Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic could reportedly be offered a route back to the Premier League by newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
The Tractor Boys are currently on course to head straight back down to the Championship as they occupy 18th place in the top-flight rankings, albeit only adrift of 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on goal difference.
Kieran McKenna reinforced the Ipswich midfield over the summer with the captures of Kalvin Phillips and Jens Cajuste on loan from Manchester City and Napoli respectively, but according to Sky Deutschland, the East Anglia outfit are now eyeing a shock move for Matic.
The 36-year-old left England in 2022 following the expiry of his contract with the Red Devils, since when he has represented Roma, Rennes and most recently Lyon.
Matic only has 18 months left to run on his deal with Les Gones, though, and the French outfit have been under significant pressure to raise funds after being provisionally relegated to Ligue 2.
Serie A trio Fiorentina, Como and Napoli are also reported to have shown an interest in the former Serbia international, but he supposedly has no plans to leave the Groupama Stadium this month.
Aston Villa on verge of teenager signing?
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At the other end of the experience scale, 18-year-old Kasimpasa and Turkey defender Yasin Ozcan is apparently on the verge of making the mid-season switch to Aston Villa.
The 2006-born centre-back has started every Turkish Super Lig match for Kasimpasa this season, registering one assist, and he earned his first senior national team call-up in June of last year.
Ozcan penned a long-term contract extension with his current club until 2029 last summer too, but according to A Spor - via Ajansspor - the youngster is set to embark on a new adventure to Villa Park.
Villa will allegedly pay Kasimpasa a fee of €8m (£6.7m) to bring Ozcan to the Premier League, and he is set to travel to England next week to undergo his medical and sign his contract.
The report adds that Unai Emery might decide to integrate the centre-back into his squad straight away, or the Lions might choose to send him back on loan to Kasimpasa for the rest of the campaign.
Ozcan's imminent switch to Villa comes at a time where Diego Carlos is being heavily linked with an exit from the Lions, who could coincidentally sell him to another Turkish side in Fenerbahce.
Borussia Dortmund 'make approach' for City defender
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From one teenage centre-back to another, Manchester City starlet Max Alleyne has supposedly been the subject of an approach from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
The 19-year-old has been on the bench for Pep Guardiola's side in the Premier League this season, but he is still waiting to make his senior debut for the Citizens and was not involved in Saturday's 8-0 FA Cup annihilation of Salford City.
The Premier League champions have been hit particularly hard by defensive injuries this season, but rather than promote Alleyne, City are on the brink of sealing a £33.5m deal for Lens' Abdukodir Khusanov.
The Uzbekistan international's arrival would present another roadblock in Alleyne's path to the first team, and according to Fabrizio Romano, Dortmund have now touched base over a move.
Romano adds that unnamed Premier League teams are also showing an interest in the Under-20 international, but Dortmund have stolen a march on their English rivals by making first contact.
Alleyne joined Man City's academy ranks from Southampton in 2021 and was a part of their triumphant Club World Cup squad in the 2023-24 season.
Ander Herrera close to sealing Boca Juniors move?
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We started with a former Man United midfielder, and we will end with a former Man United midfielder, as a separate update from Romano claims that Ander Herrera is close to joining Boca Juniors.
The 35-year-old has represented La Liga powerhouses Athletic Bilbao since the start of the 2022-23 season, initially joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain before his move was made permanent midway through the campaign.
However, Herrera has only played 419 minutes of football across 14 appearances this season, making just two La Liga starts and missing his side's last five games with a muscular injury.
The Spaniard's contract with the Basque side now only has six months left to run, and talks between Boca Juniors and Athletic are now said to have reached a 'very advanced' stage.
Herrera has reportedly always dreamed of representing the Argentinian giants, and the veteran will travel to South America to complete his medical with Boca Juniors next week.
Herrera has won 12 major trophies during a successful career in European football, most recently helping Athletic claim the Copa del Rey title last season.
Ben Knapton
