Real Madrid want to combine Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in an attacking streak who will be the envy of world football – most recently from ESPN’s Insider Notebook. Additionally: Arsenal are planning to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Go to: Arsenal’s list of Oba substitutes | Goodwill of the city towards Barcelona in the Torres deal | Digne challenge for Chelsea | Axel Ain Napoli

Madrid’s appetite for Mbappe Haaland

Sources told ESPN that Real Madrid is trying to sign Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe next summer in an attempt to take advantage of Barcelona’s financial problems by acquiring the most sought-after footballer in the world.

Real Madrid failed to transfer 200 million euros to Paris Saint-Germain striker Mbappe during the summer transfer window, but the France international is expected to move to the Bernabeu as a free agent when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of this season.

And although they face competition from Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain for Borussia Dortmund’s Haaland, Real believe they can arrange a deal to move the 21-year-old Norwegian to Madrid.

January transfer window: all you need to know
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With four big-earners – Gareth Bale, Isco, Luka Modric and Marcelo – set to expire and out of Real Madrid’s wage bill at the end of the season, the La Liga leaders will have the financial leeway to fund their move for Haaland and also pay his and Mbappe’s.

ESPN reported in October that Haaland would receive an annual salary of £30m if he left Dortmund, with a €75m release clause in effect at the end of this season.

Sources have told ESPN that Haaland and his advisers will be looking at interest from a range of clubs, but that Real Madrid are the main contenders to sign the Norway international.

While Barcelona president Joan Laporta remains determined to challenge Haaland, the club’s financial problems are likely to make such a move impossible. Barcelona announced a debt of 1.35 billion euros in September – a situation that forced the club to accept defeat in its bid to keep Lionel Messi at Camp Nou and also led to Antoine Griezmann’s departure to Atletico Madrid.

Although Barcelona are now taking steps to boost their squad, with Ferran Torres arriving from City in a €55m deal this week, the five-time Champions League winners are unable to compete with Europe’s richest clubs in the race to sign Haaland, sources said. It knows Real Madrid that they have a rare opportunity to open a huge gap between them and Barcelona through consolidation while their biggest rival faces a state of financial turmoil.

Premier League leaders City appear to be in a strong position to sign Haaland due to the club’s wealth and success under coach Pep Guardiola. Neighbors United have a long-standing interest in Haaland, but managerial uncertainty at Old Trafford and a struggle for fourth place in the league this season could hurt their hopes of signing the player. Sources told ESPN that Paris Saint-Germain is ready to move to Haaland if Mbappe confirms he will not sign a new contract at Parc des Princes, but Real Madrid may be City’s biggest rival to sign the player. – Mark Ogden

Arsenal plans to replace Aubameyang

Sources told ESPN that Mikel Arteta has a shortlist of attackers to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal with Alexander Isak, Dusan Vlahovic, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ole Watkins.

Transfer analysis: Aubameyang needs to leave Arsenal

Aubameyang’s future at Arsenal is in great doubt over disciplinary issues and Arteta is willing to listen to offers made to him in January.

The recruitment team at Arteta and Arsenal are planning life without Aubameyang and they have a range of options they are considering. Among them is Watkins, who joined Villa for £27.7m from Brentford last summer and scored 18 league goals in 51 appearances for the club. Sources said Arteta admires Watkins’ style of play and his ability to play in a number of different roles in attack. There has been no direct contact between Arsenal and Aston Villa about Watkins and sources said a January switch would be highly unlikely but the 25-year-old would be monitored before a summer move.

Real Sociedad’s Isaac, Fiorentina’s Velhovic and Everton’s Calvert Lewin are also options should Aubameyang move, although sources said Arsenal are aware of how much the replacement will cost and that other options are under consideration.

Elsewhere, after failing to sign Jorginho from Chelsea 18 months ago when the Italy international was surplus to requirements under Frank Lampard, Arteta is still keen on a midfielder. The sources added that Watkins’ teammate Douglas Louise in Villa was on Radar’s radar. – Julian Lorenz

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City’s goodwill towards Barcelona in the Torres deal

Sources told ESPN that Manchester City helped cash-strapped Barcelona by agreeing to receive Ferran Torres’ fee in several installments, with the first payment not due until July.

Barcelona confirmed the signing of Torres earlier this week in a deal worth an initial €55m – just four months after letting Lionel Messi leave because they were unable to renew his contract.

Sources made it clear that the deal was possible because Torres, 21, would earn much less than Messi achieved at Camp Nou and because City were happy to cut fees over a number of years.

The English club will be paid in at least four instalments, with the first payment not due until July so Barcelona can get it on the books for the next financial year, when they expect revenue to increase after a downturn during the pandemic.

LaLiga has imposed a spending limit of 97 million euros on Barcelona for this season, which includes wage expenses and transfer fees. Barcelona’s wage bill alone exceeds that cap, but the league allows them to spend 25% of everything they save by moving on to players and reduce their salary expenditures. – Sam Marsden and Moyes Lorenz

Newcastle raises a religious problem with Chelsea

Sources have told ESPN that Chelsea’s interest in Lucas Digne may be complicated by Newcastle’s desire to sign the left-back on a permanent basis.

The Blues are weighing potential targets in the January transfer window after learning that Ben Chilwell will miss the rest of the season after deciding to undergo surgery on a knee injury he sustained in late November.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has repeatedly bemoaned the drained nature of his side in recent weeks, as they have fallen eight points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, and Marcos Alonso was the only dedicated specialist left-back.

With Chilwell expected to make a full recovery this summer, Chelsea are ideally looking for short-term coverage and would be keen to get Denny on loan.

However, Everton would prefer a direct deal given the deteriorating relationship between Deeney and president Rafa Benitez, who is also looking to raise funds to reshape his squad in the transfer window.

Everton are believed to want close to £25m, a figure that would not deter Newcastle after their Saudi-led takeover. Newcastle are 19th in the table with the worst combined defensive record in the division and will be looking to sign at least two defenders in January.

Inter Milan and Napoli have also registered interest, but it is not clear at this point if either club would be willing to meet Everton’s assessment.

There is clear appeal for Denny to try to push for a move to European champions Chelsea, rather than face relegation with Newcastle, but clubs will have to reach an agreement first with talks expected in the coming days. – James Ole

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Napoli appointed Tuanzebe, Pereira wants out

Sources told ESPN that Napoli asked Manchester United about Axel Tuanzebe’s position ahead of the January transfer window.

Tuanzebe is on loan to Aston Villa but the Italian side inquired about United’s plans for the 24-year-old as they assess options to bolster their defence. Sources have told ESPN that Napoli have yet to contact representatives of Tuanzebe, who are set to meet first with United leaders to discuss the future of the former England Under-21 international.

Tuanzebe signed a one-year loan deal at Villa Park in the summer and has made 11 appearances so far this season, although he hasn’t started a game since November 5. Members of the coaching staff but the central defender are keen on regular matches and remain behind Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane in the standings.

United also have Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones on their squad, as well as 19-year-old academy graduate Tiden Menge.

Meanwhile, Andreas Pereira has told United he will not return to the club to be a squad player, and is instead looking for a permanent transfer at the end of his loan deal to Flamengo, sources told ESPN.

Pereira shone in Brazil, as he helped Flamengo reach the 2021 Libertadores Cup final – although it was his mistake that handed Palmeiras a 2-1 defeat.

United’s interim coach Ralf Rangnick has told all of the club’s loanees that he will assess them personally before making decisions about their future, but Pereira – who has once crowned Brazil in 2018 – has made clear he will not accept a junior role at the club. Old Trafford after becoming a regular at Flamengo.

He has a contract with United until 2023 but is keen to secure a permanent move away to start his career. Flamengo is the 25-year-old’s fourth loan move since 2016 after spells with Granada, Valencia and Lazio.

There is interest in Pereira from a number of clubs in Italy, Spain and France, but he has not ruled out extending his stay at Flamengo. –– Rob Dawson