November 18: Joao Gomes opens the door for MU, Liverpool misses Semenyo
Joao Gomes is ready to join Manchester United for a fee of around £44m, while Bournemouth are refusing to sell Antoine Semenyo despite having a £65m release clause. Nottingham Forest are demanding more than £100m for Elliot Anderson; Man City are keeping tabs on Said El Mala.
Joao Gomes is reportedly ready to join Manchester United for a fee of around £44m, but United's plans are leaning towards waiting until the summer. On Merseyside, Liverpool's bid for Antoine Semenyo was blocked by Bournemouth despite the player having a £65m release clause. Nottingham Forest raised their transfer ceiling by demanding more than £100m for Elliot Anderson, while Man City sent scouts to closely monitor Cologne's 19-year-old Said El Mala.
Manchester United: Gomes gives green light, plans turn to summer
According to Record (Portugal), Wolves can accept around £44 million for Joao Gomes in January and the 24-year-old player is ready to move to MU. However, the source said MU is prioritizing to postpone strengthening the midfield until the summer to pursue long-term targets including Carlos Baleba (21 years old, Brighton), Adam Wharton (21 years old, Crystal Palace) and Angelo Stiller (24 years old, Stuttgart). Compared to Brighton's valuation of Baleba at around £104 million, Gomes is considered a more feasible and economical option.
The strategic aspect here is choosing between an immediate, lower-cost solution versus patiently waiting for targets to be classified as future platforms. The decision on when to intervene in the market will directly impact the budget structure and flexibility for summer 2025.
Liverpool: Stuck in Antoine Semenyo case mid-season
Bournemouth insist they will not sell Antoine Semenyo in January. Although the 25-year-old Ghanaian striker is believed to have a £65m release clause, Liverpool's door is now virtually closed. This is a familiar barrier in the mid-season transfer window when teams are racing to avoid relegation and stabilise their squad.
Man City tracking Said El Mala
According to Sky Sports Germany, Pep Guardiola is impressed with 19-year-old winger Said El Mala (Cologne) and has sent scouts to closely monitor him. The interest in a rising talent in the Bundesliga shows that Man City continues to maintain the strategy of discovering and accumulating young resources on both sides of the attack.
Nottingham Forest and the Elliot Anderson problem
Nottingham Forest have announced that Elliot Anderson will not be sold and are valuing him at over £100 million amid interest from Manchester United and Newcastle. This is a clear deterrent signal to keep the 23-year-old mainstay who has made strong progress since the summer of 2024.
The “ceiling” price creates a small margin for negotiation, while reinforcing the message that professional achievement is prioritized over immediate market benefits.
West Ham: Niclas Fullkrug set to leave
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said the 32-year-old German striker is in talks with Bundesliga clubs to leave West Ham in January. Since joining in August 2024, Fulkrug has struggled to adapt and regain his form, so a change of environment is considered reasonable to restart his career.
Al-Ahli closes Ivan Toney rumours
Al-Ahli's sporting director has ruled out the possibility of Ivan Toney leaving the Saudi Pro League in January. Despite Tottenham, Everton and West Ham reportedly being interested, the 29-year-old England striker will not be returning to Europe in the near future, according to the club's stance.
Atletico Madrid: Conor Gallagher happy, not leaving
Conor Gallagher has denied links to Manchester United, insisting he is happy in the Spanish capital. Despite not getting the playing time he wants, the English midfielder has ruled out leaving Atletico Madrid in the near future.
Troy Parrott: Opportunities open up from form
Troy Parrott's explosive performances for AZ Alkmaar and the Republic of Ireland have put him on the radar of several Premier League clubs. At 23, a return to the top flight is considered a possibility when the winter window opens.
Summary of notable transfers
| The incident | Related Clubs | Status | Fees/Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joao Gomes to MU | Wolves, Manchester United | Ready to join; MU considers timing | About 44 million pounds (according to Record) |
| Antoine Semenyo | Bournemouth, Liverpool | No sale in January | £65m clause |
| Elliot Anderson | Nottingham Forest; interest from MU, Newcastle | Forest keep people | Valued at over £100m |
| Said El Mala | Man City, Cologne | Followed (by Sky Sports Germany) | — |
| Niclas Fullkrug | West Ham | Negotiations to leave in January | — |
| Ivan Toney | Al-Ahli | Stay in Saudi Pro League | — |
| Conor Gallagher | Atletico Madrid | Affirm not to leave | — |
| Troy Parrott | AZ Alkmaar; interest from Premier League | Could return to Premier League | — |
The veins of the mid-season transfer window
The overall picture shows caution: teams prioritize stability, set high prices to keep players and only consider selling when they reach a clear “trigger point”. For MU, the problem is balancing the short and long term; for Liverpool, the challenge is a limited mid-season selection pool; and Man City continue to build the future through their scouting network. The market will shift when time and value meet, but for now, the game is still in favor of the proactive power, the clubs that own the players.
