Preparations for the draft are well underway, with teams already hosting private workouts with eligible prospects. The first scouting event is set to tip off on Wednesday, with the top seniors in the country embarking on the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Virginia.
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.
Barcelona has an option to secure Marcus Rashford's services on a permanent deal for just €30 million. However, the club's financial situation complicates negotiations with Manchester United.
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.