Chelsea have made a breakthrough in their attempts not to lose all of the defenders, while Liverpool won’t be getting one January target.
HOT ROD
It was late last week when Catalan newspaper El Nacional tried to introduce pigeons to cats at Real Madrid by claiming Liverpool were taking a look at one of their exciting young forwards. With Jurgen Klopp eager to reinforce his attack ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, 20-year-old Rodrygo was identified as a potential January signing.
Liverpool were said to be so enamoured with Rodrygo that a £68m offer was being considered. The Reds had actually been interested in the Brazilian while he was at Santos, bidding £40m for his services at one point.
But it seems unlikely that there will be any movement on this one. Fabrizio Romano reports that there is both ‘no plan’ for Real to sell and ‘no negotiation’ taking place with Liverpool. The player might even have his Bernabeu deal, which runs until summer 2025, extended soon.
Real Madrid have no plan to offload or sell Rodrygo in January, as things stand. There’s no negotiation with Liverpool or any other club. 🇧🇷 #Real #LFC
His contract will be discussed soon, with a possible extension to be negotiated in the next months.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 12, 2021
GOLDEN TUCH
On the other side of the most bitter rivalry in sport, Gianluca Di Marzio has been busy doing a journalism. He has some pretty positive news for Chelsea, whose new-found interest in Torino centre-half Bremer might seemingly be misplaced.
The Blues are said by Di Marzio to be ‘one step away’ from keeping two of their current defenders. Andreas Christensen has been linked with numerous clubs after the Dane rejected a couple of contract offers, ‘but there are just details to be worked out’ on a four-year deal with the option of a fifth season.
Thiago Silva is also close to committing to a one-year extension, with his mutual fondness for Thomas Tuchel proving ‘instrumental’ in talks.
Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta might be next in terms of having their Stamford Bridge futures addressed; both also have contracts that expire at the end of the campaign.
VANDERWALL
If no other Premier League club is going to do the honours in January then Brentford might have to pull their finger out. As the newest addition to the top flight, they are more than happy to indulge in some winter window shopping.
The Bees will revive their interest in Gremio defender Vanderson, having ‘opened talks’ over the 20-year-old Brazilian. Negotiations were held between the two clubs in the summer but Brentford could not match the £13.5m valuation.
With that price dropping to around £9.5m, the Daily Mail believe that the deal could be revived and pursued, even with the usual work-permit complications. Sergi Canos has started 13 games at right wing-back, with Mads Roerslev taking the other two; the Bees might be about to give that pair a little competition.