Joao Cancelo is expected to be an easier operation for Barcelona due to his lower market value, as the club struggles to secure Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal.
The January transfer window of 2026 did not explode with drama in the way supporters have come to expect from Europe's elite football leagues. Instead, it unfolded with a quieter, more calculated tone - one that revealed not only the financial realities of modern football but also strategic shifts across the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1. Spending was more measured, competition for key players was fiercer, and the gap between Europe's richest and the rest widened in subtle but significant ways.
With Jean-Philippe Mateta having already told Crystal Palace that he wants to leave and the club listening to offers for the France forward, this feels like a move waiting to happen. The 28-year-old only has 18 months left on his present deal despite signing a contract extension with the Eagles just over 12 months ago. Italian giants Juventus and Premier League Aston Villa are believed to be leading the chase for Mateta, who Palace value at around 40m.
