The January window is always a bit of a fever dream, isn't it? Just when you think you’ve got a handle on which club is chasing which panic buy, someone like Ben Jacobs drops a nugget that resets the whole board. Honestly, keeping up with the 2026 winter market feels like trying to read a map in a hurricane.
Right now, the big talk surrounding Ben Jacobs transfer news isn't just about the blockbuster moves we expected. It's about the "secret" deals happening in the shadows of Carrington and the massive financial shift that just saw Manchester City leapfrog everyone for Marc Guehi.
Manchester United’s "Secret Midfielder" Revealed?
If you've been following Ben Jacobs on the Football Terrace or X lately, you know he's been teasing a mystery. United are in a weird spot. Michael Carrick is steering the ship as interim boss after the Ruben Amorim era ended rather abruptly earlier this month. The club is desperate for midfield stability, especially with Casemiro likely heading for the exit door when his contract expires.
Jacobs reported that United held talks in the last 24 hours with a "secret midfielder." Here’s what we actually know:
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- The player has Premier League experience.
- They are currently playing outside of England.
- It is not Ruben Neves.
The rumor mill is spinning fast on this one. Many insiders, including those looking at the clues Jacobs left, are pointing toward Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He’s been at AC Milan for a couple of years now, but the link makes sense. He knows the league, and United need a body in that engine room yesterday. Whether it’s a loan or a permanent fix, the urgency is real because Carrick needs to stabilize a squad that feels like it's in a constant state of flux.
Why Marc Guehi Snubbed Liverpool for City
This one stung for the Anfield faithful. For months, the narrative was that Marc Guehi would be the long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool had a deal practically agreed last summer—£35 million on the table—but Crystal Palace pulled the plug because they couldn't find a replacement in time.
Fast forward to this week, and Ben Jacobs transfer news confirms that Manchester City have essentially won the race. It wasn't just about the transfer fee, which ended up being around £20 million plus add-ons (a steal, really, considering Palace wanted £35 million just six months ago). It was the wages.
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City are reportedly handing Guehi a package worth £200,000 per week. That puts him in their top ten earners immediately. Liverpool, meanwhile, have a much tighter wage structure. For them to match that, Guehi would have been earning nearly as much as Mo Salah or Van Dijk. Basically, Liverpool drew a line in the sand, and City just drove right over it.
Chelsea’s Defensive Dilemma and the Senesi Link
Down at Stamford Bridge, things are a bit chaotic as usual. Liam Rosenior is trying to fix a backline that has looked fragile, especially after Levi Colwill’s ACL injury. Ben Jacobs has been vocal about Chelsea’s interest in Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi.
Senesi is 28, almost 29. That’s "old" by the current Chelsea board’s standards, but the team is crying out for leadership. Jacobs noted that while Chelsea have discussed Senesi, they are also looking at younger options like Jeremy Jacquet and Jacobo Ramon. It’s a classic Chelsea conflict: do they stick to the "project" of only buying U-23 players, or do they buy a finished product to stop the bleeding?
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The Saudi Factor and the Mo Salah Question
You can't talk about Ben Jacobs without mentioning the Saudi Pro League. He’s been the go-to source for the Middle Eastern market for years. As of January 16, 2026, the big question remains: Mo Salah.
Jacobs has been reporting from Riyadh that Saudi clubs are still very much in the hunt. While a mid-season move for Salah is highly unlikely—Liverpool are still 4th and fighting for Champions League spots—the groundwork for a summer "megadeal" is being laid right now. The Egyptian King is still the ultimate prize for the SPL, and with his contract situation always a talking point, the noise isn't going away.
What to Watch in the Final Window Days
The clock is ticking. If you're tracking Ben Jacobs transfer news, keep your eyes on these specific threads:
- The Paqueta Situation: Lucas Paqueta is still pushing for a move to Flamengo. Despite rumors of a strike, Jacobs confirmed he's been training as normal, though a back issue is keep him sidelined for now.
- Aston Villa's Optimism: Villa are trying to bring Tammy Abraham back to the Premier League. He's currently on loan at Besiktas, so that requires a three-way agreement that is "complicated but not impossible," according to Jacobs.
- Tottenham’s Midfield Hijack: Spurs look set to land Conor Gallagher for around £34 million from Atletico Madrid. This move effectively ended their interest in Liverpool's Curtis Jones.
The reality of the January window is that it’s rarely about the best players; it’s about the most available ones. Clubs like United and Chelsea are desperate, while City are just being efficient.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Monitor "The Football Terrace" and X: Jacobs often drops the most granular details during live streams rather than in written columns.
- Watch the Wage Caps: As seen with the Guehi deal, the transfer fee is only half the story. If your club is "linked" but has a strict wage ceiling, don't get your hopes up.
- The "Secret Midfielder" Reveal: Expect the identity of United's mystery target to leak fully within the next 48 hours as the loan paperwork reaches the advanced stages.