Transfer news live: Liverpool eye Belgian defender, Maresca in shock Chelsea exit, Man City close on Semenyo | OneFootball

Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres and Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez battle for the ball (PA Wire via Belga)

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.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal helped to produce a record summer of Premier League expenditure last summer, with clubs from England’s top flight collectively splashing more than £3bn on new players.

The big news this morning, however, is that Chelsea have parted ways with manager Enzo Maresca after 18 months in charge of the club. With a new manager and potentially a signing or two expected at Stamford Bridge, with their title hopes all but gone and a battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

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 it appears Manchester City are now leading the race for the player, whose £65m release clause becomes active in January.

Elsewhere, Tottenham’s Europa League winner Brennan Johnson is verging on a £35m move to Crystal Palace, while Eagles skipper Marc Guehi remains a person of interest 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.

Liverpool in the hunt for another striker?

Brentford forward Igor Thiago, after his blazing start to the season with the Bees with 11 goals in 17 Premier League games, and PSG’s Bradley Barcola are names that have floated around recent gossip columns, though neither move has accelerated or gathered pace just yet.

For now, the Reds could hold tight, despite Isak’s injury, but the rumour mill is in overdrive already, with short-term options, such as PSG’s Goncalo Ramos, Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and England international Ivan Toney raised as potential options.

ITALIA-LIGA (AP)

Jack Rathborn2 January 2026 09:15