Serie A midweek action continues on Wednesday afternoon as title-holders Juventus host Hellas Verona at home.

Following an awful start to the campaign, the Turin side have gotten their act together and are on a run of seven straight wins in the league, shifting them up to the table into fourth place, just three points off leaders Inter Milan.

Hellas Verona’s own poor start to the year simply hasn’t come to an end at all; 17 games into the season they have still yet to win a single match, drawing their last two but still eight points adrift of safety after scoring only 12 goals all season.

The match kicks off at 2 p.m. GMT (9 a.m. ET) and our coverage starts shortly beforehand.

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Serie A returns to action this week, with Juventus hosting Hellas Verona on January 6, the date Italian football traditionally ends its winter break. Currently sitting bottom of the table and without a single win this term, the visitors could not have asked for a more daunting task than a trip to Turin.

Indeed, the Bianconeri have finally returned to form, ending 2015 with seven consecutive league wins, adding a Coppa Italia victory over cross-town rivals Torino in for good measure. They will be looking to continue that streak, especially as they are now just three points behind early leaders Inter.

Yet the players appear to only be focused on their next opponents, with midfielder Stefano Sturaro in no mood to discuss Juve’s long-term objectives during an interview with Sky Italia late last week.

“We’re taking each game at a time,” he said per the club’s official website. “To start talking about the title now would be premature and the wrong way to go about things because we’re only at the midway point of the season.”

His team-mate Paul Pogba believes that the improvements are down to the work ethic instilled by Juventus, telling La Stampa (h/t Football Italia) that being at Manchester United felt “like being on vacation in comparison.”

They will be made to work by Hellas, too, with veteran striker Luca Toni believing the timing of the fixture gives his side an advantage, as he discussed the matchup with Tuttosport last week.

“It’s better we face them now after the Christmas break, so hopefully some will still be distracted,” Toni said (h/t Football Italia). “Juve are clearly stronger, but we can cause them problems.”

The 38-year-old has, of course, been reunited with former Bianconeri boss Gigi Delneri, but the two men will know it will take something special to get the better of their old club as Juventus look to continue their climb up the table.

Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Time: 2 p.m. GMT/9 a.m. ET

Venue: Juventus Stadium, Turin

TV Info: BT Sport Europe (UK) BeInSports 1 (U.S.)

Live Stream: BT Connect (UK)

Form Lines

Last five domestic results:

Probable Formations

Juventus (3-5-2): Gigi Buffon; Daniele Rugani, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini; Juan Cuadrado, Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba, Patrice Evra; Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala

Unavailable: Andrea Barzagli, Mario Lemina and Roberto Pereyra (all injured)

Hellas Verona: (4-2-3-1): Pierluigi Gollini; Eros Pisano, Matteo Bianchetti, Vangelis Moras, Samuel Souprayen; Federico Viviani, Emil Hallfredsson; Pawel Wszolek, Artur Ionita, Luca Siligardi; Luca Toni

Unavailable: Jacopo Sala (suspended), Romulo and Michelangelo Albertazzi (both injured)

Key Battle

Luca Toni is the danger man for Hellas Verona, the veteran striker having ended last season alongside Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi at the top of the Serie A goalscoring charts. The 2006 World Cup winner bagged a remarkable 22 goals to lift the Capocannoniere crown but has struggled somewhat with injuries this term.

Limited to just eight starts thus far, the 38-year-old has still struck three times, a tally representing a third of Verona’s total goals so far in 2015/16. Toni is, of course, well-known in Turin, having netted the first-ever goal at Juventus Stadium during his short spell at the club.

The task of keeping him under wraps is likely to fall to Giorgio Chiellini, and the Bianconeri defender will be undaunted by the physical battle that will ensue as the two men go head-to-head.

Player to Watch

If Toni poses the biggest threat for the visitors, perhaps the man to watch here will be working at the opposite end of the field, with Mario Mandzukic in excellent form for Juventus.

The Croatian striker struggled in the early months of the campaign but has recently found his scoring boots, weighing in with five goals and an assist in his last five appearances before the winter break.

Mandzukic was named Juve’s Player of the Month for November, according to the club’s official website, and he will look to start the New Year by finding the back of the net once again here.

The Gialloblu may struggle to stop him, conceding no fewer than 27 times thus far in 2015/16—a tally only beaten by Carpi (33), who are just above them at the foot of the Serie A table.

Odds (via Odds Shark)

Away win: 25-1

Home win: 50-357

Draw: 11-2

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Liverpool make the hour-long trip down the M6 to take on Stoke City on Tuesday evening in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at the Britannia Stadium.

Managers Jurgen Klopp and Mark Hughes will both be desperate to secure a positive result on their way to silverware in 2015/16.

It is the second time the two sides have met so far this season, although this encounter is perhaps the most important, with a win for either the Potters or the Reds providing a solid platform for progress to a February 28 final at Wembley Stadium.

Hughes’ Stoke have been one of the surprise packages of the season so far in the Premier League, with the combined talents of Bojan Krkic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic forming a formidable attacking line.

This marks a remarkable change in emphasis for a club previously renowned for their direct, physical style of play under former manager Tony Pulis.

With both sides undergoing a sea change in recent seasons, this semi-final gives Stoke and Liverpool the opportunity to make another step towards success—but who will win out on Tuesday night?

Date: Tuesday, 5 January, 2015

Time: 8 p.m. GMT / 3 p.m. ET

Venue: Britannia Stadium, Stoke, England

TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK) / beIN SPORTS (U.S only)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK) / beIN SPORTS CONNECT (U.S only)

Form Lines (Last 5 Games)

Stoke City: D-L-W-W-L

Liverpool: D-L-W-W-L

Team News

Hughes heads into Tuesday’s clash buoyed by the news that Geoff Cameron’s red card in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion had been overturned.

The versatile American defender was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor following a push on Baggies midfielder Claudio Yacob, with Hughes telling BBC Sport after the game: “I think he went down really easily with the intention of maybe getting Geoff sent off, which he succeeded in doing.“

Hughes launched an appeal to rescind the 30-year-old’s three-game ban, and the Football Association subsequently withdrew their ruling. This leaves Shay Given as his only absentee.

Nevertheless, speaking to reporters on Monday, as relayed by the club’s official website, Hughes said Saturday’s disappointing defeat at the Hawthorns could affect his team selection:

There’s always a temptation to change things. I could have made changes against West Brom, but there’s no danger of our mentality changing. 

We have a clean bill of health for the game, and everybody with the exception of Shay Given, is available for the game.

Chelsea loanee Marco van Ginkel and former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam are in Hughes’ thinking as potential replacements for Cameron, and could still hope to feature, while both Jonathan Walters and Joselu are in line for starting roles.

Facing a considerably more restricting injury list, Klopp will be without a number of first-team stars for this must-win semi-final.

Divock Origi, Danny Ings, Jordan Rossiter, Martin Skrtel, James Milner, Jon Flanagan and Joe Gomez are all unavailable due to injury, and the manager also ruled out both Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge, per the club’s official website.

On Henderson, Klopp explained: “He’s having treatment and, everything we can do to bring the blood out of the foot, we are doing. But we cannot rush more, it’s time we need.”

Meanwhile, Sturridge‘s intensive training continues at Melwood, with Klopp not willing to risk the England striker before he is fully fit:

It’s a pre-season without games so it should not happen too much but some little things happened, we always have to handle this.

It’s not a row of sessions and now we are here. I’m the first who will pick him when he’s available, when he’s ready for this, I will never hold him back.

In this moment because he didn’t have one session with the team, which was the usual plan for this week, he’s not available.

One player who is available, however, is 19-year-old academy winger Ryan Kent, who has returned to the club following a successful loan spell with League One side Coventry City.

Predicted Lineups

As Hughes referenced the “temptation to change things” before the game, the Welshman could make a number of alterations to the side that lost to West Brom at the weekend.

With Given still absent, Jack Butland is likely to continue in goal, while Glen Johnson, Ryan Shawcross, Philipp Wollscheid and Erik Pieters should keep their places in defence.

Ahead of regular defensive midfielder Glenn Whelan, Cameron can continue his role alongside former Barcelona man Ibrahim Afellay, with this midfield trio supporting three of Bojan, Arnautovic, Walters, Shaqiri, Joselu and Peter Crouch.

With this tie representing Stoke’s best opportunity of sealing a spot in the final, Hughes could continue with the well-tuned forward line of Arnautovic, Bojan and Shaqiri.

As Liverpool travel to take on Exeter City in the FA Cup on Friday night, Klopp could look to make a few changes to his starting lineup at the Britannia, with his first team showing signs of fatigue in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham United.

Adam Bogdan is likely to continue his stint as Liverpool’s League Cup goalkeeper, while Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho are set to take up their regular positions in defence.

Klopp‘s back four could see one change, however, with the impressive Brad Smith able to come in for Alberto Moreno, offering the Spaniard a much-needed rest.

In midfield, injuries to Henderson, Milner and Rossiter gives Klopp little option but to continue with Lucas Leiva and Emre Can, while he could toy with the possibility of reverting to a 4-3-3 formation, fielding Joe Allen alongside them.

If he perseveres with the 4-2-3-1, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana are likely to take up supporting roles behind Christian Benteke.

Both Kent and Jordon Ibe will be hopeful of an appearance, as will Portuguese midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira and academy stars Cameron Brannagan and Pedro Chirivella—though game time against Exeter is more likely.

Likely Stoke City XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Cameron, Whelan, Afellay; Shaqiri, Bojan, Arnautovic.

Likely Liverpool XI: Bogdan; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Smith; Can, Lucas; Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho; Benteke.

Players to Watch

Xherdan Shaqiri

A former Liverpool target, Shaqiri made the surprise move to Stoke in August, with the Potters sanctioning a club-record fee of £12 million for the Swiss winger.

Having turned out for FC Basel, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in his career to date, Shaqiri was seen as something of a coup signing for Stoke, despite his ailing reputation in Europe—the 23-year-old spent just seven months with Inter, making 15 Serie A appearances.

A pacy, skilful winger, Shaqiri boasts the potential to be one of the most devastating attacking talents in Europe, and looks set to continue his development at the Britannia.

So far this season, Shaqiri has scored two goals and made three assists in 16 Premier League appearances for Hughes’ side, including a spectacular volley in December’s 4-3 win away to Everton.

Shaqiri could provide Stoke with the inspiration to defeat the Reds on Tuesday night.

Brad Smith

Liverpool’s decision to award 22-year-old Smith with a new contract in November was considered a questionable one by many supporters, with the Australian having failed to establish himself in the first team after making his debut under Brendan Rodgers in 2013.

But, clearly having impressed Klopp with his efforts at the club’s Melwood training complex, Smith has been rewarded with a role in the German’s first team after extending his terms.

So far, Smith has made three appearances for the Reds in 2015/16, including a positive performance in October’s 0-0 draw away to FC Sion in the Europa League.

Strong, fleet-footed and boasting an exceptional delivery from the left flank, Smith will be looking to impress if he is given a starting role at the Britannia.

Key Battle

Bojan vs. Lucas Leiva

Like Shaqiri, Bojan was something of a surprise signing for Hughes’ side, with the Spaniard making the £3 million move from Barcelona in 2013, after two years at Roma and a loan spell with Ajax.

Once considered one of the most promising young talents in world football, Bojan‘s peripheral role at Barcelona saw his development stall, but he has since shown his talents with a string of exceptional performances in the Premier League under Hughes.

Typically operating in a floating role as Stoke’s No. 9, Bojan will be one of Klopp‘s main targets in preparation for Tuesday’s clash, and the onus could fall on Lucas to combat his threat.

Lucas is a fleetingly effective defensive option most at home in a three-man midfield, and after struggling alongside Can at West Ham United on Saturday, he will be keen to impress in the League Cup.

Odds

Stoke City: 36/17

Liverpool: 32/21

Draw: 26/11

Odds via Oddschecker and correct at time of writing.

Statistics via Transfermarkt.co.uk. 

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Paris Saint-Germain are into the hat for the Coupe de France round of 32 after squeezing past CFA A outfit ES Wasquehal 1-0 at Stadium Lille Metropole on Sunday.

Laurent Blanc named a far-from-full-strength squad for the trip to northern France, so the starting XI in Villeneuve d’Ascq was largely composed of youngsters and fringe players.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, captain for the day and one of a handful of regular starters in the side, scored the only goal of the game after an hour.

Speaking with the capital club’s official website after the match, Le President was simply relieved to have made it through to the next round.

Blanc said:

It’s never easy getting back into competition after a break and there was also some tricky conditions with the weather. We would have preferred to have scored earlier and killed the game off, but we weren’t able to do that today. We got through a lot of work last week and so we had a few heavy legs. The main thing was to qualify and we did that tonight.

After his goal in the 1-0 friendly victory over Inter Milan in Doha, Qatar, last Wednesday, young attacker Jean-Kevin Augustin was expected to make the most of a rare start against Wasquehal.

With eight first-team regulars missing for the game on the outskirts of Lille, the 18-year-old had the opportunity to prove that he merits a greater number of opportunities over the second half of the season from the bench or in the starting XI against some of PSG’s weaker opponents.

Augustin failed to take the chance presented to him by Blanc and did more harm than good in a poor performance against Wasquehal.

The teenage scoring sensation missed two very good first-half chances. The first was an opening from right in front of goal, which he somehow failed to connect with, while the second was a volley that he skied from Adrien Rabiot’s inch-perfect lofted pass to the back post.

Augustin missing his second chance was understandable. Although he has the technique to finish that sort of opportunity, a volley in the cold and wet conditions in Lille was not the easiest finish to execute and the PSG No. 29 no doubt had his earlier miss playing on his mind.

That first spurned chance, the miss from almost underneath the Wasquehal crossbar, was Augustin’s most costly error. There is no excuse for the young Frenchman failing to connect with the ball in from the left and had he made contact with the ball, it would have been a certain goal.

Augustin can have no complaints if Blanc does not hand him another chance to impress until perhaps the next Coupe de France game (the round-of-32 draw takes place on Monday evening) after his disappointing outing against Wasquehal.

The teenager must now remain patient until his coach sees fit to either throw him on from the bench or to start him in a game against lower-quality opposition, either in Ligue 1 or the Coupe de France.

Augustin tried hard to make up for his wasteful first half in the second 45 minutes, but he would have done more to aid his cause by passing to an unmarked Ibrahimovic in the dying minutes of the game instead of going for goal and bringing a save out of Wasquehal goalkeeper and captain Romain Samson.

Wasquehal will not be Augustin’s final chance to impress and Blanc will surely give him another opportunity to prove his worth. However, few future opportunities will be as golden as the one that has just passed the PSG youngster by.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he may make two “quality” signings during the January transfer window. 

Wenger commented on his intentions for the month ahead, but he played his cards close to his chest regarding the identity of potential arrivals, per Simon Rice of the Independent:

I don’t give much away because I don’t know [what’s happening with transfers].

I want to talk about them and hopefully we are capable of doing something in the next 10 days.

It’s more about quality than quantity because our players will not stay out injured forever. Francis Coquelin is starting to run, Santi Cazorla will be back in mid-February, and Mikel Arteta is back now so, hopefully, if we can add one and, if needed, two maximum.

Rice reported the Gunners are “on the verge of completing a deal” for Mohamed Elneny, with a £7.3 million transfer in the pipeline for the Basel midfielder. The Egyptian is awaiting international clearance after completing his medical. 

Wenger is thought to be keen on adding Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot to his options in January after the midfielder alluded he is willing to depart the Ligue 1 champions, according to the Telegraph.

The cultured French prodigy could be available for £15 million after losing his place to Italian international Marco Verratti in PSG’s starting XI. 

Here is a video of Rabiot in action for his club:

However, Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur will rival Wenger for the player if he comes onto the market, per the Telegraph. Southampton‘s Victor Wanyama has also been linked with a winter move to the Emirates Stadium, but pundit Glenn Hoddle remained unconvinced about a potential switch, speaking on BT Sport (h/t the Telegraph):

I know Arsene Wenger; he wants a defensive minded player.

He played with two in Monaco when I played with him but they have to play and see a quick picture and that makes it harder to get that type of player.

I’m not sure that Wanyama sees that quick enough for Arsene.

A slim 1-0 win at home to Newcastle United kept Arsenal at the top of the Premier League standings as the race moved into January, but the leaders’ form has been punctured by a 4-0 thrashing against Southampton. 

The Gunners did just enough to claim the points against the lowly Magpies at the Emirates, but the display was far from convincing. However, the victory keeps the team at the top of the Premier League form guide, with five wins from their previous six.

Arsenal are presented with a rare opportunity to win the league this year, with Manchester City their primary contenders for the trophy. 

Chelsea and Manchester United are well off the pace going into the second half of the campaign, and Leicester City cannot be expected to keep up their league position in the coming weeks. 

Two midfield signings would strengthen one of Arsenal’s weakest positions on the pitch, as their team of attacking wizards allow space to opponents on the counterattack. 

If Wenger can tempt Rabiot to join his north London side in the weeks ahead, it could be the signing that sees Arsenal cross the finish line as champions at the end of the campaign. 

The French player has all the attributes needed to be a consistent starter for the leaders, and he would add the class needed ahead of the defence—moving the ball back to front—allowing Mesut Ozil to do the damage on the front foot. 

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Paul Pogba has claimed training at Manchester United was like a “vacation” compared to the work he and his team-mates put in at Juventus.

According to La Stampa (h/t Football Italia) the Frenchman said:

People ought to know that it is not easy at Juve.

There is a culture of work that is different to anything else abroad. I was at Manchester United and I can tell you it made me feel like being on vacation in comparison to Juve.

We work so hard here, because all the Scudetti were down to hard work.

Pogba was snapped up by United in his youth but went on to make just seven senior appearances for the Red Devils before being allowed to leave for the Bianconeri.

The midfielder has since thrived and is developing into one of the world’s best—naturally making him one of the most-coveted assets in Europe and player the now struggling United could sorely do with.

Pogba has been a vital cog in Juve’s success. In his three full seasons in Turin he has claimed the Serie A title each year, as well as winning the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana twice and reaching the Champions League final last year.

The Bianconeri are currently fourth in the table after a difficult start to the season but have worked their way back up the table magnificently and sit just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of United in Pogba’s time at the club, was hardly known for allowing the players to slack off in training and always maintained strong fitness levels in his squad.

If Pogba were still at Old Trafford now he might well encounter a different scenario altogether, as Louis van Gaal’s gruelling training sessions have frequently been reported on this season.

Nevertheless, the France international’s comments probably aren’t meant as a serious slight against his former team—more likely, he is simply seeking to emphasise just how hard Juventus work for their success.

However, even if it is meant as criticism, it’s more likely borne out of frustration at the club that let him go without giving him a chance to shine than genuine criticism of Ferguson’s training methods.

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Inter Milan centre-back Jeison Murillo has welcomed reported interest from Liverpool—though he firmly has his sights set on fighting for the Serie A title with his side this season.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Jean-Luca Mascaro of CalcioNews89 and GianlucaDiMarzio.com), Murillo was asked about interest from Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid. He said: “It is always nice to hear, but I am professional and I respect the team and the jersey I play for.”

Per Ximo Arregui of Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t Metro‘s Will Giles), the Reds are considering a £22.1 million bid for the Colombian.

According to the report, Murillo described winning the Scudetto this season as “a must,” seemingly ruling out a move in January. Nevertheless, Liverpool would be wise to maintain their interest in the 23-year-old.

He signed for the Italian outfit last summer after an excellent showing at the Copa America, per WhoScored.com:

His performances were recognised and rewarded according to writer David Amoyal, and beIN Sports’ Matteo Bonetti is also an admirer:

Liverpool’s suspect defending has proven costly in recent years, and a change of personnel could certainly help in that regard. Murillo is a player of outstanding potential and is showing great development at Inter, so he fits the bill perfectly.

A new goalkeeper would also be useful as Simon Mignolet remains uninspiring and suspect at the back.

According to Ben Burrows of the Mirror, the Reds are hoping to land Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but he will cost far more than the £12 million they are reportedly willing to offer.

Ter Stegen could be tempted into a move, as he is typically only the No. 1 in the Champions League and cup competitions. But the highly promising stopper will require significant investment to prise away from the Camp Nou.

The Reds are also keen to improve their firepower, thanks to a mix of injuries and poor form leaving them goal-shy up front. They are hoping to land Fulham youngster Moussa Dembele, according to Neil Moxley of the Mirror.

The 19-year-old has impressed at Craven Cottage and netted 10 times already this season, but as the report notes, the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also eager to snap him up, so it could prove difficult to bring him to Anfield this January.

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Mino Raiola, agent of Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has given a strong hint the striker could be set to make a long-awaited move to the Premier League in the summer.

Per Sky Sports’ Ben Reynolds, he said:

I would like to see him in the Premier League.  I think it’s a game that is made for him with his strength, his ability, his technique, the stadiums with fantastic atmosphere and how football is lived.

It’s difficult now because for the first time in his life he wants to be a free agent so that he can look around and have a feeling day by day what he wants to do. 

There are a lot of projects on our table but he has not decided yet. Can he go to England? In theory yes he can because he will be a free agent and for sure there are some clubs always interested in him. What we will do at the end, I really don’t know.

As Reynolds’ report indicates, Ibrahimovic is out of contract with PSG in the summer and will be free to choose between his inevitable smorgasbord of suitors.

According to Metro‘s Sean Kearns, Chelsea are among several of the Premier League’s elite to be put “on red alert” by the revelation, along with Manchester United and Arsenal.

Raiola confirmed the centre-forward would be seeing out the remainder of his contract in the French capital, though, ruling out a move in the winter transfer window.

“No, he will definitely stay with Paris Saint Germain until the end of the season,” he said, per Reynolds. “He wants to be with them, they want to be with him. We have a very strong relationship with the club. He will not leave in January.”

Ibrahimovic‘s glittering career has seen him win league titles at every club he’s played for since leaving Malmo in his youth in a variety of European leagues—from Ajax to Juventus, Barcelona, Inter Milan and AC Milan.

Despite his advancing age—Ibrahimovic is now 34—the Sweden international continues to score a phenomenal number of goals.

The striker has 17 goals and nine assists to his name already this season, following up from last season’s tallies of 30 and eight, respectively.

As numbers demonstrate, Ibrahimovic is not only one of the world’s most clinical front men but also a highly effective creator of goals. He was virtually unrivalled in that respect in Ligue 1 last year, per OptaJean:

The Guardian named him the seventh-best player in the world for 2015, and the Times‘ Henry Winter is hoping to see him in England next season.

Of the English clubs linked with him, Chelsea seem the most likely destination.

Though a striker of Ibrahimovic‘s potency would be an incredibly useful addition to Arsenal’s squad, he wouldn’t be the most natural fit at the Emirates Stadium. And Gunners boss Arsene Wenger seems unlikely to recruit a player of his age even on a free transfer.

Likewise, United desperately need more firepower. A move for Ibrahimovic is conceivable for the Red Devils, but as the signings of players such as Anthony Martial (20) and Memphis Depay (21) indicate, the Manchester outfit are perhaps more focussed on recruiting younger players for the future.

Meanwhile, a year at Chelsea seems a likely outcome. The Blues have shown their willingness to take risks on similar deals such as Radamel Falcao’s one-year loan spell. The key difference here is Ibrahimovic‘s continued form makes him far less of a gamble.

Further, Chelsea typically play with one striker—something that would certainly suit Ibrahimovic after his high-profile struggles in adapting to play alongside Edinson Cavani—and favour players of similar stature and power.

England and Germany are the only major European countries in which the forward has not plied his trade, so it seems likely Ibrahimovic will want to test himself in the Premier League before his incredible career draws to a close.

With that being the case, there’s a strong chance he’ll be turning out at Stamford Bridge next season.

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Chelsea have reignited their interest in full-back Alex Telles with an eye on a move in the January transfer window, according to the latest rumours.

The 23-year-old Brazilian, who is currently on loan with Inter Milan from Galatasaray, was a target for the Blues during the summer and will once again be courted in January, according to the Daily Express (h/t Metro‘s Tom Olver).

Telles was a favourite of manager Roberto Mancini during his time in Turkey, and the Nerazzurri boss brought him to Milan during the summer in a deal that includes a clause to make the move permanent.

After a slow start, his role with Inter has expanded, and he has made nine Serie A starts so far this season, per WhoScored.com.

An attacking full-back who can also play as a winger, he likes to get involved in the passing game and fires in crosses at a high rate. Here’s a look at some of his top highlights from last season:

Telles is more than an attacking dynamo, however. He’s an able defender who displays good vision and positioning skills, and he’s strong in the tackle as well.

Chelsea hardly have a need for another left-back, as Cesar Azpilicueta has a stranglehold on the position, but added depth is never a bad thing. Telles is only just starting to scratch the surface of his potential, and he could be a superb addition as both a depth option and developmental project.

His current loan deal with Inter greatly complicates matters, however, and a transfer seems unlikely. Inter are expected to activate the clause in his deal at the end of the season, and Galatasaray appear to have little say in what his future will look like.

That means the Blues would have to negotiate directly with Inter, who are in no position to sell the player in January as they don’t currently own the rights to him. A deal involving the three teams could be made, but it’s far more likely Chelsea will revisit their interest at the end of the season.

Juventus Eyeing Nemanja Matic

Italian daily La Gazzetta Dello Sport (h/t Daily Express‘ Joe Short) reports Chelsea star Nemanja Matic is on a long list of alternative targets for Juventus, who are still trying to move for Borussia Dortmund playmaker Ilkay Gundogan.

A deal for Matic would be a long shot, although Short suggests his poor form in the first half of the season has opened the door for an exit from Stamford Bridge. Matic and Cesc Fabregas have both struggled tremendously in the last few months, a big reason for the Blues’ poor results.

It’s safe to say sports writer Aaron Nagler isn’t a fan:

The Serb was one of the club’s top performers last season, however, and it’s hard to believe Chelsea would sell him at this point in time. Former manager Jose Mourinho is gone, and the arrival of interim manager Guus Hiddink has at least returned some optimism to the club.

The Dutchman isn’t a miracle worker, but one of his key tasks will be to get stars like Matic back to their best form. When he’s at his best, he’s one of the top defensive weapons in the Premier League, per Squawka Football:

The Blues did everything possible to bring him back to west London in 2014 after selling him to Benfica in 2011. It’s hard to believe they would repeat that mistake so soon, and in all likelihood, they won’t.

Chelsea do have a talented young replacement in the form of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but for all of his potential, he still has a lot of growing to do before he can match up with the Serb when the latter is on form.

Per the report, Juventus are looking at a number of options, including Monaco’s Joao Moutinho and Sampdoria‘s Roberto Soriano, and those two would be far more realistic targets for the Bianconeri.

Matic is a key player for the Blues, and he won’t be sold before he has the opportunity to prove his struggles in the second half of 2015 were nothing but a fluke.

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Liverpool have reportedly made contact with Barcelona about the possible signing of their young goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

According to RMC Sport (h/t Max Miller of Metro), the Reds have made an enquiry into the availability of the German, who is the Blaugrana’s starting goalkeeper in the Champions League.

Miller writes that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is unconvinced by his current options between the sticks, Simon Mignolet and Adam Bogdan.

Ter Stegen would be quite a coup for the Reds. Here’s a look at why he’s rated as one of the best young goalkeepers in world football:

Miller writes that Ter Stegen is reportedly unhappy about being behind Claudio Bravo in the pecking order at the Camp Nou, with the Chilean used by Luis Enrique for La Liga matches. It’s suggested, with that in mind, he could be tempted to make the switch to Merseyside to link up with his compatriot Klopp.

However, despite being behind Bravo currently, Ter Stegen is anticipated to be the Barcelona goalkeeper for many years to come. Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez rates him very highly indeed:

As noted, his distribution is pretty immaculate, but there are other facets of his goalkeeping that make Ter Stegen stand out. The 23-year-old is authoritative in controlling his penalty area, very quick off his line and is a wonderful shot-stopper, too. Subsequently, it’d certainly be peculiar to see Barcelona part ways with such a talented young player.

It may be frustrating for Ter Stegen being behind Bravo currently, but he’s getting crucial experience at the Camp Nou, having already played in a Champions League final. The German will have surely had assurances over being the club’s long-term No. 1, meaning Liverpool would be very unlikely to succeed in any potential pursuit.

Mario Balotelli Future Discussed by Agent

Mino Raiola, the agent of Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, insists the Italian could still have a future at Anfield when he returns from his loan spell at AC Milan.

The controversial striker was shipped out by former boss Brendan Rodgers in the summer, but Raiola thinks that with Klopp at the helm, things may be different for Balotelli, per Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Michael Kelleher of Sky Sports):

Whether Klopp has a plan for him or not—I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to him about this or to Liverpool. 

I think it is too soon. Obviously if Mario does what he has to do, there is maybe another view on him also. He had to go away because with Brendan [Rodgers] there was no possibility to develop any more. There was a preconception towards Mario and I think from his private part of life he has proven them wrong.

Balotelli signed for Liverpool from Milan in the summer of 2014 but scored just one Premier League goal in his debut season at Anfield. After a bright start for the Rossoneri during his loan spell, the forward has not featured since the end of September due to injury, but according to Matteo Bonetti of beIN Sports, he is not far off making a return.

Here’s a look at what Balotelli is capable of when he puts it all together:

Even though Klopp is revered as a brilliant motivator and a manager who can get absolutely everything out of his players, Balotelli is a special case. Indeed, Rodgers, Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho have all previously tried and failed to unlock the obvious potential that the 25-year-old possesses.

Having struggled to make an impression at Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan and Liverpool, it doesn’t seem as though the striker has the temperament required to thrive at the top level.

Klopp will seek to build a squad that is hungry, hard-working and adaptable on Merseyside; sadly for Balotelli, he’s rarely shown he can tick those boxes.

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