Transfer news live: Arsenal get Guehi boost, Barcelona want to keep Rashford
Arsenal only getting 'stronger and stronger' - GuardiolaArsenal have emerged as one of the front-runners to sign Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, who is apparently ready to snub presumed favourites Manchester City, as the January transfer window starts to heat up.The centre-back’s Palace contract expires in the summer and he is said to favour a move to Arsenal or Liverpool rather than City, who were hoping him to sign him during this window to ease their defensive injury crisis. Pep Guardiola’s side have got one deal over the line though, with Antoine Semenyo completing his move from Bournemouth for £62.5m last week and scoring on debut in the 10-1 FA Cup thrashing of Exeter City over the weekend.The Gunners are also eyeing PSG and France star Bradley Barcola, readying an £87m bid and have opened talks about a move for the 23-year-old forward, while also reportedly having interest in Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento, £86m-rated RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande and Rennes wonderkid Jeremy Jacquet as Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen his squad rather than resting on his laurels.Barcelona have made clear their interest in Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford staying beyond the end of his current loan deal, while United are also after Diomande and want to improve the heart of their midfield, with Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson the names topping their list of targets. Follow all the latest transfer news, gossip, rumours and done deals in The Independent’s live blog below: January transfer window latest updatesVinicius Jr won't head to Saudi ArabiaVini Jr has ruled out a potential move to any Saudi Arabian club, with the Brazilian keen to continue at a European giant if he were to leave Real Madrid, according to ESPNFC.Rumours persist that Vini Jr could leave Los Blancos – with Chelsea reportedly among those interested – though no move is considered imminent, and the Brazilian has seen an increase in playing time of late. As suggested over recent months, plenty could also fall on whether Xabi Alonso continues as manager at the Bernabeu for the foreseeable future.Vinicius Jr hasn’t been happy at Real Madrid in recent times (AP)Luke Baker11 January 2026 13:03Man United 'block' Zirkzee moveManchester United have reportedly blocked any transfer talks with Roma regarding a January exit for Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutch international is out of favour at Old Trafford, with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo’s arrivals in the summer pushing him down the attacking pecking order, but the club still do not want him to leave amid managerial uncertainty.Roma’s sporting director Frederic Massara told DAZN: “At the moment, United have closed off all transfer talks after the change of manager. I doubt they’ll change their minds.”Joshua Zirkzee will not be heading to Roma (PA Wire)Luke Baker11 January 2026 12:44Bernardo Silva heading to Turkey?Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva could be on his way to Galatasaray as a free agent this summer, according to reports.Silva is out of contract at the end of the season despite still being a key player for City, but former teammate Ilkay Gundogan is said to be in contact with the 31-year-old Portuguese regarding a move to Istanbul.Bernardo Silva could be off to Galatasaray (Getty Images)Luke Baker11 January 2026 12:24Bukayo Saka gives Arsenal boost after signing new contractBukayo Saka has agreed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, committing himself to the Emirates Stadium until 2031.The 24-year-old England international’s deal had been up for renewal at the end of next season, but he has now signed a five-year deal.Saka, a graduate of the club’s fabled Hale End academy, has scored 77 times across 290 appearances since he made his debut for the Gunners in 2018.Luke Baker11 January 2026 12:05Anderson and Baleba top list of midfield targets for Man UnitedFabrizio Romano is reporting that Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson are the two names at the top of the list of Man Utd’s midfield targets.Both players are known to be wanted by a number of sides including Liverpool and Man City.And despite reports suggesting that United could make a move for Baleba this month, Romano claims that a move this window is unlikely given the fees involved, with Nottingham Forest star Anderson also a summer targetCarlos Baleba is on Man United’s radar (Reuters)Luke Baker11 January 2026 11:48Arsenal keeping tabs on LivramentoMore Arsenal speculation, with the club monitoring Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento, according to The Sun.Mikel Arteta wants to increase his long-term options in defence and the interest is with an eye on a summer deal.Arsenal are monitoring Tino Livramento (airborne) (Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)Luke Baker11 January 2026 11:30Diomande responds to Arsenal and Man Utd transfer linksIvory Coast teenager Yan Diomande is remarkably unfazed by reports he could be a £100m signing for one of Europe's biggest clubs.Diomande, who joined German team RB Leipzig in the summer, has been linked with Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich, Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as European champion Paris Saint-Germain.Leipzig are said to be in no rush to sell, having made other big sales in recent years to stabilise things financially, and the 19-year-old Diomande has also said he’s in no hurry to leave.“For now, I’m happy there,” Diomande said of Leipzig. “Everyone likes me there and I'm enjoying there. I'm not looking at everything (happening) around me. “I am trying to stay focused on my road. I’m trying to focus on my way. Trying to be concentrated on my club.”Yan Diomande is wanted by Europe’s biggest clubs (AFP/Getty)Luke Baker11 January 2026 11:19Barcelona keen to keep Marcus RashfordBarcelona would like to keep Marcus Rashford beyond his current loan deal, reports Fabrizio Romano. You would think any new Manchester United manager would be keen to reintegrate the England forward at Old Trafford, but time will tell...They have an option to buy at the end of the loan deal but it is not yet confirmed that will be activatedLuke Baker11 January 2026 11:14Arsenal open talks over Bradley Barcola Arsenal have opened talks over a move for PSG and France star Bradley Barcola.Spanish outlet Fichajes report that the Gunners have opened negotiations with the French side and that they are at the front of the queue to sign him.The 23-year-old forward is sought-after all around Europe, with Liverpool among the other clubs interested, and Arsenal were reported to be readying an £87m bid for the summer. Barcola’s lack of game-time at PSG means he is thought to be open to a moveBradley Barcola could be Arsenal-bound (AFP via Getty Images)Luke Baker11 January 2026 11:11Marc Guehi prefers Arsenal or Liverpool moveArsenal have received a boost in their pursuit of Marc Guehi, with the Crystal Palace defender said to prefer a move to the Gunners or Liverpool, rather than Man City.City were presumed favourites to capture Guehi, and wanted to bring him in this month to ease their defensive injury crisis, but with his contract expiring at the end of the season, the 25-year-old is said to be happy to wait until the summer and would rather not join City.The Athletic’s Sam Lee said in an interview for the Let Me Talk podcast: “On Monday night, I was told by somebody who knows what's going on at City, but also I think probably Palace as well, he said he thinks Guehi wants to stay until the summer and he prefers Liverpool [to City] in any case."Somebody else messaged me on Twitter [X] and I know he's very good on other club stuff, he was like; ‘Yeah, he wants to stay until the summer – and he prefers Liverpool and Arsenal’. I was like; ‘Well I haven’t heard Arsenal’ but that kind of tallies what I'd been told the night before.”Marc Guehi prefers Arsenal or Liverpool (Action Images/Reuters)Luke Baker11 January 2026 11:03
