Top 5 Liverpool targets for the January transfer window 2026
Who are the Liverpool targets for the January transfer window 2026? Which players will the Reds look to bring in when the transfer market opens again in the new year?
As the January transfer window 2026 approaches, Liverpool is expected to make key additions to their squad to strengthen their chances in both the Premier League and Champions League.
With some notable players potentially leaving and the club aiming to stay competitive at the highest level, the Reds’ transfer strategy will focus on addressing key positions across the pitch.
Read on for the list of Liverpool targets for the January transfer window 2026. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
List: Who are the Top 5 Liverpool targets for the January transfer window 2026
Top 5 Liverpool targets for the January transfer window 2026? Marc Guehi? Antonio Semenyo? Find out which players Liverpool will try and sign during the January transfer window here.
Arne Slot will try and improve the Liverpool squad in the new year to help his team challenge for trophies and progress in the Champions League.
Liverpool new player signings 2025/26? Liverpool has had a relatively quiet transfer window for the 2025/26 season so far.
Find out which players Liverpool will sign during the January transfer window of 2026. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
1. Marc Guehi – Defender (Crystal Palace)
- Position: Centre-back
- Current Club: Crystal Palace
- Estimated Value: Free agent in summer; Palace wanted £35m previously
The saga of Marc Guéhi is the transfer story that refuses to end. Liverpool came within a whisker of signing the England international on last summer’s deadline day, with a £35 million agreement and a completed medical in place before Crystal Palace pulled the plug at the eleventh hour.
Now, with his contract expiring in June 2026, the dynamic has shifted dramatically.
Despite the summer collapse, Liverpool remain the frontrunners for his signature, with reports even suggesting a “gentleman’s agreement” is in place.
However, the January move is complicated. Guéhi can sign a pre-contract with foreign clubs from January 1, attracting interest from European giants like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner has bluntly stated his desire to keep his captain for the remainder of the season, even as he acknowledges the player will not sign a new deal.
For Liverpool, the dilemma is whether to push for a cut-price January deal or risk waiting for the summer, when they would face intense competition for his signature on a free transfer.
2. Joel Ordonez – Defender (Club Brugge)
- Position: Centre-back
- Current Club: Club Brugge
- Estimated Value: €40 million (£34.8 million)
If a move for Guéhi proves impossible in January, Liverpool’s attention may turn to 21-year-old Ecuadorian defender Joel Ordóñez.
Recent reports indicate that Chelsea have withdrawn from negotiations, potentially clearing the path for Liverpool to make their move.
Ordóñez represents a different profile—a ball-playing defender with outstanding underlying metrics.
His statistics are eye-opening: ranking in the 97th percentile among European centre-backs for expected assisted goals (xAG) and non-penalty expected goal contributions, and the 91st percentile for pass completion.
The young defender has already amassed significant experience, with over 100 appearances for Club Brugge, nearly 20% of which have come in the Champions League.
The major question mark is his adaptation to the Premier League’s physicality, a significant step up from the Belgian Pro League.
At an estimated €40 million, he offers a younger, potentially future-proof option for a defence that has seen Virgil van Dijk show signs of decline and Ibrahima Konaté struggle for form. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
3. Antoine Semenyo – Forward (Bournemouth)
- Position: Right Winger / Forward
- Current Club: Bournemouth
- Estimated Value: £65 million release clause (active until Jan. 10)
The potential departure of Mohamed Salah—amplified by his recent public rift with the club—has made the right wing a position of urgent need.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has emerged as perhaps the most direct and viable alternative. The Ghana international started the 2025-26 season explosively, even scoring a brace at Anfield, and possesses the power, tenacity, and goal threat Liverpool crave.
His contract contains a £65 million release clause, structured as a £60 million fixed fee plus £5 million in add-ons, which is active only until January 10.
This gives Liverpool a narrow window to act. However, they face stiff competition. Manchester City are reportedly in advanced talks and could wrap up a deal before the window even officially opens.
Chelsea have made an enquiry but will not pursue a move, while Arsenal were said to be Semenyo’s preferred destination had they shown concrete interest.
For Liverpool, securing Semenyo would be a decisive statement in addressing their most glaring positional shortage. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
4. Kenan Yildiz – Midfielder (Juventus)
- Position: Attacking Midfielder / Winger
- Current Club: Juventus
- Estimated Value: Around £88 million
In a different strategic direction, Liverpool have been linked with a move for Juventus’s Turkish sensation, Kenan Yildiz.
At just 20 years old, Yildiz is considered “100% a superstar” by scouts and has delivered an impressive return of 13 goals and 8 assists for club and country this season.
His versatility is key; while at his best as a number ten, he can operate on either wing—a profile similar to Liverpool’s summer signing Florian Wirtz.
Reports suggest Liverpool and Arsenal have both made phone calls to Juventus, sparking panic in Turin.
The Italian club is now pushing “full speed” to tie him down to a new contract. With an estimated price tag of £88 million, this would be a monumental investment in potential rather than a ready-made solution.
It reflects a long-term vision for Liverpool’s creative and goal-scoring output, possibly viewing Yildiz as a central piece of the attack for the next decade.
5. Rodrygo – Forward (Real Madrid)
- Position: Winger / Forward
- Current Club: Real Madrid
- Estimated Value: €80 million (£70 million+)
The most ambitious name on the list is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. The Brazilian winger is reportedly available after a “hugely disappointing run of form” at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid have already rejected an initial offer from Manchester City believed to be worth up to €80 million and are said to be demanding a guaranteed €80 million fee for his sale.
This move would represent a high-cost, high-reward gamble. On his day, Rodrygo is a world-class talent capable of moments of magic. However, his consistency is in question.
For Liverpool, he would be a marquee, statement signing to fill the void on the right flank, but it would come with significant financial risk and no guarantee of recapturing his best form.
He remains a higher-profile alternative to Semenyo, but also a far more expensive and uncertain one.
More about Liverpool transfer targets January 2026
For more about the latest football transfer targets, news, and rumors, follow Silly Season transfer news. See also the official Liverpool website for official news. Watch & Bet on Sports =>
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