Transfer news live: Arsenal in tug of war for wonderkid Semenyo, Man City deal agreed and Liverpool prepare £87m Barcola bid
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
Antoine Semenyo finally looks set to complete his move from Bournemouth to Manchester City as he undergoes a medical today with a £62.5m deal agreed, despite claims of Liverpool throwing a late spanner in the works. The Reds may be turning their attention to PSG and France star Bradley Barcola instead, with reports of a mammoth £87m bid being readied.
Semenyo looked to be on the verge of a straightforward move to the Etihad Stadium but last night Jamie Redknapp predicted a "little twist" in the saga with Liverpool set to hijack things. That suggestion now appears to have been wide of the mark with the Cherries winger potentially being announced as a City player at some point today. Elsewhere, both Liverpool and City received a transfer blow with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner suggesting sought-after defender Marc Guehi will stay at the club in this window.
Arsenal have reignited their summer interest in Rennes wonderkid Jeremy Jacquet but face a tug of war for his signature with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid also said to be interested, while the Gunners are also eyeing a stunning £86m move for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who is wanted by United and Tottenham. Mikel Arteta’s side are potentially prepared to loan out Ethan Nwaneri for more game-time, with Bournemouth keen as they aim to replace Semenyo, although Nwaneri himself is unsure about an exit.
The managerial merry-go-round has also been at full tilt over the past few days with Ruben Amorim dismissed by Man United less than 24 hours after his extraordinary rant following United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds. The likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are now in the frame for the interim role but, as one manager left, another arrived with Chelsea confirming Liam Rosenior as their new head coach following the controversial departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.
Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent’s live blog below:
Liverpool ready huge £87m bid for Bradley Barcola amid Man United interest
This could be huge news. French newspaper L’Equipe are reporting that Bradley Barcola is ready to leave PSG, with Liverpool and Man United desperate to sign him.
The 18-cap France international is just 23 years old and had 42 goal involvements last season as PSG finally won the Champions League.
Liverpool are missing out on Antoine Semenyo to Man City and are reported to be preparing an £87m bid for Barcola instead. They’ll face competition from bitter rivals Man United, who want to sort their managerial situation out first but will then enter the fray properly.
It has been suggested that Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan at Barcelona but has previously been linked with PSG, would be offered as a makeweight in the deal by United. Regardless, this is likely a deal for the summer rather than January.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 12:29
Chelsea and Man United target Maignan close to new deal
Both Chelsea and Man United have long been linked with a move for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan but the 30-year-old French international is on the brink of signing a new deal at the San Siro.
That’s according to Sky Sports Italia, who are reporting that Maignan’s current deal expires at the end of June but he is now very close to inking a new contract until 2031 with the Rossoneri, which would end interest from the Premier League duo.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 12:19
Man City agree Antoine Semenyo fee below Bournemouth release clause
Antoine Semenyo is set to join Manchester City after they struck a £62.5m deal with Bournemouth, rather than activating his release clause.
The release clause was thought to be worth £65m, but City will pay slightly less over the next two years, while Bournemouth could make a further £1.5m in performance-related add-ons and will earn 10 percent of the profit if and when the former Premier League champions sell him.
Semenyo will undergo a medical in Manchester and is expected to sign a five-and-a-half-year contract with City. Read the full story here:
Richard Jolly8 January 2026 12:01
AC Milan target two Premier League defenders
Italian giants AC Milan are looking to bolster their defensive ranks and are eyeing a pair of Premier League defenders.
They were trying to sign Nathan Ake but due to Man City’s injury crisis, they have now cooled on the Dutchman.
Instead they are targeting Liverpool’s Joe Gomez and Nottingham Forest star Murillo to fill the hole. Bayern Munich star Kim Min-jae is also on the club's shortlist but the Premier League duo are certainly attracting interest.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 11:44
Joshua Zirkzee's hopes of Man United exit scuppered
Joshua Zirkzee is keen to leave Manchester United this month in order to nail down a spot in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad next summer but one of his potential destinations looks to have been taken off the table.
Roma were thought to be interested in Zirkzee but they are now on the brink of signing Giacomo Raspadori from Atletico Madrid on loan. According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma and Atleti have agreed an initial half-season loan deal, including an option to buy, with personal terms now being discussed. It is unlikely the Serie A side would then also look to add Zirkzee, who has scored twice in 15 games for Man United this term.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 11:32
Mikel Arteta provides injury updates on Calafiori, Mosquera and Havertz ahead of Liverpool test
There’s one Premier League game this evening and it’s a big ‘un, as leaders Arsenal host Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal’s defensive options will remain limited with Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori still ruled out.
Mosquera picked up an ankle injury in December that Arteta said would keep the Colombian out for “weeks”, while Calafiori sustained a “very awkward” injury in the build-up to the visit of Brighton.
Neither were expected to feature against Liverpool but Arteta did note that the pair are closing in on a return, should nothing go wrong in their final stage of rehabilitation.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 11:20
Arsenal chase another young gun
Not only are Arsenal chasing one wonderkid, in Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, but they’re edging closer to signing another in the form of Blackburn’s teenage forward Igor Tyjon.
The England under-18s star has rejected a new contract at Ewood Park and the Gunners are leading the chase for his signature, with the fee expected to be around £1m.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 11:04
DONE DEAL: Nottingham Forest striker head to Eintracht Frankfurt
Speaking of Nottingham Forest strikers, there’s an opening in their attack as Arnaud Kalimuendo has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan.
The French centre-forward has joined Frankfurt until the end of the season, with an option to make the move permanent after that.
The 23-year-old Kalimuendo joined Forest from Rennes in the summer and has scored two goals in 15 appearances in all competitions – both of those coming in the Europa League, against Malmo and Utrecht.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 10:47
Forest keen to bolster striker ranks with Napoli man
Nottingham Forest are thought to be in the thick of the Jorgen Strand Larsen race but have also contacted Napoli to ask about the availability of Lorenzo Lucca, according to Sky Sports Italy.
Lucca joined Napoli from Udinese in the summer and has struggled for game time, contributing just two goals in 20 games. Roma and Benfica are also potential destinations.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 10:33
Semenyo to complete Man City move today
Antoine Semenyo is in Manchester for his Man City medical this morning and appears to set to complete his move from Bournemouth today, on a contract until 2031.
Jamie Redknapp threw a spanner in the works last night by saying that Liverpool would provide a late twist in the saga but that appears to be wide of the mark.
David Ornstein of The Athletic reports that the deal is an initial £62.5m, plus a further £1.5m in bonuses, to be paid over two years, and then 10 per cent of profits from any future sale going to the Cherries as well.
Fabrizio Romano is also in with his usual three-word confirmation phrase, so it’s all systems go.
Luke Baker8 January 2026 10:19
