LIVE Transfer Talk: Out-of-form Chelsea look to Monaco's Aurelien Tchouameni

The 2022 January transfer window is open (find out when it closes here), and there's plenty of gossip swirling about who's moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Chelsea step up chase for Tchouameni

Chelsea are leading Manchester United in the race to sign Monaco wonderkid Aurelien Tchouameni, according to The Sun.

The 21-year-old is being linked with a €50 million move to west London and is seen by many not only as the long-term replacement for compatriot N'Golo Kante, but also as the potential future fulcrum of the whole Blues midfield.

Tchouameni is also wanted by Barcelona and Man United, though there are reports that the Red Devils have cooled their interest as they look to pursue other targets.

The France international can play in front of the defence, like Kante, but he can also offer more of an attacking threat too. He has continued his fine form from last season into 2022, and he is a regular at the heart of Philippe Clement's side. However, Monaco run the risk of failing to qualify for European football next season, which could mean he decides to cut his losses and make a move this month to join a club with guaranteed action on Europe's biggest stage.

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LIVE BLOG

22.00 GMT: MLSsoccer.com reports that Charlotte FC and FC Dallas have submitted offers worth "around $2m" in General Allocation Money to D.C. United in exchange for the signing of winger Paul Arriola. The United States international joined D.C. from Tijuana of Liga MX in 2017, registering 20 goals and 16 assists in 89 appearances in the four-plus seasons since, and the 26-year-old could be headed back to Mexico amid reported interest from Club America as well.

21.27 GMT: Despite widely reported to be signing Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, Internazionale are in talks with their own No. 1 Samir Handanovic to extend his contract, according to Nicolo Schira. The 37-year-old Slovenia international will become a free agent this summer, with talks now in progress to keep him at the San Siro for another year.

20.54 GMT: AS Roma are interested in a transfer for Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Moutinho, reports Calciomercato. The 35-year-old Portugal international's contract expires this summer, allowing him to join Jose Mourinho's collection of former Premier League stalwarts (including Tammy Abraham, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Chris Smalling and Rui Patricio) on a free transfer.

20.21 GMT: Newcastle United are looking to make a move for Borussia Monchengladbach striker Alassane Plea, writes Christian Falk. The 28-year-old once-capped France international has had more than 60 goal involvements since moving to the Bundesliga in 2018, but he's been in and out of Adi Hutter's team this season and has a contract with just 18 months remaining.

19.48 GMT: Arsenal and Newcastle United are weighing up a potential move for former Chelsea striker Diego Costa, according to Calciomercato. The 33-year-old former Spain international recently ended his contract with Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro, and while the Premier League pair are yet to lodge a bid, a move has been made by fellow Brazilian outfit Corinthians.

19.15 GMT: Talks are underway between centre-back Ronald Araujo and Barcelona over a new contract, writes Sport. The 22-year-old Uruguay international has become a mainstay in the Blaugrana backline, but with his deal expiring in 2023, the two parties are said to be some way off an agreement.

18.42 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain are interested in midfield duo Paul Pogba and Franck Kessie, reports Ekrem Konur.

Both players are out of contract this summer, and as such are able to discuss a pre-contract with clubs abroad. The report suggests that Manchester United's Pogba, 28, and AC Milan's Kessie, 25, have both been offered three-year deals to sign for the French capital club.

18.09 GMT: Valencia are in talks with Barcelona over a move for 22-year-old Oscar Mingueza, according to Marca. The versatile defender, who can play at centre-back or either full-back role, has rarely played under Xavi since the new manager's arrival. That situation has alerted Los Che, whose own right-back Daniel Wass is pushing for a move to Atletico Madrid.

17.36 GMT: Burnley are monitoring a potential move for Sheffield United defender Chris Basham, reports the Mail. The 33-year-old is out of contract in the summer, with Sean Dyche facing contract issues of their own along their back line, with centre-back stalwarts James Tarkowski and Ben Mee's contracts expiring at the end of the season.

17.03 GMT: Sevilla defender Diego Carlos has agreed personal terms to join Newcastle United, writes Fabrizio Romano. The 28-year-old has "no doubts" about joining the Magpies, who are said to have had a second offer worth €35m turned down, with the LaLiga club holding out for a larger transfer fee.

16.30 GMT: Is Kylian Mbappe just unhappy about not being able to move to Real Madrid?

15.56 GMT: Orlando Pride head coach Amanda Cromwell has named her assistant coaches for the upcoming 2022 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season.

A statement revealed that Cromwell will be supported by first assistant Sam Greene, former USWNT star and two-time FIFA World Cup champion Michelle Akers as an assistant and player development coach, while former Orlando City SC defender Seb Hines will be an assistant coach.

"Throughout my career, I've been blessed with amazingly talented assistant coaches. My on-field coaching success was greatly impacted by these individuals and support staff. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to bring a staff to Orlando that will compliment me and each other," Cromwell said. "This is a staff that I'm well familiar with and is a staff that knows the Orlando community. Most importantly, this is also a staff that is aligned in building a championship culture and developing an identity we want the Orlando Pride to have on the field."

Akers added: "I am incredibly excited to be a part of the Orlando Pride and work with my friend and USWNT teammate, Amanda Cromwell, as well as everyone on the staff. I can't wait to do everything I can to develop our players to their highest potential, both on and off the field, while becoming competitive as a team at the highest level in the NWSL. Personally, this is an exciting opportunity for me, one I've always wanted to explore, so when Amanda called and asked me to be on staff I immediately said 'Yes! I am in.' There's a lot of good memories and old friends in Orlando; I'm looking forward to reconnecting and making new ones."

15.50 GMT: Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr have made an offer to sign Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, says CBS.

Aubameyang, 32, was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in December and dropped for what manager Mikel Arteta described as the Gabon international's "latest disciplinary breach." Sources told ESPN he returned late from a sanctioned holiday, although both club refused to confirm the specific nature of the incident when questioned at the time.

Aubameyang then left for the Africa Cup of Nations in January but has now returned to Arsenal for medical tests after cardiac lesions were found in tests conducted in Cameroon after he tested positive for COVID-19, the Gabonese Football Federation (FEGAFOOT) said.

CBS says Al-Nassr are keen to do a loan deal in January with the obligation to sign him permanently for £7m at the end of the season.

15.16 GMT: Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen is in advanced talks with Barcelona, says Sport.

Christensen, 25, has failed to agree terms over a new contract as his current terms expire in the summer. He won't move to another club in England, but Barcelona are ready to sign him on a free transfer in a few months' time.

14.46 GMT: Bayern Munich could decide to let striker Robert Lewandowski leave in the summer if he rejects a new contract, according to Bild.

Lewandowski, 33, has 18 months left on his deal and the FIFA The Best award winner has 34 goals in 26 games this season.

The Poland international wants to continue playing at the highest level for as long as possible but has yet to agree new terms with Bayern and could be moved on if he can't.

14.20 GMT: Should Everton be thinking about hiring Wayne Rooney as their new manager?

14.04 GMT: Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale could have contributed more to Real Madrid's season so far, but denied issues with either player, or discussions of departures during this month's transfer window.

Both Hazard and Bale are fit and available for Madrid's Copa del Rey round-of-16 tie at Elche on Thursday after playing limited roles this campaign.

"It's simple. Nothing has happened between us. There's competition [for places]," Ancelotti said in a news conference on Wednesday. "The coach, me, chooses the best players for each game, whether it's fair or not. It's what happens at every big club."

"You can be really good but still you don't play. I could talk about Nacho, Marcelo, [Dani] Ceballos, Isco, [Luka] Jovic, they're players with great quality. The same thing happens with them as with Bale and Hazard."

Hazard has been an unused substitute in Madrid's last three games, including wins over Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Supercopa as they lifted the first silverware of the season, while Bale hasn't played for his club since last August.

Both players have been linked with potential moves back to the Premier League, and while Hazard has two-and-a-half years to run on his contract, Bale's deal expires next summer.

14.00 GMT: Inter Miami CF have signed winger Emerson Rodriguez from Colombian side Millonarios.

Rodriguez, 21, signed a contract through the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, with a club option for 2026. 

"Emerson is an exciting, dynamic young talent that we are excited to welcome to Inter Miami. His quality reinforces our team's attack to help us achieve our goals this upcoming season," said Inter Miami CF Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson.

13.35 GMT: Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick remains reluctant to let midfielder Jesse Lingard leave in the January transfer window despite interest from Newcastle, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.

Tottenham and West Ham have both had approaches rejected this month because United do not want to strengthen clubs competing for a place in the top four.

Newcastle, 19th in the Premier League table and battling relegation, represent a safer option if United agree to let Lingard move but sources said that Rangnick is keen to keep the 29-year-old until the end of the season.

Sources have told ESPN that the German manager's main concern is that another COVID outbreak at the club could further de-rail the campaign while they remain in three competitions.

Lingard is out of contract at Old Trafford in the summer and has so far rejected the offer of a new deal. His priority is to find regular first-team football after being restricted to just two starts this season. He last started a Premier League game for United on Jan. 1, 2020 but enjoyed a successful loan spell at West Ham last season, scoring nine goals in 16 games.

Sources have told ESPN that Barcelona and Milan are among a number of clubs who have registered interest in signing him on a free transfer in the summer.

13.12 GMT: Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said Ousmane Dembele is free to leave the club this month if he doesn't renew his contract at Camp Nou.

Dembele, 24, is into the final six months of his deal with Barca and sources at the club have told ESPN they believe it would take a "miracle" for the France forward to commit to new terms now.

"The situation with Ousmane is difficult," Xavi said in a news conference on Wednesday. "The club have decided that if he doesn't renew, we will have to look for a solution. [Director of football] Mateu Alemany has been in talks with the player and his agent for five months. It's been too long now. Either he renews or we look for a solution."

Dembele's representative Moussa Sissoko said on Tuesday that Barca had threatened to send Dembele to the stands for the final six months of his contract if he refused to sign an extension, but Xavi insisted that was not a solution.

13.05 GMT: Lille have signed Hatem Ben Arfa on a short-term six-month contract.

The 34-year-old former Newcastle midfielder finally has a new club after leaving Bordeaux at the end of last season and it's his seventh in Ligue 1 after Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris Saint-Germain, Rennes and Bordeaux.

13.00 GMT: Tottenham and Arsenal are among several clubs interested in signing Middlesbrough right-back Djed Spence, sources have told ESPN's James Olley.

Spence, 21, is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest and any deal would have to include a loan back option given FA rules prevent a player from representing three different clubs in one season.

Spence is valued at around £15m by Middlesbrough and, although no formal offers have been made as of Wednesday afternoon, Spurs have been tracking the defender for some time.

Arsenal are looking to refresh their options at right-back. Takehiro Tomiyasu is currently first-choice but the Gunners are believed to be willing to listen to offers for understudies Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers.

Sources have told ESPN that Southampton have registered an interest in Spence as a possible replacement for Tino Livramento, who has been linked with a move away from the club this month. Similarly, Brighton are also tracking Spence in case they lose Tariq Lamptey.

Leeds are not currently in the race, as had been reported elsewhere, but sources added there are multiple clubs from outside England monitoring the situation.

12.23 GMT: Bayer Leverkusen left-back Mitchel Bakker is of interest to Newcastle, says The Daily Mail.

Bakker, 21, only joined Leverkusen from PSG for an initial €7m over the summer but the Netherlands Under-21 international would fetch a bit more now.

Newcastle signed Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid for €15m to boost their defence at right-back and are also keen to land €40m-rated Sevilla centre-back Diego Carlos but are yet to agree terms.

11.54 GMT: Steven Gerrard has called his former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez about joining him at Aston Villa, according to Catalan journalist Gerard Romero.

Gerrard and Suarez spent three-and-a-half seasons playing together at Liverpool, before the Uruguay forward moved to Barcelona in 2014.

Romero claimed on Tuesday that Atletico Madrid's Suarez has ruled out offers from Palmeiras, Corinthians and Atletico Mineiro in Brazil -- as well as an approach from Saudi Arabia -- because his preference would be reuniting with the Villa coach in the Premier League.

Gerrard has already convinced another former Liverpool star, Philippe Coutinho, to move to Villa on loan from Barcelona and he scored on his debut against Manchester United last weekend.

11.22 GMT: Eden Hazard would prefer to stay at Real Madrid until the end of the season before taking a decision on his future, Marca reports.

Hazard, 31, has remained a bit-part player for coach Carlo Ancelotti this season despite returning to fitness, and was an unused substitute in Madrid's last three matches including both of their games in the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia.

The Belgium international forward wants to evaluate his options in the summer, according to Marca, and "only a more strident position from the club" would push him to change his mind, although even then any potential deal would be extremely complicated.

Newcastle, Everton and former club Chelsea are interested, but Madrid would want some return on their €100m investment.

10.35 GMT: The Manchester Evening News reports that Newcastle are working on a loan deal to sign Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard.

Lingard, 29, is out of contract in June and keen to play regular football. Newcastle are willing to offer a loan fee and also cover his £100,000-a-week wages, but the player is reported to want a move to London.

Tottenham and West Ham have been linked with the England international.

10.01 GMT: Will Man United keep hold of Paul Pogba, even if it means losing him on a free transfer in the summer?

09.40 GMT: Dani Alves says he would like to see Lionel Messi return to Barcelona to end his playing career.

Alves, 38, returned to Barca this month on a free transfer after he left the club in 2016 for Juventus and admits it's difficult not to see Messi at the club. Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent last summer after Barca were unable to register his new contract due to financial difficulties.

"He is not only the best player in the club, but in history, and it is strange to be here and not have him," Alves told Catalunya Radio. "But many times things don't happen as we dream. Have we ever told each other? Where will you be better than here? I think it would be very nice if he also finished his career here. Finishing here could be a great gift for him and for the club to take care of that."

Alves also spoke about his decision to return to Barca, where he won 23 titles in eight seasons at the club during his first stint.

"Being here again is a gift that I am opening every day," the veteran right-back said. "I always fight for what I want. I wanted to come back because I hadn't been able to say goodbye. I was left with the thorn of being able to return for that. Go out with joy and not with doubts, that they see me as a person who loves this club."

09.13 GMT: Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui remains hopeful his club will sign more reinforcements before the January transfer window closes.

The LaLiga outfit have signed Mexico winger Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona from FC Porto and want to sign a striker and strengthen their defensive line. More so considering that Brazilian defender Diego Carlos has reportedly informed Sevilla of his wish to join Newcastle this month.

"Jesus Corona has arrived and and Oscar Rodriguez has left -- on loan to Getafe until the end of the season -- and before the January market closes we hope to have a stronger team than when it opened," Lopetegui said. "There is still a lot of market left, but I am sure that we will have a bigger and better team because we have many demands, needs, difficulties ahead of us. I am convinced that this is going to be the case."

Regarding the arrival of 'Tecatito,' Lopetegui, who coached the Mexico international at FC Porto said: "Jesus has a maturity that will allow him to adapt to the team faster that it would take for other players. He can also play in different positions on the pitch and he will help us a lot."

08.44 GMT: FC Salzburg are set to resist any January bids for USMNT midfielder Brenden Aaronson, sources have told ESPN's Tom Hamilton.

Leeds are one of the teams seriously interested in signing Aaronson, according to sources, but the 21-year-old is also being watched by teams in Serie A.

However, with Salzburg through to the Champions League round of 16, and 2022 being a World Cup year, Aaronson is likely to favour staying at the Austrian Bundesliga champions until the summer and then re-evaluate his options.

08.30 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain are growing confident that they can convince Kylian Mbappe to extend his contract at the club, sources have told ESPN's Julien Laurens.

Mbappe's existing deal runs out in June, but sources have told ESPN that his family has been in talks with the Ligue 1 leaders over a short-term extension, and the latest meetings have been positive. PSG are more hopeful of the striker signing an extension because Mbappe, 23, is more receptive than ever towards the possibility of staying in the French capital a bit longer.

However, Real Madrid are still confident that they can sign the France international this summer. The LaLiga leaders were close to recruiting him last summer, but sources told ESPN that PSG rejected a €200m offer from Madrid in August.

In December, Mbappe ruled out the possibility of leaving PSG in January, but Madrid president Florentino Perez is convinced he can secure a deal for the striker on a free transfer this summer.

PAPER GOSSIP (by Nick Judd)

- Manchester United are one of several Premier League clubs monitoring Aberdeen wonderkid Calvin Ramsay, according to the Mirror. United are reported to have sent scouts to watch the young star play against Rangers in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Pittodrie. The 18-year-old right-back has been a shining light for Aberdeen this season, providing four assists in 12 appearances from the flank. The other clubs interested in Ramsay's talents include Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Southampton and Leeds United.

- Barcelona are looking to fend off interest in Gavi from Liverpool and Manchester City, according to Sport. The Spaniards have begun contract negotiations with the 17-year-old's representatives later than planned, having been delayed by the arrival of Ferran Torres earlier in the month, but it's hoped they can convince the talented youngster -- Barcelona's third youngest goal scorer in their history -- to agree to an extension and increased release clause.

- Leeds are preparing a second bid for United States forward Brenden Aaronson after FC Salzburg rebuffed their original offer of £15m, reports the Mirror. Salzburg are keen to hold on to the forward who has scored three goals and added seven assists for the reigning Austrian champions. However, Leeds refuse to give up on him and believe the 21-year-old, who has also scored twice for the U.S. national team during World Cup qualifying, has huge potential.

- Lille's talented youngster Rocco Ascone is attracting interest from top clubs in both Italy and France, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 18-year-old midfielder has been in and out of Lille's first team since he was 17 but he believes he might be able to get more game time by leaving the club. Lille aren't prepared to let him go permanently, though, and if he is to depart in January, expect it to be on loan.

- AC Milan's search for a centre-back continues, and Fabrizio Romano says that the Italians are only interested in a loan move. With that in mind, he believes the Rossoneri are targeting Manchester United's Eric Bailly and Paris Saint-Germain's Abdou Diallo, though no fresh contact has been made. Tottenham Hotspur's Japhet Tanganga is also at the top of their wanted list, but Spurs are said to be unwilling to let the 22-year-old leave before next week.