Wednesday’s Football Gossip: Echeverri, Inacio, Gyokeres, Vermeeren, Lingard, Taremi

Manchester City is reportedly close to signing Argentine midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate. The 17-year-old is expected to be loaned back to his current club until the end of the Premier League season.

Sporting Lisbon defender Goncalo Inacio is attracting interest from Arsenal and Liverpool. The 22-year-old has a 60 million euro release clause in his contract.

Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres has been linked with a move to Arsenal and Chelsea in January. However, the 25-year-old Sweden international has expressed his desire to remain with the Portuguese club for the remainder of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur is prepared to pay £25 million to secure the services of 18-year-old Belgium midfielder Arthur Vermeeren from Royal Antwerp. The deal would include a significant upfront fee and an agreement to loan the player back to the Pro League champions for the rest of the season.

Former England and Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard, 31, has been offered to Ligue 1 side Lille as a free agent. However, his potential move could be hindered by Brexit, as French clubs are limited to signing four players from non-EU states or countries.

Manchester United is considering a move for Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee, 22, who has scored seven goals in 17 games this season for Serie A side Bologna.

Inter Milan is interested in signing Iran international Mehdi Taremi, 31, from Porto in January. The club is also considering alternatives, such as Manchester United’s French forward Anthony Martial, 28, and Chelsea’s Albanian international Armando Broja, 22.

Atletico Madrid has rejected an approach from Juventus for Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, 29.

Paris Saint-Germain has agreed to a deal worth 20 million euros (£17.34 million) with Corinthians for 18-year-old Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Moscardo.

Former France defender Raphael Varane, 30, is open to leaving Manchester United to return to Lens, where he began his career.

Barcelona has signed 18-year-old Brazilian forward Vitor Roque, who has flown to Spain to begin his contract with the La Liga champions. Roque signed a seven-year deal with the club in July.

In other football news, Liverpool has secured a hard-fought victory against Burnley, moving the team to the top of the Premier League table. Meanwhile, Manchester United has won a thrilling match against Aston Villa, thanks to a late goal from Marcus Rashford.

As the festive season approaches, fans can look forward to a series of exciting Premier League fixtures, with many teams set to face off in crucial matches. Be sure to follow your favorite teams and stay up-to-date with the latest news and analysis on the BBC Sport website and app.