Transfers

Ex-Manchester City star Joao Cancelo is edging towards another mid-season transfer, with reports indicating the full-back is preparing to leave Al-Hilal when the January window opens. A return to Barcelona has emerged as a realistic possibility, with interest also coming from Italy as Europe’s elite look to bolster their squads.

Andoni Iraola has made it clear that Antoine Semenyo is still an "important player" for Bournemouth despite his reportedly imminent move to Manchester City, insisting he will feature against Arsenal this weekend. Speculation around Semenyo’s future has intensified as the winter window approaches, with City increasingly confident of triggering the winger’s £65 million ($86m) release clause. Yet Iraola has no intention of sidelining his most influential attacker while the Cherries fight to arrest a worrying slide in form.

Manchester City are reportedly in talks over the £30 million ($40m) loan-to-buy sale of Oscar Bobb as Pep Guardiola gears up to welcome Antoine Semenyo to the Etihad. City and Bournemouth have held constructive negotiations over the structure of Semenyo’s £65m transfer, with all sides confident that the framework of the deal is now in place. The Ghana international has already given verbal approval to the switch, with formal steps set to begin once the January window opens on New Year’s Day.

January is often described as the grimmest month of the year, but it can also be a time of renewal, a moment to make a fresh start. And for football clubs, the opening of the January transfer window provides an opportunity for clubs to breathe new life into their disappointing campaigns and invest for the future.

GOAL takes a look at which players should stay or go in this winter transfer window

Marc Guehi has become a 'top target' for Real Madrid as the La Liga giants make contact with the Crystal Palace captain. The Palace centre-back will run down his contract until the summer of 2026. The England international has already informed the Premier League side that he will not sign an extension, effectively guaranteeing a summer exit and triggering a battle among Europe's elite.

Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson is top of the list of players Manchester United would like to sign in January as they look set to lose out to Manchester City in the race to sign Antoine Semenyo. Anderson is one of eight holding midfielders United are interested in due amid the uncertainty around Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte's struggles.

Manchester United and Newcastle transfer target Kees Smith has been spotted at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace after taking a trip to the capital with friends. The AZ star made the most of the occasion by going undercover and donning a Shaun the Sheep outfit as he joined fellow darts fans to watch the likes of Luke Littler and Co. in action.

Manchester City have set a low price tag for Nathan Ake, though the Dutch defender has rejected a chance to join Premier League strugglers West Ham United. Ake has experienced limited game time at Etihad Stadium in 2025-26 as he has fallen down the pecking order in Pep Guardiola's backline. The Netherlands international has started in just five matches, with the majority of his minutes coming in the Carabao Cup.

Rasmus Hojlund has opened up on his time at Manchester United and says he felt he did well, particularly during his first campaign at Old Trafford. The Denmark international has since moved on a season-long loan to Serie A side Napoli and is currently thriving with Antonio Conte's side, meaning he could well end up making his stay with I Partenopei permanent.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is edging towards a Barcelona exit as fellow La Liga side Girona have revealed a public interest in signing Germany goalkeeper. Ter Stegen, who has been a pillar of the Barca defence for over a decade, has found himself in an unfamiliar position this season following the ascent of summer signing Joan Garcia and his own struggles with fitness.

Tottenham are eyeing an ambitious move for €100 million-rated Bundesliga winger Yan Diomande as fan favourite Brennan Johnson is set to exit the club in the January transfer window. Johnson, who scored Spurs' historic winning goal against Manchester United in the Europa League final last season, has fallen out of favour under Thomas Frank and is now likely to leave the north London outfit.

Former Real Madrid star James Rodriguez is reportedly close to agreeing a move to MLS outfit the Columbus Crew as he aims to remain in shape ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The Colombian midfielder has left Leon in Liga MX and while he initially planned to remain in Mexico, he now looks set to move to the United States instead.

Japan legend Kazuyoshi Miura, who will celebrate his 59th birthday in February, has agreed a six-month loan move to Fukushima United, extending a professional career that now stretches into a remarkable fifth decade. The agreement means Miura could feature in the J.League, encompassing Japan’s top three divisions, for the first time in five years.

Crystal Palace have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £35 million ($40m) ahead of the January transfer window. The winger, who scored Spurs' winning goal in the Europa League final last season, has yet to decide on his future, and the Eagles face competition from other Premier League suitors.

Napoli star Rasmus Hojlund has been hailed as the "strongest striker in Serie A" alongside Inter's World Cup-winning talisman Lautaro Martinez, as the Denmark international continues his impressive goalscoring exploits following his summer loan move from Manchester United. The forward has scored six goals and registered two assists in 12 appearances, proving his worth in Italy following a dismal spell in the Premier League.

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has been reportedly targeted for a loan transfer by Turkish giants Galatasaray, who are also willing to consider a potential permanent £22m ($30m) deal in the summer. The Uruguay international arrived in Manchester only last year, signed from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth up to £51m ($68m), but has struggled to find his feet in the Premier League.

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.