Transfer news Thursday RECAP: Mesut Ozil eyes Manchester United move... plus all the rest of the gossip from around Europe

Thanks for following the day's breaking stories with us and hope you will return tomorrow when we're back with more of the latest transfer news from the Premier League and further afield. 

SIMON JONES: Sheffield United are among the queue of clubs ready to take Manchester United's James Wilson on loan in January.

The striker was forced to return to the club after knee ligament injury cruelly cut short his season loan at Derby County last October 2016.

After a good rehabilitation, Wilson has built up his strength again and has been showing good form in United's U23s, scoring regularly.

Asked whether a loan move could be on the cards in the New Year, Wilson told MUTV: 'I don't see why not. Obviously, the summer transfer window has gone and there was a lot of interest. But the staff all came to an agreement that I would stay until January to build on what I've already worked for.

'So I think it's certainly a possibility. We'll just have to talk and have a few conversations with the manager and certain people around here. I'm not ruling it out but we'll come to an agreement over what needs to be done.'

MATT BARLOW: Theo Walcott’s omission from the Arsenal squad at West Ham was down to injury.

Walcott tweaked a groin muscle in training on Monday and was not fit for the derby but his absence from the team-sheet has ceased to create a stir, such is his fall from favour.

Arsene Wenger’s team were held to a goalless draw and have not won in three Premier League games.

His future at Arsenal, too, is unclear with only 18 months before his contract expires and plenty of interest from Premier League clubs, among them Everton and West Ham, two teams desperate for the turn of pace and goal threat he brings.

In fact, his abundant strengths are exactly what Arsenal have been missing in recent games.

Walcott has the speed to make defenders uncomfortable, to shift well-organised teams out of position, to threaten behind the defensive line, to create chances and find the net.

FULL STORY

SIMON JONES: Celtic could receive a £7.5million windfall if Virgil Van Dijk moves in January.

Liverpool remain intent on signing the Dutch centre-back while Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea have asked to be kept informed. However, Southampton would want £75million should they agree to let the 26-year-old go next month.

Liverpool are braced for a new push from Juventus to sign Emre Can and expect Barcelona to try again for Philippe Coutinho. However, they remain unlikely to let Can go until the summer as discussions continue over a new contract and stutter over the proposal of a release clause that Liverpool have no desire to agree to.

Reports in Italy suggest the Austrian full-back will return to Lazio when his contract expires in the summer to play out the rest of his career in Rome.

Sir Ian Botham has been appointed club president of Scunthorpe.

The 62-year-old former England all-rounder, who scored more than 7,000 runs and took more than 500 wickets for his country, played 11 times for the club between 1980 and 1985.

Iron chairman Peter Swann said: 'We had a table at the ball to mark his retirement from fundraising walks on Monday. I thought it would be great if we could offer him the opportunity to become Scunthorpe United president. He accepted it without hesitation.'

SIMON JONES: Everton are among the clubs showing interest in Lille defender Adama Soumaoro.

West Ham, Monaco, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund have also been following the versatile 25-year-old who can play across the back line.

Lille are understood to have been told to raise £23million by the National Directorate of Management Control, the financial policing arm of the French league, or risk being relegated and face a ban on January recruitment.

Soumaoro is valued highly at around £20m by Lille and selling him could prove a convenient shortcut to their financial troubles.

He is a strong, athletic player who likes to play out from defence using a short passing game, is good in the air and reads the game well.

Sunderland watched him last year also.

Manchester United have made enquiries for Chelsea midfielder Willian but the Premier League champions are reluctant to sell in January.

The Brazilian spoke about his future following Chelsea's midweek win over Huddersfield Town and said the club's fans can be calm that he is happy at Stamford Bridge.

Willian is a popular figure among teammates, however, it is understood he has naturally been frustrated at the lack of starting opportunities and knows Jose Mourinho is a confirmed admirer.

READ THE FULL STORY

Athletic Club teammate Ander Iturraspe insists there has been no indication from goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga that he is preparing to leave for Real Madrid.

'We don't have the feeling that it's Kepa's last days with us,' said Iturraspe.

'[Kepa] is a great professional and a great person and I have no doubt about his performance.'

Casillas has recently been replaced in the Porto first team by Jose Sa. The Spanish veteran keeper was also recently linked with a move to Newcastle

LAURIE WHITWELL: A number of Premier League scouts have been spotted attending Shrewsbury Town matches to run the rule over midfielder Ben Godfrey.

Godfrey has been in superb form all season and a key player in Shrewsbury’s unexpected rise into automatic promotion contention.

England Under-20 manager Paul Simpson is also keeping a close eye on the 19-year-old with a view to potentially delivering a call-up to the international scene. 

Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, and Southampton have all been to check on him ahead of the winter window opening.

Godfrey is on loan from Norwich City and has played 17 of 20 League One games with Paul Hurst’s side second in the table.

In recognition of Godfrey’s ability Norwich signed him to contract to 2021 in the summer, plus the option of an extra year. At 6ft 2in tall, he is a dominant midfielder who if needed can play at centre-back.

Catalan giants weighing up a move for Palmeiras; Colombian defender Yerry Mina, according to local sources.

SAMI MOKBEL: Everton are interested in Leeds United teenager Mallik Wilks.

The 18-year-old has scored five goals during a loan spell at League Two side Accrington Stanley this season and is attracting attention from clubs in the upper echelons of English football.

Wilks has already made his senior Leeds debut, coming on as a substitute in last season’s shock FA Cup defeat to non-league Sutton.

And the Toffees are showing a keen interest in the teenage attacker. West Brom have also scouted Wilks extensively this season.

FULL STORY

KIERAN GILL: Jack Wilshere says there is not yet any date in the diary for talks with Arsenal, despite Arsene Wenger having said they will hold a meeting this month.

Wilshere, who was handed his first Premier League start since May 2016 on Wednesday night, is waiting for his boss to call with his contract expiring at the end of this season.

Arsenal drew 0-0 with West Ham at the London Stadium and now sit seventh in the table but Wilshere, 25, was pleased to finally see his name on the team sheet.

‘We’re in the same position as we were two weeks ago,’ Wilshere said of his contract. ‘Nothing’s changed.

‘There’s not really a date in the diary. I’ve only read what he (Wenger) has said in the media. I’ve just played my first game in the Premier League, I’m concentrating on staying fit and staying in this team.

‘That will look after itself. When it’s the right time to talk about it, I’m sure the boss will call me and we will have a chat.'

FULL STORY

Motherwell striker Louis Moult will join Preston for an undisclosed fee, the Fir Park club have announced.

The 25-year-old, who has scored 50 goals in 98 appearances for the Steelmen, will move south on January 1 after agreeing a three-and-a-half year deal.

Moult is out with a hamstring injury but remains available for potential selection if he returns to fitness before the end of the year.

Italian report suggests Fabinho wanting out of Monaco could see Juve opt for the Brazilian over Emre Can:

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio may be following in the footsteps of his former team-mate Andrea Pirlo with a move to MLS.

Tuttosport claims that the oft-injured star is weighing a potential move to North America. Currently, Marchisio is out-of-favor with manager Max Allegri and sits fifth on the midfield depth chart, behind Rodrigo Bentancur.

ROBERT COTTINGHAM: Andres Iniesta insists he can't rule out Real Madrid signing Neymar, but admits he would be frustrated to see his former Barcelona team-mate join the Catalans' biggest rivals.

Neymar left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record £198million fee in August but there are already suggestions he is unsettled in the French capital. 

The Brazilian's father left the door open to Neymar's potential exit after admitting a move to Real Madrid remains a possibility in the future.

And having spent four seasons playing alongside Neymar at the Nou Camp, Iniesta admits he would be annoyed to see the 25-year-old in the white of Real Madrid.

'Anything can happen in football and I would not rule it out,' Iniesta told Mundo Deportivo when asked if Neymar could move to the Santiago Bernabeu.  

'We've seen numerous times how there are situations which seem unlikely or impossible but they end up happening.

'If Neymar was to join Madrid? It would annoy me in the sense that he wins matches and would strengthen a direct rival, but I’m not worried.'

Iniesta was also quizzed by the Spanish outlet on two potential January signings at Barcelona; Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Palmeiras defender Yerry Mina.

'Coutinho and Mina in January? I think it would be two important reinforcements,' Iniesta said. 'They would be two big signings for Barca.'

FULL STORY

Reports in Spain say veteran Argentine star Javier Mascherano will be joining Hebei Fortune in January:

LAURIE WHITWELL: A number of Championship clubs are tracking Jack Marriott ahead of the January window amid the Peterbrough striker’s excellent form.

Marriott has scored 17 goals in 30 games for the League One side following a summer move from Luton and teams a division higher are weighing up approaches.

Queens Park Rangers, Aston Villa, and Sunderland are on the look-out for a centre-forward and might make a move should Peterbrough be willing to do business at around £2.5million. Millwall are also keen but could be priced out.

Darragh MacAnthony, Peterbrough’s owner, has a history of picking strikers from the lower levels and selling for a significant profit and he is expected to drive a hard bargain in any negotiations for the 23-year-old, who signed a contract to in 2021 June.

Manager Grant McCann would be loathed to lose Marriott with his team six points off the play-off places but it may be difficult to stop the striker moving up a tier should a Championship side bid strongly.

Angel Di Maria wants more playing time after getting a rare Paris Saint-Germain start in quarter-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue.

The Argentine star has not been a first team regular this season following the arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar but says he is willing to fight for his place.

'I'm happy in Paris, not so much with the season. I'd like to play more,' Di Maria told reporters. 'But I'm grateful for the minutes I'm currently getting and proving that I'm ready to be a starter.

'I'm doing the right things to show that I want to be a starter, that I want to play. I know that they are decisions that the coach makes these decisions.'

'The truth is, if someone thinks about it and isn't happy, they need to play to prove that they should start.'

JACK GAUGHAN: Manchester City have zeroed in on Virgil van Dijk and Inigo Martinez as potential defensive signings next month.

Pep Guardiola reiterated his desire to land a centre half in January earlier this week and confirmed talks had taken place with sporting director Txiki Begiristain.

Sportsmail understands Southampton’s Van Dijk and Martinez of Real Sociedad are two high on Guardiola’s radar, with the manager weighing up both.

FULL STORY

ROBERT COTTINGHAM: Fabinho has announced he wants to leave Monaco in the summer, with Manchester United interested in a move for the Brazil international.

The 24-year-old expressed his desire to join United last summer but a deal never materialised and he remained at Monaco. 

But Fabinho has now confirmed he is ready to leave the club, with Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid also keen on a move. 

'It should be my last season at Monaco,' Fabinho told reporters at a press conference. 'Atletico or PSG? I’m a Monaco player. 

'I need to prove I can play on teams like that. We'll see in May. I used to read the papers. I don't anymore. I'm OK with that.'

FULL STORY

The latest development in the story over Mesut Ozil's next club came from Jack Gaughan last night.

JACK GAUGHAN: Mesut Ozil favours a move to Manchester United over Barcelona should he leave Arsenal in the coming months.

Arsene Wenger confirmed this week that the Gunners are still negotiating with Ozil, whose contract runs down at the end of this season.

A new deal worth £235,000 a week has already been turned down, with the Germany international making it plain to friends he is eyeing a switch to United.

FULL STORY

We are counting down towards the opening of the transfer window in January as the clubs get their recruitment wheels in motion. Expect all the latest transfer news as it happens throughout the day.