THE £65M SOLUTION: WHY ANTOINE SEMENYO IS PEP GUARDIOLA’S TOP JANUARY PRIORITY
Manchester City target Antoine Semenyo for £65m to boost their title charge. Read the latest on Marc Guehi and potential exits.
Manchester City are a couple of points behind Arsenal right now, and the January transfer window could be their chance to shake things up.
January's almost here, so expect loads of rumours when the winter transfer window opens. Last January, Pep Guardiola's team dropped £180 million, which is the most they've ever spent in a winter window.
So, what could Man City do in January?
New Players
The city's doing well in both the Premier League and Champions League, so their squad's in pretty good shape. Still, Pep Guardiola keeps saying they need to get better, which suggests they might still bring in some new faces in January. They're already being linked to one big move.
Antoine Semenyo's been on fire this season, catching the eye of big clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United. His old coach even said Antoine could play anywhere he wants. Even so, City seems to be leading the pack to sign the Ghanaian. Even though he just signed a new contract back in July, he could be available for £65 million next month.
With eight goals and three assists already, the 25-year-old is near the top of the list for Premier League goals and assists. Only Erling Haaland and Phil Foden have scored more than three times for Guardiola's team in the league, and Semenyo would definitely give them another goal threat at the Etihad.
Besides Semenyo, it's not clear who else City might go after this winter. They're interested in long-term targets like Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong. But those deals probably won't happen next month.
Marc Guehi is another name that's been mentioned with a move to City. The England player was close to joining Liverpool in the summer, but that deal fell apart. The centre-back's contract with Crystal Palace is up in the summer, and a bunch of top clubs want to sign him for free. City's one of those clubs and might try to get a deal done in January if Palace decides to sell him.
Players Leaving
A few City players might want to leave this winter, especially with the 2026 World Cup coming up. If Semenyo joins, that would almost definitely mean one of Oscar Bobb, Savinho, or Omar Marmoush leaving.
Bobb hasn't been getting much playing time, only playing 13 league minutes in the last couple of months. He hasn't really impressed when he's had the chance to play. The winger hasn't scored any goals and only has one assist, which was on the first day of the season. The 22-year-old might look for more playing time elsewhere, and Crystal Palace is supposedly interested.
Savinho also hasn't started many games across all competitions. He was almost on his way to Tottenham for £70 million in the summer. But the 21-year-old ended up staying at the Etihad, extending his contract until 2031. Guardiola recently said, "He will become a top, top-class player." But with another winger coming in, he might start looking at other options again. Spurs will probably be interested again.
Marmoush just arrived in Manchester last January, but he might already be on his way out. It's clear he's got talent, but it's not clear where he fits in Guardiola's team. Haaland's the main striker, and it seems like other players are preferred out wide and in the number ten position. A knee injury hasn't helped his start to the season, and he hasn't started in the league since August. Clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham would be interested in Marmoush if he becomes available.
Besides the attackers, a few defenders might also leave the Etihad next month. Nathan Aké has been with City for almost five years now. But he's not a regular starter in Guardiola's back four anymore. With the World Cup coming up, playing time will be important for the Dutchman. He's only started one league game so far this season, so he'll probably look at other options in January. Bournemouth and Crystal Palace have both been linked to the 30-year-old.
A goalkeeper might also be on his way out next month. James Trafford arrived in the summer but quickly lost his spot when Gianluigi Donnarumma was signed. Despite that, Guardiola has told the incredible goalkeeper to stay here next month. Stefan Ortega might still leave, since he's fallen further down the list.
BERNARDO SILVA TO LEAVE MANCHESTER CITY; LIJNDERS CONFIRMS "END OF THE STORY"
Bernardo Silva prepares for a Man City farewell. See the latest on Barcelona links and Elliot Anderson rumours.
Pep Lijnders, Manchester City’s assistant manager, dropped a pretty big hint that Bernardo Silva’s time at the club is wrapping up. After Saturday’s 4-0 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final, Lijnders said, "Every good story comes to an end.” It sounds like Silva’s nine-year run at City is almost over.
Silva’s contract ends this season, and he hasn’t signed a new one. He’s being linked with Barcelona, Juventus, and even some American teams, so it feels like everyone’s expecting a move.
Lijnders was front and centre with Pep Guardiola banned from the touchline. He went on about how important Silva is to City, saying, “You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don’t exist. Bernardo Silva is unique in the way he controls games, how he moves, receives the ball, leads the team, and finds solutions. All of that.”
Lijnders made it pretty clear: when Silva isn’t out there, City misses him. Sometimes, sometimes you notice it even after just one game. Imagine a whole season without him. But"Everyded, “every good story comes to an end,” and he hopes Silva enjoys his last few weeks and gets the proper send-off he deserves.
Silva joined City from Monaco back in 2017. Saturday’s match was his 450th appearance, and he’s racked up 18 trophies since he arrived. Guardiola’s always bfan; a huge fan, he’s picked Silva more than any other player in his career, and after Kevin De Bruyne left last season, Silva got handed the captain’s armband.
People are already speculating about who could come in next. City’s been linked with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, but Lijnders pointed out that the club doesn’t look for like-for-like replacements. They focus on whaneeds: team needs someone who’ll fit right into the starting lineup. He also kept saying how much he values City’s Academy and the young talent breaking through.
He summed it up: the young academy players need to make the step up and grow into those midfield positions, but it’s vital to keep the senior guys around for stability. else, anything else, new signings or academy promotions, builds around that core.
HOW PEP GUARDIOLA’S ROTATION IS SABOTAGING PHIL FODEN’S 2026 WORLD CUP DREAMS
Thomas Tuchel admits Phil Foden is "struggling" and offers no guarantee for a World Cup spot after poor England form.
Phil Foden just hasn’t found his groove with the England squad lately. After friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, manager Thomas Tuchel pointed out that Foden isn’t in top shape, and it might cost him a World Cup spot.
Even at Manchester City, Foden’s spot in the starting lineup isn’t a sure thing anymore. Still, Tuchel picked him for the internationals and put him in the starting eleven both times. Instructions first, behind Doand's instructions, and Dominic Solanke for the Uruguay match, then behind Morgan Rogers when they faced Japan. But neither game saw Foden really come alive for England.
Tuchel didn’t hide his disappointment. “He tried everything,” he said. “He was outstanding in training, but once the game started, he just couldn’t bring that same energy to the pitch.”
Tuchel also mentioned that Foden just hasn’t been getting enough minutes at City. Even so, he arrived at the training camp in good spirits and looked sharp during the sessions. “I honestly thought he’d bring that spark into the games. But he’s struggling to show what he’s capable of.”
When reporters asked if he’d really take a player who isn’t playing much for his club, isn’t in form, and hasn’t been making an impact for England, Tuchel was upfront: “Yeah, I can take him. The question is whether we actually will. There’s no guarantee he’ll make the squad.”
Now, Foden has about two months to turn things around before Tuchel names England’s World Cup squad. “I’m always learning,” Tuchel said. “Every training session, I see how the team fits, how the players respond to times applied and instructions, how quickly they catch on. Instructions were followed time and time again, and then applied during matches.”
Everything’s still up for grabs. The priority now is for the players to finish strong with their clubs, then come back ready for England training camp. That’s when Tuchel and his team will make the final calls.
