Manchester United are set to move for Nottingham Forest‘s Elliot Anderson in January, while Liverpool could be set to enter the race for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TOP STORIES

– Chelsea’s Maresca on Sterling, Disasi: My dad’s life harder
– Barcelona’s salary cap drops by €112m, dwarfed by Real Madrid
– Sources: Messi, Inter Miami near multi-year extension

TRENDING RUMORS

– Nottingham Forest‘s Elliot Anderson has emerged as a January target for Manchester United, according to TEAMtalk. With winter moves for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace‘s Adam Wharton deemed unlikely, Anderson is regarded as a potential solution to United’s current midfield crisis. Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim is set to be given the funds to try and sign Anderson for around £70 million, although Forest might not be willing to let him go following his impressive start to the season. The 22-year-old made his international debut for England earlier this month, starring in a pair of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

– Liverpool could be set to enter the race for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, TEAMtalk has revealed. The Cameroon international has been heavily linked with Manchester United this summer, but it is reported that their Premier League rivals are now also tracking his progress. A move for Baleba in January isn’t expected to be sanctioned, as Brighton remain “extremely reluctant” to let him go midway through the season. Nevertheless, an offer in excess of £100 million may be enough to secure a deal for the talented 21-year-old next summer.

– AC Milan are plotting a €15 million move for Udinese defender Thomas Kristensen in January, says Gazzetta dello Sport. The 6-foot-6 Denmark international has impressed so far this season, and will face off against Milan this weekend where scouts will be watching. Kristensen, 23, was also wanted by Aston Villa this summer, although the Premier League side didn’t officially lodge a bid, and he is under contract at Udinese until June 2028.

– Manchester United pulled out of a move to sign goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before he chose Manchester City, says the Daily Telegraph. Donnarumma, 26, moved from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of around £26m in the summer, but the total financial package including his wages would have been around £130m and that was too much for United.

– Newcastle United remain interested in Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, says Football Insider. While the Red Devils are unlikely to sanction a loan deal in January, it is thought a “lucrative” offer for a permanent transfer could soften their stance. Mainoo is targeting regular first-team football this season, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon. Mainoo, 20, was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s most recent England squad.

EXPERT TAKE

OTHER RUMORS

– Barcelona will target a move for Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane next summer. The Catalan giants will also try and bring his teammate and defender, Dayot Upamecano, to the club in the same window. (El Nacional)

– However, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is not being considered as a possible replacement for Kane. (Bild)

– Real Madrid and Chelsea are set to ramp up a move for AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit, 19, amid interest from Barcelona and Man United. (Defensa Central)

– Vinicius Junior is “upset” after being left out of the Real Madrid team in midweek, and a departure “can’t be ruled out” if the situation gets any worse. Talks over a new contract have been put on hold in recent months, with his current deal expiring in 2027. (AS)

– Arsenal center back William Saliba is an option for Real Madrid in 2026, despite having brought in Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras to strengthen the backline this summer. There are “various names on the agenda” but says one of them is Saliba, with Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konaté being a “cheap alternative” as he’ll be out of contract next year. (AS)

– Real Madrid are scouting Inter Milan striker Francesco Pio Esposito, who has drawn comparisons to Joselu within the club. (Defensa Central)

– Jordan Pickford is “getting closer” to extending his contract at Everton. The England stopper’s current deal expires in June 2027, but after making a strong start to the new Premier League season, an extension now seems likely. (Nicolo Schira)

– Charlotte FC winger Kerwin Vargas is on the radar of the City Football Group. However, with the 23-year-old under contract until 2027, Charlotte are in a “strong position” as things stand. (TEAMtalk)

– Liverpool are “more likely” to try and sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guéhi next summer on a free transfer, rather than in January for a small fee, having seen a late £35m move in the summer fall through. (Football Insider)

– Internazionale are monitoring Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier as a free agent option for 2026. (Ekrem Konur)

– An Internazionale scout was also present at Friday night’s game between Lecce and Cagliari to watch goalkeeper Elia Caprile. (Nicolo Schira)

– Juventus youngster Vasilije Adzic was approached by Sassuolo, Palermo and Genoa about a loan move in the summer. (Tuttomercatoweb)

– Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has revealed that midfielder Yves Bissouma still has a future at the club, despite being sidelined so far this season. (Sky Sports News)

– West Ham United have “sounded out” Nuno Espírito Santo as a potential replacement for manager Graham Potter. (TalkSPORT)

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is on the radar of Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr, while Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is of interest to United, Atlético Madrid and Barcelona. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s grades | Women’s grades

TOP STORIES

– Chelsea’s Maresca on Sterling, Disasi: My dad’s life harder
– Barcelona’s salary cap drops by €112m, dwarfed by Real Madrid
– Sources: Messi, Inter Miami near multi-year extension
– Sources: Barcelona’s Putellas turns down €1m PSG move

TRENDING RUMORS

– Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is on the radar of Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr, says Mundo Deportivo. Casemiro, 33, has a contract which expires in the summer and United are keen to raise funds to bring in new players, though they are only looking to recoup around half of the €70m they spent to sign him from Real Madrid in 2022.

– Manchester United, Atlético Madrid and Barcelona are keeping tabs on Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. A replacement for 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski is a priority for Barca manager Hansi Flick, as forward is out of contract next summer. As such, the club could turn to Vlahovic, who has scored four goals in his last four outings for Juve. United are still looking to bolster their forward line, despite the €85m signing of Benjamin Sesko, and Atletico are also monitoring the situation in the event that either Julián Álvarez or Alexander Sørloth leave the club.

– Liverpool winger Federico Chiesa could return to Serie A in Italy in the summer, says TEAMtalk. Chiesa, 27, arrived from Juventus for €12m in 2024 but has struggled with injuries and made only 14 appearances last season, where he scored two goals and managed two assists. This season, he has one goal in four Premier League matches, but Liverpool boss Arne Slot isn’t convinced about his future and is open to offers.

– Chelsea are looking to find out-of-favor winger Raheem Sterling a new club in January after recent interest from Bayern Munich and Napoli, reports Sky Sports News. The England international has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge by Blues boss Enzo Maresca, so much so that the PFA have contacted Chelsea about the treatment of him and teammate Axel Disasi. Defender Disasi is also expected to depart in January, having previously been wanted by the likes of West Ham United, Sunderland and Bournemouth.

– Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is prepared to let striker Gabriel Jesus leave in January, reports Football Insider. The Brazil international is expected to be out of action until December with a cruciate ligament injury, something which scuppered a possible transfer this summer. However, following the €63.5m arrival of Viktor Gyökeres at the Emirates, Arsenal are now open to offers to sign Jesus should they materialize in the new year.

EXPERT TAKE

OTHER RUMORS

– Al Hilal are prepared to spend €100m to try and sign Real Madrid forward Vinicíus Júnior. (Ekrem Konur)

– Manchester United are targeting a move for Al Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves for as little as £17m in January, as the Portugal international is reportedly keen on a return to Europe (CaughtOffisde)

– Claims that former Manchester United defender Phil Jones, who is a free agent, is about to join Wrexham have been shut down after he was spotted at a recent match. (Daily Mirror)

– Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, 25, is of interest to Tottenham and a number of other Premier League clubs. (TBR)

– Barcelona are scouting Dinamo Zagreb’s 16-year-old Portuguese forward Cardoso Varela, who is under contract until 2028. (Ekrem Konur)

– AC Milan are ready to turn their attention towards signing Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki if a new contract for Mike Maignan can’t be agreed. (QS)

– Hertha BSC’s 17-year-old left-back Yunus Unal is attracting interest from Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, and Werder Bremen. (Bild)

– Vítor Pereira is set to sign a new three-year contract at Wolverhampton Wanderers. (Sky Sports News)

– Tigres playmaker Juan Brunetta is back on the radar of several Italian clubs, including Bologna, Udinese and Fiorentina. (Ekrem Konur)

– Former Roma and Juventus striker Mirko Vučinić is ready to become the new manager of Montenegro (Nicolo Schira)

– West Ham United have identified Gary O’Neil as a potential successor to Graham Potter. (Independent)

– Former Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-Burnley boss Sean Dyche are also under consideration. (Guardian)

WASHINGTON:

Sarah Schmelzel picked up six strokes in the last five holes to seize a share of the first-round lead in the LPGA NW Arkansas Championship on Friday alongside Minami Katsu.

Schmelzel surged home at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas, with birdies at 14, 15, 16 and 17 and an eagle at the par-five 18th on the way to an eight-under par total of 63.

The American, who like Katsu is chasing a first LPGA title, said she “wasn’t doing anything too poorly” on the front nine, and she was able to strike late on holes that she expected to offer birdie chances.

“I told my caddie walking to the green on 14, I need to start making some birdies or else I’m going to get lapped out here,” she said. “It was just a few good wedge shots and then I made a longer one on 17. Then I just hit it really close on 18, which was nice to end that way.”

Schmelzel said the three-round format made it even more important to get off to a good start.

“Especially this always plays kind of like a birdiefest,” she said. “You’ve just got to make a bunch of birdies and stay super aggressive.

“There is not much sitting back and waiting and seeing how the week is playing out.”

Katsu had four birdies on each side in her bogey-free 63.

She got off to a strong start with birdies at the first two holes and added another pair at the fifth and sixth.

She opened the back nine with birdies at 10 and 11 and picked up two more at 15 and 18.

“Overall I think it was a perfect round,” she said.

The leaders were one stroke clear of a group of six players on seven-under 64.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, South Korean Lee So-mi and American Lilia Vu all had seven birdies without a bogey.

Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and American Alison Lee both offset one bogey with six birdies and eagles at the 18th to reach seven-under.

American star Nelly Korda, at number two the highest-ranked player in the field, had four birdies and two bogeys in a two-under par 69.

“Definitely have to figure out a few things,” said Korda, who is chasing her first title of 2025 after capturing seven in a dazzling 2024 campaign.

Defending champion Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand opened with a two-over 73.