The January transfer window is in full swing, with Premier League clubs moving quickly to secure their targets. The headline act on Friday is the completion of a major move for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo to the reigning champions.
Major Deal: Semenjo Completes Manchester City Switch
Antoine Semenyo is set to be officially unveiled as a Manchester City player today after successfully passing a medical and agreeing to a long-term contract. The 26-year-old Ghanaian international arrived in Manchester early on Thursday to finalise the details of his blockbuster transfer.
City will pay Bournemouth a fee of £62.5 million, structured over two years, with a further £1.5 million in potential add-ons. The Cherries have also secured a valuable 10% sell-on clause for any future profit City might make on the player. Semenyo has committed his future to the Etihad Stadium by signing a five-and-a-half-year deal.
Defensive Pursuits and Midfield Moves
Pep Guardiola's side are not resting on their laurels, however. Manchester City remain in active talks to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi this month. Palace are reportedly open to a sale now for the right price, rather than risk losing the 25-year-old England international for free in the summer.
Liverpool, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich are all interested in Guehi but prefer a summer move. City's ambition is to get the deal done immediately to bolster their defensive options. In other news, newly-promoted Ipswich Town have made an enquiry for Fulham's experienced midfielder Tom Cairney, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Striker Searches and Loan Deals Across the League
The hunt for attacking talent is intensifying elsewhere in the Premier League. Aston Villa are negotiating a deal for 16-year-old Metz striker Brian Madjo, which could eventually be worth around £10 million for the towering forward, who has drawn comparisons to Romelu Lukaku.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have added Brighton's Evan Ferguson to their shortlist. The Irish striker, currently on loan at Roma, joins Wolves' Jorgen Strand Larsen and Napoli's Lorenzo Lucca as potential targets for Steve Cooper's side. In defensive movements, Wolves' Emmanuel Agbadou is a loan target for Turkish club Besiktas.
Further Moves: From Southampton to Swansea
The business extends beyond the top flight. Southampton have accepted a bid of approximately £5 million from QPR for young defender Ronnie Edwards. The Saints have also secured Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz on loan.
In Wales, Swansea City are poised to sign former Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward. The 36-year-old free agent is expected to join on a short-term contract. Chelsea winger Leo Castledine is heading to Middlesbrough in a deal that could rise to £2m, with Chelsea inserting a substantial sell-on clause.
Finally, Manchester City's young winger Emilio Lawrence is in talks to join Luton Town on loan, and Celtic are exploring a loan move to bring former fan favourite Kyogo Furuhashi back from Birmingham City, just a year after his £10m departure to Rennes.
