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As Manchester United prepare for the start of the Michael Carrick era with a Manchester derby in the Premier League this weekend the club are looking to strengthen before the January transfer window closes. Carlos Baleba, Marcos Llorente and Elliot Anderson all rumoured as targets, although Man City are also said to be eyeing Nottingham Forest talisman Anderson.
However, there is growing fear that United could lose their own talisman, Bruno Fernandes, who maintains a desire to compete for trophies and has ongoing interest from Bayern Munich as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Elsewhere, Tottenham have signed Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, bringing him back to the Premier League in a £35m move and now set their sights on Santos left-back Souza who is expected to undergo a medical with the club later today.
Gallagher isn’t the only England international on the transfer merry-go-round with Arsenal joining the race to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The Eagles skipper is said to prefer a move to the Gunners or Liverpool, but Manchester City are desperate to overcome any hurdles and secure his signature this month, while European heavyweights Bayern Munich have now also expressed an interest in the England centre-back.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have reportedly made a huge bid for Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, 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.
Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent’s live blog below
January transfer window latest updatesFrank hails Gallagher signing
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has hailed the signing of Conor Gallagher as “exactly what we needed” following his £35m arrival from Atletico Madrid yesterday.
Frank said: “I think it’s a top signing. I can’t praise Fabio and Vinai enough, the ownership for doing it and getting it over the line. It went quick.
“What he brings in terms of abilities. First and foremost, he’s a very good player. Great experience in the Premier League and LaLiga. He’s captained two teams, so that character, leadership and experience, and he’s still young at 25.
“Plenty of development to reach, but coming in on a good level, bringing his pressing abilities, directness, scoring goals and also being able to find good positions on the pitch. He’s exactly what we need.”
(Getty)
Will Castle15 January 2026 23:00
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s summer signing has proved a masterstroke for Leeds, with the former Everton striker boasting eight goals in his last nine Premier League games.
But Farke is not scared to bring in another centre-forward to provide competition and cover for the Englishman, saying: “I’m always greedy, I’m never scared of (bringing in) quality.
“You need competition. On the other hand, you have to make sure that the group is not too big and the players who are there also feel trusted and backed.”
Will Castle15 January 2026 22:30
Parker plays down Ekdal rumours
Reports have linked Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal with a move to Nice but Scott Parker has played down that speculation.
“At this present moment in time, Ekdal’s been in and around things,” he said.
“There may be an option there, but at this present moment in time, that’s not something that we’re really active on, but again, we’ll see how things go.”
Will Castle15 January 2026 22:00
‘Zero chance’ Fulham sell Wilson this window
Fulham boss Marco Silva maintains there is “zero chance” of Wales forward Harry Wilson being allowed to leave the club in the January transfer window.
Wilson has continued to impress for the Cottagers, with goals in each of his last three appearances against Liverpool, Chelsea and in the FA Cup win over Middlesbrough.
The 28-year-old, signed from Liverpool in the summer of 2021, is out of contract at the end of the season, fueling speculation he could be on the move this month.
Silva, though, stressed Wilson remained integral to the club’s plans moving forward.
“To clarify, because I said that we have to enjoy him for one month, two months, or maybe another one or two years if we can renew with him, but (there is) completely zero chance of him leaving (in January),” Silva told a press conference.
“Not because we have an offer – I know there is starting to be some noise about the possibility of him leaving in this window – no chance, zero chance.”
Will Castle15 January 2026 21:30
Neil ‘still connected’ with Sunderland
Regis Le Bris has reaffirmed that Dan Neil is “still connected” with Sunderland amid speculation of a move away.
A boyhood fan of the club, Neil skippered the side to promotion last season but has only made four appearances during the current campaign, the last of which came off the bench towards the end of last week’s defeat to Brentford.
Speaking about the midfielder, Le Bris said: “He’s still connected with the club. He’s in a specific part of his career, I think it’s true, but at the same time you have to make a choice and it’s not only your choice because it’s connected with another project. At the minute he’s still in Sunderland.
“It’s a tough position because we want to respect everyone and he’s still important in the group. His motivation now is connected with the current situation but the future as well. You don’t know exactly what you can expect from the market, so it’s tough to say.”
Will Castle15 January 2026 21:00
Parker: Burnley owners open to January reinforcements
Burnley head coach Scott Parker insisted the club’s owners are open to boosting the squad this month in a bid to help their relegation battle.
“I always say that there’s so many different variables in that. There’s a willingness from owners. There’s a willingness from everyone to try and add some quality or add something to this group that can help us,” he said.
“Of course there’s different dynamics that go into that but we’re active, or at least we’re trying to do that, but we’ll see what pans out over the next couple of weeks.”
Will Castle15 January 2026 20:30
Leeds have completed the signing of Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder from Argentina has been on loan at Chelsea from the Seagulls since September, but traveled to West Yorkshire on Thursday for talks with Leeds.
Buonanotte featured 35 times for Leicester during a loan spell last season.
Will Castle15 January 2026 20:00
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche is remaining coy regarding the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Ukraine international is on a season-long loan from Arsenal but he has struggled for game time at the City Ground due to injury and a high turnover in managers.
Dyche said: “We spoke to the player, made it clear in his situation, he is aware of that so we will see what happens.
“We are being open with him, he is a thorough professional, he has been and I am sure he will be going forward, whatever happens.”
Will Castle15 January 2026 19:30
Espirito Santo: West Ham need to ‘solve’ Paqueta issue
Embattled West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo admits the club need to “solve” the situation with Lucas Paqueta quickly.
Brazilian playmaker Paqueta has been linked with a return to his homeland this month. The 28-year-old is understood to have had his head turned by his former club Flamengo’s overtures and was left out of the squad for the FA Cup win over QPR last weekend.
But Nuno is digging his heels in with the Hammers deep in relegation trouble ahead of Saturday’s trip to London rivals Tottenham.
“I think it’s a situation that we have to solve, all of us at the club have to solve,” said the Portuguese coach.
“We always want our best players to be involved and Lucas is one of our best players, so let’s try to solve the situation.
“It’s a solution that we have to find. Us as a club, the player, myself.
“My job is to prepare the team and to prepare the team with the best players that we have. Lucas is one of the best players. My job is to try and take the best out of all of them.”
(Getty Images)
Will Castle15 January 2026 19:00
Andy Robertson throws doubt on Liverpool future but confirms new contract talks
Andy Robertson has revealed he has opened talks with Liverpool about a new contract – but is unsure whether he wants to stay as he wants to play more.
The left-back has lost his place after the summer signing of Milos Kerkez and has only begun four Premier League games this season.
Robertson, who was appointed vice-captain after Trent Alexander-Arnold left to join Real Madrid, is out of contract in the summer and Liverpool risk losing him on a free transfer.
Mike Jones15 January 2026 18:53