What all 20 Premier League clubs have planned for the January transfer window

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 2 Jan 2026 16:35 GMT
• 14 min read

Analysis

The January transfer window for the 2025/26 season is now open and clubs will likely start spending soon, with some hoping to save their campaign and others hoping to simply add some more quality to their squad.

Traditionally, the winter window is quieter than its summer counterpart, but we still regularly see players moving for huge fees.

For instance, in the 2025 January transfer window Manchester City spent a whopping €218m on new recruits like Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez.

The most expensive deal in the history of the January transfer window took place in 2018 when Barcelona spent €135m on Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho.

The biggest January incoming for a Premier League side was back in 2023 when Chelsea signed Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for €121.

Managers in the Premier League have been talking about their January plans for a while now, and here's what each has said about the 2026 window...

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta:

"We are open to every option. Obviously, if we can find a solution that is short, medium or long. It's always much better because it gives you stability and you don't have to constantly start a process with a new player.

“But let's see what happens, let's see what the news is in the next few weeks, and we'll try to make the right decision.”

He previously said:

“The window is there. We’re Arsenal and we have to be looking at it and saying ‘OK, what do we need?’ We have to be actively looking, and then can we do it or not? That’s a different story, but our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen.”

Aston Villa

Unai Emery:

"We are alert and if we can sign someone to help us and really improve, we will do it. We can sign players, only we can't spend a lot. But we can do something and of course maybe change (move on) players as well.

"We want to be ambitious to achieve our objective. Our objective is European football. When I came here three years and two months ago, it was to have a new experience in the Premier League, and to try to build this team to fight for trophies and play in Europe consistently."

Villa have already announced the signing of Alysson from Gremio.

Bournemouth

A lot of the chat surrounding Bournemouth and the window is to do with Antoine Semenyo, who is looking likely to leave for Man City.

Andoni Iraola said following the draw against Chelsea:

"It’s not his last game here with us. I cannot say a hundred per cent but I think he will play [vs Arsenal].

"He has to recover, we’ve played two difficult games in three days. We have Arsenal at home, we get ready for another one, a demanding game against the leaders.

"Definitely he’s going to be an important player for us."

Brentford

Keith Andrews:

“In certain positions we probably have one or two too many. The competition for places has been really, really fierce. Sometimes that means some players might leave to get more football, which is healthy for all parties. For certain players it can become really difficult if you’re not getting enough game time. I probably understand that more than most, having been in those boots myself.

“Some of the younger players might look at loan moves to get 15 or 20 games before the end of the season. It comes down to the individual and the overall composition of the squad once we get to the end of January. I don’t think it’s as black and white as one in, one out.”

Brighton

Fabian Hurzeler:

“There is no player at the moment where we see we want him to leave.

“Because we see a group progressing, we see a group developing, we see a group building connections and it just needs time. We don’t want any player to leave. It’s an ongoing process. We see it on the pitch and beside the pitch, therefore we want to make it stronger and stronger day by day. We need all the players available and hopefully staying in our club.”

Brighton are mainly looking to keep their squad intact which means that Man Utd's reported interest in Carlos Baleba may have to wait until the summer.

Burnley

Scott Parker:

“This week's probably a week where we'll probably engage in a few more meetings to discuss that [the window] and work out exactly where the squad lies, what route we're going to go down.

“We’re hoping that maybe we can improve in some areas. But again, this week, over the next week or so, we'll probably have a clearer understanding.”

On Josh Cullen's ACL injury and potentially signing a new midfielder:

"It's something we certainly probably need to look at because Josh is a huge loss to us.

“We'll look at it now over the coming weeks with the window open and see where we may need to strengthen in certain areas.”

Chelsea

Enzo Maresca left Stamford Bridge and Chelsea currently have no manager so they'll need someone in charge before they think of splashing the cash again.

The priority for the Blues will be outgoings rather than incomings as they look to reduce an extremely bloated squad.

Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi will be encouraged to leave due to their high wages, while numerous players such as Tyrique George and Filip Jorgensen could depart on loan.

In terms of incomings, they want (another) new number nine, plus a top-class centre-back.

Crystal Palace

Oliver Glasner:

"Let's see what happens. Tomorrow starts the next crazy month in football – and I don't know. I've experienced so many different situations.

"The next 31 days, everything is possible, like always, and everything I say today might be wrong in two days. And I think most of what I say today will be definitely wrong by the end of the transfer window!

"I have always positive signs from the club in our talks, and I know all the effort. Everyone who is working behind the scenes on transfers and developing Crystal Palace is very hard-working and giving huge effort."

"But I can’t tell you anything, because there won’t be a new player playing tomorrow!"

Palace are on the cusp of signing Brennan Johnson from Tottenham, while they will be expecting bids for Marc Guehi, whose contract expires in the summer.

Everton

David Moyes:

“I think in all the press conferences I’ve been in, I’ve always said I don’t think we’ll be doing loads of business in January. If we find some players, we’ll be delighted to do it and the CEO will be as well, and the owners if we can do it.

“But I think it’s more to do with trying to have a plan where the ownership want us to have a plan and want us to prepare and do everything in a certain fashion. So, I don’t think it will be coming up with a load of quick fixes.

“That’s the way it’s moving and some of the difference taking place at Everton at the moment.”

Moyes, when asked if he wants a new striker:

“Maybe I’d like to bring other things in as well? We’ll just need to wait and see.

“We don’t want to get everybody’s hopes up. There’s a lot of speculation and I sort of laugh at it a little bit.”

Fulham

Marco Silva:

“As I mentioned probably three or four weeks ago, we know clearly what we need. When we sat and started to speak about it, we all agree – the staff, the board – what is needed really, and let’s see what we can do. It’s not because we won games and we are looking for a different position right now that we are changing ourselves,” he said. “We look with full ambition for the season like we did before, and even if the results were not so good, we will not change completely the scenario because it’s clear what we need.

Fulham have already seen a bid rejected for PSV striker Ricardo Pepi.

Leeds

Daniel Farke:

“It’s more a topic we can speak about at the first FA Cup weekend, when we can speak a bit more about this. Until then we’re just concentrating on my group, they need all my attention right now, we have tough fixtures and quick turnarounds.

“I speak to my players every day, we are in close conversations, but I have no plans to give any player away from our group because it’s a tight group.

“I don’t believe with working with a big group because it’s important for togetherness, unity and spirit. We can perhaps improve our group a bit more, but no-one close to the first-team group is to leave.

I think Leeds United is always attractive to nearly every player in the world.

“Perhaps not for every player, but for many because it’s such a big name, with such a huge fanbase and big history and once you play in the Premier League, the best league in the world, it’s very attractive for many players.”

Leeds are keen to add attacking reinforcements with a new striker on the wishlist.

Liverpool

Liverpool spent more money than any other team in the summer and yet their season has suffered. They are in the market for a new forward after Alexander Isak fractured his leg, while a long-term (or maybe even immediate) replacement for Mohamed Salah is required.

The main priority is a centre-back and it looks like they've already signed at least one in the form of Club Brugge's Joel Ordonez.

Arne Slot:

"The outside world wants to believe we have unlimited money but that is not true.

"You insiders know – and you are the only ones because the outside world only talks about our spending – what we have brought in (money) to spend. That is the way we work over here.

“You then have to accept that in certain games during a season you are short of a right full back. But we are still able to win. I fully believe in that way of working, by the way."

Man City

As mentioned above, it is looking likely that Man City will sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola:

"I don't know anything right now," Guardiola said when pressed on Semenyo. "The transfer window is completely closed at the moment."

The Spaniard has been typically tight-lipped on transfer window business.

On the departure front, it seems that Oscar Bobb will be leaving, probably on loan.

Man Utd

In an ideal world for Man Utd they would sign at at least two central midfielders, having been linked with numerous players for months including Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson.

With Benjamin Sesko misfiring, a new striker may be targeted, too.

There is, of course, the ongoing saga surrounding Kobbie Mainoo, who has been strongly linked with a switch to Napoli.

Ruben Amorim:

"The transfer window is not going to change, we have no conversation to have any change in the squad. There is a process, there is an idea, we are near the places of Champions League, but we're also near eight teams behind us, so let’s focus on the next game."

He previously said:

“What we cannot do is reach January and try to do everything in urgency and make mistakes. Then it is here we go again with mistakes. If we have to suffer, the club comes first. Of course, we need points. You can feel at this moment we are going to suffer.”

Newcastle

Eddie Howe:

“Marquee signing, I don’t know quite what that means – I suppose you’re talking big financial outlay?

“I don’t think that’s the desire in this month for various reasons, because I don’t think it’s a great month necessarily to make that kind of signing.

“Any signing that we do make in this window will restrict our ability to do business in the summer, so I think we’ve got to be really careful that we make the right decisions for the here and now and for the future.

“We’re still in that position where PSR will influence every decision that we make, so that’s where we have to be really smart.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily the wish in this month, but I think our injury situation to a degree will impact what we do and don’t do.”

The main priority for the Magpies is reportedly a left-back while they are one of a number of clubs looking at young Dutch midfielder Kees Smit.

Nottingham Forest

If Nottingham Forest do business, it seems like a centre-forward is on the agenda as Chris Wood is now injured, Arnaud Kalimuendo is leaving, while there are questions over Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi’s.

Sean Dyche:

“We’re always assessing. The ownership here will back the club, we know that. You’ve still got to find the people and it’s still got to be the right deal.”

Sunderland

Regis Le Bris wants a new forward:

“Yeah, it’s an option. We are looking for different areas in our squad. But it’s a question of getting the right target as well. If we recruit to strengthen the squad rather than adding a new player [who can make an impact on the first team straight away], I think it doesn't make sense. So, we see."

In terms of outgoings, the Black Cats will be eager to keep Noah Sadiki who has been attracting the interest of Man Utd.

Tottenham

Thomas Frank:

"We are, we will be in the market. We are definitely interested in, if we can, strengthening the squad.

"We will do that, I've said it a few times before, that I think it's very important, of course, there are different types you can add to a squad. But the main bit is that the ones we add need to be the ones we really think can improve the team. And then, like normal, there can be outgoings if you want to try to make a sharp squad."

The biggest transfer surrounding Spurs currently is a likely exit for Brennan Johnson, who is reportedly on the cusp of a move to Crystal Palace.

Franks previously said of incomings:

"Any player we sign needs to be fully committed on the project. No doubt about that. Very important. Character for me, as I've said many times, is the most important thing. They need to buy into it so we are aligned.

"It makes it easier for me to say, 'Hey remember the bit I said about this...', then it's a little bit easier to have consequences."

West Ham

West Ham have been very active already as Niclas Fullkrug has left on loan to Milan while two new strikers are coming in the forms of Gil Vicente’s Pablo Felipe and Lazio’s Taty Castellanos.

Nuno Espirito Santo:

“I am pleased for the young players, because they’re helping But it’s also clear that, in terms of squad, we need to rebalance our squad.

“We need to make the right moves in a very difficult transfer window to operate.

“But we need to, so we can improve and have more options for the second half of the season.”

Wolves

Rob Edwards says Wolves may have to sell to buy:

“We might have to do that. It depends on what we want to try and bring in as well. There are different ways of doing that, whether it’s buying or whether it’s loaning.

“Of course, January can be quite difficult anyway. With the situation that we’re in, we’ve got to be clever with who we’re bringing in.

“We want to bring in the people who want to be here and feel that they can really affect it, and we feel can affect it as well. But if we’re going to spend some money, it might be that we have to generate some of that as well.”

Wolves appear doomed to relegation but will naturally look at opportunities in the market to potentially help their survival bid.

They'll be keen to keep striker Jorgen Strand Larsen who has been linked with numerous Premier League clubs.

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