France
Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel is already at odds with sporting director Antero Henrique just a few months into his reign at the Parc des Princes. The former Borussia Dortmund manager is unhappy at not being backed in the transfer market this summer after the Ligue 1 champions failed to bring in a midfielder. It has meant the German tactician has had to use Marquinhos, naturally a centre-back, as part of his midfield set-up alongside Adrien Rabiot. (Le Parisien)
PSG are set to ramp up their efforts to keep midfielder Rabiot at the club. The Barcelona and Liverpool transfer target is out of contract at the end of the season and has so far resisted the chance to extend his stay in the French capital.
Barcelona are keen to get revenge on the Ligue 1 club after what happened with Neymar and prying one of their biggest talents away on a free transfer goes a long way to doing just that. However, Henrique is set to sit down with the France international over the coming weeks to offer him an improved deal in the hope he will put pen to paper. (Le10Sport)
Spain
Barcelona are looking to bolster their midfield options, despite the arrival of Arturo Vidal in the summer. The La Liga leaders sent members of their recruitment team across Europe during the Champions League matches to keep tabs on Paul Pogba, Schalke midfielders Suat Serdar, Amine Harit and Nabil Bentaleb, Tottenham transfer target Frenkie de Jong and Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot. (Sport)
The La Liga champions are also interested in adding another Brazilian to their ranks. They have been keeping a close eye on Pedrinho, a forward likened to former Barca playmaker Ronaldinho. The Corinthians star has a €50m release clause and is being courted by the likes of Ajax and Shakhtar Donetsk. (Goal)
Julen Lopetegui is ready to rotate his Real Madrid side now that the Champions League has kicked off and the games will be coming thick and fast. The former Spain boss is set to restore Thibaut Courtois between the sticks while bringing in summer signing Alvaro Odriozola at right-back. Dani Ceballos could return to the starting XI in midfield while Vinicius Junior has been included in the matchday squad to face Espanyol. (Marca)
Italy
Inter Milan are looking to tie striker Mauro Icardi down to a long-term deal at the San Siro. The Argentine netted a stunning strike against Tottenham on Tuesday evening as the Serie A club came from behind to pick up an important three points on their return to the Champions League. A Real Madrid transfer target, Icardi now looks set to sign a new deal which would see him earn an extra €1.5m per season. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
One of the hottest properties of the summer, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is going to commit his future to Lazio by penning a new deal with the club. Furthermore, it will not include a release clause meaning the Rome-based club are under no obligation to sell the Serbian powerhouse. Manchester United will have to part with a world-record fee to sign a player they have been linked with for the best part of two years. (Corriere dello Sport)
AC Milan are prepared to make Adrien Rabiot one of the highest paid players at the club. Leonardo, the one-time sporting director at PSG, is now fronting up the transfers at the San Siro and is using his personal connection with the French midfielder to sell him on the idea of joining him in Milan. (Calciomercato)
Germany
Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac has revealed why James Rodriguez is not starting for him. The Colombian has struggled for game time this term and Kovac made clear why: “Forwards he can do everything anyway. Backwards – he works every day in training. But he is a great footballer! He is doing well.” (SportBild)
