with the Portuguese giants.
Gyokeres, who joined Sporting from Coventry City in 2023, has racked up 43 goals in 50 competitive appearances during his first season in Portugal, helping the club win the Primeira Liga title.
The Sweden international has carried that prolific form into the 2024-25 campaign, netting 24 goals in 20 matches across all competitions.
Arsenal 'hold talks' with 'talented' £54m midfielder wanted by Man City
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fadam-wharton-eberechi-eze.jpg "Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze celebrate on May 1, 2024")
Arsenal have stepped up their interest in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton ahead of the January transfer window, according to a report.
The 20-year-old joined the Eagles from Blackburn Rovers in January last year for an initial £18m, which could rise to £22m, and penned a long-term deal until 2029.
Wharton quickly cemented his place in Palace's starting lineup during the second half of last season and he played a key role in helping the club both avoid a relegation battle and finish in the top 10.
The midfielder's impressive impact was rewarded with an England call-up for Euro 2024, although he did not make a single appearance at last summer's tournament, and he has since endured a difficult start to the new campaign at club level.
Fringe Chelsea forward 'targets January loan' to one of two specific nations
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fdeivid-washington.jpg "Chelsea forward Deivid Washington in April 2024.")
Chelsea forward Deivid Washington is reportedly already considering his options ahead of a January loan exit.
The West Londoners investing in South American talent has become common practice under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez the most notable deals negotiated ahead of their 2025 arrivals.
However, eyebrows were raised when Chelsea paid £17.1m to sign Washington from Santos on the back of the youngster netting just twice in 16 appearances.
Washington has since accumulated just 25 minutes of senior football across three appearances, none of which have come since Enzo Maresca arrived at the club earlier in the summer with planned moves to Strasbourg and Hull City falling through.
Highly-rated Man United youngster 'wanted by multiple EFL clubs' in January
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F30%2Fharry-amass.jpg "Harry Amass of Manchester United on May 6, 2024")
Manchester United youngster Harry Amass could reportedly leave Old Trafford on loan in January, with a number of EFL clubs said to be showing an interest in the highly-rated left-back.
The 17-year-old made the move to the Red Devils from Watford last year, and he is regarded as one of the best young talents at the club.
Amass impressed during Man United's pre-season tour of the United States, and he has been on the bench for two Premier League matches this season, but the Englishman is yet to make his first-team debut.
The returns of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia will make it difficult for the teenager to earn minutes in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, and according to Football Insider, he could leave the Red Devils on loan in January.
'Not for sale' - Man United dealt blow in alleged pursuit of 10-goal forward
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F48%2Fruben-amorim.jpg "Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim in November 2024.")
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that Christopher Nkunku is happy at Stamford Bridge and ruled out a January departure for the attacker amid the recent speculation surrounding his future.
The 27-year-old has scored 10 goals and registered one assist in 18 appearances for the Blues this season, but he has only scored once in 11 Premier League matches, with the Frenchman not a part of Maresca's first-choice XI in the league.
Nkunku has only started once in England's top flight this term - his other 10 league appearances coming off the bench - with his best football for the club being played in the Conference League and EFL Cup this term.
There have been suggestions that the Frenchman is unhappy with his current role in London, with Manchester United believed to be keeping a close eye on his situation, as the Red Devils look to boost their forward options.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F23%2Fgambling-online.png "Footer logo for GAMSTOP"){kind=small}
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F06%2FGambleAware%20Secondary%20Main%20Grey.png "on February 3, 2024"){kind=small}