Weekly transfer window: Could Güler from Madrid really join Arsenal? What’s the latest?

The winter transfer window is open across Europe, and business is getting underway. What do ESPN reporters feel about possible deals?

Every Friday until February, we’ll bring you the latest updates and insights on major transfer issues.

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Could Real Madrid’s Arda Güler really join Arsenal?

After investing more than £250 million last summer to strengthen the first-team squad, there has been a long-term planning element to Arsenal’s transfer moves. They are keen on Elche’s 20-year-old midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, while Güler is another young player they are familiar with.

The Türkiye player started the season looking like a key player in Xabi Alonso’s stomach. Part of the reason for Madrid’s decision not to move on Martín Zubimendi was the belief in Güler’s ability to develop in midfield. But his involvement, and form, has declined in recent months, and it remains unclear what role he will play under new coach Álvaro Arbeloa, although he did start in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey defeat at Albacete.

However, Arsenal have no plans to make anything significant this window unless the opportunity arises in the final two days, and any official interest in Güler is most likely in the summer — James Olley and Alex Kirkland

Man City are looking for Marc Guéhi. Which is the latest?

Manchester City are looking for a central midfielder with John Stones, Josko Guardiol and Rúben Dias injured. Guéhi is considered a long-term target that could be delivered early under the right circumstances. City did not believe that there would be a big problem in getting acceptable money from Crystal Palace as it is expected to lose this English player for nothing if his contract ends this summer.

It looked like every window would work, if Guéhi knew he would be picked by clubs at the end of the season and benefit from an improved financial package if there was no transfer fee.

But it seems that City managed to convince him. Sources have told ESPN that Guéhi’s deal is close to being agreed. Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed the same in a press conference on Friday.

“My latest understanding is that the deal with Marc is in the final stages. I can’t confirm the club, because it’s not done but it’s in the final stages,” said Glasner — Rob Dawson

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Laurens: Signing Guehi in January is not a bad thing for Man City

Julien Laurens analyzes the future of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez is on PSG’s radar. Is that possible, or far?

PSG will be in the market for a midfielder this summer, and Fernandez is on their radar. Manager Luis Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos are big fans of the Argentina international, believing he can fit into three different positions in the club’s midfield.

However, this will not be straightforward. PSG know that Chelsea will command a huge fee in any potential deal, as he joined in 2023 for a Premier League record transfer fee of €121 million and his contract expires in 2031.

Fernandez is perhaps the biggest factor here. There were rumors about him being unhappy at Chelsea in the summer of 2024, but nothing materialized. Chelsea will be reluctant to lose their regular captain when Reece James is unavailable.

Chelsea are under no financial pressure to let him go, and his long-term contract helps in that department as well. It means that Fernández will have to try to make a move if something happens.

It is worth noting that he was very close to former manager Enzo Maresca, who was fired earlier this month. If Fernández opens the door to a move, PSG will be interested — Julien Laurens and James Olley

Speaking of Chelsea, they have a new manager. Where does that leave the “bomb squad?”

New Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has said he plans to speak to two of the club’s top players — Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi — but both are expected to leave.

ESPN previously reported that Sterling would prefer a permanent move instead of a loan deal after West Ham approached Chelsea about signing the winger until the end of the season. Fulham have shown an interest in the past. Napoli are also monitoring Sterling, while Roma and Lyon are interested in Diasi.

However, Chelsea have more than six overseas loanees as allowed by UEFA, so that will have to change, or a foreign club will have to find any player a permanent deal — James Olley

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Did Liam Rosenior make a good impression at Chelsea?

The ‘ESPN FC’ team reacts to Liam Rosenior’s first week as Chelsea head coach.

Barcelona was strangely quiet. What transfers are possible there?

João Cancelo’s arrival on loan from Al Hilal this week may be Barça’s last signing this month, but there could be some departures. All eyes are on goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who may leave after losing the number 1 spot to Joan García. The leaders of LaLiga have also applied for some young players who are not getting regular game time.

Midfielder Marc Bernal, who recently returned from a long injury, is one of those players. LaLiga side Girona are among the clubs that have made inquiries about his availability, but nothing is concrete yet. Barça’s previous position was that he would not leave; there is an agreement that it would be better for him to go out and play. Roony Bardghji is also attracting interest from across Europe. The answer from Barça to the case of the Swedish player, for now, is that he will not leave this month — Sam Marsden

Harvey Elliott has played 96 minutes in the Premier League this season. Can anyone rescue him this month?

Elliott remains stuck at Aston Villa with parent club Liverpool powerless to terminate his season-long loan at Villa Park.

The 22-year-old has not kicked a ball for Unai Emery’s side since taking four minutes against Feyenoord in the Europa League on October 4, and his last Premier League appearance against Fulham on September 28.

The England Under-21 midfielder is fit and available for selection, but with Villa having to complete a £35 million permanent transfer once Elliott has played ten league games, Emery has said the club have no plans to sign the player, and he will not feature again.

But with Elliott’s one-minute appearance for Liverpool at Newcastle last August meaning he has played for two clubs this season, he cannot seal a new loan move away from Villa due to FIFA rules that prevent players from joining three clubs in one season.

Liverpool are aware of Elliott’s situation, but would require Villa to cut short his loan and bring him back to Anfield, which would trigger a financial penalty, and there are no indications of that happening this window — Mark Ogden

Liverpool face Jeremy Frimpong and Joe Gomez at right back. Will they replace Conor Bradley?

Liverpool’s defensive options already looked limited before Bradley’s season-ending knee injury. Now, with the Northern Ireland international sidelined, he is down to bare bones.

Considering defender Giovanni Leoni is also expected to be out until the start of next term, it would make sense for Arne Slot’s side to add some reinforcements before the window closes to give themselves the best chance of a top four finish. However, at the moment, Liverpool are unlikely to enter the market, with midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones unable to switch to right-back in an emergency.

Liverpool are still interested in Palace’s Guéhi, however, and it remains to be seen whether they will present their summer plans if City pursue the defender this month — Beth Lindop

What other exciting deals are in the works?

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Tighe is not convinced that Conor Gallagher solves any of Tottenham’s problems

Sam Tighe questions why Spurs opted to sign Conor Gallagher over a more talented midfielder.

– LaLiga side Villarreal remain in talks over Orlando City and USMNT defender Alex Freemanalthough a source familiar with the negotiations said the two sides remain “deeply divided” on the deal. ESPN reported last month that Orlando had offered Freeman a so-called max-U22 deal that could see Freeman receive an eight-fold raise over last year’s $105,000. — Jeff Carlisle

– American youth midfielder and San Jose Earthquakes Cruz Medina is close to signing with Liga MX giants Chivas, a source told ESPN. The 19-year-old represented the US at the 2023 U17 World Cup, but has also trained with Mexico’s national team due to his dual status. In 2022, he went to court with Bayern Munich. — Cesar Hernandez

– Bournemouth have joined the race to sign young striker Vasco da Gama Ryan instead of Antoine Semenyofollowing his departure from Man City. Sources said the Brazilian side put a price of 50 million euros Ryanand Bournemouth are willing to offer €35 million to sign the Brazilian U20 player. — ESPN Brasil

– Espanyol are eyeing a move for the Porto winger Ángel Alarcón as they look to increase their momentum in European football. The quirk in the deal could be that they could offer local rivals Barcelona a windfall if they sign Alarcón. Barça deserve a large percentage of the entire transfer fee for the defender, who made five appearances for the LaLiga leaders before moving to Portugal. — The Marsden

– Oscar Mingueza it is one that will be looked at in the next two weeks. Juventus are one of the leading clubs to sign the Celta Vigo defender on a free transfer when his contract expires in the summer. However, January’s minimum-fee deal has not been released, and Celta are no longer confident of penning new terms. — The Marsden

– Crystal Palace and Angers are closing in on a full agreement for the striker’s permanent transfer Sidiki Cherif. At the age of 19, he is among the brightest stars in Ligue 1. He is strong, powerful, quick and good on the ball — a player Palace believe will fit in well in their system and in the Premier League. — Lawrence

– Hirving LozanoHis future is uncertain after San Diego FC announced they would not sign him, making his search for a new club even more difficult. In Mexico, several teams told ESPN that they would not be able to pay the winger’s salary, and in Europe, Real Oviedo, which is part of the Mexican club Pachuca where Lozano made his professional debut, did not decide to sign him, although they are not in talks. MLS team Atlanta United is also a possibility. — ESPN Gets Fired