The transfer window has been open for eight days, but Manchester City have yet to make any signings. However, according to reports, they are considering a move for Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina to bolster their defence. With plenty of time for clubs to make their moves, the January transfer window promises to be an interesting one to follow.
Manchester City Eye Nottingham Forest's Ola Aina in January Transfer Window
The January transfer window opened eight days ago, and Manchester City remain one of the few top clubs yet to make any signings. However, according to reports, the Premier League giants are considering a move for Nottingham Forest full-back Ola Aina to bolster their defense.
Aina, 26, has been a key player for Forest since joining the club from Fulham in 2021. The Nigerian international has made 65 appearances for the Tricky Trees, scoring three goals and providing five assists.
The versatile defender, who can play at both right-back and left-back, is reportedly valued at around £20 million by Forest. Manchester City are believed to be interested in signing Aina as they look to provide cover for Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo.
Background
Manchester City have a history of signing players from Nottingham Forest. In 2017, they brought in goalkeeper Angus Gunn from the City Ground. Gunn has since been loaned out to Southampton and Stoke City.
Aina would not be the first Nigerian player to join Manchester City. Kelechi Iheanacho spent four years at the Etihad Stadium, making 64 appearances and scoring 21 goals.
Top 5 FAQs on Manchester City and the Transfer Window
Manchester City have been linked with several players, but they have yet to make any official moves. It is possible that they are waiting to see how their squad performs in the second half of the season before making any major decisions.
In addition to Ola Aina, Manchester City have been linked with a number of players, including Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica), and Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig).
Manchester City are reportedly looking to strengthen their defense and midfield. They are also keen to add a new striker to their squad.
The January transfer window closes on Tuesday, January 31st.
Some of the biggest transfer rumors of the January window so far include:
In an unexpected turn of events, Rajasthan United FC defeated top-ranked Churchill Brothers in a close 1-0 match. The Spanish striker Gerard Artigas scored the winning goal in the final minutes of the game, causing a major upset for the visitors who not only lost the match but also their position at the top of the league table. Meanwhile, Rajasthan United secured their fourth place spot with an unbeaten streak of five games.
In an exciting development for Premier League giants Chelsea, 22-year-old midfielder Cole Palmer has been compared to Liverpool's dynamic forward Mohamed Salah by their coach Enzo Maresca. The rising star showed great maturity and composure on the field as Chelsea broke their five-match winless streak with a 3-1 victory over Wolves on Monday. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if Palmer can replicate Salah's impact for the London club.
In a highly anticipated match against Chelsea, Man City's newest signing, Abdukodir Khusanov, had a nightmarish debut as he made a crucial mistake which led to the Blues' early goal. Despite being signed for a hefty sum just five days prior to the match, the 20-year-old from Belarusian side Energetik-BGU struggled to communicate with his teammates and looked out of his depth. The decision to start him was heavily criticized by football expert Jamie Redknapp, as Man City went on to lose the match 2-0. Manager Pep Guardiola, however, has defended his decision and believes Khusanov will learn from this experience.
With only 10 days left in the January transfer window, multiple Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are still looking to make some big moves. The biggest story of the month revolves around Alejandro Garnacho's future, with Chelsea eyeing a £60million deal for the Manchester United winger. Meanwhile, Arsenal and Manchester City are battling it out for a highly-touted teenage prospect, while Liverpool and Tottenham are also expected to make some moves before the transfer deadline. With Pep Guardiola splashing £126m on three new signings, stay tuned for the latest transfer updates from the Premier League and beyond.
The New York Rangers have secured the future of their defense by signing Will Borgen to a five-year contract extension. Since being acquired from the Seattle Kraken in December, Borgen has made a strong impact on the team with his solid defensive play, ranking third in blocked shots and fifth in hits. This season, Borgen has recorded a total of five points and 78 hits between the Rangers, Kraken, and Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old is expected to be a crucial part of the Rangers' defensive lineup for years to come.
Former Premier League player and current pundit Alan Shearer criticizes the decision of VAR official Darren England to uphold the referee's straight red card for Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, who caught a Wolves defender above the ankle. Despite the red card, Arsenal was able to come back and win the game, but manager Mikel Arteta was left fuming at the controversial call. Join the debate and share your thoughts on the incident.
Amidst a recent winless streak for Chelsea, 22-year-old midfielder Cole Palmer has caught the attention of assistant coach Enzo Maresca with his calm and composed performance in a 3-1 victory over Wolves. Maresca draws a comparison between Palmer and Liverpool's superstar Mohamed Salah, praising his ability to take charge and ask for the ball in difficult moments, much like Salah and Martin Odegaard do for their respective teams. With Chelsea's continued push for a Champions League spot, Maresca believes Palmer's presence will be crucial.
Manchester City reinserts themselves in the Premier League's top four after a thrilling comeback against Chelsea. After conceding an early goal from Noni Madueke's opener, the hosts rallied with goals from Josko Gvardiol, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden to seal a 3-1 victory. The win marks an important rebound for City after a midweek collapse against PSG and sees them return to the Champions League places.
Manchester City bounced back from an early deficit to defeat Chelsea 3-1 in a crucial Premier League match. The victory moves City up to fourth place in the table, putting them in the race for a spot in the UEFA Champions League. Despite a mistake from debutant Abdukodir Khusanov, City showed resilience and eventually took control of the match thanks to goals from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. With only seven matches left in the season, this win could have major implications for both teams in the race for European qualification.
Pep Guardiola believes that Abdukodir Khusanov, Man City's new £33.5m defender, will be able to improve after a difficult debut against Chelsea. The 20-year-old, signed only five days beforehand from Lens, made a costly error in the third minute which led to Chelsea's opening goal. Despite this, Guardiola has faith in his new player and believes that he will learn from this experience. Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp criticized Guardiola's decision to start Khusanov, calling it a "mistake."