With two months to go before the window opens, clubs are already preparing their lists. Here is what we heard this week.
As always, we give each story a reliability note. A rumour stays a rumour until the clubs confirm it, and most of the talk at this stage of the season never turns into a deal.
Premier League
Several clubs near the bottom of the table are looking for a striker. Loans are the most likely route.
The numbers explain why. The bottom four have scored few goals between them, and Burnley have yet to win a league game after eight rounds.
| Club | Position | Points | Goals scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves | 17th | 7 | 8 |
| Leeds United | 18th | 6 | 7 |
| Sunderland | 19th | 5 | 6 |
| Burnley | 20th | 3 | 5 |
Clubs in this position rarely have the budget for big fees in January. Instead, they look for players who are short of minutes at bigger clubs and can be borrowed for the rest of the season, often with an option to buy.
Mid-table sides are also expected to be busy, though mostly with smaller moves. Several are said to be looking for cover in defence and midfield after injuries in the autumn, and young players on loan elsewhere could be recalled early.
Higher up the table, Chelsea are close to extending their captain’s contract until 2029. Only the bonus details remain, and an announcement is expected after the international break.
Two Premier League clubs are also among the five sides tracking a 22-year-old Benfica midfielder. They are reported to be ahead of their rivals because they could pay the fee in one instalment, but Benfica would prefer to sell in the summer.
La Liga
Talk about Kylian Mbappé continues, although nothing official has happened. Barcelona are focused on extending contracts rather than signings.
On the pitch the forward is in excellent form, with 12 league goals, the most in Spain. Real Madrid lead the table with 25 points, two ahead of Barcelona, and there is no sign that the club is willing to listen to offers.
Real have also turned down an approach from an English club for a 19-year-old academy midfielder who has played five league games this season. The interest may return in the summer.
Barcelona’s priority is to secure the futures of their young first-team players. Lamine Yamal has five goals and six assists in the league so far, and the club’s focus on renewals reflects the value of that core group.
Elsewhere in Spain, Atlético Madrid are third and are reported to be monitoring the market for a defender, but no club has been named and the story remains at an early stage.
Serie A and the rest of Europe
AC Milan have drawn up a shortlist of three goalkeepers ahead of January. The club wants competition for the number one shirt rather than a direct replacement, and with a limited budget a loan is the most realistic option.
Milan are third in Serie A, level on points with Inter and two behind leaders Napoli, so the staff see small improvements as important in a tight title race.
In Germany, Bayern Munich are unbeaten at the top of the Bundesliga after a 4–0 win over Borussia Dortmund. With Harry Kane on 14 league goals, there is little reason for them to be active in January, and early reports suggest they will focus on renewals.
In France, Paris Saint-Germain lead Ligue 1 by a single point from Marseille. Both clubs are expected to stay quiet in January, with the biggest decisions left for the summer.
- Milan: shortlist of three goalkeepers, loan most likely
- Bayern: no major signings expected in January
- Benfica: midfielder likely to stay until the summer
How reliable is all this?
Not every story carries the same weight. Contract extensions are usually reported late in the process and are the most likely to happen. Interest from several clubs at once is common, but it often fades once fees are discussed.
Figures quoted in the media deserve extra caution. They often come from one side of a negotiation and can change several times before a deal is done, if it happens at all.
Big-money moves in the middle of the season are rare. Clubs do not want to lose key players during a title race or a fight against relegation, and buyers often prefer to wait for the summer, when there is more time to plan.
We will publish next week’s round-up as usual, with the reliability of each story marked. If any of the deals above is confirmed before then, it will appear in our transfer feed straight away with a link to the official announcement.
.jpg){kind=link}