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January transfer window 2026: what every Premier League club needs

Arsenal

A busy summer with the arrival of more than £250m in reinforcements has proved to be invaluable given the number of injuries that have hit Arsenal, particularly in defence. But that also makes any more expensive incomings unlikely in January, especially after the timely return of the influential Gabriel Magalhães this week. A loan signing or two could be on the cards, however, with Arsenal not having filled either slot so far after bringing in Neto from Bournemouth and Raheem Sterling from Chelsea last season. Mikel Arteta could do with more cover at right-back and must also decide whether to allow Ethan Nwaneri to go on loan with the 18-year-old having made only three starts in all competitions. Ed Aarons

Aston Villa

There remains little wiggle room for Unai Emery to strengthen his squad owing to financial regulations but the Villa manager is keen to bolster his frontline with Ollie Watkins still the team’s only bona fide No 9. A €12m (£10.5m) deal for Grêmio’s teenage winger Alysson is advanced and another young forward could be sought to complement Villa’s attack. Loanee Harvey Elliott has not featured for almost three months and with Emery reluctant to trigger a £35m permanent move from Liverpool, all parties are seeking to find a sensible solution; Villa would have to pay to terminate the deal prematurely. They are not expected to be aggressive in the market but will pursue moves deemed good opportunities. Ben Fisher

Bournemouth

There is an acceptance that an elite Premier League club – Manchester City are at the front of the queue – will trigger the £65m release clause inserted into the contract extension Antoine Semenyo signed last summer. The noise surrounding the forward has been unrelenting but Bournemouth have been preparing for this scenario and while Andoni Iraola recognises it is “impossible” to replace Semenyo with a like-for-like signing, they have proved savvy when it comes to succession planning. Bristol City are due 20% of the profit Bournemouth generate for a player signed for £10m in 2023. As well as a winger, they are keen to add an imposing centre-back with Marcos Senesi’s contract up at the end of the season. The club may also target another central midfielder with the USA captain, Tyler Adams, sidelined for up to three months and a goalkeeper to provide competition for Djordje Petrovic, their No 1, who signed last summer. BF

Brentford

After banking £50m of summer transfer profit, Brentford have spending power to match their European ambitions. Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade will attract attention, but there is no need – or desire – to sell in January. Instead, Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson is a possibility to join Keith Andrews’ forward line, though Crystal Palace are the likelier destination. Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo is another option. Midfielder Vitaly Janelt can sign a pre-contract with another club on 1 January and Eintracht Frankfurt lead the queue for his signature. Feyenoord’s Quinten Timber, brother of Arsenal’s Jurriën, is a possible replacement. Dimitris Kaloskamis of AEK Athens, 20, has also been floated, fitting the Brentford template of unheralded, promising talent others overlook and might end up coveting. John Brewin

Brighton

The jury is still out on several of Brighton’s summer signings and they could expect to bring in more players in January, with a right-back, a central midfielder and a new forward believed to be top of Fabian Hürzeler’s wishlist. Carlos Baleba is not expected to depart in January despite strong interest in the Cameroon midfielder from Manchester United, although that hasn’t stopped the club’s scouting department from accelerating plans to bring in a replacement before then. A number of experienced players, including top scorer Danny Welbeck – who has been dogged by a back injury this season – Joël Veltman, Adam Webster and 39-year-old James Milner are all out of contract in the summer. EA

Burnley

Burnley are desperate not to return to the Championship at the first time of asking, so will be active. Goals are their biggest problem and finding a way to rectify that is the key ambition in January. Whether that comes in the form of a new striker or someone more creative, if not both, will be an intriguing aspect of the recruitment strategy. One further potential issue is the injury the captain, Josh Cullen, picked up against Everton. If it is as serious as first feared, finding cover in midfield could lengthen the wishlist. They will also be very open to allowing those lacking action to depart to cut back on wages. Will Unwin

Chelsea

The world champions are unlikely to conduct big business. Chelsea are planning to improve their attack next summer and also want to find cover for Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo in midfield. But mostly there is a focus on the future, with the recruitment team monitoring youngsters such as the Rennes centre-back Jérémy Jacquet and Saint-Étienne forward Djylian N’Guessan. Enzo Maresca would have liked to sign a centre-back after losing Levi Colwill to injury last summer. But there may be a bigger focus on outgoings. Buyers need to be found for Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling. Tyrique George almost joined Fulham last summer. Jacob Steinberg

Crystal Palace

Oliver Glasner has repeatedly called out Crystal Palace’s lack of preparation for their first European campaign and it looks like being a busy month in south London as they scramble for new additions to a squad that has already played 30 games this season. Injuries to key players Chris Richards, Daniel Muñoz and Daichi Kamada have exposed Palace’s weaknesses and they are likely to pursue a new right-back as a priority, with Bayern Munich’s Sacha Boey having been linked with a move. There is also interest in Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson while Palace will be braced for any January approaches for Marc Guéhi or the likes of Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta. EA

Everton

David Moyes is confident The Friedkin Group, Everton’s owners, will support efforts to sustain the undoubted progress that has been made since he returned in January but availability may prove more of an issue than affordability. Everton’s weakness is glaring and holding the team back. Thierno Barry and Beto have scored just one Premier League goal each this season despite Everton’s forward play improving courtesy of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye. Signing a goalscorer more worthy of their talents would be top of the list, but difficult in January. Ideally Everton would also strengthen at full-back and in midfield. Andy Hunter

Fulham

The west Londoners could do with adding more depth to their squad. They had a quiet summer and it remains to be seen if they can convince their manager, Marco Silva, to sign a new contract. He will want to see ambition. Fulham could do with a new forward given that Raúl Jiménez, 34, is out of contract next summer, Jonah Kusi-Asare is only on loan from Bayern Munich and Rodrigo Muniz is injured. Similarly a right-winger could be useful given that Harry Wilson’s deal expires soon and Adama Traoré is likely to join West Ham. Could a move for Chelsea’s Tyrique George be revisited? JS

Leeds

When the summer transfer window shut, Daniel Farke was disappointed not to have signed two more forwards and appeared particularly stung by a failed move for Fulham’s Harry Wilson. Despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s recent goalscoring renaissance and some impressive performances from the often criticised Brenden Aaronson, Farke still covets at least one more frontline addition. He may also seek cover at wing-back but, given that barely a month ago the German was deemed to be “under severe pressure” at Elland Road, it will be intriguing to see how far the board are willing to back a head coach who has choreographed a dramatic upturn in the team’s fortunes. With profitability and sustainability constraints very real, Leeds will need to sell some fringe squad members before the 30 June accounting deadline and it is not impossible that one of Illan Meslier, Joël Piroe and Jack Harrison could depart in January. Louise Taylor

Liverpool

Arne Slot insists Liverpool do not have “unlimited money” despite the impression given by their summer spending spree of almost £450m, yet mistakes from that extravagant window need addressing. The attempt to sign Marc Guéhi on a cut-price deal backfired and, coupled with Giovanni Leoni’s cruciate ligament injury, has left Liverpool light in central defence. Not adding attacking width disrupted the balance of the team with Luis Díaz sold and Mohamed Salah in decline. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is a target. Salah’s issues with Slot, and vice versa, have not disappeared and that saga will be reignited should the £65m-rated Semenyo arrive at the expense of one of Liverpool’s greatest players. AH

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola’s winter window is primarily about signing Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo by triggering a release clause that is slightly less than £65m. If the 25-year-old agrees terms and does give the transfer the green light – his clause has to be activated early in January – Guardiola, who prefers a smaller squad, will hope to offload at least one wide player, so Savinho or Oscar Bobb could depart. The manager has been asked if James Trafford could be loaned out after Gianlugi Donnarumma became the first-choice goalkeeper but – so far, anyway – Guardiola has batted the prospect away. Jamie Jackson

Manchester United

Ruben Amorim considered adding Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth if the player signalled interest but Manchester City are the favourites to sign him. A No 6 midfielder is the prime target, with Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves, 28, of interest – the fee would be around £20m. Atlético Madrid’s Conor Gallagher is also on the radar – his club value him in the £35m-45m bracket. United would prefer a loan and the deal may depend if the 25-year-old wants the move. Regarding outgoings, Kobbie Mainoo seems the only player who may leave – on loan – though Amorim indicated recently this would be countenanced only if a midfielder is signed. JJ

Newcastle

Newcastle have nine games in January and a rather jaded squad seems in need of fresh legs and new ideas. Yet if a creative midfielder in the mould of the much-admired 19-year-old AZ and Netherlands Under-21 international Kees Smit looms large on Eddie Howe’s shopping list, the defence could also do with fortifying. The acquisition of cover for Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall at full-back seems imperative and it is not impossible that Matt Targett could be recalled from his successful loan spell at Middlesbrough. Newcastle, though, have frequently watched Dayann Methalie, the versatile 19-year-old Toulouse and France Under-21 defender. There is money available but a board that prioritises signing players under 25 would prefer to invest more heavily in the summer. Even so, Howe would ideally like to welcome an extra striker during a month when he could possibly bid farewell to Joe Willock, Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, Emil Krafth and Will Osula. LT

Nottingham Forest

Sean Dyche has already suggested it is “unlikely” to be a busy window but Forest usually produce a surprise. The main focus at the City Ground will be to reduce the size of the squad. It became bloated over the summer when they invested heavily in strengthening depth but did result in Omari Hutchinson not being registered in the club’s 25-man Europa League squad. Fringe players, such as Willy Boly, will be made available but Forest have no intention of selling the midfielder Elliot Anderson, who has attracted interest from numerous Premier League rivals, including Manchester United. WU

Sunderland

Events in Morocco could shape January on Wearside. Régis Le Bris has six players at Afcon and Sunderland’s manager will be hoping that Noah Sadiki, Reinildo, Habib Diarra, Chemsdine Talbi and co avoid injury and return in good shape for the second half of a hitherto rather wonderful season. Le Bris has said the club are looking at potentially reinforcing “two or three positions” but bolstering the frontline seems a priority. As well as Sunderland have done, their leading scorer, Wilson Isidor, has only four goals and the arrival of a prolific striker to capitalise on defence-splitting passes from Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fée would be welcome. Le Bris, meanwhile, will be hoping Chelsea abandon their interest in another outstanding midfielder, Sadiki, but could be open to moving fringe players on. The midfielder Dan Neil is among those who may depart. LT

Tottenham

Thomas Frank says his club will “definitely be in the market” and the money is available after the owners, the Lewis family trust, oversaw a £100m cash injection in October. There are caveats. January is a complicated month. Spurs will be competing, according to Frank, with “eight clubs for the same players”. The squad is up to its Uefa limits on overseas personnel. There are already two players for every position; more in some. The overriding message is that only fits for the longer term will be considered. Left wing is the most obvious area for an upgrade. Spurs wanted the Manchester City winger, Savinho, last summer; the noise around him has not gone away. Brennan Johnson and Yves Bissouma could be moved on. The club must become better at selling. David Hytner

West Ham

Reinforcements are a must for a side in increasing peril. Fulham’s Adama Traoré is a likely addition on the wing and a replacement in attack for Niclas Füllkrug, who is heading to Milan on loan, is a priority. The Wolves striker Jørgen Strand Larsen is a target, albeit an expensive one. Coventry’s Haji Wright and Ellis Simms and the Viktoria Plzen striker Rafiu Durosinmi have been monitored too. However, Nuno Espírito Santo has problems at both ends. A new defender is needed and West Ham have looked at Toulouse’s Charlie Cresswell. A nagging concern, though, is whether players will want to join West Ham when their plight looks so hopeless. JS

Wolves

It would be foolish for Wolves not to have the Championship in mind when it comes to new signings. They want players who could play key roles in a promotion push next season, with relegation increasingly inevitabile. They are seeking improvements across the pitch but are prioritising a goalkeeper, wingers and a right-wing back. Matt Jackson, promoted to technical director, will oversee recruitment, working closely with the head coach Rob Edwards, who had lost his first seven matches in charge before Tuesday’s draw at Manchester United. André and João Gomes have interest from rivals but, barring huge offers, are unlikely to be sold in January. Jørgen Strand Larsen is of interest to West Ham, while Fer López, among the summer signings who have struggled to impress, could depart on loan. Enticing players might be tricky. BF

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