Honestly, the January transfer window usually feels like a lot of noise with very little actual movement. You spend three weeks refreshing Twitter (or X, whatever) just to see a backup left-back move to the Championship on loan. But the news about football today is actually hitting a bit differently. Between a massive result in the desert and some surprisingly aggressive moves in the Premier League, 2026 is starting with a bang.
If you weren't up at 4:00 AM tracking private jets, here is what’s actually happening.
The Manchester Derby Just Got a Whole Lot Weirder
The biggest story today isn't even a result on the pitch. It's the vibe shift at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick is currently recording podcasts at Carrington while preparing to face Manchester City tomorrow. Think about that. The tactical chess match between Carrick and Pep Guardiola is the main event of the weekend.
But the real drama is the "will he, won't he" regarding Harry Maguire. Rumors are swirling—and they feel legitimate this time—that United are looking at Murillo from Nottingham Forest to replace him. Maguire has somehow fought his way back into favor multiple times, but with interest from Italy (Napoli and Inter are sniffing around), his time might finally be up.
It’s a weird cycle. One day he’s the captain, the next he’s third-choice, and now he might be heading to Serie A to reinvent himself like Chris Smalling did.
Barcelona Rules Spain (Again)
We have to talk about what happened in Jeddah. The Spanish Super Cup final was a fever dream. Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-2 in a game that had more plot twists than a prestige HBO drama.
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Raphinha is playing like a man possessed. He bagged two, including a 73rd-minute winner that took a massive deflection. Real Madrid fans are going to be complaining about that Raúl Asencio deflection for weeks.
- Raphinha opened the scoring.
- Vinícius Júnior equalized (his first goal in 16 games, which is a wild stat for a guy of his caliber).
- Lewandowski scored.
- Gonzalo García leveled it again before halftime.
The ending was pure chaos. Frenkie de Jong saw red for a professional foul on a returning Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé looked a bit rusty after that knee injury, but he’s back. That’s the scary part for the rest of La Liga. Barça now has a four-point lead in the league and a shiny new trophy. Hansi Flick has officially figured it out.
The Transfer Merry-Go-Round
Let's get into the nitty-gritty of the news about football today regarding transfers. The "Done Deals" list is finally growing.
Donyell Malen has officially left Aston Villa to join Roma on loan. It felt like he never quite clicked in Unai Emery’s system, and a fresh start in Italy might be exactly what he needs. Villa fans are already looking toward replacements, with Tammy Abraham being linked for a "homecoming" move from Besiktas.
Over at Manchester City, they aren’t just sitting on their hands. They’ve already secured Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, and now they are aggressively pursuing Marc Guéhi. Crystal Palace is holding out for a massive fee, but City seems willing to pay it to shore up that backline for the Champions League push.
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Why No One Is Talking About the AFC Women's Champions League
While everyone is obsessed with the men’s transfer window, the AFC Women’s Champions League just held its quarter-final draw.
The matchups are actually fascinating. We’ve got Melbourne City taking on Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf, and Tokyo Verdy Beleza facing Stallion Laguna from the Philippines. The women’s game is expanding so fast in Asia, and these single-leg matches in March are going to be high-stakes.
The World Cup 2026 Ticket Madness
If you tried to get tickets for the 2026 World Cup, you're probably part of the "Half a Billion Club."
FIFA just confirmed they received over 500 million ticket requests. 500 million. That is an absurd number. The application window just closed on January 13, and the "Random Selection Draw" is basically the Hunger Games for football fans.
The most requested match? Portugal vs. Colombia in Miami.
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Why? Because of the stars. It’s likely the final World Cup cycle for some of the greatest to ever do it. If you’re waiting on an email, don’t hold your breath until at least February 5.
Injuries That Actually Matter
Injuries are the silent season-killers.
In the news about football today, the focus is on recovery timelines. Mo Salah is heading back to Liverpool after Egypt’s AFCON third-place playoff. Arne Slot sounded relieved in his press conference today. Liverpool has missed that spark.
Meanwhile, Manchester United fans are nervously watching Kobbie Mainoo’s fitness levels. If he isn’t 100% for the derby, Carrick might have to lean on a midfield that lacks his composure.
What You Should Watch For Next
Stop looking at the rumors and start looking at the confirmed squad lists for the weekend.
- Check the Manchester Derby lineups two hours before kickoff. If Maguire is on the bench, the Serie A move is almost certainly happening.
- Monitor Marc Guéhi's status. If he’s left out of the Palace squad, expect a "Here We Go" within 24 hours.
- Watch the AFCON third-place playoff. It’s Salah’s last international duty before returning to a grueling Premier League title race.
The landscape of football changes every six hours during January. Stay skeptical of the "mega-deals" that haven't happened yet, but pay close attention to the bench selections. That's where the real truth is hidden.