Transfer news live: Semenyo to Man City latest, Amorim’s Man Utd frustration, Liverpool chase centre-back

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Amorim expects hostile environment as Leeds fixture looms

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, and may have played his last game for the Cherries after playing the full match of Bournemouth’s 3-2 loss to Arsenal .

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace 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, though the Reds may pursue a different defensive option after being linked with Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez.

Liverpool appear poised to bring in Joel Ordonez from Club Brugge to boost their defence, reports the Mirror .

The Reds have a clear path after Chelsea pulled out of the race to sign the Ecuadorian.

A deal for as much as £43m for the centre-back is in the works, with an initial fee of £35m, plus add-ons.

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

Jamie Braidwood4 January 2026 08:52

Ruben Amorim hinted at frustration behind the scenes as the Manchester United head coach refused to clarify his recent comments about the club's transfer plans.

United spent big in the summer bringing in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens and had looked at a January swoop for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo .

But the winger's decision to join Manchester City has altered plans, with Amorim saying on Friday there had been no transfer conversations just a fortnight on from revealing activity was possible.

Some potentially illuminating Christmas Eve comments came in between those statements when the United head coach said: "I have the feeling that if we have to play a perfect 3-4-3, we need to spend a lot of money and we need time.

"So, I'm starting to understand that that is not going to happen. So, maybe I have to adapt."

The United manager has recently commented on the lack of recruitment activity at Old Trafford and changed his formation for the win over Newcastle.

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.”

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

Will Castle4 January 2026 08:00

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has not ruled out the possibility of replacing Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, with the 41-year-old saying on Friday that he could not guarantee he would remain at the French club until the end of the season.

Rosenior is the leading candidate to replace Maresca, who parted ways with Chelsea on Thursday following a poor run of results and a fallout with club owners, despite having won the Club World Cup in July.

At Friday’s press conference, speculation over Rosenior’s potential move to Chelsea dominated proceedings ahead of the trip to Nice, which Strasbourg drew 1-1.

“I’m calm. There is a lot of noise and speculation,” Rosenior told reporters.

“If you pay attention to it as a coach, you go crazy. We are working on the preparation for the Nice match. I’m the coach of Strasbourg and I hope we get a good result.”

(PA Archive)

Will Castle4 January 2026 07:00

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.

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 Delaney4 January 2026 06:00