Cameron Smith
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea, 2025/26
© IMAGO
The countdown to the January window is firmly on and transfer talks are currently taking place across world football as a result.
Below, FootballTransfers runs through the biggest rumours and gossip from 14 December, including the latest updates on Kees Smit and Jurgen Klopp.
Chelsea target wonderkid deal
Chelsea have ‘taken the lead’ in the transfer race for Kees Smit, who has attracted attention from teams such as Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle after a breakout campaign for AZ Alkmaar so far.
Only two players have played more minutes than 19-year-old for AZ this season but the Dutch side could be willing to cash in on Smit if they receive an offer in excess of €30 million, which would be a club record sale, according to The i Paper" href="https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-newcastle-25m-kees-smit-4093826" target="_blank">The i Paper.
The report claims that Chelsea have held recent dialogue with Smit’s camp but it is currently unclear if the Premier League giants will make a move in January for Smit since the club are expecting a quiet winter window after a busy summer.
READ MORE." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2025/12/chelsea-man-utd-transfer-new-pedri-kees-smit" target="_blank">READ MORE.
Jurgen Klopp plan revealed
Jurgen Klopp is already reported to have identified two signings Real Madrid would need to make if they are to convince the German to replace Xabi Alonso as their new manager.
While some Los Blancos stars voiced their support for Alonso despite the loss to Manchester City in the Champions League this week, Real are reported to see Klopp as a potential replacement if they do make a managerial change, along with Zinedine Zidane and Castilla coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
And, according to Spanish outlet Defensa Central" href="https://defensacentral.com/fichajes/dos-fichajes-klopp-va-pedir-florentino-si-ficha-por-madrid_327032_102.html" target="_blank"> Defensa Central, Klopp ‘is clear’ that he ‘urgently needs’ two signings in January if he is to take over, with Ibrahima Konate and Dominik Szoboszlai from former club Liverpool named as the ideal targets for the 58-year-old.
READ MORE." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2025/12/jurgen-klopps-first-two-real-madrid-signings-revealed" target="_blank">READ MORE.
Enzo Maresca issue
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has an “internal issue” at the club, as per a bombshell report from talkSPORT" href="https://talksport.com/football/3818807/enzo-maresca-chelsea-internal-issue/" target="_blank">talkSPORT.
It has been claimed that he was surprised at the lack of support he received following their disappointing 2-1 loss to Atalanta in the Champions League last week and while Maresca has been encouraged to rotate his first-team squad, he believes he is scapegoated whenever this backfires - such as the defeat to Leeds United in early December.
It comes after Maresca seemingly took aim at the Chelsea hierarchy following their win over Everton.
READ MORE." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2025/12/chelsea-news-enzo-maresca-internal-issue-sack-rumours" target="_blank">READ MORE.
Enzo Maresca
© IMAGO - Enzo Maresca
Kylian Mbappe offer
Real Madrid have allegedly received a world record offer to sell Kylian Mbappe in a deal that would see the Frenchman given a contract worth €300 million per year.
The Spanish giants have already dealt with interest from Saudi Arabia in Vinicius Junior, who could still be targeted for a move if he fails to agree to an extension to his contract in Madrid.
However, the Saudi Pro League have now set their sights on another of Real’s stars in Mbappe, with Fichjaes" href="https://www.fichajes.net/noticias/bombazo-oferta-350-millones-mbappe-20251213.html" target="_blank">Fichjaes claiming that Al-Hilal have sent an offer with €350m for the 26-year-old. The offer was immediately rejected by Real with ‘no doubt’ and Mbappe’s departure ‘would not be negotiated’ at any price.
READ MORE." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/es-primera-division/2025/12/real-madrid-world-record-350m-transfer-offer-kylian-mbappe-saudi-arabia" target="_blank">READ MORE.
Man Utd chase Noah Sadiki
Man Utd have their eyes on another Premier League wonderkid to solve their midfield problems after a breakout season so far.
According to TEAMtalk" href="https://www.teamtalk.com/manchester-united/truth-bomb-dropped-noah-sadiki-signing-sources-reveal-sunderland-sale-stance" target="_blank">TEAMtalk, United are ‘paying close attention’ to Noah Sadiki after his impressive start to life with Sunderland, having watched the 20-year-old since well before his €17 million transfer to Wearside this summer.
United are believed to have held talks with Sadiki, along with Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Leeds and West Ham, while Chelsea’s BlueCo owners took interest with the view of bringing the DR Congo international to Strasbourg.
READ MORE." href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2025/12/man-utd-breakout-premier-league-wonderkid-ruben-amorim-midfield-problem-noah-sadiki-sunderland" target="_blank">READ MORE.
Noah Sadiki, Sunderland
© IMAGO - Noah Sadiki, Sunderland
Other Transfer Rumours
Crystal Palace are currently the frontrunners to sign Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling in January. (CaughtOffside" href="https://www.caughtoffside.com/2025/12/13/sources-two-clubs-raheem-sterling-chelsea-exit/" target="_blank">CaughtOffside))
Sheffield United are in pole position to sign Rangers midfielder Joe Rothwell next year. (Daily Record" href="https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/joe-rothwell-lands-rangers-transfer-36396304" target="_blank">Daily Record))
Tottenham want to appoint Barcelona legend Xavi as their new head coach amid rumours that Thomas Frank could be sacked. (Fichajes" href="https://www.fichajes.net/noticias/tottenham-quiere-xavi-hernandez-nuevo-entrenador-20251214.html" target="_blank">Fichajes))
Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to undergo a medical at Ajax on Tuesday ahead of a free agent move to the Eredivisie giants. (BBC Sport" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1kplgr02lno" target="_blank">BBC Sport))
Unai Emery is desperate for Aston Villa to reward Emiliano Buendia with a new contract. (Football Insider" href="https://www.footballinsider247.com/aston-villa-exclusive-emiliano-buendia-update-today-amid-psr-latest/" target="_blank">Football Insider))
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton currently appears unlikely to leave the club in January. (Guardian" href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/13/adam-wharton-finding-his-rhythm-at-crystal-palace-as-suitors-gather" target="_blank">Guardian))
Tottenham may look to sell Brennan Johnson in January, with Crystal Palace among the clubs interested in signing him. (TEAMtalk" href="https://www.teamtalk.com/tottenham-hotspur/brennan-johnson-transfer-green-light-crystal-palace-interest-asking-price-emerges" target="_blank">TEAMtalk))
Villarreal have set their sights on completing a deal for Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama. (Fichajes" href="https://www.fichajes.net/en/news/villarreal-goes-for-the-signing-of-new-french-gem-20251213.html" target="_blank">Fichajes))
Football transfer news headlines today
Man Utd in talks to SELL star to Real Madrid after Amorim criticism
Real Madrid blow Arsenal out of the water with move for Saliba 2.0
Kobbie Mainoo to Chelsea BOMB dropped by insider
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