Monday 20 November 2017 13:18, UK
The winter transfer window does not open until January 1, but clubs across Europe are busy planning and contacting the players they hope to sign.
Our friends at Football Whispers have scoured the European newspapers and websites to bring you the latest transfer gossip and news from the continent.
Barcelona are debating whether or not to break the bank in order to bring Manchester United transfer target Antoine Griezmann to the club. The Atletico Madrid forward has been heavily linked with a move away, with Barca reportedly willing to pay his €100million (£88.9million) release clause. However, the Catalan giants are now disputing whether it is a worthwhile investment, which could open the door for United. (Don Balon)
Atletico boss Diego Simeone, meanwhile, has defended Griezmann after the France international was jeered by large sections of his own fan-base when he was subbed off during the 0-0 draw with Real Madrid on Saturday night. Griezmann has now gone eight games without scoring for Atleti. "As long as someone is in my family, I am with them to the death," said Simeone. "I have always been that way and I'm not going to change at nearly 50." (Sport)
The agent of Javier Pastore has said that the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is interested in a move to Inter Milan. Pastore is tipped to leave the Parc des Princes after falling down the pecking order and the San Siro now looks like a probable destination. "We will see if the Chinese owners can sniff that a good deal can be made here," Marcelo Simonian said. (Calciomercato)
Sacked former Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura reportedly stormed out on the Azzurri squad two days before their pivotal play-off tie with Sweden in Milan. Ventura was relieved of his duties after failing to guide Italy to the World Cup but reports of chaotic scenes are continuing to emerge. Ventura became paranoid that senior players were turning against him to the point he exploded and said: "pick your own team." (Football Italia)
The Italian Football Federation will hold a meeting today to decide the future of under-fire president Carlo Tavecchio. There have been calls for him to resign following Ventura's dismissal. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)
Claudio Ranieri has fuelled speculation that he could be the man to replace Ventura as Italy boss by admitting that managing his country would be 'special and beautiful.' Ranieri, currently at Nantes, is one of many names linked with the job and did little to quash rumours that he would be prepared to leave France to succeed Ventura. "It's a source of pride for me, but you'd have to ask the president of Nantes, not me," the former Leicester City boss said. (L'Equipe)
PSG captain Thiago Silva has revealed that he speaks to Barcelona transfer target Philippe Coutinho regularly and remains hopeful he will join the French side if he leaves Liverpool. Recent reports have indicated that Barcelona will revive their interest in Coutinho in January, but PSG are also said to be circling. "I talk a lot with Coutinho. I hope that at the end of the season or even before, it could be a nice surprise for us," Silva said. "I hope he will think well and that next year he will work with us." (Telefoot)
Arsenal are extremely close to signing Borussia Dortmund chief scout Sven Mislintat, who will earn an annual salary of £1.6million. Nicknamed 'Diamond Eye' in Germany, the 45-year-old is responsible for signing Shinji Kagawa, Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ousmane Dembele in recent years. (Kicker)
