English Premier League

English Premier League

Arsenal have reached the turn in front and will now aim to move away from the chasing pack and secure their first Premier League title since 2003. The Gunners start the year with a four-point advantage at the top of the table but history is not on their side, having failed to land the crown the last five times they have started January at the summit.

Liverpool are reportedly interested in the potential transfer of Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes, who could likely move for around 90m. The Brazil international has not been as much of a key player under new manager Xabi Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the summer. Rodrygo's future is now uncertain, with Liverpool eager to swoop for the 24-year-old, and believing that an offer of around 90m could tempt Real to sell, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.

As the half-time scores drifted in, two questions dominated the airwaves. Was Daniel Farke 45 minutes away from the sack? And just how underwhelming a summer signing had Dominic Calvert-Lewin been? As television and radio pundits agreed, the Leeds manager was in a precarious position, something extraordinary was unfolding in the away dressing room at the Etihad Stadium. It was late November and Leeds were trailing 2-0 to Manchester City.

The 22-year-old struggled for playing time at Anfield before moving on last summer, but he's also failed to make any impact during his time at Villa Park. Liverpool will surely have been hoping for Elliott to play more often in the Premier League so he could either show he's capable of returning as a better player to compete for a place in Arne Slot's squad, or at the very least to put himself in the shop window for a permanent sale.

AC Milan have announced the loan signing of striker Niclas Füllkrug from West Ham United until the end of the season. The Serie A club have the option to make the deal permanent in the summer. The move brings an end to a disappointing 18 month spell in east London for the German international. Signed by Julen Lopetegui in August 2024, Füllkrug went on to score just thrice for the club in 29 appearances.

Cruising their way to a routine 3-0 romp away at Lecce, the former Arsenal skipper has seen his squad gain a string of plaudits from across the continent. Getting New Year's Day underway sat in the European spots, the Lombardy-based outfit also know that they could move within touching distance of the Champions League places this weekend. Signing off November with a 2-0 win against Sassuolo, Como have also gained a real reputation for their continued dominance on home soil.

AC Milan are facing a crucial decision as uncertainty grows around the future of Mike Maignan, with several European clubs closely monitoring his situation. According to Calciomercato, clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United, and Juventus are all keeping a close watch as the French international enters the final six months of his contract at AC Milan. Maignan, now 30, has been one of Milan's most important players since arriving from Lille, establishing himself as one of Europe's elite goalkeepers.

Half the FPL season is in the bag and we're coming off one of the worst weeks of the season, with hardly any highly owned assets returning. Don't panic though, FPL has given us a fresh set of chips to attack 2026 with. So take a look at our team of the week for a bit of inspiration, to give you a flying start to the second half of the campaign.

The Italian club have already filled their non-EU player slots for the current season, meaning a January move would be impossible even if all parties were willing. Instead, the Giallorossi are said to be exploring the financial and sporting feasibility of a summer deal that could see the 33-year-old return to Serie A, where he previously impressed during spells with Fiorentina and Roma earlier in his career.

Nothing is done yet, but Newcastle are in the market for new attacking players and it looks like Bobb is a realistic and concrete target for Eddie Howe's side. Oscar Bobb to Newcastle transfer looks like one to watch this January City are known to be closing in on Antoine Semenyo as a major new signing, with the arrival of the Bournemouth forward only likely to make it even harder for Bobb to play regularly.

"We are running 18 coaches and people keep contacting us," said Mr Richardson, whose company TreadTracker is the team's kit sponsor.