Transfer news live: Arsenal told to pay £86m for Spurs target, Liverpool rival Man Utd for Baleba, Guehi latest
Liveupdated
- Sport (https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)
- Football (https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football)
All the latest January transfer window news, gossip and rumours
Liverpool (https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/liverpool), Arsenal (https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/arsenal) and Tottenham are some of the early movers and shakers in the transfer market – though it’s Manchester United (https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/manchester-united) and Chelsea (https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/chelsea) who have grabbed the headlines amid their managerial turnover.
Ruben Amorim was dismissed by the Red Devils less than 24 hours after his extraordinary rant following United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds. But as one manager left, another arrived as Chelsea confirmed Liam Rosenior as their new head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.
This could be only the start of a busy January for both clubs, though Man United’s pursuit of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba could be harmed by Liverpool joining the mix. United also face stern competition in the race for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham also set to battle it out.
Big-money transfers and superstar moves are often few and far between during the winter window but there are already suggestions that this month could be different to the norm, with Manchester City on the verge of signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. That move – which it has been suggested will hit around the £65m mark – is set to be wrapped up imminently with the player’s medical penned in, which could lead City into ramping up their interest in Marc Guehi amid a defensive injury crisis.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid are said to be interested in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton who has plenty of suitors in the Premier League while Arsenal are touted to reignite their long-standing interest in Los Blancos star Rodrygo.
Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent’s live blog below:
Mikel Arteta on Ruben Amorim's sacking
"It's always sad to see a colleague lose his job," he said.
"We're now where we are. You need support from the staff and players.
"At the end of the day, you need to win a lot of football matches if you want to stay in the job. That's the reality and the nature of the job."
Will Castle7 January 2026 20:00
Monaco target Leicester's Boubakary Soumare
Monaco are keeping tabs on Leicester City’s Boubakary Soumare as a potential midfield target for January window, as per Fabrizio Romano.
Soumare was on the French club’s shortlist from last summer and their appreciation of the player has not changed.
The 26-year-old has been with the Foxes since arriving from Lille in 2021.
Will Castle7 January 2026 19:30
Ruben Amorim was doomed to fail inside Manchester United’s broken machine
As almost everyone in football gleefully shares gossip about Manchester United, there is one detail that is provoking more intrigue. Many are asking whether Ruben Amorim was ultimately sacked over how he spoke to director of football Jason Wilcox in that now notorious Friday meeting. If so, it would seem a little over-sensitive for elite-end football.
It should be acknowledged there were sound football reasons for sacking Amorim. The football was often unwatchable and many results were unjustifiable, but league position shows this wasn’t irredeemable. And while the 1-1 against Wolves caused a shift that sparked serious discussion among the hierarchy on New Year’s Day, Friday appears to have brought the moment when an undesirable situation became "unsustainable".
The feeling was only deepened after Amorim’s press conference at Leeds United, where some have since taken greater note of the specific managers the Portuguese referenced. "I know my name isn’t [Thomas] Tuchel, [Antonio] Conte or [Jose] Mourinho, but I’m the manager."
Various sources now say these were the names that had been put to Amorim as an argument as to why he didn’t necessarily have the pedigree to speak in the way he had been.
Miguel Delaney7 January 2026 19:00
Done deal: Wissam Ben Yedder joins Wydad AC
Former Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder has signed a six-month contract with Wydad AC with the possibility of an extension for a further 12 months.
Will Castle7 January 2026 18:30
Axel Disasi still in Chelsea bomb squad as Leeds move nears
Axel Disasi will not find a Chelsea reprieve under Liam Rosenior and the manager will therefore not hinder a move to Leeds United, according to Football Insider.
Disasi joined Raheem Sterling in what was left of Enzo Maresca’s ‘bomb squad’ and talks are now advancing for him to join Daniel Farke at Leeds.
The Whites have identified the centre-back as an ideal candidate to come in and boost their options in the backline, and cover at the back is especially important amid Joe Rodon’s injury lay-off.
Will Castle7 January 2026 18:00
Casemiro has no plans to return to Brazil
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has no plans to return to Brazil despite reports of links to Palmeiras, according to Andre Hernan.
It was also clarified that the Brazilian club did not make any approach for the 33-year-old.
Will Castle7 January 2026 17:45
AC Milan waiting on Mike Maignan contract decision
AC Milan are waiting for Mike Maignan’s official decision after he received a new contract proposal from the club, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Frenchman’s contract expires in 2026 and has previously been linked with a move to Chelsea.
This comes after Nicolo Schira claimed Milan were close to tying down Fikayo Tomori to a new deal amid interest from Premier League clubs.
Will Castle7 January 2026 17:30
Tottenham in talks over Souza deal
Tottenham Hotspur are in talks to sign Santos left-back Souza, according to Sky Sports.
The Brazilian club are anticipating a formal offer from Spurs for the 19-year-old soon.
Elsewhere in defence, Radu Dragusin attracting interest from Serie A but no final decision has been made on his future.
Will Castle7 January 2026 17:15
Nuno Tavares attracting Premier League interest
Former Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares is attracting interest from Premier League clubs as he nears an exit from Lazio, according to Sky Sports.
The Portuguese international impressed on loan at the Rome club last season and therefore moved on a permanent deal, but has struggled for game time this term.
He previously spent a season on loan at Nottingham Forest.
Will Castle7 January 2026 17:00
How Trump’s attack on Venezuela backs Fifa into a corner over World Cup
It was almost grimly predictable. When news broke that the United States military had attacked Venezuela on Saturday, there wasn’t even a flicker of activity among the Fifa Council, according to senior sources. This is despite the primary host of their grand global event launching what is actually a rare act of aggression for a country staging the World Cup, with the president even talking in a concerning manner about a co-host. In the aftermath of the Venezuela attacks, Donald Trump spoke about how Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum is “very frightened of the cartels” and that “something is going to have to be done with Mexico”.
The wonder is what Gianni Infantino thinks of this, if he thinks anything at all. It’s pointless to say Fifa here, since everything the federation does at that kind of level is now intertwined with the president. As such, no one dares broach this to Infantino, despite the farce of Fifa presenting Trump with an inaugural peace prize a mere month ago. The immediate diminishment of that prize - even if the presentation video already did a good job - was not just predictable.
It was inevitable. Fifa were warned. Just three days before the award, Trump said that military strikes on Venezuela would “start very soon”. That ultimately made it seven countries that the Trump administration had launched strikes against in his first year back in office.
Miguel Delaney7 January 2026 16:45
