How the football world reacted to Vinicius Junior’s Ballon d’Or snub (2:02)
ESPN FC’s analysts and players sound off after Real Madrid declined to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony upon finding out that Manchester City’s Rodri won. (2:02)
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ESPN
Nov 1, 2024, 05:00 AM ET
Interest in Vinícius Júnior continues from Saudi Arabia, while Manchester United could move for 17-year-old Sporting CP winger Geovany Quenda. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from the world of soccer.
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TRENDING RUMORS
– Interest from the Saudi Pro League remains in Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior, reports Relevo. The Brazil international was subject to significant attention from Saudi Arabia in the summer, where an offer worth €1 billion over five years was reported to have been submitted. Vinícius is under contract at Real Madrid until 2027 and even though they are keen to extend his deal, the 24-year-old has not yet sat down to reach an agreement over new terms. It is reported that even if a deal to Saudi Arabia could not be agreed to in the summer, the SPL are set to return in 2025.
– Liverpool are looking to sign Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, says Bild. The Egypt international could be a replacement for his international teammate Mo Salah in the long term and he has impressed this season with 11 goals and seven assists from 13 games so far. Any deal is likely to cost upwards of €50m.
Of course the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim at Manchester United means that interest in a number of his Sporting CP stars will increase. A Bola reports that 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda has already been scouted by United and could replace €95m flop Antony. Quenda has a release clause of €100m, so he won’t come cheap, while striker Viktor Gyökeres and attacking midfielder Francisco Trincão have also been identified as potential options by Amorim, reports Ekrem Konur.
– Athletic Club are keen to get a new deal for winger Nico Williams amid Barcelona interest, reports Sport. With Williams’ contract expiring in 2027, the Catalan giants are attentive to the opportunity. However, the report says the Basque club are looking to agree to a new contract with Williams to raise his €55m release clause to fend off interest.
– Liverpool are looking to strike a deal for AFC Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez, reports TEAMtalk. Liverpool are keen to add to their left-back options to give competition to Andrew Robertson. The Reds are keen to secure a long-term replacement for the 30-year-old Robertson, with the report suggesting that Kerkez has been identified as an ideal replacement. It is reported there is an expectation that Kerkez will leave Bournemouth either in January or next summer.
OTHER RUMORS
– Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is struggling now Kylian Mbappé has arrived. The Englishman has “gone from the epicentre at Madrid to being displaced” in the team and “is the main one affected by the arrival of Mbappé.” (AS)
– Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand is unhappy that Amorim is set to leave the club after rejecting a transfer himself last summer. (O Jogo)
– Tottenham defender Pedro Porro is a potential option for Real Madrid. Porro is a player that Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti admires, with the Spanish giants contemplating a possible approach in January, as they look to bolster their defensive options following the injury to Dani Carvajal. (Estadio Deportivo)
– Real Sociedad and Girona are both keeping tabs on Barcelona defender Eric García. The 23-year-old spent last season on loan with Girona where he impressed. Garcia sees his contract expire in 2026 and even though he wants to stay with the Blaugrana, interest from Real Sociedad and Girona could see Barcelona willing to strike a deal. (Sport)
– Real Madrid and Ajax are keeping tabs on 16-year-old Bayern Munich starlet Lennart Karl, who has scored 19 goals and delivered eight assists in 11 league games for Bayern’s U17 team. (Sport)
– Aston Villa want 22-year-old forward Morgan Rogers to sign a new deal and have started talks. (The Athletic)
– Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala says he is happy in Germany, amid links to Manchester City and Liverpool, and has started the conversation over a new contract. He told Sky: “We are in talks. I am happy and enjoying my time here.”
