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 is the latest gossip and speculation.
TOP STORY: Spurs to back Conte with €280m budget
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly prepared a list of winter reinforcements as they look to utilise a €280 million budget on a number of Serie A stars to bolster the squad.
Calciomercato writes that four players have been identified as potential targets, with additions set to be made across all areas of the pitch.
The most expensive on the list is Dusan Vlahovic, the Fiorentina star who has attracted interest from the likes of Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain in recent months. The 21-year-old striker scored a hat trick in his last game against Spezia, continuing form that has seen I Viola demand €80m for his services.
And with former Nerazzurri boss Antonio Conte taking the Spurs helm as new manager, the Premier League club are also keen on two Internazionale stars in Stefan de Vrij and Marcelo Brozovic. The pair won the Serie A title with Conte last season, which could be a deciding factor in them swapping the San Siro for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Alessio Romagnoli is the final player reported to be on the radar of Spurs, and the club could be able to negotiate a cut-price deal for his services, with talks between AC Milan the defender making little progress on a new contract that is set to expire next summer.
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22.00 GMT: Le10 Sport writes that Paris Saint-Germain could take the lead in the chase for Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic, with the financial situation at Juventus creating difficulty in meeting his asking price.
It is reported that Juventus will need to let multiple players depart if they are to raise money for a bid of around €80m for the 21-year-old. And, with PSG seeing Vlahovic as a potential successor to Kylian Mbappe, the Ligue 1 club could now escalate their interest.
21.29 GMT: Rumours around River Plate star Julian Alvarez are gaining momentum, with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that AC Milan want to bring the 21-year-old striker to San Siro.
Fiorentina are also keen to join the race, with his impressive form of nine goals and five assists in the last eight games catching the attention of clubs in Serie A.
Alvarez made his senior debut for Argentina in June and featured as a substitute in clashes against Paraguay and Uruguay last month.
20.57 GMT: Despite speaking of his desire to stay at Marseille beyond his loan, The Telegraph reveals that William Saliba wants to stay and fight for his place when he returns to Arsenal.
Saliba, 20, joined the Gunners for €30m from Saint-Etienne in 2019 but is yet to become a regular in Mikel Arteta's first team, with the club sending him out on loan for consecutive seasons.
However, the centre-back has been a standout performer in the Ligue 1 this season, with Marseille currently in the top three.
20.25 GMT: Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry is ready to extend his stay at the Allianz Arena after reaching an agreement over a new contract.
That's according to journalist Ekrem Konur, who reports that a new deal for the 26-year-old forward will be announced soon.
Gnabry has been in fine form this season, scoring six goals in eight Bundesliga starts.
20.06 GMT: Tottenham look close to securing their first signing of Antonio Conte's tenure, with the club rumoured to have reached an agreement with AC Milan's Franck Kessie, according to Calciomercato.
Kessie, 24, has a contract which is set to expire at the end of the season, and despite AC Milan's intention to keep the midfielder at San Siro, he has made little progress on a renewal with the club. It is reported that his agreement with Spurs is for a salary worth €10m per year.
19.34 GMT: SPORT1 reveals that a decision over the future of FC Salzburg striker Karim Adeyemi will be made this month, with Borussia Dortmund battling Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig for his signature.
And while BVB are reported to be in pole position, Leipzig are set to meet with the 19-year-old's representatives this week, with the club looking to utilise their strong relationship with Salzburg to secure a deal ahead of their German Bundesliga rivals.
18.53 GMT: Fabrizio Romano writes that Barcelona are confident of announcing Xavi as the new manager in the next few days, with the club describing the situation as a "matter of time."
The 41-year-old has been managing Al-Sadd in Qatar, but after the Blaugrana decided to part ways with Ronald Koeman, Xavi was placed at the top of the club's shortlist to take over at Camp Nou.
Romano claims that the paperwork has been ready to sign since last week and will take place once Xavi's contract with Al-Sadd is officially terminated.
18.23 GMT: Samuel Umtiti looks set to leave Barcelona having failed to prove his fitness at Camp Nou, according to Sport.
The 27-year-old centre-back has received a number of offers from clubs who are keen to do a deal in the January transfer window, and it is reported that Barca would like him to leave after previously trying to offload him in the summer to reduce their wage bill.
Umtiti's contract is currently worth around €9m, and there are reported to be potential routes for him to continue his career in the top flights of England, France and Turkey.
17.55 GMT: Sky Sports writes that West Bromwich Albion are looking to reward goalkeeper Sam Johnstone with a new deal.
Contract talks will commence in January, with the club keen to extend the 28-year-old's deal beyond next summer's expiry date.
Johnstone's impressive form for the Baggies has seen a number of Premier League clubs monitoring his situation, with Southampton, West Ham and Tottenham all recently linked with a potential move.
17.30 GMT: Lazio have made the contract renewal of Luiz Felipe a priority, according to Calciomercato, with reports that he is being monitored by clubs in Europe.
Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Betis have reportedly registered their interest in the 24-year-old defender, while Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring his situation. Lazio would demand a fee of €30m should they let him go, but manager Maurizio Sarri is keen to avoid losing him on a free transfer as his contract expires in the summer.
16.51 GMT: A return to Ajax could be on the horizon for Inter Milan midfielder Christian Eriksen, reveals Corriere dello Sport.
The 29-year-old has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest while representing Denmark at Euro 2020 and, after having an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator fitted, he is reportedly not allowed to play in Serie A.
A move back to the club where he made his professional debut could happen as early as January, with Internazionale prepared to let him go on a free transfer.
16.20 GMT: What's happened to Neymar? The PSG No. 10 is in the worst form since joining Ligue 1 giants for €222m from Barcelona in 2017. Julien Laurens examines.
Disappointing. Transparent. Ghostly. Average. You can probably think of a few more ways to describe Neymar's season so far -- in fact, these are actually kind words in regards to the performances the Brazil international has been putting up for Paris Saint-Germain, as some fans are far more extreme in criticism of their No. 10.
Neymar used to be a machine, especially in Ligue 1 with incredible stats, averaging almost a goal per game (56 in 70 matches in his first four seasons in France) and being involved in more than a goal per game (87 goals and assists over that same period). However, after a quarter of the 2021-22 season, his stats paint a very different story. One goal in six league games and 495 minutes played, with two assists and only three big chances created overall. The Brazilian superstar used to be so much more than that; he took Ligue 1 by storm when he arrived from Barcelona in the summer of 2017, a genius with an antagonistic style and personality. He missed more than half of PSG's games each season (20 in the 2017-2018 season, then 17, 15 and 18), but would compensate by delivering some moments of absolute brilliance.
So what is happening? Where has Neymar gone, and why is this year's version a pale imitation of the brilliance he's displayed at PSG over the past four seasons?
15.48 GMT: Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl was willing to put his money where his mouth is when asked about the prospect of striker Erling Haaland still being at the club next season.
Haaland, 21, is one of Europe's most sought-after players having scored 70 goals in 69 games since signing for Dortmund in January 2020.
Despite the Norway international having a release clause in his contract which can be triggered next summer, Kehl remains positive that the club can convince him to stay.
"Of course, we are trying to give him the feeling that Borussia Dortmund continues to be a top address for him and that he can still develop here," Kehl told Bild. "Maybe we can still convince him. We will fight for him. We will try everything.
"The decision has not yet been made, but I would bet €100 [on him staying]."
14.58 GMT: Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel hopes that Callum Hudson-Odoi's recent run in the team convinces him that his future lies at Stamford Bridge.
After finding playing team hard to come by earlier in the season, the 20-year-old has started three of the Blues' last four games and injuries to Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Mason Mount mean he is likely to keep his place in the team.
"We didn't let him leave because we are building a squad and Callum is a piece in that puzzle," Tuchel said. "He thought it might be a bit easier to get minutes at another club but I told him straight that we rely on him, he accepted his role within the team.
"There is huge progress he can make within this group and within this club but he had a very good pre-season, struggled a bit at the beginning of the season to prove himself but now has shown up and delivered.
"To get a place in this team it is all about performance and this is what Callum is showing at the moment and it is important he continues to be consistent, stays hungry and keeps progressing."
13.54 GMT: Lionel Messi has spoken about returning to live in Barcelona when he retires, and potentially becoming a sporting director. Could it be at the Camp Nou?
12.58 GMT: The search for a new manager at Newcastle United has now been reduced to two candidates, according to The Athletic.
Villarreal coach Unai Emery is reportedly now the frontrunner for the vacancy at St James' Park, with former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe the only alternative appointment following the sacking of Steve Bruce.
Emery is under contract at El Madrigal until 2023, meaning Newcastle would have to pay around €6m to the reigning Europa League holders.
ex-Roma manager Paulo Fonseca was interviewed by Newcastle while others including Belgium coach Roberto Martinez and former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard were linked with the position, but The Athletic reports that Emery is the man Newcastle will appoint if they can come to an agreement on personal terms.
12.05 GMT: The news we were expecting this morning has been announced -- Tottenham Hotspur have appointed former Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte to replace Nuno Espirito Santo.
The club announced that the 52-year-old moves to north London on a contract until the summer of 2023, with an option to extend.
Conte returns to the Premier League having won the division with Chelsea in 2017 and the FA Cup a year later. He also won Serie A during his spells at Juventus and Inter. Conte left Inter in May following their title success amid reports the club needed to cut costs amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Reports last week suggested Conte was not keen to take charge of a club midseason, following links to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.
The Italian was one of several approached to take over at Tottenham ahead of the 2021-22 campaign before Nuno was appointed, as Tottenham conducted a chaotic process to appoint a new manager.
Sources have told ESPN that Conte's readiness to revive discussions was the final factor pushing Tottenham into deciding to part with Nuno, who managed just 17 games in total. Nuno was sacked by Tottenham following Saturday's 3-0 Premier League defeat to United.
Buongiorno Antonio... pic.twitter.com/26wgcdcYED
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 2, 2021
11.44 GMT: Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham appeared to rule out claims that he is expecting to join Liverpool in the future on social media.
Former Premier League midfielder Craig Hignett told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I think I've heard it on good authority and I can't say where I've heard it from, but apparently he has been saying that he is Liverpool bound.
"Whether that is January or whether that is the end of the season isn't sure yet, but I think, I have it on good authority that it is almost a cert."
However, the 18-year-old England international responded to that claim via his Twitter account with a gif of himself laughing, which he later deleted.
Dortmund sporting director revealed recently that Liverpool were one of several clubs interested in the England international, who is under contract at the Westfalenstadion until 2025.
Here's the tweet if anyone missed it: pic.twitter.com/vekxYMWmUg
— Laurie (@LFCLaurie) November 1, 2021
10.47 GMT: Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has said he's "calm" about his contract situation -- and how much he gets paid "doesn't matter" -- after an explosive start to the season led to calls for him to be rewarded with a new, improved deal.
The Brazil international, 21, has scored seven times in LaLiga already in 2021-22 -- more than twice as many goals as in any of his previous campaigns since joining in 2018.
Diario AS reported on Tuesday that among Madrid's first-team players, only Jesus Vallejo and Andrey Lunin are paid less.
"They haven't said anything to me, but I'm calm," Vinicius told TNT Brazil when asked about talks, with his current deal running until 2025. "There's a lot of time left. Of course I want to renew, I want to be here for a long time. The contract I have is still the one from when I was 16.
"It doesn't matter when I renew or how much I'll get paid. The important thing is the satisfaction of being at the best team in the world."
- Hunter: Vinicius proving at Madrid why he was right to reject Barca
09.52 GMT: Tottenham Hotspur are expected to announce the appointment of Antonio Conte as their new manager today, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Sources told ESPN's James Olley on Monday that Spurs were in advanced talks with Conte, following the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo earlier that day.
Sources have told ESPN that Spurs have offered Conte an initial 18-month contract with the option of a further year, which the Telegraph reports is worth around £20m.
The report adds that Tottenham's players are expecting the former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss to take training on Tuesday.
08.56 GMT: Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that the club could recall midfielder Billy Gilmour from his loan at Norwich City in January.
Gilmour, 20, started four of Norwich's first five league games this season, but has not played at all for the Canaries since the 3-0 Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool on Sept. 21.
Tuchel said that, after consultation with the player and Norwich boss Daniel Farke, a decision will be made in two months' time.
"I spoke to Daniel and Billy about the situation and we will make the decision in January," Tuchel said. "He left looking for more minutes and game time at another club and the challenge is for him to fight his way through.
"Things are not going as well as he perhaps hoped but it's not the moment to cancel the whole project or open talks to bring him back.
"Sometimes these weeks and months arrive when the situation doesn't seem to be going the right way -- you just have to hang in there and show your quality and make sure you help your team, no matter how. That sharpens the character and I am sure it will be a big chapter in Billy's career.
"It is only the start of November and there are still months to go and a lot of time to prove he has enough quality to help Norwich be a better team."
08.00 GMT: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sent a message to his Manchester United players to put the team before themselves to ensure they build on their impressive victory against Tottenham Hotspur.
United face Atalanta in Bergamo on Tuesday having bounced back from their 5-0 defeat to Liverpool with a comprehensive 3-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Solskjaer rejected the suggestion the result was evidence his team have turned a corner after a run of five defeats in nine games but the Norwegian has called on his squad to pull together in an effort to create some much-needed momentum.
"When you're at a place like this, we've got so many players and we don't have time for anyone to sulk or not give energy to the team," Solskjaer told a news conference on Monday. "If you're not in the starting XI you're there to support your teammates and you come on and do your best when you come on; if you don't come on then what's the single most important thing you can do to help the team? And the attitude was spot on.
"Yeah, I understand players want to play and nobody is happy when they don't play. But the squad morale has been really good and it has to be really good. It can't be that we've done one game now and then everyone is thinking about themselves. It's a team before any individual."
PAPER GOSSIP (by Adam Brown)
- Erling Haaland could be closer to a move to Barcelona, with El Nacional reporting that his agent Mino Raiola wants him to join the Blaugrana due to his good relationship with Joan Laporta. The 21-year-old forward's future has been linked with Europe's elite clubs throughout the season and, with his release clause at €75m next season, Barcelona could find a way to strike a deal next summer.
- Arsenal are preparing a bid for Luka Jovic in January, according to Ekrem Konur. The club have been linked with a number of strikers in recent months, and it is reported that they will offer €25m to Real Madrid for the signature of the 23-year-old striker. Jovic signed for the club in 2019 but has since been unable to become a regular in the first team, with Karim Benzema the preferred No. 9 option for Carlo Ancelotti.
- FourFourTwo writes that Donny van de Beek could make the switch to the Emirates due to a family connection. Rumours surrounding the future of the 24-year-old midfielder are beginning to heat up as we edge closer to the start of the January transfer window and, with Arsenal set to lose Thomas Partey to the African Cup of Nations, Van de Beek is seen as a possible reinforcement with his future looking more uncertain at Manchester United.
- AS Monaco's Chrislain Matsima could be set to leave the Ligue 1 club, with RMC Sport revealing that contact has already been made from the Bundesliga regarding a potential move for the 19-year-old defender. He has made just one start from right-back this season, and it is reported that Monaco would be open to allowing him to leave on loan to gain more playing time.
- Gonzalo Villar is set to leave Roma in the winter transfer market, writes Nicolo Schira. Real Betis and Valencia are the two clubs who have initiated contact so far over a potential deal, with both clubs interested in a loan. The 23-year-old midfielder featured 33 times in Serie A last season, registering one assist.