Transfers

Liverpool are all set to terminate young starlet James McConnell’s loan with Ajax as Championship clubs circle ahead of the January transfer window. The Liverpool academy graduate made his senior debut in 2024 and left for Dutch giants Ajax on a season-long loan after penning a five-year deal with his boyhood club in the summer.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard made a transfer admission as he regretted that the Merseyside club did not sign ‘animal’ Declan Rice in 2023. Rice moved to Arsenal from West Ham in the summer of 2023 for a record fee of £105 million as the Gunners beat the likes of Manchester and Liverpool in the transfer race. In the last two-and-a-half years, Rice has massively risen in stature and is now one of the best players in England.

Manchester United women have completed the signing of Lea Schuller from Bayern Munich. In a major statement of intent from the club, the Germany international striker has joined the Red Devils on a contract until June 2029, becoming their second new addition in the January transfer window following the earlier arrival of Sweden defender Hanna Lundkvist.

Barcelona are eyeing a move for Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic on a free transfer as the Catalan giants see the striker as a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski. The veteran Polish forward, who will soon enter the final six months of his current contract, has yet to decide on his future at Barcelona and has not penned a fresh extension yet.

Manager Ruben Amorim has stressed Manchester United will not make any new signings in January unless there is “common ground” between himself and director of football Jason Wilcox over which players will improve the squad. The Red Devils continue to be linked with a host of names - including several midfielders - ahead of the winter transfer window opening on New Year's Day.

Ahead of the winter transfer window, GOAL reevaluates its grades for the biggest summer moves involving USMNT stars.

Kylian Mbappe’s ownership era at Caen has taken a bold new turn after the French club appointed former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Gael Clichy as head coach. The 40-year-old steps into his first senior managerial role amid supporter unrest, with the club banking on his elite pedigree to spark a revival as they struggle in the third tier of French football.

Nicolas Jackson’s future is once again under the spotlight after his agent dropped a telling hint about the striker’s next move, with doubts growing over a permanent stay at Bayern Munich. The Senegal international’s loan spell in Germany appears to be nearing its natural end, opening the door to a new destination as interest builds elsewhere in Europe.

Liverpool have been told to plough ahead with a bold move for Arsenal star Jurrien Timber as Arne Slot seeks to address his side's issues in defence. The Reds won the Premier League title last season but this term they are finding their defence much more difficult. The Merseyside outfit have shipped 26 goals in just 18 league games and now they're being urged to strengthen their backline.

Everton are reportedly eyeing a double January swoop for out-of-favour Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee. While a move for the pair will be difficult and potentially expensive, the Toffees are hoping that Manchester City loanee Jack Grealish could be part of the club's sales pitch to bring them to Hill Dickinson Stadium next month.

Antoine Semenyo's agents are reportedly due in Manchester to finalise a potential move to Manchester City. The Bournemouth star's entourage are expected to move ahead with contract terms over his £65 million ($87.5m) release clause, which runs until January 10. The player himself is said to be keen to wrap up his future at the start of next month, but whether a deal gets done remains to be seen.

The January transfer window is fast approaching, and clubs will once again be scrambling to strengthen for the second half of the season. In the 2025 winter market, £1.2 billion ($1.4bn) was spent across Europe's top leagues and the English Championship, the highest mark in seven years, with Manchester City accounting for £191 million ($256m) of that amount alone.

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has revealed what his relationship with Vinicius Junior was like on and off the pitch. Speculation is continuing to mount that the Brazil international will leave Los Blancos in 2026 after a difficult year or so at the Spanish giants. Amid such rumours, ex-midfielder Kroos has given a very strong character reference of the 25-year-old, while also giving his take on Endrick's Lyon loan.

Antoine Semenyo wants his Bournemouth future resolved by the opening day of the January transfer window as Cherries are bracing for a late twist in the transfer saga. The Ghanaian winger is in the midst of a transfer tug of war with a number of Premier League sides hoping to lure the Bournemouth ace away from the Vitality Stadium next month.

Manchester United star Joshua Zirkzee is set to push for an exit from Old Trafford in the upcoming January transfer window despite Ruben Amorim's attempts to block his move to Serie A. The striker has found minutes hard to come by this season, sitting firmly down the Old Trafford pecking order as summer signings Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha have been preferred as the team's No.9 by Amorim.

Chelsea's two January transfer priorities have been revealed as the Blues look to strengthen their squad to bridge the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal. The Premier League started the season on a positive note, but their form took a dip towards the end of the year as they managed to win just one match out of their last five outings in the league, including a loss to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Antonio Rudiger could return to Chelsea as the Real Madrid star is weighing up a Premier League return. Rudiger's current Los Blancos contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 campaign and he has yet to agree to sign on a new extension. The German defender has been tipped with a move away from Santiago Bernabeu next summer as he could also link up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.