The January transfer window is still a little ways off, but Mauricio Pochettino is not messing around, y’all. He’s already got Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, 26, locked in as a key target for Manchester United. This isn’t just a casual glance, this is a full-on identification, and it tells you everything about how wild this winter window is gonna be.
Man Utd’s Wish List is Leaking Early, And They’re Not Alone
Bassey’s name is huge, but he’s not the only defender on Man Utd’s radar. They’re also eyeing Brentford’s 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international, Nathan Collins. The catch? Liverpool and Tottenham are also hot on Collins’ trail. So yeah, if United wants him, it’s gonna be a bidding war, and we all know how those go. You gotta wonder if Pochettino is pushing for these moves to shore up the backline ASAP.
But it’s not all about who’s coming in for United. They’re fighting to keep 29-year-old defender Noussair Mazraoui, and the competition is fierce. AC Milan, Juventus, and some clubs in Saudi Arabia are all sniffing around. Losing Mazraoui would be a blow, especially if they’re trying to build something serious.
Everywhere You Look, Major Moves Are Brewing
The transfer market isn’t just about Man Utd, of course. Across Europe, clubs are already cooking up some massive plays. Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, 28, is on Pochettino’s radar too, a familiar face from their time with the USA squad. AC Milan is pulling out all the stops, hoping their relationship with Brazil legend Kaka can help them snag Endrick, 20, from Real Madrid on loan. Imagine Kaka making those calls! That’s some serious star power.
Then you’ve got the chase for Como and Argentina midfielder Nico Paz, 22. Paris St-Germain, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd are all interested, but Real Madrid’s got that sneaky buy-back clause. Always a wild card, right? Everton is reportedly eyeing Samuel Lino, a 26-year-old Brazilian winger from Flamengo, who’s been absolutely lighting it up with 21 goal involvements in just 33 games this season. That’s a serious stat line!
And some clubs are playing hardball. Stuttgart is flat-out refusing to sell Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, 22, despite Leeds United’s interest. Good for them sticking to their guns! Napoli also wants to get in on the action, targeting Manchester United’s Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee, 25, and Chelsea’s English winger Jamie Gittens, 22, for January moves.
Get Ready For January, It’s Gonna Be Mental
So, what does all this mean? It means November 15th, and we’re already seeing clubs strategizing and battling for key players like Bassey. This January window is shaping up to be absolutely mental, folks. You better believe every club is going to be scrambling to get their deals done, and we’ll be here, glued to the rumors, every single step of the way. Who gets their man, and who gets left out in the cold? We’ll find out soon enough.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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