MU targets Jobe Bellingham, Liverpool looking for a replacement for Salah.
Manchester United are considering a January loan move for Jobe Bellingham to bolster their midfield depth, while Liverpool are reviewing Anthony Gordon and Antoine Semenyo as potential replacements for Mohamed Salah. Manchester City and Tottenham are also competing for Morten Hjulmand.
The transfer market is set to reopen in January with two main focuses: Manchester United are considering a loan move for Jobe Bellingham to bolster their midfield, while Liverpool are looking at Anthony Gordon and Antoine Semenyo as potential successors to Mohamed Salah. More broadly, Manchester City and Tottenham are closely monitoring Morten Hjulmand, while Ezri Konsa remains a hot commodity in the Premier League defense.
MU and midfield: Jobe Bellingham, Zirkzee, Hjulmand
Manchester United are considering loaning midfielder Jobe Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund in the January transfer window. The 20-year-old Englishman has impressed in the Bundesliga and is expected to add depth to the midfield (Express). Meanwhile, striker Joshua Zirkzee – no longer in Ruben Amorim's plans – is attracting interest from West Ham United and Sevilla and could leave Old Trafford this winter (Mirror). In midfield, Morten Hjulmand (Sporting Lisbon, Denmark national team) is also a shared target for Man City and Tottenham; MU are reportedly still hoping to reunite with him under Amorim (Record).
MU's tactical approach
Bellingham is seen as a solution to add depth and flexibility to the midfield, given that MU needs more options during a busy fixture schedule. Hjulmand – if he appears in the race – opens up the option of reinforcing the defensive shield. The ability to change personnel in midfield also allows the coach to set up more flexible 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations depending on the opponent and the state of the game.
Liverpool and the post-Salah dilemma.
Liverpool are eyeing two Premier League players: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle, England) and Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth, Ghana) to strengthen their attack as Mohamed Salah's form declines and Florian Wirtz hasn't settled in as expected (Football Insider). This signals that The Reds want to lay the foundation for a transitional phase in their attack.
Liverpool's tactical approach
Reviewing wing options helps Liverpool maintain attacking width and transitional speed – two fundamental elements in their high-intensity pressing system. A suitable new signing will help maintain the threat on the flanks, while also sharing the burden of scoring and assisting.
Premier League center-back: Ezri Konsa in the sights.
Tottenham and Man City continue to monitor Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), a centre-back who has been consistently rated over several seasons. The player has been on the radar of Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man United for the past 12 months (TBR Football). The persistent interest from these big clubs highlights the need to strengthen a disciplined and stable centre-back.
Young talents and the next generation
In domestic competitions, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, and Brentford are interested in Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough, England U21) (TBR Football). On the European stage, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man City have sent scouts to monitor Lennart Karl, the 17-year-old striker for Bayern Munich and Germany U17, who scored in the Champions League midweek (Caught Offside). This signals a strategic shift in recruitment towards high-potential teenage talent.
Movements in Serie A and La Liga
AS Roma wants to renegotiate Evan Ferguson's loan terms (Brighton), with the possibility of a return to the Premier League in January if he doesn't improve in Serie A (Gazzetta dello Sport). In the Premier League, Newcastle and Tottenham are both interested in defender Pierre Kalulu (Juventus, France national team) (TuttoJuve). In La Liga, Barcelona scouts are monitoring Mason Greenwood – the English striker currently playing for Marseille – and are not ruling out a reunion with Marcus Rashford if the deal goes through (The Sun). Meanwhile, in Serie A, Inter Milan are open to offers for Piotr Zielinski – a top target for Leeds United (Football Insider).
Impact and roadmap
The January transfer window typically sees few major deals, but teams are actively pursuing targets to accelerate into the second half of the season. For Manchester United, strengthening their midfield could improve control and consistency. For Liverpool, finding a replacement for Salah – whether short-term or long-term – will determine the sharpness of their attack. Elsewhere, the scouting and negotiations suggest a trend toward restructuring squad depth, preparing for a demanding schedule and the long haul.
News brief by source
- MU are considering loaning Jobe Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund; Zirkzee could leave Old Trafford, with West Ham and Sevilla interested (Express, Mirror).
- Man City and Tottenham are competing for Morten Hjulmand's signature; MU hopes for a reunion (Record).
- Liverpool are monitoring Anthony Gordon and Antoine Semenyo amid Salah's dip in form and Wirtz's failure to integrate into the team (Football Insider).
- Tottenham and Man City are closely monitoring Ezri Konsa; previously, Chelsea, Liverpool, and MU all had their eye on him (TBR Football).
- Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Brentford are interested in Hayden Hackney (TBR Football).
- AS Roma wants to renegotiate Evan Ferguson's loan terms (Gazzetta dello Sport).
- Newcastle and Tottenham are pursuing Pierre Kalulu (TuttoJuve).
- Barcelona are monitoring Mason Greenwood; a possible reunion with Marcus Rashford if the deal goes through (The Sun).
- Inter Milan are ready to listen to offers for Piotr Zielinski; Leeds United are interested (Football Insider).
- Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man City are monitoring 17-year-old Lennart Karl, who recently scored in the Champions League (Caught Offside).
