Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael van der Vaart to AC Milan? REUTERS

The pick of today's Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga football transfer rumours, news and gossip for 21 September, 2011. All the latest transfer rumours surrounding Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, Barcelona and Real Madrid will be covered here.

AC Milan are weighing up a move for Tottenham playmaker Rafael van der Vaart in January, according to unnamed and unquoted "Italian sources". The Dutchman has found himself on the periphery of events at White Hart Lane this season and was recently omitted from Spurs' Europa League squad.

Across town, Arsenal are linked with a loan move for Inter Milan winger Ricky Alvarez in January. Arsene Wenger missed out on the 23-year-old in the summer but could succeed with a renewed effort in the winter transfer window, according to reports in Portugal.

Wenger is also interested in Valencia teenager Paco Alcacer but could face competition from Liverpool for the highly-rated 18-year-old. Alcacer has a reported £8m buy-out clause in his contract but Valencia president Manuel Llorente is determined to keep him at the club having lost Juan Mata to Chelsea in the summer.

Finally, the Sisyphean-nature of Neymar's transfer to Real Madrid has been given an added twist after the Santos star denied reports he has already agreed a deal to join the La Liga club.

"There is no truth in these rumours. I am a Santos player and I will stay here for the club's centenary."

The player's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, added "AC Milan was interested, but they said they could not pay €45million.

"Anzhi Makhachkala also wanted to sign Neymar, but that is an ideal club for players who are older than 35. For example, Jucilei, who went to play there, is no longer remembered today and is not an option for the Brazil national team anymore," he added.