Transfer Rumors: Chelsea Eyes McAtee, AZ Alkmaar Holds Firm on Smit

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is looking to bring in former Manchester City midfielder James McAtee, who currently plays for Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old has garnered attention due to limited playing time at Forest, leading to interest from several clubs, including Leeds United, AFC Bournemouth, Fulham, Sunderland, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, and PSV Eindhoven. In addition, Chelsea is also eyeing Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton to bolster their midfield options.

Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit has caught the eye of Real Madrid and several leading Premier League clubs. According to Fabrizio Romano, despite the interest, AZ Alkmaar will not entertain any offers below their €60 million valuation. The 19-year-old’s transfer is unlikely to materialize until the summer, as the club has already dismissed offers that approached this figure.

In a strategic move, Manchester United views Al Hilal midfielder Rúben Neves as a potential late backup option for their midfield in January. Although the club is aware of Neves’ situation and the terms for a possible transfer, clarity on the deal remains elusive, particularly as their preferred targets appear unavailable in the winter window.

Charlotte FC is reportedly close to signing Celta Vigo and United States midfielder Luca de la Torre. The 27-year-old, who recently spent 2025 on loan at San Diego FC, will join the MLS side on a permanent basis. Charlotte will provide $50,000 in general allocation money to San Diego FC for de la Torre’s rights. The midfielder, who has 32 caps for the USMNT, is eager to make the FIFA World Cup squad despite being omitted from the last two national team selections.

AS Roma is working towards acquiring Giacomo Raspadori while Atlético Madrid aims to retain the forward. Raspadori is interested in a more prominent role at AS Roma, and while Atlético is open to offers, they will only consider bids that match the €22 million they invested last summer.

In other transfer news, Barcelona is interested in a loan deal for Manchester City defender Nathan Aké, while a permanent transfer is favored by AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Fulham, and West Ham United. Inter Milan is exploring options for various players, including Atalanta’s Marco Palestra and Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic, as they seek to strengthen their squad.

Negotiations for Mike Maignan’s contract extension with AC Milan remain challenging, though the goalkeeper is receptive to the club’s proposals. Additionally, Borussia Dortmund may see departures for Cole Campbell, Julien Duranville, and Salih Ozcan.

Fiorentina is targeting several players for their midfield, including Nice’s Jeremie Boga, while Lazio is monitoring Sporting CP striker Fotis Ioannidis in anticipation of the summer transfer window. Bologna is in discussions with Fluminense regarding center back Juan Pablo Freytes, and Eintracht Frankfurt remains hopeful about signing Elversberg striker Younes Ebnoutalib despite competition.

Atlanta United is close to finalizing a deal for Necaxa center back Tomás Jacob for approximately $5 million. Furthermore, Ligue 1 clubs are showing interest in Dunkerque winger Gessime Yassine, along with competition from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Werder Bremen, the Red Bull Group, and Villarreal. Flamengo is in touch with Lazio striker Taty Castellanos, although no formal offers have been made as of yet, while defensive midfielder Jean Onana is prepared to leave Genoa during the January transfer window.