What the papers say
Arsenal are set to ship Mesut Ozil out to Juventus on a six-month loan, according to Italy’s Tuttosport. The German midfielder has been long out of sorts at the Emirates Stadium, and the club are now reportedly willing to subsidise his mammoth £350,000-a-week salary to help seal the deal with the Italian giants. The move would reunite Ozil, 32, with his former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, with Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin linked with a move to Barcelona, the Gunners are eyeing up Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey as his replacement, the Daily Mirror reports. Joan Laporta, the favourite to become Barcelona’s new president, has made clear his desire to sign 25-year-old Bellerin, who began his youth career at the Nou Camp. While manager Mikel Arteta is expected to fight to keep him at the club, Arsenal are said to have been keeping tabs on 20-year-old Lamptey, who has had a strong season with the Seagulls so far.
Manchester United are out of the running to sign Bayern Munich defender David Alaba, The Athletic reports. The Austrian has failed to agree to a new contract with the German giants, and will be free to negotiate with foreign clubs from January 1. United have pulled out of the running, however, due to the likely high costs of signing the 28-year-old, leaving Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona as the leading candidates.
Georginio Wijnaldum is set to decide on Liverpool’s contract extension offer to keep him at the club within the next few days, The Guardian says. The 30-year-old will be a free agent in the summer and can speak to other clubs from January 1.
David Moyes is hoping to persuade midfielder Declan Rice to turn down Chelsea’s offer and stay at the London Stadium, according to the Daily Mail. The 21-year-old has reportedly been courted with a lucrative offer to cross London and join Frank Lampard’s men, but Moyes is to offer Rice renewed terms in a bid to keep him.
Social media round-up
Wolves 'make enquiry for Luka Jovic' as they desperately eye Raul Jimenez replacement https://t.co/cCHZOPQddC
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) December 28, 2020
Real Madrid favourites to sign Phil Foden from Man City https://t.co/Ucf4q7G3Jr pic.twitter.com/jMM3DSx8Vf
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) December 28, 2020
Players to watch
Daniel James: The Manchester United winger, 23, has been linked to Leeds and West Brom, The Sun reports.
Etienne Capoue: Watford have opened talks with Villarreal as the Spanish club seek to sign the 32-year-old midfielder, according to the Daily Mail.
Lionel Messi: The Barcelona man has mused he may want to play in the US once he is free to leave Barcelona in the summer, the Daily Mirror reports.
