.png?w=1280 "Transfer Big Board")
B/R Football's 2026 Winter Transfer Big Board
Forget 2025. The 2026 winter transfer window is now open and deserves your full attention as big-name players look towards their next club.
This January threatens to be a busy one ahead of the World Cup in the summer. Let's lock in and analyse who could be on the move.
Oscar Bobb, Manchester City
1 of 10
Front-runners: Dortmund
Dark horses: Crystal Palace, Brighton
Antoine Semenyo's seemingly imminent move to Manchester City will have a knock-on effect. It's a surprising one, too, as superstar talent Oscar Bobb looks set to depart.
Bobb is one of the best young players in the world. At 22 years old, he needs to be playing regularly for a team that gives him responsibility and trusts his quality on the right wing. Dortmund are reportedly frontrunners and would represent an excellent move, such is their recent history of developing Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Jadon Sancho.
Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer have felt Man City's ruthlessness in recent times. Both are now bona fide Premier League stars and thriving in their new environments. Expect Bobb to join them.
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
2 of 10
Front-runners: Any team in Saudi Arabia
Dark horses: Any MLS team
It's been a pretty full-on month for Mo Salah.
He fought back against Liverpool manager Arne Slot's decision to bench him with comments that looked set to spell the end of his Anfield career as soon as this month. However, Alexander Isak's leg break flipped the script, and he's now going to be needed for the remainder of the season when he returns from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The few weeks away actually help all involved.
Salah is already proving pivotal for Egypt and is making headlines with his displays, rather than his words. Slot hasn't had to answer too many questions on Liverpool's key man during the busy Christmas run of games.
The Saudi league is looming for Salah, as it has done for over a year now, but this winter now seems off the table.
Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid
3 of 10
Front-runners: Any Saudi team
Dark horses: Man City, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool
Vinicius Junior's year hasn't gone to plan. He issued an apology in October after suggesting it was better for him to leave Madrid following a string of early substitutions. New boss Xabi Alonso limited his minutes during a spell of bad form for the entire team, but in the last few weeks, we've seen Vini's time on the pitch increase.
It's actually been 15 games since he scored a goal, and there are still suggestions he could benefit from trying something new if Alonso's stabilisation of Los Blancos is to continue and he's to remain in charge.
As Vini's time in the Spanish capital has progressed, there's been an air about him that he needs to be the leading man. The truth is, he hasn't looked the same in the last year, since the club-wide outcry that he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or over Rodri. He isn't anymore; that moniker belongs to Kylian Mbappé.
He could easily jump ship to Saudi Arabia or another European side, earn a ton of cash, and likely be a lot happier.
Rodrygo, Real Madrid
4 of 10
Front-runners: Liverpool, Any Saudi team
Dark horses: Arsenal, Man City
Even further down the pecking order at Madrid is Rodyrgo.
Both he and Vini looked set to represent the club for the long term, but football moves quickly. Rodrygo is now firmly second string and represents a huge opportunity for any club willing to stump up the cash.
There was a time when the Brazilian looked an obvious choice for Arsenal. The Gunners' investment in Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke suggests they have gone beyond the point of needing him, unless an upgrade on Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard is desired for the title push. Man City's pursuit of Semenyo is likely to end their interest, although Liverpool's Alexander Isak issue could prove interesting timing if they're ready to invest this month.
Rodrygo has the quality to aid any team in the world. He's excellent on the ball, an underrated finisher, and has the zip that gets attacking moves going. He has always been taken for granted at Madrid–the smaller name up against Vini and co–even though he's proven match-winner time and time again.
Elliot Anderson, Nottingham Forest
5 of 10
Front-runners: Manchester City, Chelsea
Dark horses: Manchester United
Elliot Anderson's quality has simmered for some time in the Premier League.
Obviously talented and underused at Newcastle, his decision to move to Nottingham Forest has given him the game time to catapult himself into the conversation around the division's best midfielders. His dominant run in the England Under-21 side that won the European Championships in the summer underlined that he is at the very top of his age group.
The problem for Forest? They are struggling. Anderson could clearly be the jewel in a top four club's midfield, his passing, dogged energy, and combativeness ready-made for the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola certainly needs to think about additional legs in Man City's midfield as Rodri's fitness continues to stutter, while Chelsea are never too far from the conversation (could you imagine Anderson alongside Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo?!).
Manchester United, whose midfield is desperately crying out for additional heft, will also be there or thereabouts, although it's thought that Brighton's Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton are further up their list of targets.
Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United
6 of 10
Front-runners: Napoli
Dark horses: Chelsea, Brighton
There's a popular theory among Man United fans: If Kobbie Mainoo didn't play for them, the club would be ready to spend £100 million on him. It's an obvious thought process after Paul Pogba returned for £89M, and given that Mainoo is comparable to the talents they're chasing.
He is actually the most proven, having scored an FA Cup final winner and represented England's senior side during an excellent run at the Euros. Ruben Amorim hasn't wanted to pair him with Bruno Fernandes this season, likely because he believes the players have a similar toolset. A lack of fortune has also seen Mainoo get injured, just as Bruno did, meaning no chance to step in and remind everyone what he's all about.
That Bruno injury may just keep Mainoo at the club this month. He'll be looking for regular football, though, as Thomas Tuchel gets ready to make his final selection for the World Cup. A loan deal may be the only way Mainoo can get back into the German's plans.
Marc Guehi, Crystal Palace
7 of 10
Front-runners: Liverpool, Newcastle
Dark horses: Chelsea
Liverpool were so close to snapping up Marc Guehi in the summer.
Fast-forward to now, and the Reds just sacked their set-piece coach after a complete defensive collapse. It's a sliding doors moment in the season that could conclude with Guehi ending up elsewhere when his contract ends at the close of play.
Guehi has gotten even better this year. Palace's workload has the club struggling in general, but the centre-back's calmness and reading of the game continue to shine. He's even added an attacking threat, scoring twice and providing two assists for Oliver Glasner's side.
When you look at Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate this season, two players who keep making silly mistakes, it's easy to see why the time was right for Liverpool to strike for his signature.
The problem is, time has moved on, and other suitors are lurking. Both Newcastle and Chelsea are seriously linked to the player who could improve any defence aside from Arsenal in the Premier League.
Brennan Johnson, Tottenham Hotspur
8 of 10
Editor's Note: Johnson reportedly signed for Crystal Palace on Thursday
What a difference a year -- and a manager -- has made for Brennan Johnson.
From scoring the winner in the UEFA Europa League Final earlier this year to being relegated to the bench, the Spurs winger has failed to find any form under new manager Thomas Frank. A paltry return of just two Premier League goals in 16 matches could see Tottenham try to cash in on the 24-year-old.
Crystal Palace's squad has been stretched thin by commitments in the UEFA Conference League, and a rumored transfer bid worth nearly $47 million appears set to be accepted.
Ricardo Pepi, PSV Eindhoven
9 of 10
Front Runners: Fulham
A potential addition to the long history of American players at Fulham (Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride, Tim Ream, amongst others) would be Ricardo Pepi.
The USA international striker has scored 29 goals in 59 appearances for the Dutch giants and 10 goals this season in 21 appearances.
Fulham have already had a $30 million bid rejected for the forward, but are expected to return with an improved offer. It'd be a welcome addition for the Cottagers, who have scored just 25 goals all season and could use another option up front besides Raul Jimenez.
João Cancelo, Al Hilal
10 of 10
Front Runners: Inter Milan
Dark Horses: FC Barcelona, Juventus
If you're looking to buy an experience championship-winning right back, few could do worse than Joao Cancelo.
The Portuguese defender, who has won league titles in England, Italy, and Germany, is reportedly looking to return to Europe after his summer 2024 transfer to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Inter Milan, FC Barcelona and Juventus are all reported interested and teams that Cancelo has played for before. Technically sound and an attack-minded full back, the 31-year-old could still provide meaningful contributions to any team with league or Champions League aspirations.
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