Atalanta moved to bolster Maurizio Sarri's midfield options on Saturday, confirming the signing of Eljif Elmas on loan from RB Leipzig with an option to buy at the end of the season.
The North Macedonia international returns to Serie A after a single season in Germany, having previously played for both Napoli and Torino in Italy. At Atalanta he reunites with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, who brought him to Napoli, though he will work under a top-flight coach for the first time in Sarri.
Elmas, 26, made 189 Serie A appearances across his two previous Italian clubs, contributing 19 goals and 13 assists, and Bergamo's move for him was described locally as a surprise, quick-turnaround deal completed with Leipzig in a matter of days.
Away from Bergamo, ONE also reports that Leon Goretzka is closing in on a move to Aston Villa. According to the outlet, the German midfielder is in the process of finalising a switch to Villa Park after leaving Bayern Munich at the end of his contract following eight seasons at the Bavarian club.
Multiple English outlets covering the deal say Unai Emery held a direct call with Goretzka that proved decisive, with a verbal agreement now in place and a medical expected in the coming days. The 31-year-old made 312 appearances for Bayern between 2018 and 2026, scoring 51 goals.
Villa's interest is driven by need: the club lost Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and saw Enzo Barrenechea depart for Benfica this summer, while Amadou Onana is expected to miss most of the season after tearing his ACL on World Cup duty with Belgium.
Neither club has yet issued a formal announcement on Goretzka, so the move remains a reported agreement rather than a completed transfer pending his medical and signature.
