Ruben Amorim<\/a> was dismissed by the Red Devils less than 24 hours after his extraordinary rant following United\u2019s 1-1 draw with Leeds<\/a>. But as one manager left, another arrived as Chelsea confirmed Liam Rosenior as their new head coach following the sacking of Enzo Maresca on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n This could be only the start of a busy January for both clubs, with United reported to be monitoring Carlos Baleba before Amorim\u2019s dismissal, while there is talk of Chelsea plotting a stunning \u00a3125m move for Vinicius Jr<\/a> as Rosenior\u2019s first signing. <\/p>\n 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<\/a> on the verge of signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo<\/a>. <\/p>\n That move \u2013 which it has been suggested will hit around the \u00a365m mark \u2013 could be wrapped up imminently with the player\u2019s medical penned in, and the usual suspects are also looking to make moves to improve their squads, with Liverpool<\/a> considering Marc Guehi<\/a> as well as a couple of star young defenders in Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Joel Ordonez.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Real Madrid<\/a> are said to be interested in Crystal Palace\u2019s Adam Wharton<\/a> who has plenty of suitors in the Premier League<\/a> including Liverpool<\/a> while Arsenal<\/a> are touted to reignite their long-standing interest in Los Blancos star Rodrygo.<\/p>\n Follow all the latest transfer news<\/a>, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent\u2019s live blog below: <\/p>\n January transfer window latest updates<\/a>Robert Lewandowski does not want to leave Barcelona<\/p>\n Robert Lewandowski does not want to leave Barcelona this month despite numerous enquiries, according to Sky Sports Germany.<\/p>\n There are currently no plans to include him in any deal involving Joao Cancelo, who will be joining Barca on loan.<\/p>\n The Polish striker\u2019s future remains open with his contract expiring this summer.<\/p>\n Will Castle7 January 2026 10:00<\/p>\n <\/a>Federico Chiesa wanted by Italian giants but unlikely to leave Liverpool<\/p>\n Napoli and Juventus are interested in signing Federico Chiesa on loan from Liverpool, according to Sky in Italy.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s understood that the winger is highly unlikely to depart from Anfield this window, with Liverpool having little interest in loaning him out either way.<\/p>\n Any move would likely depend on whether Mohamed Salah stays at Anfield, as per Gazzetta dello Sport.<\/p>\n Chiesa has struggled for game time under Slot this season despite being more in the fold compared to last term.<\/p>\n Will Castle7 January 2026 09:45<\/p>\n <\/a>Roma’s pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee impacted by Ruben Amorim sacking<\/p>\n Roma director Ricky Massara says their pursuit of Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has changed following head coach Ruben Amorim’s Old Trafford exit.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is a Manchester United centre-forward liked by many clubs, not just us,\u201d Massara told Sky in Italy. <\/p>\n \u201cNaturally, the situation is different after this change of management, there are no contacts in progress, but I wouldn\u2019t focus on individual names.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know this window is an opportunity to reinforce the squad in an area where we have struggled to convert chances into goals, so we will try to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n Will Castle7 January 2026 09:30<\/p>\n <\/a>The Liam Rosenior playbook that can appease Chelsea and justify controversial move<\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason the main stand of the Meinau stays silent for the first 15 minutes of every Strasbourg<\/a> home game, as has been the case since 2023. It\u2019s an objection to their state of affairs; not on the pitch, but in the boardroom. Under the multi-club ownership model of BlueCo, a vocal portion of the Strasbourg fanbase feel their role as the \u201cpawn\u201d in Chelsea\u2019s big game of chess<\/a> has been stripping them of their identity. They\u2019ve now been stripped of their manager<\/a>.<\/p>\n Liam Rosenior<\/a> is the latest Strasbourg casualty to cross the bridge to Chelsea. He follows \u2013 or precedes \u2013 Strasbourg captain Emanuel Emegha, whose move this summer was confirmed back in September<\/a>, to the wrath of those in Alsace. The spokesperson for Strasbourg\u2019s four main supporter groups told The Independent<\/a> in October that there was an expectation that Rosenior \u201csees himself somewhere in England in one or two years\u201d. But not now, and not like this. In snatching their sister club\u2019s manager mid-season, Chelsea have taken their big-brothering of Strasbourg to a new level.<\/p>\n Will Castle7 January 2026 09:15<\/p>\n <\/a>Newcastle face fresh competition for Jorgen Strand Larsen<\/p>\n Newcastle will have Tottenham for competition if they re-enter the market for Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, according to Chronicle Live.<\/p>\n The Magpies sent scouts to watch the Norwegian, as well as youngster Mateus Mane, in Wolves\u2019 3-0 win over West Ham last weekend.<\/p>\n While defensive cover may be the priority, any move for Strand Larsen – who they had a \u00a360m bid for rejected in the summer – will likely require a transfer battle. Crystal Palace and West Ham are also said to be interested.<\/p>\n Will Castle7 January 2026 09:00<\/p>\n <\/a>David Moyes plays down Everton’s chances of transfer activity<\/p>\n \u201cWe are are probably more unlikely than likely, but I wouldn\u2019t say that completely as we looking out there to see what here is,\u201d said David Moyes when asked on the potential for signings this month.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the main, we\u2019ve been able to cope with it quite well. My feeling is we might have to cope again.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have got a small squad, we knew that at the start, and the boys going away to Afcon make it look (worse), but it\u2019s the same for a lot of clubs.<\/p>\n \u201cBut when your squad is relatively tight, it starts to have an effect and before you know it you look as if you are pretty threadbare.<\/p>\n \u201cI think our ownership wants us to be clean and tidy. If we don\u2019t get anyone in, we will stick to the plan and keep building.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a decent build in the summer, which moved us up, and I think the jumps in improvement will come more gradually rather than be big deals really.\u201d<\/p>\n Will Castle7 January 2026 08:45<\/p>\n <\/a>Antoine Semenyo on verge of Man City move with medical penned in<\/p>\n Antoine Semenyo is on the verge of joining Manchester City, according to various reputable sources.<\/p>\n The Bournemouth winger will have a medical at the club to complete a \u00a365m move, with a long-term contract already agreed.<\/p>\n The saga of the last few months looks set to be coming to an end!<\/p>\n Will Castle7 January 2026 08:33<\/p>\n <\/a>Spurs teenager Yang joins Coventry on loan<\/p>\n Tottenham teenager Yang Min-hyeok has been sent on loan to Championship leaders Coventry after being recalled from Portsmouth.<\/p>\n Yang said: \u201cI\u2019m very happy and excited to join a club with such strong traditions and history. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen I played against Coventry, I really felt the positive atmosphere within the team, and that made me even more excited about becoming part of this club.<\/p>\n \u201cThe head coach explained very clearly how he plans to use me and how I could fit into the team, which gave me a lot of confidence that this is the right place for me.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to help the team achieve its goal and to do that, I need to adapt as quickly as possible, show my qualities on the pitch, and prove why I am here.\u201d<\/p>\n Will Castle7 January 2026 08:20<\/p>\n <\/a>Darren Fletcher takes Man United reins with Sir Alex Ferguson\u2019s blessing<\/p>\n The first call Darren Fletcher<\/a> made was, perhaps, the one he was always likely to make. It is probably the kind of conversation Sir Alex Ferguson<\/a> has had five times over the last dozen years. First Ryan Giggs, then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer<\/a>, then Michael Carrick<\/a>, then Ruud van Nistelrooy, now Fletcher, each asking if they should take the reins Ferguson held for 26 years and 1,500 games.<\/p>\n Ferguson said yes, which was just as well. To go by Fletcher\u2019s answer, United may have needed another interim head coach if he had replied otherwise. But in times of strife, United have shown a tendency to turn to their own. And they, in turn, look to Ferguson for guidance.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to speak to him first,\u201d said Fletcher, who signed for United at 15 and made 312 appearances under Ferguson. \u201cAnd, ultimately, to get his blessing. I think he deserves that respect. I wanted to run it by him, what he thought, and he was supportive. And he echoed my thoughts, which I’ve always said: when you’re an employee of the club, it’s your job to do your best for Manchester United<\/a>. And it’s amazing when he says something that I try and live and believe every day. So it was comforting for me for him to say that.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard Jolly7 January 2026 08:09<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI275676476.jpeg\")
(AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Britain-Soccer-FA-Cup-w2bep4ww.jpeg\")
(AP)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/7d58b68507e2f04f151dfd288b7fea3cY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzY3MjI1MDA5-2.82918898.jpg\")
(PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Wolverhampton-Wanderers-v-Chelsea-Carabao-Cup-Fourth-Round-Molineux-Stadium-n8cgcybs.jpeg\")
(Jacob King\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/7f993b2995ac77935963f794b6f3d9faY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzY3ODA3MzAz-2.82918996.jpg\")
(PA Wire)<\/p>\n
![\"Neymar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI277251483.jpeg\")
Neymar is set for a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his knee (Reuters)<\/p>\n