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LIVE Transfer Talk: Manchester United to step up interest in Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele

The summer transfer window was unlike any other; see all the major deals and check out how we graded the biggest signings. And just because the window is shut until January, that doesn't mean the rumours won't keep coming. Here's the latest gossip and speculation.

TOP STORY: Man United still interested in Dembele

Manchester United are keeping a close eye on contract negotiations between Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona, with the Premier League side keen ready to make a move should the two parties be unable to reach an agreement, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

Extending the contract of the 24-year-old winger has remained a top priority for the Blaugrana since the season began, though he has only recently rejoined first team activities after showing a willingness to continue his career at Camp Nou.

After Pedri signed a new contract and there have been positive reports about an extension for Gavi, there has been less promise about the former Borussia Dortmund man Dembele. Cash-strapped Barca are desperate to avoid another asset walking away on a free transfer, and talks are ongoing over a deal which would see Dembele stay until 2027.

The France international has been linked with a number of other teams in recent months, and there was talk of a move to Man United before the summer window closed. If a deal isn't reached by January, United can start precontract discussions with Dembele.

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LIVE BLOG

22.36 GMT: Defender Thiago Silva is reportedly open to beginning talks over a new contract at Chelsea, with his existing deal expiring at the end of the season.

According to Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano, the 37-year-old is prepared to discuss a new deal that lasts until 2023, citing a love for the fans, the dressing room and his relationship with manager Thomas Tuchel.

21.28 GMT: After links with a move away from the club at the end of the season, Torino striker Andrea Belotti may have changed his mind on extending his contract.

According to Tuttosport, the Italy international is considering a stay at the club, with manager Ivan Juric said to be a key reason for the change of heart. The reported deal would last until 2025.

20.52 GMT: Atletico Madrid and AC Milan are interested in Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, says Calciomercato.

The 22-year-old has impressed for the Portuguese side, with representatives reportedly in the Spanish capital to sort the move for January's transfer window.

Nunez has eight goals in 15 games in all competitions this season, including three in five in the Champions League.

19.32 GMT: PSG are eyeing a move for Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. should Kylian Mbappe leave the club on a free transfer in the summer.

According to El Nacional, the French side are reportedly willing to offer the Brazil international three times what he earns in Spain, with Florentino Perez already planning to extend his contract at the club.

18.44 GMT: Newcastle United are interested in a move for England international Kieran Trippier, reports the Mirror.

New manager Eddie Howe is said to be interested in the right-back to help in their relegation fight come January, with Manchester United previously said to be interested in the 31-year-old.

17.31 GMT: Barcelona boss Xavi is trying his best to convince winger Ousmane Dembele to stay at the club, with the 24-year-old's contract at the club coming to an end next summer.

Speaking after the draw against Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday, the manager said: "I have spoken with him. He is very happy and ingrained. He is not 100% [fit], and he wanted to play.

"You have to talk to the footballer. Let's see if you can renew because for me it is fundamental.

"When he's in the field, things happen, you've already seen it. He has generated a lot and is a key piece for the team. "

16.43 GMT: With Ralf Rangnick set to be come Manchester United's interim manager, what will the German coach bring to Old Trafford?

15.28 GMT: Manchester United are in advanced talks to appoint Ralf Rangnick as the club's interim manager until the end of the season, sources told ESPN's Rob Dawson.

Rangnick, 63, is set to leave his role as head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow and sign a six-month contract at Old Trafford.

Sources close to Rangnick initially distanced him from the role at Old Trafford when contacted by ESPN in the wake of Solskjaer's departure. Sources added a breakthrough was reached when a consultancy role was offered as part of Rangnick's move to the club. The exact terms of the consultancy role have yet to be determined but Rangnick is expected to stay on in some capacity at United once his interim tenure ends.

United have yet to officially confirm whether Rangnick will be joining but a source added that talks were at an advanced stage.

The German is unlikely to be in charge for Sunday's Premier League match against leaders Chelsea due to work permit reasons, but his first match as manager could come against Arsenal on Dec. 2.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino is United's long-term target, according to ESPN sources, but the club had an initial enquiry about his immediate availability knocked back.

Sources added that Pochettino would be keen on the vacancy at Old Trafford but is under contract in Paris until 2023 after signing an extension in the summer.

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14.45 GMT: Tottenham Hotspur left-back Ryan Sessegnon insists that he never considered leaving the club.

Sessegnon, 21, joined Spurs from Fulham in 2019, but had made just 14 appearances for Spurs before coming off the bench on Sunday against Leeds to help secure Antonio Conte's first Premier League win as the club's manager.

"That never crossed my mind [to leave]," he told a news conference ahead of Tottenham's Europa Conference League match at NS Mura. "I knew I would have to go out on loan which I did and played a few games and came back with a lot of confidence but the injury happened again. But never did it cross my mind that I would have to leave the club.

"Of course, it has been very tough, everyone knows that. People very close to me know how much it affected me a little bit, but in terms of confidence, I think that is behind me now.

"The good people around me helped, family and friends, and speaking to people who are close to me. I did actually get a little bit of help one-on-one from someone which was very good for me. Other than that it was about having the people pushing me every day and bringing the positive energy I needed. The psychology side of it."

13.49 GMT: The British government's fan-led review of English football has recommended a transfer tax on Premier League clubs as a means of redistributing money from the game's elite level to lower divisions and grassroots.

A 10% levy on Premier League transfers could raise £160 million a year for lower-league clubs, according to the review, in one of a number of key recommendations from the 162-page report conducted by the MP Tracey Crouch.

The review has also called for the creation of an independent regulator to deal with the game's finances, club ownership and corporate governance, as well as a "golden share" for fans which would require supporter consent on certain issues.

The report was designed to examine problems in the game following fan protests over lower league clubs going into administration and controversial plans from the top clubs like the proposed breakaway European Super League.

In one of 47 recommendations, the report states: "If a 10% levy had been applied in the last five seasons, an estimated £160 million per year could have been raised for redistribution.

"This would be a relatively modest cost to Premier League clubs, but annually could be game-changing to the rest of the football pyramid."

12.53 GMT: Gareth Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, has hit out at Real Madrid supporters for the "disgusting" treatment of his client.

The Wales captain was insulted by a group of supporters as he left Madrid's training ground after returning from international duty injured last week.

Asked if he felt the media and fans were being unfair with Bale because of his injuries, Barnett told reporters: "It's irrelevant. I don't care what they think. Why should I care? I think they've been disgusting to Gareth Bale."

Bale was criticised by the Spanish media for choosing to play for Wales in the last international window despite being unavailable for Los Blancos this season. The 32-year-old has not featured for Madrid since Aug. 28 because of a hamstring injury.

Bale's contract at Madrid, where he has been since 2013, expires at the end of the season.

11.57 GMT: Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos says reports that coach Mauricio Pochettino could leave the club for Manchester United are not affecting the team.

United have made Pochettino their top target as their next permanent manager following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure on Sunday.

Pochettino signed a contract extension until June 2023 with PSG this summer and sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson that the French giants have rebuffed an initial approach from United.

Speaking after Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Manchester City in the Champions League, PSG captain Marquinhos said: "We see [the news about Manchester United's interest in Pochettino]. We are not isolated from that. We see everything that happens.

"But speculation happens in football. We are already hard-pressed to know that there are many speculations involving players and coaches too. But that doesn't affect us on the field. We have to focus on the field and leave these things out."

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11.09 GMT: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed he urged Alexandre Lacazette to remain professional in face-to-face talks with the striker as he prepares to enter the final six months of his contract.

The 30-year-old is free to negotiate with overseas clubs directly from Jan. 1 and has been linked with a number of sides including Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan as well as Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

ESPN's James Olley reported on Sept. 17 that the Gunners were yet to offer Lacazette a new deal and Arteta has subsequently confirmed the club wish to address the situation at the end of the season.

However, when asked on Thursday if he was concerned the Frenchman could agree terms with a foreign club in the meantime, Arteta said: "It is a situation we have. Whether you are concerned or not, things have happened in the last few seasons for different players where those possibilities are there.

"Sometimes the club has more control and sometimes the player has more control but the important thing is that the communication is clear and the intention of both parties, while they are together, are very clear."

Pushed on what those intentions are, Arteta added: "That the demands don't change, whether you have six months or six years contract. You are still employed at the club. You are here because you are willing to be here, you have to perform and there is nothing different to expect from anybody.

"That's a position and situation that is happening more and more in football. He is not the only one. We have a few. And that's something that we have to be dealing with, contracts that are coming from a few years ago with certain particularities. We knew that that was the case. I already spoke with him individually about how we have to handle those situations, the best possible way, and that's it."

10.14 GMT: Barcelona are negotiating the arrival of FC Basel striker Arthur Cabral, according to multiple reports.

According to both Sport and Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian striker is considered the most viable option to strengthen Xavi Hernandez's squad in the winter transfer window.

With Barca still without attacking trio Sergio Aguero, Ansu Fati and Martin Braithwaite, all out injured, the Catalan club are desperate to bring reinforcements.

Cabral, 23, joined Basel in the summer of 2020 from Palmeiras in a €6m. He has scored 23 goals in 24 games this season and has a contract with the Swiss giants until June 2023.

Cabral could arrive to the Camp Nou in January on a six-month loan, with Barca having an obligation to purchase the player in the summer. Barca are prepared to offer between €8m to €10m for the striker.

09.21 GMT: Manchester United have had an initial enquiry about the immediate availability of Mauricio Pochettino knocked back by Paris Saint-Germain, sources have told ESPN's Rob Dawson.

United have made Pochettino their top target as their next permanent manager following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday. The club are open to appointing Pochettino now if a deal can be struck but intermediaries tasked with assessing the 49-year-old's situation at PSG have reported back that the French side are, for now, unwilling to talk.

United believe it is likely Pochettino will only be available in the summer, unless the former Tottenham boss forces an exit. Sources have told ESPN that Pochettino would be keen on the vacancy at Old Trafford but is under contract in Paris until 2023 after signing an extension in the summer.

Sources told ESPN that PSG have made contact with former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane in the event Pochettino does return to the Premier League. Agreeing terms with Zidane would impact when, and if, Pochettino is allowed to leave PSG.

PSG side were in action on Wednesday, losing 2-1 at United's rivals Manchester City in the Champions League. When asked about the United links following the game, Pochettino was coy about his future.

"The players know very well our situation,'' he said. "They know their situation. We are living in a business where rumors are there.''

08.30 GMT: The Daily Telegraph reports that Mason Mount is happy at Chelsea and is in no rush to extend his contract, which expires in 2024.

The report says that talks with Mount could begin in the summer.

Mount, 22, has emerged as one of Chelsea's most important players, but the Blues have more pressing matters with four key defenders out on contract in the summer. Deals for Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva are the priority for the club. 

Christensen told the club's official website recently that he is relaxed about his contract situation and hopes to sign a new deal soon. Rudiger, meanwhile, has been linked with moves to Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, who could all open talks with the Germany international from Jan. 1 as they are foreign clubs.

PAPER GOSSIP

- Adama Traore could be on the way out of Molineux, with Wolves prepared to listen to offers in January, writes Football Insider. It is reported that the club are prioritising a permanent move for Hwang Hee-chan who has impressed during his loan spell from RB Leipzig, but they need to raise around £13 million to get the deal done. Liverpool are one of the potential suitors, with the Reds still interested in the 25-year-old winger after tracking him in the summer.

- Chelsea look set to resolve Thiago Silva's contract situation, with reports from UOL in Brazil that a deal is imminent between the club and player. The 37-year-old centre-back has enjoyed his time at Stamford Bridge since he joined from Paris Saint-Germain, playing a leading role in the heart of the defence. He is set to extend his stay at the Blues by an extra year, which will see him contracted until the summer of 2023.

- Ekrem Konur reports that Rangers, as well as a host of English clubs, are monitoring Hearts defender John Souttar. The 25-year-old defender has captured the attention this season and was a standout performer when Scotland defeated Denmark 2-0 in the World Cup qualifiers earlier in November. It has been reported that Hearts are only looking for a transfer fee of £500,000.

- Inter Milan want Marcelo Brozovic's new contract signed by Christmas, writes Fabrizio Romano. The 29-year-old midfielder has been in contract discussions with the Serie A club for a number of weeks despite registered interest from PSG, and Inter's CEO Giuseppe Marotta has claimed that he is "optimistic" of getting the deal over the line soon.

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