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.
Gabriel Martinelli
January 2026
Martinelli will not face further FA punishment after a late flashpoint in Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool, where he pushed Bradley while Bradley was down injured. The referee booked Martinelli during the match and logged it in his report, which normally closes the case for retrospective action. Martinelli later apologised, saying he misread the situation.
Marc Cucurella
January 2026
Chelsea fans turned on Marc Cucurella after he was sent off at Fulham for denying a clear goalscoring chance, adding to Chelsea’s already high red-card total this season. Cucurella hauled back Harry Wilson after a long ball sent him through. VAR upheld the DOGSO red card, ruling the holding offence did not continue into the box. Fulham failed to score from the free-kick, and a later Wilson goal was offside.
Manchester United
January 2026
Manchester United drew 2-2 at Burnley in their first match since sacking Ruben Amorim, despite Benjamin Sesko scoring twice in the second half to flip the game briefly in their favour. United trailed to an own goal, rallied after the break through Sesko, then conceded again after sloppy defending. Fletcher used a back four and restored Fernandes, but United still lacked control and needed late chances to avoid defeat.
Liam Rosenior
January 2026
Ben Chilwell publicly wished Liam Rosenior well after Rosenior was named Chelsea head coach, calling Chelsea an “amazing club” as the coach leaves Strasbourg. Chilwell posted a message on Instagram alongside a photo with Rosenior. He also reiterated earlier praise, saying Rosenior impressed him instantly and was destined for the top, after working together at Strasbourg.
Antoine Semenyo
January 2026
Antoine Semenyo scored a stoppage-time winner against Tottenham, a dramatic finish that could be his last moment for Bournemouth with his expected move to Manchester City imminent. Spurs led, Bournemouth turned it around, Spurs levelled, then Semenyo cut inside late and blasted home. Andoni Iraola praised his commitment and development, saying Bournemouth will miss him and indicating it likely was his final appearance.
Joshua Zirkzee
January 2026
Roma sporting director Ricky Massara said the club’s pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee is harder after Amorim’s dismissal, because a new coach can reset priorities and keep fringe players in place for reassessment. Massara confirmed Zirkzee is admired by multiple clubs, but said there are currently no active contacts and implied United’s uncertainty may delay exits until the new setup decides who stays and who goes this month.
Ruben Amorim
January 2026
A report claims Amorim believed early on United would not win soon, allegedly based on small signals like players tying laces and warm-up habits, and privately described the club as “broken” and players as fragile. The same report links his deteriorating relationship with the hierarchy to public criticism after the Leeds draw, plus frustrations over physicality, duels, and comments about squad quality and certain signings, which reportedly damaged trust.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
January 2026
A report says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a leading contender to return as Manchester United caretaker manager after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. United are assessing caretaker options, with Solskjaer’s local base and past interim-to-permanent pathway cited as factors, alongside van Nistelrooy as another candidate.
Darren Fletcher
January 2026
Interim boss Darren Fletcher said United players must learn to handle public criticism from ex-players and pundits instead of reacting to it. Fletcher framed scrutiny as part of playing for United, said players need coping strategies and support, and referenced how previous eras had senior leaders shielding younger players, something harder to replicate now.
