Man City finalize £65 million blockbuster signing, Real Madrid retain 'little Messi'.
Man City are close to completing a £65 million deal for Antoine Semenyo. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have insisted they will not let 'Little Messi' leave despite interest from Napoli.
The winter transfer market is heating up with strategic moves from European giants. Manchester City, in an effort to strengthen their attack to compete for the Premier League title with Arsenal, are very close to signing a Bournemouth star, while Real Madrid are beginning to implement plans to protect their most promising young talents.
Man City close in on target Antoine Semenyo
According to talkSPORT, Manchester City and Bournemouth have made significant progress in negotiating the payment method for the £65 million transfer of Antoine Semenyo. The Vitality Stadium club is now preparing to part ways with their star player within the next 48 hours.
Semenyo is expected to bring dynamism and speed to the wing of Pep Guardiola's team. Although the deal is in the final stages of completion, the player will most likely still travel with Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League. This is seen as a farewell match and marks his last time wearing the Cherries' shirt.
The signing of Semenyo in January demonstrates the immense ambition of the Etihad Stadium team. At a fee of £65 million, the striker will be one of the most expensive winter signings in the club's history, directly putting significant pressure on rivals Arsenal in the two-horse race for the Premier League title.
Real Madrid are determined to keep Franco Mastantuono.
In Spain, Real Madrid has given a firm response to Napoli's loan offers for Franco Mastantuono. According to Marca, the Royal team affirmed that the midfielder, dubbed "Little Messi," is part of their long-term plans and they have no intention of letting him leave Bernabeu under any circumstances.
Mastantuono joined Real Madrid from River Plate this summer for a fee of €45 million. Despite his young age, he has quickly shown his prodigious potential, becoming the second youngest player to debut for the club in the Champions League and the fourth youngest player to score in Real Madrid's La Liga history. The club's management's firm stance shows they see him as a crucial player for the team's future.
Barcelona and their plan to replace Robert Lewandowski.
In other news, Barcelona are quietly preparing for the post-Lewandowski era. Their top target is Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus. Barca hope to acquire the Serbian striker on a free transfer when his contract with the Turin club expires in the summer of 2026.
Furthermore, the defense is also a priority for the Barcelona coach in the January transfer window. The Catalan club is eyeing Nathan Ake of Manchester City. The left-footed Dutch center-back is no longer a regular starter and is looking for more playing opportunities to secure a place in the 2026 World Cup squad. Man City are reportedly willing to let Ake go if they receive an offer of around 25 million Euros.
