Manchester City are closing in on a big-money move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, while Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez has been linked with the champions
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Man City have been linked with a move for Antoine Semenyo (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Man City have been linked with a move for Antoine Semenyo (Andrew Matthews/PA) (PA Wire)
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The January transfer window is open and with the new year comes a chance for clubs to monitor the market after assessing their options to strengthen or trim their numbers to boost spending this month.
While the acquisition of elite players or long-term targets is less common in the mid-season window, it is not completely out of the question, with the saga surrounding Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo expected to reach its climax in the coming weeks or possibly days.
The 25-year-old has been linked with moves to every Premier League big hitter but Manchester City are now leading the race for the player, whose £65m release clause becomes active in January, although he will remain with the Cherries long enough to face Arsenal today.
Elsewhere, Tottenham’s Europa League winner Brennan Johnson has completed a £35m move to Crystal Palace, while Eagles skipper Marc Guehi remains of interest to Arne Slot after his deadline day move to Liverpool collapsed. The England international is about to enter the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park, giving Palace one last chance to cash in if they choose to.
And Chelsea have parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca after 18 months in charge of the club, with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior tipped as the frontrunner to replace him at Stamford Bridge.
Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent’s live blog below
Transfer news live
Transfer window is officially open as January begins
Brennan Johnson agrees to join Crystal Palace in £35m switch
Liam Rosenior the favourite to arrive after Enzo Maresca's shock Chelsea exit
Antoine Semenyo set to join Manchester City from Bournemouth for £65m
Liverpool linked with Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge
Deadline day on Monday 2 February at 7pm GMT
12 minutes ago
Antoine Semenyo starts for Bournemouth amid Man City links
Big news for Bournemouth tonight as Antoine Semenyo, heavily tipped for a move to Man City in this transfer window, starts for the Cherries in their meeting with Arsenal.
His involvement, as promised by Andoni Iraola, means he could well hurt Arsenal’s title chances today before immediately moving to their big rivals for the Premier League trophy.
(Getty Images)
Will Castle3 January 2026 17:03
24 minutes ago
Sheffield United duo return to parent clubs
Sheffield United have confirmed that on loan duo Ben Godfrey and Louie Barry have both returned to their parent clubs after underwhelming stints at Bramall Lane.
Godfreyplayed just four times for the Blades and returns to Atalanta, whom he joined from Everton.
Barry, meanwhile, rejoins Aston Villa after making a total of nine appearances.
The Blades currently sit 15th in the Championship.
Will Castle3 January 2026 16:50
44 minutes ago
Harvey Elliott not interested in MLS move
Harvey Elliott is currently not taking into consideration a move to MLS at this stage of his career as he remains in limbo at Aston Villa, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Unai Emery has stated that the Villains have no intention to play the midfielder so to avoid triggering his buy clause, while the player is not in parent club Liverpool’s plans.
Charlotte FC will wait and try to offer a loan move in the summer, but Elliott is not keen on any move as of today.
(REUTERS)
Will Castle3 January 2026 16:30
1 hour ago
Fulham see bid rejected for Udinese midfielder Arthur Atta
Fulham have had a bid to sign French midfielder Arthur Atta from Udinese rejected, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The offer was worth €20m but has been rebuffed by the Italian side who have no plans to sell Atta in January.
(Getty Images)
Will Castle3 January 2026 16:10
1 hour ago
Inside the January transfer window where wealth fuels ambition – and relegation threat drives desperation
Over the last few weeks, at least five of Europe’s wealthiest clubs have been testing the waters on Bournemouth’s Semenyo. His £65m release clause came into effect on January 1, and it could well set the market in motion.
Semenyo already looks set to be the major story of this window, but he is unlikely to be the only one. Many industry figures expect January to be busy.
While the summer window always ends up frenetic – clubs know what they need and can act without disrupting the season – January is far less predictable. One year it’s chaotic, the next unusually quiet.
Money and survival: Inside the January transfer window
It might not be as frenetic as 2023, but a lot of factors are coming together to drive a flurry of signings this window, with almost all of the richest clubs looking to buy and relegation candidates spending to avoid the cost of going down, says Miguel Delaney in the latest Inside Football newsletter
Miguel Delaney3 January 2026 15:50
1 hour ago
Borussia Dortmund open to loan move for Manchester City’s Oscar Bobb
Borussia Dortmund are interested in taking Oscar Bobb on loan from Manchester City.
Talks have not yet been held between the clubs but the Norway international could be allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium as City look to bring in another winger, in Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
Bobb has made 15 appearances for City this season but, after starting the first three league games, he has only begun two more and none since October as Pep Guardiola has preferred players such as Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki.
Borussia Dortmund open to loan move for Manchester City’s Oscar Bobb
The Norway international could be sent out on loan as City look to bring in another winger, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo
Richard Jolly3 January 2026 15:30
2 hours ago
Mikel Arteta's latest transfer hint
Looking ahead to the January transfer window, Mikel Arteta confirmed the club’s intention to seek new additions, despite having spent £250m on eight summer signings.
He stated on Friday: "We are open to every option. Obviously, if we can find a solution that is short, medium or long-term, it is always much better because it gives you stability and you don’t have to start a process with a new player.
“But let’s see what happens in the next few weeks, and we’ll try to make the right decision."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates (John Walton/PA)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta celebrates (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)
Will Castle3 January 2026 15:10
2 hours ago
The Arne Slot trade-off that will make or break Liverpool’s season
Halfway into Arne Slot’s debut campaign at Liverpool, they had 46 points and a six-point lead over rivals who had played a game more. Halfway into his sophomore season, and they are in fourth place. Is that fair? “Yeah, yeah,” Slot concurred.
It is an illustration that it has not gone entirely according to plan. Given that two-thirds of their £450m outlay went on attack-minded players, it feels an indictment that only one player has more league goals than Ryan Gravenberch or, in all competitions, than Dominik Szoboszlai.
It meant that, even though the New Year’s Day 0-0 draw with Leeds was the first goalless game of Slot’s reign, it reflected wider issues. When Hugo Ekitike, the runaway leader in the scoring charts, has an off night, it is not clear who will find the net.
If Liverpool seemed to have assembled a fab four in the summer, a quartet who threatened to be unstoppable, it has not transpired that way.
The Arne Slot trade-off that will make or break Liverpool’s title defence
The Reds have endured a season of thirds, explains Richard Jolly, with fluid attacking play and defensive solidarity rarely co-existing and posing Arne Slot a unique problem
Richard Jolly3 January 2026 14:50
2 hours ago
Neymar set to sign contract extension at Santos
Neymar is set to sign a contract extension with Santos through to December 2026, according to The Athletic.
Neymar returned to Santos, where he began his career, in January 2025 and scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 28 appearances to help maintain the club’s top-flight status.
He underwent arthroscopy surgery on his knee in December and will now be looking to get fully fit to try and earn Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti’s favour ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
(Reuters)
Will Castle3 January 2026 14:30
3 hours ago
‘Just a rumour’: Why Enzo Maresca to Man City never made any sense
If Enzo Maresca’s last contribution as a Manchester City employee was to help them secure the treble in 2023, his most recent input to the discourse around the Etihad Stadium feels more unwelcome. The apparent indications that City’s former assistant manager had spoken to his old club about the possibility of replacing Pep Guardiola raised the issue of the Spaniard’s future.
Which has lingered in the background; as, indeed, it has for much of a reign that has extended for far longer than he originally envisaged. The Catalan shrugged off the idea his old assistant had talked to City. “Why would I give you an update about an opinion that I don't know is about this opinion?” he said. “It's just a rumour.”
Guardiola adopted a trademark blend of playfulness and faux arrogance. “You want to fire me?” he asked “My salary is so high, so I have one more year... I know you are bored of me, ten years here. I will leave one day, I promise. But I have a contract, I'm happy, I want to fight with my team. I like to be here.”
‘Just a rumour’: Why Enzo Maresca to Man City never made any sense
The Italian was linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium to replace his former master, but the City boss has dismissed speculation as he bids to reel in Arsenal in a gripping Premier League title race
Richard Jolly3 January 2026 14:10
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