A round-up of the latest football transfer stories from around Europe, including a remarkable swap deal between Real Madrid and Chelsea, and Pep Guardiola’s future.
Liverpool
Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic has become the first player to be signed by Liverpool under manager Jurgen Klopp, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Serbia Under 21 international has signed a four-year contract, but will return to selling club Red Star Belgrade for the remainder of the season before joining up with Liverpool in July.
Liverpool did not disclose the transfer fee, but they are believed to have paid around £5.1 million (Dh27.4m) to secure Grujic’s services.
“I’m very excited and so proud to be here and a member of Liverpool Football Club. I can’t wait to get started, play at Anfield and train at Melwood,” Grujic told the Liverpool website.
“I was thinking about my progress in my next period and decided it was good for me to come here and try to be the best I can. I want to play in front of one of the loudest set of fans in Europe at Anfield.
“I also like the atmospheres at other stadiums. The crowds are very good. I like to play under pressure and that’s why I’ve come here, because it brings out the best in me.”
Grujic made his debut for Red Star age 17 in 2013 and has netted five goals in 21 games in their current league campaign.
As well as representing Serbia at U21 level, he was a member of the squad that triumphed at last year’s Under 20 World Cup in New Zealand.
Klopp, who succeeded the sacked Brendan Rodgers in October, said: “We’re very pleased because Marko is a big talent and we’ve seen him a lot of times.
“To describe him, I would say he’s a tall boy, but quick and good at technical things. He can play passes and can dribble. But he is young, so he has to develop. He will do this, so everything is OK.”
Klopp saw Liverpool win 1-0 at Stoke City in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Tuesday. They are currently eighth in the Premier League.
Real Madrid
There are plenty of reports relating to Gareth Bale and his future at Real Madrid, with speculation Chelsea and Manchester United are both interested in the Wales forward.
Bale, 26, was a favoured player of former Madrid manager Rafa Benitez, although the Spaniard’s sacking has left a degree of uncertainty surrounding Bale’s future.
Reports in the British media claim Madrid are willing to pay £100 million (Dh537.8m) to sign Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, and should the Premier League champions agree on a deal, it will prompt them to make a move for Bale as the Belgian’s replacement.
Although Hazard is considered a key player at Chelsea, despite his below-par form this season, it is thought the club would negotiate a deal if the money is right, particularly if Hazard expresses an interest to leave.
Should Hazard depart Stamford Bridge, Chelsea would find competition in their potential pursuit of Bale in the form of Manchester United, according to the Daily Mail.
United have been long-term admirers of Bale and attempted to sign the former Tottenham player when he moved to Real Madrid in 2013.
The Mail report suggests the presence of Ryan Giggs, Bale's "boyhood hero", on the United coaching staff is key to the club's hopes of luring him to Old Trafford.
In a separate report from the Guardian, Bale intends to stay at Madrid but his future could depend on new coach Zinedine Zidane's plans for his role within the team.
Bale was being predominantly deployed in a central position by Benitez, and should that change under Zidane, the Welshman could decide his future lies elsewhere.
Andy Mitten: Quiet thinker Zidane's first task is to command notoriously difficult Real Madrid dressing room
Pep Guardiola
Until Pep Guardiola officially announces his next destination, expect plenty of reports regarding the Spaniard’s future.
In a report published by Sky Germany, Guardiola will become Manchester City manager in the summer.
“We know 100 per cent that he will definitely join Manchester City next year and it make sense,” Sky Germany correspondent Uli Koehler told Sky Sports News.
“His old friends Ferran Soriano (City chief executive officer) and Txiki Begiristain (City director of football) are there and I think Manchester City hired them only to get Pep Guardiola one day and that day will come in the summer. Our sources say he will join Manchester City next year.”
Equally, the Daily Mirror's John Cross insists Guardiola to City is a "done deal", while the Daily Express report bold claims that City will look to reunite Guardiola with Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi at the Etihad Stadium.
Meanwhile, The Sun have reported that while City are in pole position, Manchester United still have a chance to recruit Guardiola if they act quickly. The Spaniard has reportedly already turned down an approach from Chelsea, but would be interested in London rivals Arsenal.
It certainly seems like everything is in place for Guardiola to join City, although United could provide their bitter city rivals competition for his signature.
Steven Gerrard: Pep Guardiola going to the Premier League 'great for us'
Arsenal
Premier League leaders Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Mohamed Elneny “in the coming days”, according to the midfielder’s club FC Basel.
Elneny, 23, is expected to finalise a move to Arsenal this month as Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his central midfield options amid a growing injury crisis.
The fee quoted in the media is £5m, and despite a possible obstacle regarding a work permit, both clubs expect any such issues to be overcome.
Elneny will provide much-needed cover for French midfielder Francis Coquelin, who is sidelined until February with a knee injury.
Liverpool
As Liverpool’s injury list claimed another two players on Tuesday night, manager Jurgen Klopp revealed he is considering entering the transfer market for a new defender.
Dejan Lovren, along with playmaker Philippe Coutinho, limped off with a hamstring injury during the 1-0 League Cup semi-final first leg win at Stoke City.
With Martin Skrtel also sidelined with a hamstring problem, Joe Gomez a long-term absentee with a cruciate knee ligament injury, and Mamdou Sakho nursing a knee problem, Klopp is worryingly light on centre-halves.
‘In this moment with no centre back fit, I would say it is a situation where we have to think about going into the transfer market,” Klopp said. “Two weeks ago we had three centre backs, that’s a good situation, at the start of the season we had five, now we have none.
“The problem is if all the players in this moment had no injuries in pre-season, they are still in the race and can cope with this intensity. But they had little things and had no chance to recover.”
Liverpool have been linked with Schalke defender Joel Matip, although a deal was expected to be made in the summer, with the Cameroonian’s contract expiring at the end of the season.
However, the injury crisis at Anfield may force Klopp to make a deal sooner rather than later.
Borussia Dormtund
Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not report for training on Tuesday morning, fuelling speculation he could be on his way out of the Bundesliga club.
Speculation has ben rife that Aubameyang could be on his way to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Liverpool both interested in his services.
The Gabon international, 26, has been one of the standout strikers in Europe this season, and tops the Bundesliga goal-scoring charts with 18 goals.
A Dortmund spokesperson insisted Aubameyang missed training “for personal reasons”, although that has not prevented the media from claiming the striker’s absence was as a result of the ongoing transfer speculation.
Indeed, comments made by Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke about Aubameyang’s future earlier this week suggest the club would not be unwilling to listen to offers.
"One must never make the mistake to believe that a club like BVB is dependent on a player," he told Bild. "We are not dependent on anyone."
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