The transfer speculation is picking up the pace as January gets ever closer.
The big news of the day has been that Manchester City have reached an agreement to sell young forward Ferran Torres to Barcelona in January.
The deal between the clubs is still being finalised but the figure is believed to be an initial £46.7m, with the potential for another £8.3m in add-ons; £6m of those add-ons are believed to be so easily obtainable that they are almost being considered as part of the initial fee.
Both City and Manchester United have also continued to be linked with Erling Haaland as well as more rumours, which we take a look at below.
Erling Haaland
Haaland would be better suited to a move to United rather than City, claims journalist Christian Falk.
The Norwegian is the hot transfer topic ahead of 2022 with Mino Raiola all but confirming he will leave Borussia Dortmund next year, with the summer when his release clause comes into play being the likely time.
United and City, like the rest of Europe's top clubs, are hoping to sign Haaland but Bild's Falk believes that the striker would be better suited to a move to Old Trafford.
“I’ve been talking about City for a while now, and of course, Haaland’s name is always on the agenda.
“You have to be honest, though, with Pep Guardiola and Haaland, I don’t think he really wants this striker if he can get another one because the system of play is designed differently.
“At United, Haaland fits like a glove, as our experts have said. Everything fits United perfectly.”
While he does have a point that Guardiola has been setting up his side - and gotten excellent results from doing so - without a striker, that doesn't mean City don't want to sign a clinical finisher.
They attempted to bring in Harry Kane in the summer, who is of a similar mould of front-man to Haaland, and will be determined to finally replace Sergio Aguero.
While there's no doubt Haaland would fit in well at United, there's nothing saying he couldn't at City either.
Anthony Martial
According to Sky Sports, wantaway forward Anthony Martial has attracted a quality list of suitors ahead of the January transfer window.
It's claimed that Spanish dup Barcelona and Sevilla as well as Italian giants Juventus are all in battle to sign the Frenchman.
An approach from Barcelona seems highly unlikely with the Catalonians closing in on another forward in Torres but Sevilla and Juventus would look like good moves for Martial.
Phil Jones
Top Portuguese side Benfica are apparently lining up a shock move for Jones, according to the Mail.
The centre-back hasn't played for United since January 2020 after an injury-ravaged 18-months but has recently returned to full fitness and has appeared on the bench on several occasions.
Jones desperately needs to get back on the pitch if he is to resurrect his career but while Benfica may be an exciting option they already have plenty of options at the back and a team of their calibre would be taking a big risk on someone who is so out of match sharpness.
Yan Couto
Journalist Rudy Galetti claims that Bournemouth are eyeing a potential move for young City right-back Yan Couto on loan in the summer should they earn promotion back to the Premier League.
The 19-year-old is very highly rated and is impressing on loan at Braga, where he has become a regular. A loan move to a Premier League club next summer would be the perfect next step in his development.
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