Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea among clubs linked to Freiburg striker in Sunday transfer gossip
On 3 October 2026, Sunday’s transfer gossip column reported that Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were among clubs monitoring Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic. The roundup also named Juventus as interested in Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni and said Newcastle were open to letting Joe Willock leave in January.
Three Premier League clubs are said to be checking on Freiburg’s 23-year-old Croatian forward Igor Matanovic (Caughtoffside). Juventus are reported to want Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni, 19, “as the Serie A side look to bolster the number of Italian players in their squad” (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian). Newcastle United are described as willing to allow Joe Willock, 27, to depart in the January transfer window with his contract due to run out in the summer and the player yet to open talks over a new deal (Football Insider).
Tottenham Hotspur have no plans to sell defender Micky van de Ven, 25, despite reported interest from Liverpool, with the Netherlands international expected to be a target next year (Football Insider). The item presents Tottenham’s stance alongside Liverpool’s preparatory activity rather than confirming any formal offer (Football Insider).
AC Milan are reported to be considering a move for Brighton’s Sweden midfielder Yasin Ayari, 22, as a potential replacement for Luka Modric should the 41-year-old Croatia international choose to retire (Tuttosport via Football Italia). The coverage frames Ayari as a candidate in the event Modric ends his playing career (Tuttosport via Football Italia).
Brighton and Bournemouth sent scouts to Medellin to watch 21-year-old Colombian centre-back Neider Parra, who plays for Atletico Nacional (El Deportivo - in Spanish). Separately, Brighton chief executive Paul Barber is said to have contingency plans in place should the club’s top performers attract interest from bigger teams (Sky Sports).
Brentford’s Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Rafn Valdimarsson, 24, said he would consider leaving the club in the future if first-team opportunities remain limited (RUV - in Icelandic). Roma are reported to want to sign Brazil striker Endrick on loan from Real Madrid in January, with the 20-year-old said to be keen on the move to gain more game time (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian).
Barcelona are reported to be lining up new contract deals for Brazilian forward Raphinha, 29, and for Spanish defender Xavi Espart and midfielder Marc Bernal, both 19 (Fabrizio Romano). The report lists the three players as being in line to sign fresh terms with the Catalan club (Fabrizio Romano).
Several items in the round-up refer specifically to the January transfer window, including Newcastle’s openness to a January departure for Joe Willock and Roma’s interest in taking Endrick on loan in January; those stories were sourced to Football Insider and Corriere dello Sport respectively.
