Darmian to make a surprise Chelsea switch? Liverpool back in for Witsel

Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2016 by ESPN

Will Matteo Darmian be wearing the blue of Chelsea come January?

The transfer window may have just slammed shut, but don't think that the wheeling and dealing won't continue!

Free transfers can still be submitted to the FAs, plus there's always January to start thinking about!

Darmian linked with Stamford Bridge switch

A while ago he was being reported as a target for Barcelona -- but now it seems Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian could be on his way to Chelsea instead.

According to Calcio Mercato, Darmian is likely to be allowed to leave Old Trafford in the January window, with Antonio Conte one of a number of managers eager to sign him.

The Italy international is also interesting Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli, both of whom could be ready to table a bid for the 26-year-old, who joined United last summer.

Reports earlier in the summer suggested Barcelona had been targeting Darmian as a replacement for the Juventus-bound Dani Alves.

Reds to revive interest in Witsel?

Liverpool could renew their interest in Belgium international midfielder Axel Witsel, who will be leaving Zenit St Petersburg at the end of the season, according to the Express.

Witsel was a reported target for Liverpool in the summer -- with Merseyside neighbours Everton also strongly linked with a deal -- but has recently been interesting Serie A champions Juventus.

Zenit have confirmed that they have already received an offer for the 27-year-old -- and reports in Italy suggest that offer has come from Juve, with some also saying personal terms with the player have been agreed.

Gunners to resume talks with star duo

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is gearing up to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday -- and soon he'll be gearing up to resume contract talks with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

With the Gunners stars out of contract in 2018, Wenger is set to resume negotiations put on hold when both players were on international duty over the summer.

Speaking ahead of the game against French champions, he told reporters: "We will start to talk about their extensions."

The Mirror reckons the manager's hopes of persuading Ozil to stay at the Emirates have been boosted by the arrival of his Germany international teammate Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia earlier this summer.

It adds that Ozil and Mustafi are close friends and claims that "could be a factor in Ozil deciding to add three more years to his present contract."

Sanchez, meanwhile, was linked with a move to Juventus earlier in the summer but "made it clear he wanted to stay put."

But there could still be a bump or two in the road, with reports earlier this month having suggested the Chile international wants a fixed-price release clause to be included in any new deal.

Tap-ins

- Premier League champions Leicester will be "battling it out" with Bournemouth to sign Czech Republic under-21 midfielder Jakub Jankto from Udinese, the Guardian reports.

It says the 20-year-old playmaker, scouted several times by Arsenal last season, would cost around £8 million -- and adds that both the Foxes and the Cherries are willing to part with that amount.

Udinese are desperate to keep Jankto, one of their brightest prospects -- but with his contract running out at the end of the season "they are fearful of losing him on a free transfer next summer."

- Championship sides Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United want to sign former Wimbledon, West Ham, Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, according to the Yorkshire Post.

Reo-Coker, 32, has been playing MLS football since leaving Ipswich Town in 2013 and has turned out for Vancouver Whitecaps, Chivas USA and Montreal Impact but now wants to return to the UK.

He has also been linked with Scottish duo Celtic and Rangers as well as Wolves and a return to his former club Villa.