Transfer Rumors, News: Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United Eye UCL Standout Stankovic

London’s top three clubs are ready to turn Aleksandar Stankovic’s Champions League breakthrough into a Premier League move. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all dispatched scouts to monitor the 20-year-old Club Brugge midfielder during the current European campaign, according to TEAMtalk, with the Serbia international emerging as one of the winter window’s most coveted targets.

Stankovic has been instrumental in Brugge’s surge into the Champions League playoffs, scoring in each of the Belgian side’s last two group-stage fixtures to secure progression. His performances have attracted a widening circle of admirers across Europe, yet sources indicate the player himself is open to a return to Inter Milan, who negotiated a buy-back clause valid for the next two seasons when they sanctioned his move to Brugge.

That clause, however, is unlikely to deter Premier League suitors. United, Chelsea and Arsenal have all tracked the Belgrade-born midfielder since the start of the season, and the trio are expected to maintain their presence at Brugge fixtures through the spring as they weigh formal offers. Inter remain in pole position should they trigger the clause, but the growing queue of English clubs could accelerate negotiations.

While Stankovic dominates continental headlines, Tottenham Hotspur have stolen a march in the battle for Christian Pulisic. TEAMtalk understands Spurs have lodged “concrete interest” in the 27-year-old Milan winger, whose contract at San Siro enters its final year this summer. Pulisic’s representatives have also sounded out Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, but Tottenham’s pursuit is described as the most advanced, intensified by the club’s ongoing managerial search after Thomas Frank’s eight-month tenure ended in dismissal.

Across the peninsula, Juventus face a fight on two fronts. Premier League scouts will be in the San Siro on Saturday to run the rule over Bianconeri defender Pierre Kalulu, with Manchester United among the clubs weighing a move. Juve hope to head off interest by tabling a new four-year deal worth €3.5 million per season. At the same time, Juventus are positioning themselves as players in the free-agent market, setting their sights on Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, who is stalling on an Etihad extension and will be available on a Bosman in June. Atalanta’s Éderson is also on the Turin club’s wish-list, though Atlético Madrid loom after their 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg rout of Barcelona.

Milan, meanwhile, could poach a rival’s midfield lynchpin, with Calciomercato reporting that the Rossoneri want Juventus’ Weston McKennie on a free transfer once his deal expires in June. Inter have already expressed interest, setting up a potential cross-city tug-of-war for the U.S. international.

Elsewhere, Liverpool continue to push for a new contract for defender Ibrahima Konaté, while Manchester United expect Harry Maguire to commit his future to Old Trafford. Manchester City, in contrast, will not extend John Stones’ terms, leaving the England defender free to negotiate from January. Juventus striker Dušan Vlahovic may yet stay in Turin if he accepts a salary reduction, with no enticing offers from abroad materializing. Villarreal’s Alassane Diatta is attracting Premier League admiring glances, Al Hilal’s Darwin Núñez has been removed from their Pro League squad and could depart in the summer, and Sporting KC forward Dejan Joveljic is wanted by Tigres and MLS sides, with Torino eyeing Empoli defender Gabriele Guarino.

As the January window approaches its final weeks, Stankovic remains the name on every Premier League briefing note, and the race to secure his signature is only just heating up.