After the bongs and fireworks, 2026 has finally begun. Naturally, no one really cares about resolutions, the real interest is in whether your team will sign a new left-back. Tittle-tattle is back in the limelight and the Rumour Mill will be firing up the very best and worst of it over the coming month. It seems like everyone in the Premier League needs to get the pen and chequebook out to solve their problems, making it an intriguing month ahead.
Napoli have been heavily linked with a loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Franco Mastantuono, but Madrid have closed the door on any departure, according to Marca. Mastantuono, 18, only moved from River Plate for €45 million in the summer and has already become Los Blancos' second-youngest debutant in the Champions League and their fourth youngest goal-scorer in LaLiga history. Napoli had been enquiring about a loan deal as they seek midfield reinforcements, but their interest was quickly quashed before any concrete offer was made.
United States striker Folarin Balogun scored his first career Champions League goal to lead AS Monaco to a 1-0 win over Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night. Balogun scored the game's only goal right before halftime, smashing his shot from a tight angle into the roof of the net as Monaco won its first game of the league phase and are on five points after four matches.
