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The focus shifts to Liverpool and the hunt for a new centre-back after Manchester City completed the signing of Crystal Palace defender, and captain, Marc Guehi, for £20m. Guehi had been garnering interest from other clubs such as the Reds, Arsenal and Bayern Munich but Pep Guardiola’s side have won the race for the centre-back by paying a fee in this window rather than waiting for his contract to expire in the summer.
Arne Slot is now looking at alternatives to Guehi, with Spurs star Micky Van de Ven linked, while Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck have also been mentioned, while Chelsea have opened talks to sign star Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet, and are also reportedly interested in Lucas Paqueta. Reports from Brazil say the West Ham midfielder prefers to return to his home country but a switch to another European club hasn’t been ruled out.
In a month that has already seen Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca lose their jobs, there could yet be more high-profile sackings on the horizon with Thomas Frank’s future at Tottenham under serious threat. Spurs fans turned on the Dane after suffering a dismal defeat to relegation contenders West Ham on Tuesday. Oliver Glasner’s job at Crystal Palace is also under consideration after the Austrian claimed he had been “abandoned” by the club in an extraordinary outburst following the Eagles’ loss at Sunderland.
Manchester United are looking to strengthen before the January transfer window closes. In midfield they have lined up Joao Gomes, Carlos Baleba, Marcos Llorente and Elliot Anderson as targets – Man City are also said to be interested in Anderson – while Nottingham Forest defender Murillo is being looked at to reinforce the defence. The club have also rejected several offers for defender Harry Maguire whose contract is expiring.
Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent’s live blog below
Transfer news, rumours and latest gossipVilla midfielder set for spell on sidelines
Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury, according to The Athletic.
Kamara picked up the knee injury in Villa’s 2-1 FA Cup third-round win at Tottenham, and it is claimed that the 26-year-old is now set for a lengthy spell out.
Chris Wilson21 January 2026 02:00
Morgan Rogers makes divisive xG claim after Aston Villa form: ‘It’s a whole load of nonsense’
Morgan Rogers has hit out at xG (expected goals), the popular football statistic, as ‘a whole load of nonsense’ when asked about his thoughts on the metric.
xG shows the probability that a shot will lead to a goal being scored based on the characteristics of the strike and the events leading up to it, such as the type of attack or body part used to shoot.
The shot is then compared to other shots with similar qualities to conclude the probability of the strike resulting in a goal, with an xG of 0.0 being a certain miss and 1.0 being a certain goal.
Chris Wilson21 January 2026 01:00
Oliver Glasner raises an uncomfortable truth – and makes life difficult for himself
Anumber of major clubs – including United – admire Oliver Glasner, but several senior figures raised their eyebrows at his comments over the weekend. They hadn’t quite expected that. It’s understood that one executive is now reconsidering appointing him, particularly over how he “ran to the press.”
After announcing on Friday that he would definitely leave Palace at the end of the season, Glasner followed on Saturday by suggesting it could be much sooner. That is a considerable escalation – very much in line with the current Premier League news cycle.
Writing a weekly column that wraps up the weekend while tracking developing events makes you acutely aware of recurring themes in the competition. In 2026 alone – still less than three weeks old – we’ve seen huge managerial upheaval, debates over the role of head coaches and sporting directors, and general club unrest.
Chris Wilson21 January 2026 00:00
It’s easy to see why Man United feel liberated – but here comes the hard part
Pep Guardiola’s 55th birthday fell on Sunday. It may not be his happiest. The present could come in the form of Marc Guehi, when he signs. But if Guardiola’s mood may be altered by perhaps the most comprehensive derby defeat he has suffered in almost a decade in Manchester, he might have been facing another manager to celebrate a birthday in January. A year earlier, Ruben Amorim remarked that, after two months at Manchester United, he felt 50, not 40.
Two weeks after leaving, maybe Amorim is fresher-faced and youthful again. But he did win his first Manchester derby in charge. So, 13 months later, did Michael Carrick. Yet a bad day for Guardiola could also be seen as a similarly damaging one for Amorim.
Carrick’s superlative start was in part an indictment of the man who was supposed to be United’s answer to Guardiola. Much that has happened in the last fortnight is that the previous interim Darren Fletcher started by switching to a back four. He conjured three goals in two games from Benjamin Sesko, after two in 17 for Amorim. Fletcher, though, did not win.
Chris Wilson20 January 2026 23:00
Barcelona & Juventus interested in City star
Both Barcelona and Juventus want to sign Bernardo Silva on a free contract this summer if the Portuguese decides to leave Manchester City (or does not receive a contract extension).
Reports in Spain suggest that Barcelona appreciate his quality and experience as a key part of a winning side, and at 31-years-old, he’s ready for one final challenge in his career.
(Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Chris Wilson20 January 2026 22:30
Liam Rosenior gives Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi update after Chelsea exile
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has revealed the club are “in conversations” with Raheem Sterling about his future, but fellow exiled teammate Axel Disasi has returned to first-team training.
Sterling and Disasi, both senior players on high salaries, were banished from the first team at the start of the season, with previous boss Enzo Maresca deeming them surplus to requirements.
Sterling, whose £325,000-per-week deal only expires next summer, has been linked with moves to Fulham and West Ham but, with under two weeks until the January window closes, the 31-year-old is yet to secure a move elsewhere.
Chris Wilson20 January 2026 22:00
Liverpool keen to give Szoboszlai improved contract
Liverpool want to reward Dominik Szoboszlai with a new, improved contract, according to the Guardian.
The club reportedly see the Hungarian as a potential future captain, and want to extend his current deal, which runs until the summer of 2028.
Chris Wilson20 January 2026 21:30
Mohamed Salah travels with Liverpool squad for Marseille clash
The Egypt forward has been included in Arne Slot’s travelling squad after rejoining his team-mates for training on Tuesday following his exploits at the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, France centre-back Ibrahima Konate was absent from the lunchtime session and the squad list due to personal reasons and it is understood he is already back in his homeland.
Salah departed for international duty last month with his Anfield future seemingly in doubt following a dispute with head coach Slot.
Chris Wilson20 January 2026 21:00
Mainoo expected to stay at Man Utd
Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is expected to stay at the club for the remainder of the season after the exit of Ruben Amorim, reports Fabrizio Romano.
The England international had been considering moving away for a loan spell before Amorim was sacked, though he is now expected to stay under interim boss Michael Carrick.
Mainoo’s contract “will remain [a] key topic in the next months” adds Romano.
Kobbie Mainoo’s future remains the subject of speculation (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)
Chris Wilson20 January 2026 20:30
Miguel Delaney answers your Premier League questions – from the next manager to be sacked to surprise January transfers
January has so far been defined less by transfer drama than by instability at the top of the Premier League – something that came through clearly in my latest Ask Me Anything live Q&A.
There was also strong interest in the managerial market more broadly. Xabi Alonso’s abrupt exit from Real Madrid featured heavily, with readers keen to know where he might end up next and which Premier League clubs could move.
Elsewhere, questions reflected rising pressure on managers already in post. Thomas Frank’s position at Tottenham and Arne Slot’s situation at Liverpool were both raised as results falter and elite alternatives re-enter the conversation.
Here are some of your questions – and my answers from the Q&A:
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Your Premier League questions answered – from sackings to signings
Chief footballer writer Miguel Delaney answers readers’ Premier League questions – from Ruben Amorim’s abrupt exit at Manchester United and Xabi Alonso’s sudden availability to mounting pressure on Thomas Frank and the likelihood of late January transfer surprises
Miguel Delaney20 January 2026 20:00