With the amount of rumours swirling around at this time of year, even after the summer transfer window, it is sometimes difficult to decipher the truth.
These are matters of importance.
With all the transfer talk now directed at the January winter market, there are still enormous amounts of speculation swirling around Europe and the UK.
Not to worry however, because here at Tribalfootball, we have broken down the week's hottest transfer rumours, and inform you whether you should believe the paper talk or not.
Marco Asensio - Real Madrid
Interested:Manchester United
There may be no young star who has shone brighter on the world stage in the past year than Real Madrid's Marco Asensio. Bursting with talent, Asensio is one of the brightest young talents football has to offer.
To be playing at such a high level with Real Madrid at just 21 years of age is no easy feat, in fact it's incredible. If you sprinkle in a handful of caps for the national side amongst a La Liga and Champions League trophy, the young Spaniard has built up quite the resume in his first few years on the job.
He looks to have things pretty good, so why would he ever want to leave?
There are three certainties in life. Death, taxes, and Real Madrid being linked with expensive and unnecessary transfers. That last part has come up again recently with rumours swirling on a potential move for Chelsea star Eden Hazard. There are suggestions that talks of signing players that threaten his spot may have Asensio feeling a little impatient.
If that were the case, he must be reminded that he shouldn't make any rash decisions. If there's ever been a time to hang tough at Real Madrid in the hope of cementing a spot, it's now. With the future of Gareth Bale amidst injury and form issues looking increasingly cloudy, and the alarming drop in quality for Cristiano Ronaldo this season, there is ample reason to suggest that there may be a couple of spots opening up in the Madrid XI sometime in the next couple of years. There is no man better poised to make these spots his own than Asensio.
A move for a Hazard type can never be ruled out, but while Bale remains there it's hard to see it happening. Marco Asensio will likely stay put and try and forge his own legacy at Real Madrid.
Verdict: No chance
Ander Herrera - Manchester United
Interested:Atletico Madrid
Ander Herrera can be somewhat of a divisive figure, with most United fans loving him, and most opposition fans … not loving him.
He may be a rough player at times but one thing is for sure, any side would be better off with him, and Manchester United will be desperate to keep a hold of him amidst growing interest from Spain.
Being a Spanish international, the lure of returning home must be at least somewhere in the back of his mind as Herrera weighs up whether or not to sign his new contract.
If rumours were correct and Atletico Madrid were to come knocking with a serious offer, he'd have to consider it. In fact he may find it very, very difficult to say no.
Herrera has not endured the most successful time at Manchester United, having won no Premier League titles in his time there.
While there is certainly no promise of league success at Atletico Madrid, who's to say Diego Simeone would not be able to at least convince him there's some chance.
For the most part though, Herrera seems pretty content with his life in Manchester. United are in their best position to win a title in some time, and he is getting regular play time. If United offer a suitable contract, as you'd expect they should, he'll likely stay. If not though, the call of a return home may be too good to ignore. If Mesut Ozil or any other signing get made soon though, the decision to stay may be made even more difficult.
Verdict: Don't get complacent Manchester.
Interested:Real Madrid
In case you'd missed it, there's been some rumours over the past season that Alexis Sanchez might leave Arsenal. There's been a lot of rumours.
Sanchez currently finds himself in career limbo, and must be thinking long and hard about what his next step should be. He finds himself benched occasionally for a side that's an unlikely chance to contend for a league title, while his national side has nothing to play for with their World Cup qualification ending in heartbreak.
If you're Alexis you have to be wondering, what's the point?
There's the usual suspects when it come to interested suitors, namely Manchester City. There's also been rumours of an approach from Real Madrid.
While a return to Spain may be attractive for Sanchez, you'd think that a move to stay in England to win the league title that has alluded him for so long must be more attractive.
He may choose to stay with Arsenal and wait until they find their own league success, but how long does one wait?
Verdict: Going, going…
David Luiz - Chelsea
Interested:Barcelona
Has any player ever had a more volatile, rollercoaster career than David Luiz? From promising young starlet at Benfica, to laughing stock at the Brazil World Cup, back to world class title winner at Chelsea, no player better personifies the ups and downs of football than David Luiz.
Rumours have been swirling of a rift between Luiz and Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who is also no stranger to the turmoil of football.
Latest rumours indicate that Chelsea may look to move Luiz on sooner rather than later, with Barcelona being the likely destination.
After everything Luiz has been through at Chelsea, it's hard to see him not enduring through this current wave of bad press. He's broken up with them, fought with them, loved them, and hurt them, but in the end, the relationship between David Luiz and the Chelsea Football Club has endured. They might be a bit cross with each other for the moment, but history would dictate they'll settle their differences
Verdict: Give it time
Leon Goretzka - Schalke
Interested:Liverpool, Barcelona, Chelsea
Leon Goretzka is a young man full of potential, ready to take the world by storm.
The attacking midfielder has been capped 12 times for Germany at just 22 years of age, and has scored 6 goals for the World Cup champions. Suffice to say, the kid ain't half bad.
It's little surprise with such impressive performances that Goretzka is attracting some attention from some of Europe's top clubs, with Barcelona the latest club rumoured to be interested in the talented German.
For Goretzka, a potential Barcelona offer might be hard to ignore. He would have another German to keep him company in Marc Andre Ter Stegen, and would be a real candidate for a starting XI position.
For something a little more in his comfort zone however, the lure of Liverpool might also be attractive. With a renowned German manager at the helm, and past success in turning Schalke players into Premier League starters (Joel Matip), it may be Merseyside that makes the most sense.
If Coutinho does leave for Barcelona in the summer as expected, it would be unlikely that Barca would also pursue Goretzka. Liverpool on the other hand would have a gap to fill and money to burn.
Verdict: Watch this space
