Paper Round: Manchester City, United and Barcelona face off for Frenkie de Jong

Manchester City want to add a central midfielder to their squad in the January transfer window. Adrien Rabiot and Thiago Alcantara are on the shortlist, but their priority is Ajax’s Frenkie De Jong. The 21-year-old is supposedly not available this winter, but City will test their resolve with a bid as they face an injury crisis. They will face competition from Manchester United and Barcelona.

Paper Round’s view: De Jong is just 21, meaning that any team that signs him should not expect too much in a mid-season transfer, especially with the step up from Dutch football to one of the better European leagues. However, if City buy him without having to use him too often, then they will get the chance to bed him in ahead of the start of next season. The chances of United competing for players while Jose Mourinho is left unsupported by Ed Woodward are slim.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already had an offer to leave MLS side LA Galaxy. Ibrahimovic recently scored his 500th career goal, and has impressed in his first season in America. However, he has revealed that he has an offer from his former club in Sweden, Malmo. The chance to win a league title with his boyhood club appeals to him and he may move in the future.

Paper Round’s view: A move back to Sweden would allow Ibrahimovic to settle back into his home country with a warm reception from the public, if that’s what he wants to do. However, his time in America has shown he remains fit despite that serious knee injury, and he might yet return to Europe on loan with an eye for staying in the spotlight a little longer.

Fulham are already preparing for the summer transfer window, after identifying Maxwel Cornet of Lyon. Cornet scored against Manchester City for the French side’s win in the Champions League last week, and Lyon are open to selling their star. The Ivory Coast international is rated at £18 million, and could make the move to London when the transfer window re-opens at the end of the Premier League season.

Paper Round’s view: Fulham will probably have to establish themselves in the Premier League and secure survival before they can complete any deal, but so far there seems no grave danger of an awful season. £18m for a player who is just 21 and scoring in the Champions League is excellent value and a partnership with Aleksandar Mitrovic could be a dangerous proposition.

Steven Caulker could soon make a return to English football after leaving Dundee. The former Cardiff, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur central defender is on a free transfer, and is wanted by Championship clubs Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic, who both need defensive reinforcements. Ukrainian side Arsenal Kiev are also interested.

Paper Round’s view: Caulker’s career has been peripatetic after facing challenges with various mental health issues. It is hard to say if he will be able to get back to the top level of football, by settling into a happier situation. At 26, he is reaching an age where he might begin to mature and produce consistent performances. If he can manage that, a return to the Premier League is not out of the question.