Top football news

Manchester United are in talks with Atletico Madrid over a £60m deal for their 25-year-old French forward Antoine Griezmann.

United are also in negotiations to sign Benfica's 23-year-old right-back Nelson Semedo.

Barcelona will have to do without Lionel Messi for their final game of 2016 but club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is confident the Argentine's short-term absence will not end up becoming a permanent one.

Real Madrid forward James Rodriguez has been spotted at the British Embassy in Colombia ahead of potential move to Chelsea or Manchester United.

Semedo has a £54m buy-out clause in his contract with Benfica, but United would expect to pay significantly less.

Wolfsburg's 23-year-old attacking midfielder Julian Draxler, previously a target for Arsenal, has agreed a £34m move to Paris St-Germain.

The Gunners are interested in signing Valencia's 21-year-old Spanish left-back Jose Gaya.

Chelsea will reject loan offers for their 23-year-old Belgian forward Michy Batshuayi in January.

Real Madrid's 25-year-old attacking midfielder James Rodriguez is being offered to Premier League clubs.

As the Spanish season enters its winter break, Rodriguez will spend Christmas in his native Colombia, where he will also apply for a visa to travel to England.

Barcelona’s Sergi Roberto believes Real Madrid have ‘had a bit of luck so far’ this season due to scoring so many late goals.

Marco Verratti’s agent confirms “offers from Italy” but “you’d have to ask Paris Saint-Germain”.
The midfielder has never actually played in Serie A, having left Serie B outfit Pescara to join the Parisian side in 2012.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke is confident that manager Diego Simeone will remain at the club next season despite speculation over his future.

Liverpool defender Joel Matip could face a three-week suspension over his decision to turn down a call-up from Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations.

Gian Piero Gasperini is confident Atalanta “won’t let anyone leave between now and June”.
The Orobici beat Empoli tonight to maintain sixth-place in Serie A, and their form has led to interest in the likes of Mattia Caldara, Roberto Gagliardini and Franck Kessié.

Franck Kessié confirms Atalanta are “thinking about a European place” after their last-gasp win over Empoli.

West Ham are plotting an ambitious loan move in January for Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Swedish counterpart Victor Lindelof is ready to make the move from Benfica to join him at Manchester United.

United also have their eye on right-back Nelson Semedo, a team-mate of Lindelof's in Lisbon.

Arsene Wenger is targeting Valencia's highly-promising Jose Gaya as he looks to bolster the Arsenal squad.

Hull are lining up Swansea winger Jefferson Montero if they need to replace Robert Snodgrass, who is a target for West Brom and Celtic in January.

Nottingham Forest risk losing stars such as skipper Henri Lansbury next month after owner Fawaz al-Hasawi put a block on new contracts until he sells up.

New manager Gianfranco Zola will make Burnley reserve striker Lukas Jutkiewicz his first signing at Championship side Birmingham City when the transfer window opens in January.

Jonjo Shelvey is considering an appeal after being found guilty of racially abusing an opponent.

Manchester United owners want Jose Mourinho to stay until 2025.

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has been spotted in Milan ahead of a possible move to Italy in the January transfer window.

West Brom are set to sign Aston Villa's 28-year-old striker Rudy Gestede for £7m in January, with Villa lining up Brentford forward Scott Hogan, 24, as a replacement.

Hull will try to sign 27-year-old winger Jefferson Montero from Swansea if they lose 29-year-old midfielder Robert Snodgrass to West Brom.

Arsenal are interested in signing Standard Liege's 22-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Guillaume Hubert and have sent scouts to watch him play six times this season.

In a case of mistaken identity, Erik Pieters has had his yellow card against Leicester rescinded and given to fellow Stoke defender Bruno Martins Indi instead.

Newcastle are set to appeal against the five-game ban given to Jonjo Shelvey for using racially abusive language.

Victor Lindelof, the 22-year-old Benfica defender reportedly being targeted by Manchester United, nearly signed for Middlesbrough last year.

French authorities have opened an investigation into possible tax fraud after studying documents released by a collaborative team of European journalists in early December, known as Football Leaks.

Birmingham City are interested in signing Nottingham Forest captain and midfielder Henri Lansbury, 26.

Bristol City's 19-year-old loanee striker Tammy Abraham believes he can succeed at parent club Chelsea, despite being one of 37 players the Premier League club has out on loan.

Manchester United winger Ashley Young, 31, is being targeted by Watford, Everton, Swansea, West Brom, Burnley and Hull.

Stoke winger Xherdan Shaqiri says he came close to joining Liverpool when Brendan Rodgers was in charge.

Bournemouth's 20-year-old striker Lys Mousset feels he has been "wasting my time" after playing just 23 minutes in the Premier League since joining from Le Havre in June.

However, Mousset is set to deny making the comments, and has the support of his club.

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