Five players who could join Man City in January

Tom Weber

• Updated: 5 Dec 2025 15:45 GMT
• 5 min read

Analysis

Manchester City splashed the cash in January 2025 and could do so again in 2026.

The Cityzens spent over €400 million on new recruits in the two 2025 transfer windows, yet Pep Guardiola's team still looks no closer to being the dominant side it once was.

Man City have struggled for defensive solidity as superstar midfielder Rodri has endured another injury-hit season after recovering from his ACL tear, and it is widely believed that Guardiola's men are overly reliant on record-breaking striker Erling Haaland.

The Spanish tactician appears to agree and is targeting offensive reinforcements. Below, FootballTransfers looks at five players who could join Man City in January 2026...

Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)

The most realistic January target for Man City and a host of Premier League giants, Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo will be available in the early stages of the window due to a €74 million release clause.

The Ghana international started the season in red-hot form, and this has attracted the attention of City, Liverpool and Tottenham. However, a quick decision is needed because the clause expires at a certain point to give Bournemouth enough time to source an adequate replacement.

Man City's desire to add attacking reinforcements is not as strong as Spurs', so they may roll the dice on Semenyo staying until the summer, when his clause will become cheaper. However, a January move is definitely plausible.

Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Not quite as realistic a target but nevertheless someone whose future will be the subject of intense speculation in January is Real Madrid struggler Rodrygo.

Guardiola is a known admirer of the Brazilian, and he would have been City's top target in the summer if they had sold Savinho to Spurs. However, they ultimately decided to keep the young attacker.

Rodrygo stayed at Real Madrid despite not playing under Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup, and the situation hasn't improved. The winger has failed to have an impact in limited minutes this season and could be on the move, although a summer transfer is more likely.

Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)

City are not only scouring the attacker market, however. Adding a midfielder is also on the agenda in 2026, and Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson has left club scouts mightily impressed.

Indeed, it has been claimed that Guardiola is 'obsessed' with the England international, who is widely expected to be on the move in 2026, although he too is more likely to transfer after the season.

While Anderson is expected to be surprisingly cheap in the summer due to a 'complicated' contract, Forest will be able to freely decide their asking price in January. They will not make life easy for suitors, that much is certain.

Ederson (Atalanta)

Atalanta midfielder Ederson is reportedly Man City's Plan B should they miss out on Anderson next year. The Brazilian is all but guaranteed to leave Bergamo in 2026.

Agent Andre Cury has already confirmed as much, even adding that the midfielder will be relatively affordable as his contract is set to expire in 2027, forcing Atalanta to sell.

Naturally, though, the Serie A outfit do not want to lose their star midfielder in the middle of the season.

Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle)

Newcastle vice-captain Bruno Guimaraes is a player frequently associated with City because Guardiola has never made a secret of his admiration for the Brazil international.

“It’s not just this season, for many years since he was at Lyon, we started to realise he was a special player. I think Newcastle made an incredible signing and he’s an idol there,” the City boss said in late November.

However, it would come as a massive shock if Guimaraes were to depart Newcastle mid-season, despite their up-and-down form this term. He also would not come cheap. His summer release clause stood at well over €100m, which is a good indication of the money it would take to prise him away from St. James' Park in the winter.

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