The January window is a weird beast. You’ve got the desperate clubs at the bottom panic-buying wingers nobody has heard of, and the giants at the top trying to "fine-tune" their squads while pretending they aren't worried about FFP. It is January 18, 2026, and the mid-winter madness is officially in high gear. Honestly, it’s felt a bit sluggish until now, but the last 48 hours have been total chaos.
If you’re checking the premier league transfer news live feeds hoping for a quiet Sunday, you’re out of luck.
The Marc Guehi Saga is Finally Ending
It’s the move that has basically defined the last two windows. After a summer of "will-they-won't-they" with Liverpool that eventually fell apart on deadline day, Marc Guehi is finally leaving Crystal Palace. But he isn't heading to Anfield.
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Pep Guardiola has jumped the queue.
Manchester City are reportedly paying around £30 million—some reports say closer to £20 million because he only has six months left on his deal—to bring the England center-back to the Etihad. It makes sense. City are in the middle of a defensive crisis. With Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and John Stones all spending more time with the physios than on the pitch, Pep had to act.
Guehi didn’t even travel for Palace’s game against Sunderland. He’s expected to undergo his medical any minute now. Interestingly, he won't be able to play in the Champions League first phase for City, so don’t expect to see him against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday. His debut will likely be against Wolves this coming Saturday.
Arsenal and the "New Pedri"
Mikel Arteta is currently sitting six points clear at the top of the table, but the draw against Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest yesterday clearly rattled some cages. It was a toothless performance. Now, the rumors are flying that the Gunners are trying to future-proof the midfield.
They are heavily linked with Vasilije Kostov, a Serbian kid who everyone is calling the "new Pedri." It’s a big tag to live up to. Arsenal have also reportedly made a move for Ayyoub Bouaddi to beat PSG to his signature.
But it’s not just about who’s coming in. Oleksandr Zinchenko might be on his way out. Ajax are sniffing around, and Jorge Mendes is apparently in talks to get the 29-year-old a permanent move to the Netherlands this summer, or maybe even sooner if a deal can be struck now.
Manchester United's Midfield Makeover
Things are changing fast at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim is out, and Michael Carrick is in as interim boss. The first thing on the agenda? Sorting out a midfield that has been, frankly, hit or miss all season.
The big news today is a formal £20 million (€23m) offer for Ruben Neves.
The former Wolves man is currently at Al-Hilal, but he’s out of contract in the summer. United want him now. Sporting director Jason Wilcox is pushing for it because Al-Hilal would rather get a fee today than lose him for nothing in June. United have also been offered Ruben Loftus-Cheek, which feels like a classic "agent-led" rumor, but with Carrick looking for stability, who knows?
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The "Done Deals" You Might Have Missed
While everyone is talking about Guehi and Neves, some significant business has already crossed the line.
- Manchester City already spent £64 million on Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth earlier this month.
- West Ham have been busy, bringing in Taty Castellanos from Lazio for £26.1 million and Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente for £20 million.
- Tottenham brought Conor Gallagher back to London from Atletico Madrid, while shipping Brennan Johnson off to Crystal Palace.
- Aston Villa dropped £10 million on Brian Madjo from Metz.
Why This Window Feels Different
Usually, January is for the desperate. But in 2026, the spending is being driven by the "Big Six" trying to fix very specific holes. Liverpool are reeling from a 1-1 draw with Burnley and are desperately looking for defensive cover after missing out on Guehi. They're now linked with Nico Schlotterbeck and Alessandro Bastoni, though those feel like "summer" deals being forced into a January timeline.
Arne Slot is under a bit of pressure. Steven Gerrard even went on record saying the recent results aren't acceptable. Liverpool fans are restless, especially with Andy Robertson’s contract winding down and Milos Kerkez taking his starting spot.
What to Watch in the Next 48 Hours
If you’re following the premier league transfer news live, the next couple of days are going to be about medicals and "here we go" tweets. Watch Chelsea. They are pushing hard for Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes. They’re reportedly willing to break their own record for a 20-year-old defender by paying over £52 million.
It’s a massive gamble. But that’s the January window in a nutshell.
Actionable Insights for the Week Ahead:
- Monitor Medicals: Marc Guehi’s move to City is imminent; watch for the official "scarf above the head" photo by Tuesday.
- Watch the "Fringe" Sales: Keep an eye on Arsenal’s outgoings. If Zinchenko moves, it signals Arteta is ready to refresh the left side of his defense entirely.
- Midfield Scramble: If Manchester United land Ruben Neves, expect a "domino effect" where other clubs (like Everton or Fulham) try to snatch up the players United no longer need.
- The Deadline: Remember, the window closes on Monday, February 2, at 11 PM GMT. The "panic-buy" window usually starts about 72 hours before that.