November 18th: Joao Gomes opens the door for MU, Liverpool misses out on Semenyo.
Joao Gomes is ready to join Manchester United for a fee of around £44 million, while Bournemouth are refusing to sell Antoine Semenyo despite a £65 million release clause. Nottingham Forest are demanding over £100 million for Elliot Anderson; Man City are closely monitoring Said El Mala.
Joao Gomes is reportedly ready to join Manchester United for a fee of around £44 million, but United's plans lean towards waiting until the summer. In Merseyside, Liverpool's pursuit of Antoine Semenyo was thwarted by Bournemouth despite the player having a £65 million release clause. Nottingham Forest raised their asking price for Elliot Anderson to over £100 million, while Manchester City sent scouts to closely monitor 19-year-old Said El Mala of Cologne.
Manchester United: Gomes given the green light, plans now focused on summer.
According to Record (Portugal), Wolves could accept around £44 million for Joao Gomes in January, and the 24-year-old is ready to move to Manchester United. However, the source indicates that Manchester United are prioritizing postponing strengthening their midfield until the summer to pursue long-term targets including Carlos Baleba (21, Brighton), Adam Wharton (21, Crystal Palace), and Angelo Stiller (24, Stuttgart). Compared to Brighton's valuation of Baleba at around £104 million, Gomes is considered a more viable and economical option.
The strategic aspect here is choosing between an immediate, lower-cost solution versus patiently waiting for objectives to become future-oriented goals. The decision on when to intervene in the market will directly impact the budget structure and flexibility for summer 2025.
Liverpool: Stuck in a mid-season deal for Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth have insisted they will not sell Antoine Semenyo in January. Although the 25-year-old Ghanaian striker is reportedly subject to a £65 million release clause, Liverpool's chances of signing him are virtually nonexistent at this point. This is a familiar hurdle in the mid-season transfer window as teams battle relegation and seek to stabilize their squads.
Man City are monitoring 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. This interest in a rising talent in the Bundesliga shows that Man City continues its strategy of discovering and accumulating young attacking talent on both flanks.
Nottingham Forest and the Elliot Anderson problem
Nottingham Forest have stated they will not sell Elliot Anderson and value him at over £100 million amid interest from Manchester United and Newcastle. This is a clear warning signal to keep the 23-year-old key player, who has progressed significantly since the summer of 2024.
The "ceiling" price creates a small margin for negotiation, while reinforcing the message that professional achievements are prioritized over immediate market gains.
West Ham: Niclas Fullkrug is set to leave.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that the 32-year-old German striker is in talks with Bundesliga clubs to leave West Ham in January. Since joining in August 2024, Fullkrug has struggled to adapt and regain his form, so a change of environment is seen as a logical step to restart his career.
Al-Ahli puts an end to rumors about Ivan Toney.
Al-Ahli's sporting director has dismissed the possibility of Ivan Toney leaving the Saudi Pro League in January. Despite reports of interest from Tottenham, Everton, and West Ham, the 29-year-old English striker will not be returning to Europe anytime soon, according to the club's stance.
Atletico Madrid: Conor Gallagher is happy and will not leave.
Conor Gallagher has denied links with Manchester United, insisting he is very happy in the Spanish capital. Despite not having the playing time he desires, the English midfielder has ruled out the possibility of leaving Atletico Madrid in the near future.
Troy Parrott: Opportunities arise from his current form.
Troy Parrott's explosive performances at AZ Alkmaar and with the Republic of Ireland national team have put him on the radar of several Premier League clubs. At 23 years old, a return to England's top flight is considered a possibility as the winter transfer window opens.
Summary of notable transfers
| The incident | Related club | Status | Fees/Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joao Gomes joins MU | Wolves, Manchester United | Ready to join; MU considering the timing. | Approximately £44 million (according to Record) |
| Antoine Semenyo | Bournemouth, Liverpool | Not for sale in January. | The £65 million clause |
| Hugo Anderson | Nottingham Forest; interest from MU and Newcastle | Forest keeps people | Valued at over £100 million |
| Said El Mala | Man City, Cologne | Followed (according to Sky Sports Germany) | — |
| Niclas Fullkrug | West Ham | Exit negotiations in January. | — |
| Ivan Toney | Al-Ahli | Stay in the Saudi Pro League | — |
| Conor Gallagher | Atletico Madrid | I insist I'm not leaving. | — |
| Troy Parrott | AZ Alkmaar; interest from Premier League clubs. | It's possible to return to the Premier League. | — |
The veins of the mid-season transfer window
The overall picture shows caution: teams prioritize stability, setting high valuations to retain players and only considering selling when a clear "trigger point" is reached. For MU, the challenge is balancing short-term and long-term goals; for Liverpool, the difficulty lies in the limited mid-season selection pool; and Man City continues to build for the future through its scouting network. The market will shift when timing and value align, but for now, the advantage still lies with the clubs that own the players.