Lucas Paqueta
January 2026
West Ham and Flamengo have reportedly agreed a transfer for Paqueta worth €42 million, described as a Brazilian Serie A record, with a five-year deal lined up. Fee to be paid in instalments to manage Flamengo cash flow; Paqueta was left out of recent squads amid uncertainty and is expected to have already played his last match for West Ham.
Jeremy Jacquet Rennes
January 2026
Chelsea reportedly agreed personal terms with 20-year-old centre-back Jacquet and moved into pole position, though Rennes are holding out for a club-record fee. Chelsea accelerated talks after Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca, with Rennes seeking around £56 million while Chelsea’s reported bid is lower; despite the gap, the expectation is a deal before the window closes as Chelsea aim to reinforce central defence.
Brian Madjo
January 2026
Villa have agreed a reported £10.4m move for 16-year-old forward Brian Madjo, with the player already in Birmingham for a medical ahead of a five-year contract. The deal was negotiated quickly and quietly, beating rival interest. The fee signals Villa’s strategy of securing elite youth early, with a long contract planned to lock his development path through 2031.
Axel Disasi, Radu Dragusin
January 2026
Roma have identified Axel Disasi and Radu Dragusin as January defensive targets, aiming to strengthen at the back. Disasi has been frozen out at Chelsea since returning from his Aston Villa loan, and Chelsea are prepared to sell after signing him in 2023. Reports say Disasi cannot leave on loan because Chelsea have used their domestic loan slots, so any move must be permanent. Roma are exploring terms while other clubs are also monitoring. Tottenham’s Dragusin is also on Roma’s list as a separate option.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
March 2025
Reports of Cristiano Ronaldo joining Lionel Messi at Inter Miami on a short-term deal have been debunked by Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed there is no truth to the story.
While Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr contract ends this season, Romano clarified the Portuguese star is likely to extend his stay in Saudi Arabia, ruling out any imminent MLS switch or reunion with Messi.