PSG Talk

Nico Williams was one of the hottest names in transfer rumors this past summer, attracting interest from top clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Following a standout 2023-24 season, where he featured in 37 matches and played a key role in Athletic Club’s 2024 Copa del Rey triumph, Williams also made a significant impact in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 victory in Germany.

This season, the forward has continued to impress, scoring twice and providing three assists in 16 appearances across all competitions for Athletic Club.

According to SPORT, Athletic Club is eager to secure a contract extension for Williams amid ongoing interest from European giants. Barcelona remains in the mix but may only pursue a move if his release clause stays at €60 million.

Manchester City urged to secure Nico Williams

Rodri has encouraged Manchester City to sign his Spain teammate, noting that the Athletic Club star would have no problem adjusting to the English weather.

“Right now, I would take him to [Manchester] City, without a doubt, so that he feels the cold of Manchester, well it’s similar to Bilbao,” Rodri said (h/t GOAL).

With Williams likely to be in the transfer rumor mill again in 2025, The Athletic’s David Ornstein provided the latest information on the Athletic Club standout.

“Williams earns a high salary but the clause is fairly low for a player of this level, so it is probable he will move in 2025 — the bigger question is whether it will be in January or at the end of the season.

“He would prefer not to move in the winter market but you never know. Either way, the likes of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are among those who hold a long-standing admiration.”

This past summer, Nico Williams of Athletic Club was at the center of transfer rumors, with top clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain showing interest.

After an impressive 2023-24 season, where he made 37 appearances and helped Athletic Club win the 2024 Copa del Rey, Williams also played a key role in Spain’s success at UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.

This season, the forward has scored two goals and provided three assists in 16 appearances across all competitions for Athletic Club.

According to recent reports from SPORT, Athletic Club is keen to extend Williams’ contract as interest from other European clubs continues. Barcelona remains a potential suitor, but only if his release clause stays at €60 million.

Is Barcelona out of the Nico Williams race?

With Williams likely to be in the transfer rumor mill again in 2025, The Athletic’s David Ornstein provided the latest information on the Athletic Club standout.

“Last summer, there was major interest from the Premier League but Nico Williams’ heart was set on joining Barcelona,” Ornstein said. “He waited for them and when that did not materialise, he decided to remain at Athletic Club.

“Now it appears Barcelona — with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal doing well — are not there for him, which increases the chances of a Premier League switch and he is more open to that than previously. There is a release clause of around €55million (£46m) and Athletic will only sell if that gets activated, so the fact his contract ends in 2027 is irrelevant.

“Williams earns a high salary but the clause is fairly low for a player of this level, so it is probable he will move in 2025 — the bigger question is whether it will be in January or at the end of the season.

“He would prefer not to move in the winter market but you never know. Either way, the likes of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are among those who hold a long-standing admiration.”

Paris Saint-Germain could be losing Milan Škriniar while Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez have yet to return from injury. Meanwhile, Marquinhos is in his 30s, so the Ligue 1 side could inject more youth into their center-back position.

In 2024, the capital club added two promising center-backs, Lucas Beraldo and Willian Pacho, but the groundwork could only be starting there as another defender is on PSG’s radar.

Over the last few months, various defenders have been rumored to be of interest to the Parisians. In the final hours of the summer transfer window, they went for Tomás Araújo but failed in this pursuit.

Nonetheless, don’t expect PSG to revisit their interest in the SL Benfica standout as they are now keen on a more economical target.

PSG look to Ligue 1 to add more youth to CB position

Foot Mercato reported on Tuesday that PSG sporting advisor Luis Campos has even already met with the entourage of RC Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov without this having resulted in any offer so far.

Looking for a central defender this winter, PSG could jump at the chance. Khusanov would be more affordable than another winter track than insisting on Araújo, who Benfica are reluctant to sell at the moment.

Khusanov, valued at around €20 million, is a player highly coveted by PSG, but they’re not the only ones. In October, TBR Football reported that Premier League sides Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Brighton, and West Ham have all watched him this season.

Brice Samba, speaking after the match against OGC Nice (0-0) at the end of September, summed up his young teammate well: “He’s a monster, what he did again tonight. He scares me. No, seriously! For his age, what he does…”

If PSG can land Khusanov, they might have their center-back pairing for the foreseeable future, along with Pacho.

Tottenham center-back Cristian Romero was at the center of transfer rumors in September, with a report linking Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester United to him over the summer.

Recently, TBR Football reported that Tottenham plan to meet with Romero in the coming months to discuss a new contract, given the growing interest in the Argentine.

While Romero is happy at Tottenham, he’s reportedly concerned about the club’s absence from UEFA Champions League football—a point he’s raised over the past six months.

With clubs like Real Madrid and PSG that can offer him consistent Champions League football, Spurs do have a challenge in attempting to keep the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner.

What’s the latest on Cristian Romero’s future at Tottenham?

Football Insider reported on Friday, citing sources, that Tottenham will expect a “huge” offer in negotiations for Romero. Nonetheless, these expectations could be lowered if the player doesn’t extend his contract, which runs until 2027.

Tottenham Hotspur center-back Cristian Romero became the focus of transfer rumors in September, with a report suggesting that Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester United had all shown interest in him during the summer transfer window.

While Tottenham didn’t set a specific asking price, Transfermarkt valued Romero at €65 million. Despite the interest from top clubs, Spurs remained firm and made it clear they wouldn’t entertain any offers for the defender.

Additionally, TBR Football reported last week, citing sources, that Tottenham plans to meet with Cristian Romero in the coming months to discuss a new contract due to increasing interest in the Argentine defender.

The report also mentions that while Romero is happy at Spurs, he’s concerned about the club’s lack of Champions League football—a worry he has raised during discussions over the past six months.

What’s the latest on Cristian Romero’s future?

Give Me Sport reports, citing sources, that Real Madrid’s interest in Cristian Romero could be enough to convince him to delay signing a new contract with Tottenham.

This is a significant blow for the north London club, as the La Liga title contenders have been long-time admirers of the defender, with their interest confirmed during the latter stages of last season.

The report also reveals that Tottenham is willing to make Romero one of the club’s highest earners in an attempt to convince him to stay rather than make the move to Real Madrid ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Tottenham Hotspur center-back Cristian Romero was the subject of transfer rumors when a report in September revealed that he caught the eye of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester United during the summer transfer window.

While there wasn’t a specific asking price, Transfermarkt estimates Romero’s value at €65 million. Despite the interest, Tottenham were firm in their stance, refusing to entertain any offers for the defender.

Moreover, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared an update in September regarding Romero’s future, noting that the player is attracting significant interest.

“Cristian Romero continues to be an important player for Tottenham, and so it’s perhaps normal that we’re starting to see rumours about interest from other top clubs, with some fans asking me if there’s anything to the links with Real Madrid,” Romano wrote in his latest Daily Debriefing column for CaughtOffside.

“However, I’m told that nothing is happening now. Romero’s contract could be a topic in the next months as Spurs of course want to keep him for the long term; but no active talks have started yet.”

What’s the latest on Cristian Romero and his future at Tottenham?

TBR Football reported on Friday, citing sources, that Tottenham plan to meet with Romero in the coming months to discuss a new contract, as they’re noticing growing interest in the Argentine defender.

The report also indicates that while Romero is content at Spurs, he’s worried about their absence from Champions League football, a concern he has voiced during discussions over the past six months.

Furthermore, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan are monitoring Romero’s situation closely, and they are clubs that can all offer regular Champions League football.

TBR Football concludes its report by stating that during early discussions, Tottenham informed Romero that his new contract would place him among Europe’s top defenders. Currently, Romero’s contract runs until 2027, but if he agrees to the new terms, it could be extended to 2030.

In September, CaughtOffside reported that Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Paris Saint-Germain are vying for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres.

According to the report, Tottenham are currently at the forefront of the race for Gyökeres, while Chelsea view him as a backup option, planning to make another push for Victor Osimhen in January or next summer.

PSG are also keeping an eye on Gyökeres, thanks to their strong relationship with Sporting. However, CaughtOffside mentions that any potential transfer will depend on whether the club decides to part ways with Ramos or Kolo Muani after this season, a situation that remains up in the air.

Florian Plettenberg from Sky Sports Germany adds that Gyökeres has a release clause of €100 million, but an agreement is in place for him to leave Sporting CP next summer for between €60 million and €70 million.

While a winter transfer isn’t on the horizon, a move in the summer seems quite likely. In England, clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea are particularly interested in the 26-year-old striker.

Pundit urges Manchester United to pursue Viktor Gyökeres

Tim Sherwood advised Ruben Amorim to bring in Gyökeres, but first, he needs to find a way to remove Joshua Zirkzee from the team.

“He needs to then decide what do I need in January. Does he bring in Marcus Edwards with him? That boy is a superstar,” Sherwood said (h/t TEAMTalk). “He went from Tottenham [Hotspur] to Sporting

“Do we bring Gyokeres? He’s absolutely on fire at the moment. I would suggest 100 percent that boy comes in because they’re starved of center-forwards. They’ve got Hojlund, they’ve got Zirkzee, who’s not a center-forward anyway, but they’ve got to get him out before they can bring players in, and that’s the problem.”

Paris Saint-Germain opted not to pursue a No. 9 this past summer window, giving Randal Kolo Muani and Gonçalo Ramos a vote of confidence.

However, the Frenchman’s name is in the rumor mill in recent days which means that the Parisians could pursue a striker next year. Manager Luis Enrique has opted for a false No. 9 rather than using Kolo Muani, which is a telling sign.

Last month, CaughtOffside reported, citing sources, that Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and PSG are the prominent names to watch regarding Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas recently spoke about the Swedish star’s future and noted whether he sees a move occurring when the January transfer window opens.

“It’s very, very difficult,” Varandas said. “Impossible is nothing in life so I can’t say that… but I’d say very, very difficult and complicated.”

🚨🇸🇪 Can Viktor Gyökeres leave Sporting in January?

Sporting president Varandas: “It’s very, very difficult. Impossible is nothing in life so I can’t say that… but I’d say very, very difficult and complicated”. pic.twitter.com/9zxpX18Dfp

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 21, 2024

The report also notes that Tottenham have emerged as the most interested in Gyökeres. Meanwhile, Chelsea are keeping him as a potential option as they’re expected to make another attempt at Victor Osimhen in January or next summer.

PSG also admires Gyökeres and have an excellent relationship with Sporting. Nonetheless, CaughtOffside reveals that any move would likely depend on whether the club decides to part ways with Ramos or Kolo Muani after this season, which hasn’t been determined yet.

Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres has been attracting much attention, especially with his start to the 2024-25 season. Moreover, a new suitor joins the race to land the 26-year-old forward.

According to a report from CaughtOffside last week, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and PSG are the main clubs to watch in the race for Viktor Gyökeres. The report notes that Spurs have shown the strongest interest in the forward.

Chelsea are keeping an eye on him as a backup option, as they plan to make another push for Victor Osimhen in January or next summer. Meanwhile, PSG also admire Gyökeres and have a strong relationship with Sporting.

However, CaughtOffside adds that a potential move to PSG would likely hinge on whether the club decides to part ways with Gonçalo Ramos or Randal Kolo Muani after the season, which is still in the air.

The latest club to express interest in the Swedish standout is FC Barcelona. According to SPORT, the Catalan side are considering Gyökeres as a potential long-term replacement for striker Robert Lewandowski.

Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres has been attracting much attention, especially with how he started the 2024-25 season. Several clubs could be looking to address their goal-scoring concerns by making a move for him next year. However, one journalist suggests that Paris Saint-Germain shouldn’t be on that list.

CaughtOffside reported on Wednesday, citing sources, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and PSG are currently the key players to watch in the race for Gyökeres. The report highlights that Tottenham have emerged as the most interested in Gyökeres.

Chelsea are keeping him as a potential option, with plans to make another attempt for Victor Osimhen in January or next summer. PSG also admire Gyökeres and have a strong relationship with Sporting.

Nonetheless, CaughtOffside reveals that any move would likely depend on whether the club decides to part ways with Gonçalo Ramos or Randal Kolo Muani after this season, which has yet to be determined.

Le Parisien journalist Dominique Séverac states that PSG have their goal scorer in Ramos and doesn’t need to pursue Gyökeres.

“Paris considered signing Viktor Gyökeres this summer, but it seems Luis Enrique didn’t give the green light,” Séverac wrote (h/t Le10Sport). “Let me say this again: the top striker Paris is searching for is already in the squad—Gonçalo Ramos. Once he fully recovers from his ankle sprain, he could easily score 30 goals this season!

“The real No. 9 is here, just injured at the moment. Honestly, if Ramos had played on Wednesday, PSG wouldn’t have struggled so much to find the back of the net. He’ll be back in two months, so let’s be patient. With him, PSG’s attack could look very different.”