At previous times the situation had seemed a little different, but with Postecoglou now being very aware how much cover he’ll need for injuries, and how helpful Lo Celso can be generally, an exit just wouldn’t make a lot of sense.

That slant, though, isn’t one being taken by the Catalan media.

Monday’s edition of Sport reports the ‘pressure’ is building on Xavi Hernandez to sign Lo Celso in the January market. Gavi is out injured for around nine months, and it’s though Lo Celso could help Barcelona’s attack become less predictable.

However, Barcelona would want the Argentina international on a loan basis, and it’s not clear why this would be in any way attractive to Tottenham.

Lo Celso may well be tempted by a move to Barcelona, many players are, but there’d surely have to be some kind of mutiny at Spurs from the player to push any move through.

And even then… it feels ambitious.

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Indeed, it’s likely one of the reasons he’s now at Aston Villa. Pretty much ostracised at AS Roma after months of issues, which certainly weren’t all of his own making, Zaniolo was sold to Galatasaray.

That then saw his summer move to Aston Villa, in a deal which is initially a loan but expected to be turned into a permanent transfer.

The recent gambling drama in Italian football inevitably involved Zaniolo, but his insistence that he only gambled on non-football related issues, and no evidence suggesting otherwise, has seen him escape a ban.

Italy’s latest Zaniolo drama is claiming he’s been prepared to move to Napoli in the past, and therefore an insinuation that he could in the future.

Experienced journalist Claudio Vigorelli is covered by AreaNapoli, and it’s stated the idea of a move to Napoli ‘did not displease’ Zaniolo or his family.

The player’s family are often featured in the Italian media and believed to have a big say on his career.

Regardless of all of that, it’s Aston Villa who hold the power for now, even if the Italian media are keen on another drama.

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There’s the potential for that to reach €12.5m eventually, although that’s still seen as a bargain and there’s a reasonable chance the player will have been sold for a huge profit before then.

A Bola report on the interest coming specifically from Premier League sides, and how the defender could end up being one of the club’s biggest sales of all time.

Pep Guardiola’s side are credited with interest, with A Bola stating ‘the giant Manchester City’ are one of those clubs hovering for the signing.

That means there’d have to be movement in defence at Manchester City, and would be one of the reasons why a summer transfer is likelier for Diomande than in the winter.

A Bola go on to say that Sporting would point to the player’s €80m clause for a winter move. That would still be the price in the summer, however, there may be the chance to make up part of that via bonuses.

Manchester City are just one of several Premier League clubs to have been linked, and it remains to be seen whether the hype turns into a move to England.

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He came up through the ranks of Swiss side FC Wil and spent three years with their first team before joining FC Basel in 2012.

The Newcastle star’s father, Martin, has told blue News that it wasn’t easy for the 31-year-old at the beginning.

According to blue News, the Switzerland international didn’t earn enoughnmoney through football and was ‘working at a bank’ at the start of his professional career.

“He did a really good job of not letting all that money influence him. He still has a clique of friends from his school days and from his junior days at FC Wil, they are his closest friends,” he said.

Martin is a former footballer and that influenced his son to pick up the sport from a young age. However, the former says he would never have expected the centre-back ending up at the Tyneside club or representing Switzerland.

“We never imagined that it would be enough for Newcastle and the Swiss national team and we never thought about it,” Martin explained.

The defender is one of the key figures under Howe at Newcastle but hasn’t enjoyed the same role with the national team. Fabian, who made his debut for Switzerland in 2013, has made only three appearances for Switzerland this year.

The Newcastle player made it clear he wasn’t pleased with Switzerland manager Murat Yakin’s decision to overlook him. Martin has pinned the blame on the coach and used Howe’s management of Fabian to make his point.

“He doesn’t have the same trust in the national team as he does in the club. And we heard how important trust is so that you can perform at your best,” Fabian’s father added.

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The midfielder arrived at the Premier League side from Atalanta in 2022 and made 28 league appearances last season.

Despite being a regular under Steve Cooper, the 31-year-old has told Gazzetta dello Sport that he wasn’t happy at Nottingham Forest towards the end of his debut season.

Bologna technical director Giovanni Sartori knew the Nottingham Forest owned player well from his time at Atalanta. In fact, it was Sartori who brought the Switzerland international to Italy for the first time in 2016, when he signed him for La Dea.

Freuler has revealed it was easy for him to leave the Tricky Trees when Sartori called him in the last window.

“When he called me with the prospect of Bologna it wasn’t difficult to say yes, also because I wasn’t happy anymore at Nottingham Forest,” he said.

“I had played a lot of matches, almost all of them, then in the last five I disappeared from the radar. I didn’t understand. I asked but only received non-answers. And I understood. Among other things, my wife wasn’t happy either: Italy was better. And today I am even happier than the day I accepted.”

Freuler was an unused substitute in Nottingham Forest’s last six league games in the 2022/23 season, where they finished four points above the relegation zone.

Cooper had also left him on the bench for the first three games this season, before he arrived at Bologna.

The midfielder has made 10 appearances for the Serie A side.

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The centre-back has been restricted to a limited role under Mikel Arteta as he has made 17 appearances for the Gunners, and it includes seven league starts.

AC Milan are keen on bringing the Arsenal player back to the Serie A in the winter market and it has been regularly reported in Italy for the past few weeks. Calciomercato provides the latest on this case.

Stefano Pioli is currently without Pierre Kalulu, Mattia Caldara, Malick Thiaw, Simon Kjær and Marco Pellegrino due to injuries. This has forced the Rossoneri to start preparing for the winter market as they are trying to bring in two new centre-backs.

It’s said the ‘first name’ on the list is Kiwior and a ‘concrete attempt’ will be made to sign him in January.

Milan technical director Geoffrey Moncada and sporting director Antonio D’Ottavio like the Poland international. Calciomercato state the two officials have been ‘working intensely for a few days’ to try to sign him on a loan deal with an option to buy.

As things stand, Arsenal don’t seem convinced to let go of the defender. Despite this, the report explains that ‘discussions will continue’ for a potential deal in January.

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The 23-year-old has been mainly used as an attacking midfielder and on the right wing, while also being used as a striker and other positions on a few occasions this year. He has scored 12 goals and registered eight assists from 56 games.

Newcastle have taken notice of his form and versatility, and today’s Record states he is ‘coveted by’ the Magpies.

This is mentioned when explaining Benfica are targeting the player and even contacted the Argentine club to find out the conditions needed to carry out the transfer.

Eddie Howe’s side are also tagged in a short report from today’s Correio da Manhã. It’s said the Eagles have set their sights on the Argentina U23 international, who is also on the radar of the Tyneside club.

Rollheiser has a contract until 2025 and the newspaper states he is currently valued at €8m. This should be affordable for both Newcastle and Benfica.

With the Portuguese club already making contact with Estudiantes, Newcastle will have to step up their efforts, if they want to sign the player.

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It was also explained that the Serie A side’s technical director, Geoffrey Moncada, made a trip to England to watch the defender live in action against Burnley.

He has over six months left on his deal and January will be Bournemouth’s last chance to cash in from the 25-year-old’s sale.

Gianluca Di Marzio state the Cherries ‘don’t want to sell’ the centre-back in the next window and are ready to risk losing him for free next summer.

The firm stance maintained by Andoni Iraola’s side will force the Rossoneri to change their plans. The Englishman continues to be on their radar and will be the priority target after this season, when Milan can sign him on a free transfer.

This claim is also backed up by Sky Italia, who state the Bournemouth player will be on top of the Italian club’s list for next summer. The Premier League side’s refusal to sanction Kelly’s transfer has seen Milan focus on other targets for January.

Kelly has made 10 appearances this season and if he were to be available for free, Milan may face competition from other clubs to secure his services.

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The 29-year-old joined Nottingham Forest in January and struggled to shine in the second half of last season. Therefore, the Tricky Trees allowed him to join Olympiacos on a loan deal in the last window.

The attacking midfielder hasn’t managed to impress at the Greek club and has failed to score a goal or register an assist from 11 games this season. Internacional are keen on bringing the former Palmeiras man to Brazil and have already taken necessary steps.

That’s according to Rádio Itatiaia, who state the South American side ‘made a proposal’ to Steve Cooper’s side for Scarpa.

The details of their offer isn’t mentioned but the report states the negotiations won’t be complicated since the Premier League side have ‘no interest’ in keeping the player.

It’s said Internacional’s ‘biggest obstacle’ is Scarpa, who continues to maintain the desire to continue in Europe. Their ‘challenge now’ is to convince the Nottingham Forest man, whose salary request is deemed ‘high’ by the Brazilian club.

Rádio Itatiaia state Internacional president Alessandro Barcellos will contest again in the election later this month and that hasn’t stopped him from leading the negotiations for the Nottingham Forest man.

If Internacional were to meet convince Scarpa, they would have an easier route to carry out the operation in January.

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This is backed up by L’Avenir, who provide more updates on Spurs and the Belgian club’s plan for the 26-year-old.

Tottenham are looking to strengthen their defence in the winter market and the 26-year-old is on their agenda.

Earlier this week, Union Saint-Gilloise CEO Philippe Bormans said: “Reinforcement in the winter transfer window will only be necessary if there is a departure.”

Bormans is aware some of his players are attracting interest and the 26-year-old is among them.

It’s claimed Tottenham’s interest in the Japan international is ‘very real’. They haven’t sent an official offer yet but have discussed with Union Saint-Gilloise that they would like to acquire the defender in January.

Union Saint-Gilloise don’t want to lose Machida in the next window. At the same time, the need to balance their finances means they cannot ‘say no to any offer’. L’Avenir add the Belgian club would be willing to let go of their star for €15m.

The ideal scenario would be to sell in January and then get him back on loan until the end of this season.

Machida had earlier stated his current employer can help him take the next step in his career. Tottenham can help him fulfil it as L’Avenir say they would ‘obviously be a great destination’.

If he were to leave, Union Saint-Gilloise would invest the funds from his sale in signing a new centre-back.

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