Transfer talk: Threat of being replaced during transfer window lifts Manchester United’s Chris Smalling

Chris Smalling, of Manchester United, has enjoyed an excellent campaign at Old Trafford after the club was linked with a big-money move for a defender in the close season. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)Show less

This is the latest football transfer news and speculation from around Europe. Check back for updates as the news breaks.

Manchester United

The threat of being replaced during the transfer window helps keep players on their toes and has spurred Manchester United defender Chris Smalling to new heights.

Smalling has enjoyed an excellent campaign at Old Trafford after the club was linked with a big-money move for a defender in the close season.

“It does spur you on. When you come to Manchester United, in every tranfer window -- whether the team is doing well or badly -- there are always players linked with the club because this club is always linked with the best players,” Smalling told the United website.

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“It keeps you on your toes and spurs you on. You can’t rest on six months of good performances because as soon as you have a blip, there is always another player to take your place.”

Smalling, 26, is hoping to continue his development in 2016.

“I have stayed relatively injury-free and have been able to play games, build up and keep learning. I take a lot of positives from that,” Smalling said.

Borussia Dortmund

Bundesliga leading scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has fuelled speculation he is set to leave Borussia Dortmund after missing the club’s return to training following the winter break on Tuesday.

A club spokesman said the Gabon international was absent “for personal reasons” although reports have linked the 26-year-old with Premier League clubs Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

“We all hope he’ll (Aubameyang) stay,” said teammate Matthias Ginter after the first training session in January for a Dortmund side who are second in the Bundesliga, eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

“He’s very important, on the pitch and off, for what he contributes to the group atmosphere.”

Aubameyang has had his best start to a season since arriving from Saint-Etienne in 2013, scoring 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga games and 27 in all competitions.

Ginter expressed the same hope regarding midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, reportedly a target for Serie A giants Juventus.

“We would be delighted if they stayed as long as possible with us. I hope they will extend their contracts.”

Aubameyang is under contract with Dortmund until 2020 and Gündogan until 2017.

Dortmund leave on Thursday for a winter training camp in Dubai, before returning to league action at Borussia Moenchengladbach on January 23.

AC Milan

Kevin Prince-Boateng has returned to AC Milan on a six-month deal following an unhappy spell at Schalke 04 and an aborted move to Sporting Lisbon, the Serie A club announced Tuesday.

German-born Ghanaian international Boateng played his last match for Milan in August 2013 but has been training with the club for several months after failing to secure a deal at Sporting, having quit Schalke under a cloud last May.

A statement by the seven-times European champions said: “AC Milan announce that Kevin Prince Boateng has signed a contract with Milan until 30 June, 2016.”

Milan’s offer of a six-month contract has only added to the intrigue surrounding Boateng’s return to the club for whom he has played a total of 100 matches across all competitions.

After the midfielder quit Schalke at the end of last season, the 28-year-old was set for a move to Sporting Lisbon only to be rejected by the Portuguese giants.

Officially, Boateng failed to secure a deal because of a disagreement over the players’ image rights. However a spokesman for Sporting later claimed Boateng had “failed the club’s medical tests because of a problem with his knee”.

AC Milan, who host Bologna at the San Siro on Wednesday, sit in sixth place in Serie A at eight points behind leaders Inter Milan.

Schalke 04

Coach Clemens Toennies on Tuesday ruled out the sale of Schalke 04’s rising Germany star Leroy Sane, who had been linked with a big-money transfer to English Premier League side Manchester City.

The Bundesliga club have decided “not to sell Sane”, Toennies said in an interview with German daily Bild, adding that “there had been no official offer at the moment”.

“The player doesn’t want to leave Schalke. If there is interest in Leroy, that confirms our excellent training work,” added Toennies.

Sane has reportedly attracted the interest of Manchester City who, according to Bild, are ready to make a German record transfer bid of 55 million euros ($59m) for the 19-year-old.

Sane was called up to the German national team on November 13 for the first time against France and is under contract with the Gelsenkirchen club until 2019.

Schalke are currently sixth in the Bundesliga, 19 points behind leaders Bayern Munich.

Carpi

Serie A strugglers Carpi have made Fabio Daprela their third signing of the transfer window.

The 24-year-old winger has signed a six-month contract at the Stadio Alberto Braglia after leaving Palermo and joins Marco Crimi and Emanuele Suagher in committing to the promoted side.

Daprela’s move north was announced on Carpi’s official website and the Swiss has begun training with his new team-mates ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Lazio in Rome.

Dundee United

Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen is optimistic that John Souttar will sign a new contract despite the club’s offer being withdrawn.

With his deal expiring in the summer, the 19-year-old is free to speak to other clubs over a summer move and both Celtic and Rangers have been linked with the versatile defender.

But Paatelainen believes Souttar, who has made more than 70 first-team appearances, is best placed to continue his development at Tannadice and expects negotiations to be revived.

“Far too much has been said about the situation,” the Finn said. “These situations happen all the time. It’s not only John Souttar, it’s not only Dundee United, it’s every club.

“The contract was on the table for a long period, then nothing happened from the other side so it was taken off the table.

“Talks are ongoing and the feeling from both parties is that John stays here. And we will come to that conclusion.

Leicester City

Leicester have completed the signing of Demarai Gray from Birmingham for an undisclosed fee.

The January transfer window only opened on Saturday but Leicester - second in the Barclays Premier League, two points behind leaders Arsenal - have moved quickly to follow up their summer interest in the highly-rated 19-year-old.

Gray has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract at the King Power Stadium.

The 19 year old told Leicester’s official website: “It’s been my dream to play in the Premier League since I started playing football so I’m very happy to join the club.

“It’s a great club. The facilities are great and for a player like me it’s an ideal place for me to improve. Meeting all the staff here, it seems like a nice family place, so I think that’s perfect for me.

“You can see how well the team has been doing this year and I watch a lot of football so I can see that the way Leicester City play suits my style.

“I only hear good things about Leicester and I’m looking forward to starting.”

During the summer transfer window Leicester triggered a release clause in Gray’s contract but the winger decided to remain at Birmingham.

Now though, an offer thought to be around £3.75million has led to Gray leaving St Andrew’s.

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