Transfer news live: Maresca set for Chelsea exit, Man City close on Semenyo, Brennan Johnson nears Palace switch | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca is set to bid farewell to Chelsea in sudden circumstances (Getty Images)

The new year is upon us and with it comes the re-opening of the transfer window as clubs assess their options for reinforcement in January.

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

And 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.

Meanwhile at Chelsea, Enzo Maresca is expected to make a sudden departure from Stamford Bridge after falling out with Blues co-owner Behdad Eghbali.

Enzo Maresca is on the brink of leaving Chelsea, The Independent understands.

The manager has fallen out with co-owner Behdad Eghbali over issues around his control at the club, and it seems inevitable Maresca will depart, with an announcement possible today.

Maresca, who guided Chelsea to the Club World Cup and Conference League last season, has experienced a sharp drop-off in results over the past month, overseeing just one win their last seven league outings to fall out of the Premier League top four.

This has coincided with troubled waters behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge, with Maresca causing a stir when, following a routine win over Everton on 13 December, he used his post-match press conference to claim he had endured “the worst 48 hours since I joined the club” in the build-up to the game.

After surrendering another lead in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, it’s now believed January will be a defining month for Maresca which includes nine games across four competitions.

(Getty)

Lawrence Ostlere1 January 2026 11:37

Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal transfer stance for January window amid injury woes

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the club are prepared to ease their injury problems by “actively looking” at signing new players when the transfer window reopens next month.

“The window is there and I mean we are Arsenal and we have to be looking at it – ‘Okay, what do we need?’ And we have to be actively looking and then, whether we can do it or not, that’s a different story,” he said.

“But our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen, so hopefully it’ll be very positive.

“When you look across the other clubs, they have 24 or 25 squad players. Although we have had more injuries than expected, some of them not avoidable, we want to be better and we know how important the part of having the right availability with players is going to be this season.”

Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal transfer stance for January window amid injury woes

Arteta’s squad depth has been tested this season, with a number of players ruled out for significant spells through injury

Lawrence Ostlere1 January 2026 11:24

Iraola insists Semenyo 'will still be with us' in early January

Although maybe not, according the Bournemouth manager.

Antoine Semenyo is reportedly keen to have his future sorted by 1 January, but Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was emphatic the forward would still be with the club for their game against Arsenal on Saturday 3 January.

The 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Tuesday was “definitely not” his last game for the Cherries, Iraola said on BBC Match of the Day.

“He is a massive player for us and he will still be with us” for the Arsenal game.

“It is not the last game he has played for us, definitely not.”

West Ham need to strengthen 'the sooner the better', says Nuno

Relegation-threatened West Ham will look to strengthen in January, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo saying he has a “clear idea” of what the club needs - and “the sooner the better”.

Youngsters Oliver Scarles and Freddie Potts featured on Sunday against Brighton, with untried 18-year-old Ezra Mayers and Mohamadou Kante, 20, coming on as substitutes.

“I am pleased for the young players, because they're helping,” Nuno said.

“But it's also clear that, in terms of squad, we need to rebalance our squad. We need to make the right moves in a very difficult transfer window to operate.

“But we need to, so we can improve and have more options for the second half of the season.

“I have a clear idea about everything. I have a clear idea, because this is our job. It's up to us to pass information to the club, so the club is aware of what we need.

“It's coming in a couple of days. The reflection is clear, so the sooner the better.”

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)