Serie A news

The American star hasn’t always been valued, but his recent uptick in form has been impossible to ignore.

Chelsea are reportedly plotting a surprise move to sign Douglas Luiz on loan for the rest of the season. The Blues are believed to be keen to bolster their midfield ranks in the January transfer window and have identified the Brazil international as a target, despite the 27-year-old having played just 13 times for Nottingham Forest since joining on a season long loan from Juventus.

Former Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has returned to football in a new capacity following his dismissals from Spurs and Nottingham Forest. The Greek-Australian coach has been appointed as a UEFA Technical Observer and was immediately tasked with analysing Arsenal’s emphatic 3-1 Champions League victory over Inter, where he singled out Gabriel Jesus for special praise.

Home teams have won just 37.0% of all matches across Serie A this term. Is it worth backing that surprising trend to continue on a crucial weekend?

The agent representing Napoli youngsters Luca Marianucci and Giuseppe Ambrosino has launched a scathing attack on Antonio Conte, accusing the manager of "lacking the courage to use young players and holding them hostage." The criticism comes in the wake of another disappointing Champions League result for Il Partenopei, who face elimination from the competition after their 1-1 draw away with Copenhagen.

Jean-Philippe Mateta has reportedly told Crystal Palace he wants to leave Selhurst Park as the France striker believes the club do not match his ambitions. He is angry that promises regarding player recruitment and terms in a potential new contract have not been kept. It is believed the 28-year-old wants regular European football, and that he was recently the subject of an offer from Juventus.

Manchester United have reportedly been offered the opportunity to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan from Serie A giants AC Milan. The England international joined the Rossoneri in 2023 after struggling to nail down a regular place at boyhood side Chelsea and has largely managed to shake off his worrying past of injuries, making 90 appearances for the Italian side. However, they are apparently open to the 29-year-old departing on a temporary basis during the January transfer window and have offered his services to United.

Serie A giants Inter Milan are reportedly lining up a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The Argentina international has been a regular at Villa Park since joining the club in 2020 and has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. However, the 33-year-old has been regularly linked with a transfer away from Villa in the past few years, especially during the most recent summer window, and now Inter are considering him as a potential replacement for current shot-stopper Yann Sommer.

Diego Costa has hit out at former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, claiming "nobody liked" the current Napoli boss when he was in charge at Stamford Bridge. Former Spain international Costa spent three seasons with the Blues, the last of which came in 2016-17 when they won the Premier League title under the fiery Italian. However, the pair fell out and Costa was soon sent back to previous club Atletico Madrid.

Michel Platini is undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers of all time. Playmaker, assister, goal-scorer: Platini was a complete player, capable of leaving an indelible mark on world football between the late 1970s and mid-1980s. He was the perfect No.10, embodying the true essence of the shirt number both then and now.

Raheem Sterling is reportedly ready to snub interest from Italian champions Napoli as he pushes for a move to a Premier League rival. The Chelsea outcast, who has been frozen out at Stamford Bridge, is desperate to remain in the capital for personal reasons and has identified Fulham as his preferred destination.

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has reportedly separated from his wife, Alice Campello, for a second time, marking a sad end to their attempts to salvage their seven-year marriage. The 33-year-old forward has moved out of the family home in Milan just a year after the couple reunited, with reports confirming he is now living in a separate property in an exclusive area of the city.

Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged victorious in his long-running dispute with former employers Juventus regarding wages that initially went unpaid. The Portuguese superstar, along with his teammates in Turin, agreed to defer certain salary payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has since taken matters to court in a bid to keep $11 million that was owed to him.

Gianluigi Donnarumma’s agent has dropped a stunning transfer bombshell, admitting that the Italy captain would jump at the chance to return to Serie A despite only joining Manchester City six months ago. While Enzo Raiola insists his client is currently finding "serenity" in England, he revealed that they would "seize" the opportunity to head home if a suitable offer arose, putting long-term admirers Juventus and Inter on red alert regarding the goalkeeper's future.

While goals were hard to come by in the Premier League over the weekend, there were still plenty of intriguing narratives that emerged in England's top-flight, while elsewhere around Europe there was plenty of entertainment to be had ahead of the return of the Champions League this midweek.

Vinicius Junior making a move to Chelsea remains a ”fairytale shout”, says former Blues midfielder Jody Morris, with the Real Madrid superstar considered to be “too old” for owners at Stamford Bridge that prefer to focus on youth and potential. A ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu is, however, generating talk of a Premier League transfer being made in 2026.

Niclas Fullkrug's nightmare start to life in Italy continued last week after the striker had €500k worth of valuables stolen from his hotel room. The German moved to the Rossoneri on loan for the rest of the season at the start of January, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Premier League side West Ham.