English Football
Liverpool back for Bellingham, Ziyech on Chelsea exit
Liverpool are leading the race ahead of Manchester United for 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder Jude Bellingham. (Telegraph – subscription required)
Chelsea joined the pursuit of Bellingham in the summer but appears to have cooled interest. (Sun)
However, Liverpool are considering a move for Wolves and Portugal midfielder Matheus Nunes, 24, as an alternative to Bellingham. (UOL, via Mirror)
Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, 29, was keen on leaving Stamford Bridge this summer with former club Ajax and AC Milan interested in the Morocco international. (Football.London)
Chelsea made an informal approach for AC Milan and Portugal forward Rafael Leao, 23, during the summer transfer window, according to the club’s director Paolo Maldini. (FourFourTwo)
Red Bull Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund has refused to rule out joining Chelsea in a similar role, and said the Blues showed an interest in the Austrian club’s Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, 19, during the summer. (Sky Austria, via 90 Min)
Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, 20, says he is focused on playing for the south coast club and Ecuador at the 2022 World Cup but that “nobody would turn down an offer from Chelsea or any other club like that”. (Ole, via 90 Min)
Newcastle United are interested in Shakhtar Donetsk and Ukraine winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, 21, who has also been linked with Arsenal and Brenford. (Football Insider)
Shakhtar Donetsk have confirmed they rejected a bid of 30m euros from Everton for Mudryk. (90min)
Valencia, Villarreal, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad are lining up pre-contract offers for Blackburn Rovers and Chile striker Ben Brereton Diaz, with Everton and Leeds also targeting the 23-year-old. (Football Insider)
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will be given at least £70m to spend in the January transfer window and the amount could increase if Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, leaves Old Trafford. (Sun)
Former Tottenham and England defender Danny Rose, 32, is close to signing for Greek side AEK Athens as a free agent after leaving Watford earlier this month. (Sun)
Brighton are continuing talks with former Shakhtar Donetsk manager Roberto de Zerbi as they look to replace Graham Potter. (Calciomercato – in Italian
Juventus could also be an option for De Zerbi if the Serie A side decide to part company with manager Massimiliano Allegri. (Sportmediaset, via Football Italia)
Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea, 31, says he was close to joining Wigan in 2009, before moving to Old Trafford. (BT Sport, via Mail)
France manager Didier Deschamps says he will not pick Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, who is sidelined by a knee injury, for his 2022 World Cup squad unless the 29-year-old is fully fit. (Mirror)
