In the past week, Paris Saint-Germain have welcomed back one of their star men in Marco Verratti after a lengthy injury layoff.

Prior to his appearance as a substitute in the 5-1 demolition of Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1 last Sunday, the Italy international had been out of action since he injured himself in the 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat away at Real Madrid in early November.

Verratti’s return against Lyon was greeted by wild applause from the Parc des Princes crowd, and the pint-sized midfield terrier wasted little time in reminding the PSG faithful why they have missed him so much recently.

Three days after his triumphant return against OL, the 23-year-old was lining up in the starting XI against AS Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de la Ligue. The Azzurri star played for 62 minutes before making way for Angel Di Maria, stepping up his return to full fitness.

Speaking with PSG’s official website after the narrow 1-0 win, Verratti revealed how happy he was to be back on the pitch and playing once again:

It was a very difficult match for us because we didn’t score that early goal. I think if we’d got that goal, it would have been a different match. But we finished the game well and qualified. I’m very happy because I hadn’t played for a long time. I’m not yet 100%, but this match will help me get back to my best. The best thing about the quarter-final draw is the fact that we’re playing at home, because we are better when we play at the Parc. It’s not easy for our rivals to come and play here.

In the 3-0 win away at SM Caen on Saturday, Verratti continued to build up his fitness with an 81-minute outing.

It was the former Pescara man’s best performance so far since his return, and he influenced the game more than midfield cohorts Thiago Motta and Blaise Matuidi. The PSG No. 6 started off the match at impressive speed, but tired in the second half. Marquinhos eventually replaced him.

He is edging towards a full 90 minutes and will probably get that against Inter Milan in Doha during the French champions’ Qatar Winter Tour over the Christmas break.

Angel Di Maria is absolutely flying at present with six goals and nine assists in Ligue 1 alone so far this season, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is insatiable in front of goal with 15 in Le Championnat and counting.

Verratti’s return and full recovery is another piece of the PSG puzzle falling into place ahead of a crucial second half of the season.

Javier Pastore’s return to full fitness after his injury layoff is also important, and once Laurent Blanc can call upon the Argentina international, Les Parisiens will be back to full strength once more.

After Pastore’s recovery, Le President has a few other concerns, although nothing major. German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp’s string of errors over the first half of the season is a minor worry, while Uruguay international Edinson Cavani’s struggle for sustained scoring form continues.

Other than those two minor concerns, though, PSG are otherwise looking very good, and Verratti’s return to action is another reason for positivity lately.

Aside from the unlucky 1-0 loss to Real in Madrid, it has been a very good first half of the season for the Ligue 1 leaders. With Verratti getting back to his best level ahead of the start of the new year, the Italian and his teammates could be about to scale new heights in 2016.

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Barcelona have been linked with Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, with the latest report from Italy claiming the Blaugrana are working on bringing the Croatian to Spain at the end of this season.

According to Corriere Dello Sport (h/t Sport), sporting director Robert Fernandez is looking for young players whose value is set to rise significantly in the future, and the 23-year-old certainly fits the bill.

The club’s new transfer direction makes sense given the current financial concerns surrounding the Catalans. Per Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, the Blaugrana aren’t in a position to sign any big-name players, as they’re struggling to make ends meet.

A player like Brozovic could be a nice alternative. The midfielder is currently on loan with Inter Milan from Dinamo Zagreb, with the Italians holding a clause to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.

The player is just starting to find his best form after a shaky start, and the Nerazzurri are expected to trigger the clause.

Brozovic joined Inter in January of last season, and he looked like a bit of a flop during the first few months of his Serie A career. He’s looked much improved during the 2015-16 campaign, however, making headlines with his ability to score spectacular goals.

This fan shared two prime examples:

As a versatile playmaker who can line up all over midfield, Brozovic holds a lot of value as a depth option and a youngster who can still be developed. Croatia has produced a number of talented central midfielders in the last couple of years, including Ivan Rakitic, who has been a tremendous success since moving to the Camp Nou.

Barcelona don’t need to reinforce their midfield, with plenty of young talent already in the squad or out on loan. Alen Halilovic figures to play a big role in the club’s future, for instance, and it’s hard to see how Brozovic would carve out a role for himself going up against so much talent.

Inter will be reluctant to sell, unless any club makes a significant offer, and in all likelihood, Brozovic will either stay with the Nerazzurri or move to a club where his chances of finding consistent playing time are greater.

Blaugrana Nearing Deal for Robert Goncalves

According to Globoesporte (h/t AS), Barcelona are close to sealing a loan deal for Fluminese midfielder Robert Goncalves, a 19-year-old forward who is likely to join Barcelona B on an extended trial.

His agent, Vitor Leal, confirmed the news:

We are in negotiations with Barcelona. Fluminense have accepted the proposal and Barcelona are happy with it. We’re just waiting to receive all the information we need before travelling to Barcelona. It will be a year-long loan.

Barcelona want Robert to play in the youth team and to work towards playing for the senior side. They have been watching him for some time and they think his style will fit in with the club’s philosophy. He won’t be short of opportunities there

Goncalves has long been touted as one of Brazil’s best prospects, but his development took a big hit a few years ago due to a car accident, per Sport‘s Ivan San Antonio. He has since worked his way back to full health and has looked impressive in limited first-team action in 2015-16.

Here’s a look at some of his highlights:

Goncalves has tremendous raw potential as a dribbler and finisher, displaying incredible short-area quickness and the ability to make decisions in the blink of an eye. He’s not a particularly polished player, but as a prospect, Barcelona could do far worse.

The one-year-loan deal effectively works as a trial. Goncalves will have ample time to adapt to his new environment and learn Barcelona’s system, which can be a problem for youngsters who didn’t train at La Masia before moving up to Barcelona B.

Goncalves looks quick and agile enough to contribute further up the pitch and play as a winger or forward, handing him the kind of versatility the Catalans love. If he keeps his head down and continues to improve, the loan deal will quickly turn into a permanent move.

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Real Madrid have reportedly made Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero their “top priority” for the summer transfer window, as club president Florentino Perez is determined to add another Galactico to his impressive collection.

That’s according to BuzzSport (h/t Metro‘s Mark Brus), who believe the Argentina international could be a replacement for longtime starter Karim Benzema. Brus adds City will be unlikely to part with the star, although Real have a tendency to land whichever top player they go after.

Aguero‘s well-documented injury history has always been a concern, and the 2015-16 campaign has been no different. The 27-year-old has missed a large portion of the season with yet another setback, per Transfermarkt.co.uk.

It’s a shame the former Atletico Madrid man’s career has seen so many setbacks in the injury department, as he’s undoubtedly one of the best forwards in the world when healthy. His instincts and finishing ability inside the box are virtually unmatched, to the point Ladbrokes had to make this joke when it became clear he’s in line to start against Arsenal:

Per WhoScored.com, he has scored seven goals in nine Premier League starts this season, and last year, he contributed 26 goals and eight assists in 30 starts. Those are impressive numbers, and it’s easy to see why Los Blancos would be interested in a player with such production.

Benzema is an excellent striker in his own right, but his future remains uncertain in the wake of the ongoing blackmail investigation involving Olympique Lyonnais‘ Mathieu Valbuena. According to Selina Sykes of the Daily Express, the striker could face up to five years in prison if he is found guilty.

In terms of pure scoring potential, Aguero would be a worthy replacement, but his lengthy injury history does complicate matters. For all of his shortcomings, Benzema has always been incredibly dependable, both in terms of injuries and consistency.

Los Blancos have gotten used to such a standard, and they may choose to look a different way when they do decide to pick a replacement. Other top strikers like Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won’t be more expensive than Aguero, and they may be safer bets in the transfer market.

Ante Coric Reportedly Rejects Move

Teenage starlet Ante Coric has reportedly rejected a move to the Bernabeu because he fears he won’t receive enough playing time, per Goal’s Hrvoje Tironi.

The Dinamo Zagreb star seemed set to move to the Spanish capital, but following the struggles of young stars like Martin Odegaard and Lucas Silva, who have barely played for Los Blancos, he appears to have changed his mind.

The 18-year-old playmaker is quickly making a name for himself in Croatia, and it’s easy to see why scouts from a number of European top teams are following him:

Croatia has become something of a hotbed for talented central midfielders, and Los Blancos are already paying the wages of two of them: veteran star Luka Modric and talented youngster Mateo Kovacic.

Per Tironi, Coric has already confirmed he intends to leave Zagreb in January, and it remains to be seen where he will end up. If playing time is such a priority for him, the links with Real never made sense to begin with.

Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic both moved from Dinamo to Inter Milan to further their careers, and for Coric, a similar path may not be a bad idea. The Nerazzurri seem willing to trust their young talent if they show enough promise in training, and thanks to the increased exposure of the Serie A, the club can be an excellent springboard for bigger and better things.

Real boast enough young talent in midfield to survive getting snubbed by Coric. He’s an excellent young player, but with the likes of Marco Asensio even forced to go out on loan to help their development, Los Blancos are already set for the future in the midfield area.

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Arsenal continue to be linked with Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, with the latest rumours from Italy now claiming the Gunners have made a £14 million offer for his services.

Per Calciomercato.com’s Edo Dalmonte, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claims the bid has already been made, although Sport Witness’ Tom Coast refutes this. What is certain is chatter surrounding the Gunners’ interest continues to increase.

The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the fastest rising talents in Serie A during the 2015-16 campaign after a slow start to life in Italy. On loan from Dinamo Zagreb, he barely made an impact between January and the summer, but he has since come on very strong.

Inter have a clause to make the loan permanent at the end of this season, which would take the total cost of the player up to just €8 million, and at this point in time, there’s no reason to believe the clause won’t be triggered.

Brozovic is a versatile midfielder who does his best work in a central role but can split out wide if he has to. He’s quickly developing a penchant for scoring spectacular goals, as shared by this fan:

The young midfielder is still developing as a player, and the Italian fashion capital is the perfect place for him to do so. The Nerazzurri are finally finding success again, sitting at the top of the Serie A standings for the first time in years.

Brozovic is quickly becoming an integral part of their young squad, and the regular playing time is only helping his development. An immediate move to a top club would come too soon―Brozovic needs consistent minutes more than anything.

Inter have sold some young talent in the past―most notably midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who moved to Real Madrid last summer―and it hasn’t helped their efforts to rebuild the club. Expectations are they’ll do whatever they can to keep hold of Brozovic for now.

But even if the club would be open to the idea of a sale, the reported £14 million offer is laughable. Top young talent has never been more expensive on the transfer market, and with the Premier League’s new TV deal handing clubs the kind of financial firepower we’ve never seen before, clubs like Inter will hold out for massive fees, knowing the Gunners can afford it, per ESPN FC’s Tony Evans.

Brozovic is one to keep an eye on, as his newfound success is fairly recent, and there’s no telling he’ll continue developing at this spectacular rate. But talk of a transfer is premature, to say the least.

Inter don’t even fully own the player at this point―it’s hard to see any scenario in which he is sold before his loan deal ends.

Jon Toral Maintains Arsenal Hopes

Young midfielder Jon Toral has impressed during his loan spell with Birmingham City so far, and speaking to Sky Sports’ Nick Wright, the 20-year-old is hoping to play himself back into the Gunners’ long-term plans:

For me it’s my second professional season so I just want to take on board everything the staff tell me, learn the league and get better.

I’m so grateful to Arsenal. They helped me a lot through a time when I had a few injuries. They helped me and they always showed confidence in me, so I’m grateful for that and I just want to keep learning to see if I can go back there.

Toral became a member of Arsenal’s youth academy in 2011, moving to north London from Barcelona’s famed youth setup alongside childhood friend Hector Bellerin. At the time, the midfielder was seen as the bigger talent of the two, but a series of knee injuries have since derailed his career.

Bellerin has gone on to become a vital part of manager Arsene Wenger’s squad, while Toral has spent the last two season out on loan. He looked solid during the 2014-15 campaign with Brentford, but he has really come into his own this year with Birmingham City.

He also impressed during pre-season, and while there were no plans for recalling him in January, injury concerns in the attacking third may force Wenger’s hand.

The loss of Santi Cazorla in particular has opened up a spot for another creative midfielder who can contribute in front of goal, and rather than buy a new player, the manager could hand Toral a chance.

But the youngster is finally enjoying an extended run of strong performances, and a prolonged stay in Birmingham may be just what he needs.

Toral sounds determined to make his mark at the Emirates―six more months away from the club won’t do any harm.

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Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic looks set to become the first signing of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign, and the 19-year-old represents something of an under-the-radar target for a Reds support expecting big-name arrivals from Klopp’s former club, Borussia Dortmund.

According to the Liverpool Echo‘s Kristian Walsh, the deal to sign Grujic will see the young Serbian rejoin Red Star on loan until the end of the season and could be worth around £5 million to Liverpool.

“The Reds have been battling Inter Milan for the £5 million-rated teenager, with the club originally fearful the Italian side were leading the chase,” Walsh explains. “But the Reds seem to have won the battle after Klopp, a keen admirer of the player, became personally involved in the deal to bring the 19-year-old to Anfield.”

Walsh also cites Red Star’s perilous financial situation and the influence of Klopp’s Bosnian-Serb assistant, Zeljko Buvac, as key factors within Grujic’s decision to join the Reds over Serie A giants Inter, and he quotes Grujic as confirming talks with the club.

For supporters perhaps expecting the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, or even Porto’s Ruben Neves, to be the first player through the door following Klopp’s appointment, this may be a disappointment.

But Grujic may surprise many on his move to Merseyside.

So who is this prodigious midfielder, and what will he bring to Liverpool?

Grujic spent eight years in the Red Star academy before being given his first-team debut at the age of 17, with the ambitious Ricardo Sa Pinto looking to blood some of his youngsters in an end-of-season clash against rivals Vojvodina.

Grujic lined up alongside Nemanja Jaksic (17), Darko Lazic (18), Srdjan Mijailovic (19), Ognjen Ozegovic (18) and Vukan Savicevic (19) in side with an average age of 19.7 years.

Though Red Star fell to a 3-0 defeat at the Stadion Karadjordje that afternoon, this gave Grujic a vital taste of first-team action—but the midfielder had to wait until 2014/15 before he became a regular fixture for the Belgrade outfit.

With current manager Miodrag Bozovic’s arrival came Grujic’s promotion into a central role at Red Star, and with his bullish, box-to-box style of play it is easy to see why he has slotted in so neatly under the Montenegrin, who spent two seasons operating in the Red Star defence as a player in 1992/93 and 1993/94.

Grujic is able to operate in the defensive sector and also pushing closer to the penalty area, with his lofty 6’3″ frame lending him the physique of compatriot Nemanja Matic—though while Matic typically serves as Chelsea‘s diligent defensive midfielder, Grujic looks more comfortable driving into attack.

“If I had to compare Marko Grujic to anyone in terms of style of playing, I’d compare him to our own Steven Gerrard,” Liverpool-supporting Serbian journalist Vlastimir Stevanovic told the Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce at the beginning of December.

Though it is an audacious comparison, as Stevanovic describes Grujic’s attributes, the 19-year-old’s style of play does align with the former Liverpool captain.

“He can play offensively, but he would also be great at playing a deeper role, much like [Paul] Pogba, which is actually how he plays at Red Star,” he explained. “He is very tall and strong so he’s great at aerial duels. He has excellent vision, a great passing game and he possesses great game intelligence.”

Grujic is a dominant midfielder, and despite his young years, he has imposed himself as Red Star’s key player in a remarkable run for the Serbian SuperLiga title, having already qualified for the championship playoffs with his side 25 points clear of second-placed FK Cukaricki and 26 ahead of regular title-winners and bitter rivals Partizan Belgrade.

According to Stevanovic, Grujic’s team-mate Luis Ibanez “has said that Grujic is the main guy responsible for the success of the team this season.”

This is not necessarily a marker for the midfielder’s quality when anticipating a move to the Premier League, however, with SuperLiga clashes typically played at a slower pace to the notoriously frenetic, physical English top flight, and this suits Grujic’s game, allowing him to stand tall above his opponents and dictate play.

But, as Walsh attests, Buvac is seemingly convinced of Grujic’s quality, and following major success with recruitment alongside Klopp and their superiors at Dortmund, this should be given credence.

Similarly, so should Liverpool’s aggressive pursuit of their target, as Goal.com’s Melissa Reddy explained:

Following encouraging talks with the 19-year-old at the start of December, Liverpool’s chief executive Ian Ayre flew to Belgrade to thrash out the terms of a deal with the player and his club, Red Star. 

Liverpool’s director of technical performance, Michael Edwards, was also instrumental in convincing the Serbian talent that his future was best served on Merseyside.

This quick business resembled Liverpool’s pursuit of Roberto Firmino in June, with a priority placed on making sure a promising prospect was not picked up by another member of Europe’s elite.

Jurgen Klopp’s assistant, Zeljko Buvac, as well as the manager himself are admirers of Grujic’s mix of athleticism and power. They were keen to ensure the club did not miss out on such an exciting teenager, with the Reds boss personally speaking to the player and his agent.

He is seen as a player able to bring a lot to Liverpool, as Klopp’s likely first signing and a priority target heading into the winter, and as Reddy suggests, the Reds’ straightforward approach to talks with Red Star saw them snatch one of the hottest European talents from under Inter’s nose, and their influential assistant manager Dejan Stankovic, a fellow Serb.

Within Klopp’s squad, it is likely that Grujic would take up a midfield role similar to that at Red Star, with the German no doubt looking to utilise his drive and physicality to assume a box-to-box role similar to that of Emre Can, possibly on the flanks of Liverpool’s regular midfield three.

It is also feasible to picture the Serbian at the base of Klopp’s midfield, however, with Lucas Leiva the only current regular defensive midfielder—unless Can is moulded into this role.

Nevertheless, moving from Serbia at a young age, it is imperative that Grujic is given time to adjust. As the struggles of former Liverpool attacker Milan Jovanovic and Lazar Markovic—who is now on loan at Fenerbahce—in adapting to life on Merseyside prove, it would be detrimental to expect him to star from his first outing in a red shirt.

But Klopp and Liverpool’s commitment to securing the signing of this much-vaunted young midfielder should be encouraging.

As his history of polishing diamonds from the rough at Dortmund shows, Klopp is able to nurture talents such as Grujic into top-level European fixtures.

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With the continued concern over Sergio Aguero’s fitness and question marks as to whether Wilfried Bony is the right fit for a side who play 4-2-3-1, Manchester City have been linked with a number of forwards in recent months.

Aguero’s hamstrings are a constant worry. The striker, who could return from a heel injury to face Arsenal on Monday night after a four-game absence, has continually broken down in the last two years with muscle strains and tears.

In his absence, Bony is supposed to be the man to step in and provide cover, but his lack of movement isn‘t ideal in a side that looks to move the ball quickly and incisively, weaving intricate patterns with one- and two-touch passing.

The Ivorian has scored seven in his last 12 for City, but even that hasn’t allayed the fears he isn’t the player the team needs.

Mauro Icardi, Inter Milan’s Argentinian striker, is one who has been strongly rumoured to interest the Blues, according to Anthony Jepson of the Manchester Evening News. 

Icardi started his career in Europe as a young boy playing for Barcelona at their world-renowned La Masia training facility. He was a player earmarked as a future star, but with the Barcelona squad so packed full of attacking talent, the ambitious Icardi decided to a move to Sampdoria was in his best interests.

In 2012/13, his only full season at the Italian club, he scored 10 goals in 31 appearances. It was impressive for a teenager to display such a natural ability in front of goal, and Inter Milan decided he was a player they needed.

He started slowly, scoring just three in his first 13, but he gradually began to find his goalscoring groove. His total of nine in 22 at the end of the season was decent for one so young, and Inter felt sure they had a player capable of providing them with years of high-quality service.

Last season, their faith was fully justified. He scored a remarkable 22 league goals and showed everybody just how lethal and natural his finishing ability is. Give Icardi a chance, and it’s likely it will end up in the back of the net.

It was the season he announced himself as a genuinely top-level striker, the potential and the promise becoming something altogether more complete.

His hat-trick against Sassuolo in his second game of the season set the tone as he finished as the league’s top scorer, level with Luca Toni and with two more than Carlos Tevez.

He has six in 13 this season, a decrease on last year’s productivity but still a more-than-healthy return. Clearly, this is a player with a big future in the game, and one who can offer goals with the right service.

His passing remains a concern, and he isn’t blessed with blistering pace, but his intelligent movement means he could slot into City’s team more comfortably than Bony has so far.

Icardi can hold the ball up well and links play neatly, but it is his pure finishing ability that defines his style. Instinctive in the box, he thrives on converting chances and rarely needs more than a split second to pick his spot. 

Confidence has never been a problem for Icardi. Since he first became a regular at Sampdoria, little has phased him. 

He needs to improve his defending from the front, and the lack of acceleration over 10 yards would perhaps be a concern in the Premier League where blistering pace in forward areas is now seen as a prerequisite. But there’s little doubt he is one of the best young strikers in the game.

The fear if City bought him would be the impact on 19-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho, a player making huge strides this season.

Iheanacho is adored already by the City fans who are desperate to see an academy player become a first-team regular.

He offers pace, vision, great movement, confidence and impudence. There’s little he won’t try on a football pitch, despite his age. Manuel Pellegrini has so far been cautious in giving him time on the pitch, but Iheanacho’s performances are making it increasingly difficult for the City boss to leave him out.

Would Icardi’s arrival, if it became reality, hurt Iheanacho’s chances of playing? If the answer to that is yes, City would probably think twice about completing a deal, such are the high hopes they have for the Nigeria international.

As long as City only have three out-and-out strikers, rumours will persist about them being in the market for another. There have been times this season when they have looked short of options, particularly when Aguero is unfit.

Indeed, his fitness will be key to City’s hopes of silverware this season. If he stayed injury-free for the rest of the season, Icardi wouldn’t be needed. City play with one up front, with the supporting cast of attacking midfielders assuming much of the scoring and creating burden. 

The fear, though, is Aguero continues to spend time on the sidelines. With City hoping to go deep into the Champions League, juggling the demands of that competition with a Premier League title fight, any absence from their star striker will hurt them. 

Perhaps a short-term loan deal for a more experienced striker fits their needs for now. Icardi is a player they will surely keep tabs on, as will most of Europe’s biggest clubs, but January would probably not be the time to complete a deal. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report’s lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.

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Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has reportedly flown to Belgrade to wrap up a £5 million deal for Red Star Belgrade youngster Marko Grujic, for what would be Jurgen Klopp’s first signing at Anfield.

David Maddock of the Mirror said the Reds will immediately loan the player back to the Serbian club for the rest of the campaign, allowing the 19-year-old to arrive in England next summer.

Serbian newspaper Telegraf (h/t Tom Sheen of the Independent) recently commented on the potential transfer: “Marko Grujic has agreed all terms with Liverpool and the move should soon be formalised of his transfer to Anfield. The euphoria among supporters of red has already begun due to the arrival of one of the most talented players in Europe.”

Here is a compilation video of the player’s best moments in recent months:

The central midfielder is a rising star on the global stage, having helped Serbia to a dramatic victory over Brazil to capture the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in June.

The teenager can play across the midfield, and he has scored five goals and provided six assists in 21 domestic SuperLiga appearances for his team, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk. He has the talent to fit Klopp’s requirements in attack and will supplement the forward line. 

According to Maddock, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United have all chased Grujic in recent times, but it appears Klopp has won the race to capture his signature. 

The player recently commented on his future, and confirmed there have been solid talks with Liverpool, but he had yet to agree terms, per Maddock:

I’ll try to respect the club, the fans and the general public, but again I think that for myself I have to choose the best environment where I get the chance to play and where I work with good coaches in good conditions.

It is certain that I remain here until the end of qualifying for the Champions League. I had a talk with Liverpool but I did not receive yet any agreement. I’m still a Red Star player.

In other news, Liverpool will find it difficult to take Jamie Vardy from Leicester City, if they decide the striker is the answer to their Champions League ambitions. 

The Sun (h/t Leicester Mercury) claimed Liverpool are preparing an £8 million move for the prolific front man, but Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri has advised his star to remain at the King Power through the January transfer window. 

Laurie Whitwell of the MailOnline quoted Ranieri speaking about Vardy and Riyad Mahrez’s futures as he hopes transfer speculation doesn’t turn his best players’ heads: “I spoke to the two guys, we continue together, we can improve. Maybe at end of the season we can speak. We are in good flight now. I don’t wait for their answer! If they believe in me—follow me.”

Vardy currently has two-and-a-half years left on his current deal, making it difficult for suitors to approach the player if Leicester resist. His current wages of £40,000-per-week would clearly explode skyward if he opts to move to a bigger club, taking advantage of his incredible form from this term.

However, it is questionable whether this is just a hot streak from the 28-year-old, who struggled to hit the net last year. 

Liverpool fans might be underwhelmed if the club targeted a player like Vardy, as Daniel Sturridge tries to attain full fitness. 

If the Reds truly have ambitions to work their way back into the Champions League places, they will have to add world-class talent to their player pool, and not only successful English league individuals who are unproven on the bigger stages.

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AC Milan advanced to the final eight of the Coppa Italia on Thursday with a 2-0 victory over Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. 

After a nice back-and-forth between the clubs in the first 10 minutes, Milan began to take over the contest, but they couldn’t find the back of the net in the first half. 

M’Baye Niang opened the scoring in the 50th minute as he finished off a Carlos Bacca pass from the right side of the box. Bacca added a strike of his own in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to secure the win for the visiting side. 

The victory helped Milan become the final side to move on to the quarterfinal round of the tournament. They join Inter Milan, Lazio, Juventus, Napoli, Carpi, Spezia and Alessandria in the last eight. 

Here’s a look at our winners and losers from Milan’s road triumph in the Coppa Italia. 

Begin Slideshow

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Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is already being linked with a shock move back to Real Madrid, who have struggled under new coach Rafa Benitez.

Continue for updates.

Former Real President Predicts Mourinho Reunion

Thursday, Dec. 17

As reported by BBC Radio 5 Live, former Blancos president Ramon Calderon believes Mourinho is already on his way back to the Santiago Bernabeu, despite his ugly split with the Liga giants in 2013.

With Real struggling under Benitez, Calderon believes current Blancos president Florentino Perez could replace the former Liverpool boss with Mourinho, who is still a favourite of his.

Mourinho moved to the Spanish capital in 2010 after a very successful period with Inter Milan, but he failed to make much of an impact with Los Blancos, winning just one La Liga title during his three seasons in charge.

Per ESPN FC’s Graham Hunter, he publicly fell out with club icon Iker Casillas, and he made the headlines for all the wrong reasons on multiple occasions. The most notable incident was perhaps his eye poke of then-Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, for which he was suspended, per the Press Association (for the Independent).

Mourinho left the club in 2013 to return to Chelsea, and his replacement, Carlo Ancelotti, succeeded where he couldn’t, finally winning the club that elusive 10th UEFA Champions League trophy.

Per football writer Graham Ruthven, the Italian could actually be on his way back to Chelsea, which would make for an odd situation:

On the surface, it would make little sense for Mourinho to move back to Spain, as his first spell with Real was not very successful and the controversies he created have not been forgotten.

But as explained by ESPN FC’s Eduardo Alvarez, a significant part of the fanbase still adores the Special One, and he’s still quite popular with certain sections of the media.

Per WhoScored.com, Los Blancos have lost three of their last five La Liga matches under Benitez, including the embarrassing 4-0 defeat at the hands of rivals Barcelona.

Benitez’s position is anything but secure, and with few options currently available on the coaching market, a reunion with Mourinho may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.

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