The winter window used to be the time for panic buys and overpriced squad fillers. Not anymore. If you've been glued to the sky news transfer news ticker this month, you know things have taken a sharp, expensive turn. It’s January 2026, and the big hitters are spending like it’s mid-July.
Manchester City aren't just looking for depth; they’re reloading. After dropping £65 million on Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola is now closing in on Marc Guehi. It's a massive move. Crystal Palace have reportedly agreed to a £20 million fee for Guehi—a steal considering his contract is winding down, but still a significant bit of business for a center-back heading toward free agency.
Honestly, the pace is exhausting.
The Guehi Domino and City’s Spending Spree
Manchester City don't usually do "last minute." But with Marc Guehi, it feels like they’ve found the missing piece for the title run-in. Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol has been all over this, reporting that the deal is in the "final stages." Oliver Glasner even confirmed Guehi wouldn't feature in the weekend’s clash against Sunderland.
Why now? City's defensive rotations have been a bit thin. They’ve already surpassed the £400 million mark in spending over the last 12 months. That is a staggering number. Adding Guehi provides that English core and technical ball-playing ability Pep obsesses over.
Then there’s the Antoine Semenyo factor. £65 million. That’s a lot of pressure for the former Bournemouth man, but City clearly see him as the physical, direct alternative they need when games get bogged down.
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What’s Happening at the Big London Clubs?
While City are splashing the cash, Chelsea are—as usual—doing something a bit more complicated. They’re desperate for a center-back. With Levi Colwill still recovering from a serious knee injury, the Blues have turned their sights toward France.
Jeremy Jacquet. That’s the name you’ll see all over the sky news transfer news feed today. The 20-year-old Rennes defender is the primary target. He’s young, he’s French, and he’s reportedly going to cost north of €50 million. Bayern Munich are also lurking, which usually means the price only goes one way. Up.
- Chelsea’s Priority: Center-back (Jacquet is the man).
- The Arsenal Angle: They're looking for a "new Pedri," a creative hub to rotate with Ødegaard.
- Tottenham’s Midfield: Conor Gallagher is back in London after a £34.6 million move from Atletico Madrid. It’s a homecoming that most Spurs fans didn't see coming a year ago.
The Paqueta Exit and West Ham’s Survival Plan
Lucas Paqueta wants out. Basically, he’s told West Ham he wants to return to Brazil and play for Flamengo. It’s a bit of a shocker for a player of his quality to head back to South America at 28, but he’s looking for a fresh start ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
West Ham aren't just letting him walk, though. They’ve already moved to bring in Taty Castellanos from Lazio for £26 million. Castellanos has already made an impact, scoring an extra-time winner against QPR in the FA Cup.
The Hammers are also looking at Pablo from Gil Vicente. They know if they don't fix the attack, the relegation scrap is going to get very real, very fast.
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Why Liverpool are Staying Quiet (For Now)
Arne Slot isn't biting. Despite rumors of a move for a specialist right-back, Liverpool seem content to wait. They’re reportedly blocking a loan move for Calvin Ramsay just to make sure they have enough cover.
It’s a risk. Fans are screaming for a marquee signing, especially with the title race so tight, but Slot appears to be betting on his current squad's versatility. Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong are the go-to fixes for now.
Small Deals, Big Impact
It’s not all about the £50 million superstars. Some of the most interesting sky news transfer news updates come from the smaller moves that change the trajectory of a season.
Take Rangers, for example. They’ve just unveiled Andreas Skov Olsen at Ibrox. It’s a loan from Wolfsburg, but there’s an option to buy for around £8.6 million. He turned down several European offers to move to Glasgow. That’s a massive statement of intent for the Scottish giants.
Meanwhile, Watford are pushing hard for Edoardo Bove. The former Roma midfielder has a great relationship with the club hierarchy. If they pull that off on a free transfer, it’s one of the deals of the window.
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- Manchester City: Dominated the market with Semenyo and Guehi.
- Tottenham: Re-invested the Brennan Johnson money into Gallagher.
- Crystal Palace: Losing Guehi but gained Johnson for £35 million.
- West Ham: Rebuilding the front line with Castellanos.
What to Watch Before Deadline Day
The window closes on February 2 at 7 pm. That gives us about two weeks of pure chaos.
Watch the Chelsea situation closely. If they don't land Jacquet, do they pivot to Marcos Senesi or Jacobo Ramon? Both are on the list. And keep an eye on Jean-Philippe Mateta at Palace. Now that Guehi is gone, Mateta might be looking for the exit door too.
What you should do next:
- Follow the Live Tracker: Sky Sports and Sky News update their "Transfer Centre" almost every ten minutes. If you aren't checking it during your lunch break, you're missing the Guehi signature.
- Check the Medicals: Most deals fall through at the medical stage. Watch for players arriving at training grounds—that’s usually the "Here We Go" moment.
- Verify the Sources: Don't believe every "ITK" on Twitter. If it isn't on Sky or confirmed by someone like Florian Plettenberg, treat it as a rumor.
The market is moving faster than it did in 2025. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, players are desperate for minutes, and clubs are desperate for results. It’s a volatile mix that makes for incredible television.