Transfer journalists Fabrizio Romano and Francesco Porzio discussed transfer updates from several European clubs in their latest video. Romano dismissed the possibility of a player swap between Arsenal and Barcelona involving Hincapie and Balde. He said Arsenal might look for attacking reinforcements in the winter window, and that Manchester United have started considering parting ways with Luke Shaw next summer.
Fabrizio Romano: We are ready to answer some of your questions and bring you all the latest updates, because there are new developments, rumors, and movements in the transfer market. So let's get started.
Porzio: Let's start with a topic where some rumors need clarifying. Recently, there have been reports of a potential player swap between Arsenal and Barcelona involving Balde and Hincapie. What are your thoughts?
Fabrizio Romano: Yes, there have been many rumors about Hincapie and Balde. Why this news? Because Balde's situation, as I've mentioned in several previous videos on the channel, is definitely one worth watching.
Balde was on Barcelona's list of potential departures this summer. We later learned that no deal materialized, whether with Manchester United or other clubs. Barcelona were open to selling Balde, but they would not accept ordinary conditions such as a loan, which was the situation in August 2026.
When Manchester United understood the terms, Barcelona's position was that it had to be a permanent transfer with a large transfer fee, and the player himself had very high salary demands. At that time, Balde was also not keen on leaving. He loves Barcelona deeply: the club, the badge, the fans, and the city. So he didn't want to go.
However, over the past three months or so, from August to September, from September to October, and now as we approach the November international break, Balde has hardly been getting any playing time. He has almost never featured, so it's natural that many related rumors and reports have emerged.
The reality is that if the situation stays the same for the next two months, Balde might be open to leaving in the January winter transfer window.
So we will wait and see. It's still early, but we cannot rule out 100% that Balde leaves Barcelona in January, as it will depend on the offer, the structure of the deal, and the player's final stance. What is certain is that the lack of playing time is fueling these rumors.
As for Hincapie and a swap deal between Arsenal and Barcelona, I don't think it will happen. The reason is simple: Arsenal have absolutely no intention of selling Hincapie, and no intention of making any changes to their back four in the January window. They are extremely happy with their current defenders. The conversation should really be about one of the best defenses in recent football history, because Arsenal's defending has been truly incredible.
Moreover, Hincapie can play both as a center-back and a left-back, and he is a very important player under Arteta, so I believe this swap will never happen.
Porzio: Speaking of Arsenal, what about their plans and ideas for the January 2027 winter window? Do you think they will be active in signing players, or not?
Fabrizio Romano: I think Arsenal will take an opportunistic approach, meaning that if a suitable opportunity arises in the market, they will act. We know the winter window is always a difficult one to operate in, and over the past four or five years Arsenal's approach to it has been very clear: either a suitable opportunity arises, or they prefer to wait. I remember the famous Vlahovic case a few years ago. They tried, found it wasn't feasible, and waited until the summer.
Then last January, there were injuries, panic, and so on, and outsiders were saying "Arsenal, do something." They said "No, we'll wait," and with that strategy they won the league title. So Arsenal want to stay smart. If a suitable opportunity arises, especially in attack, Arsenal might make a move. But it must be the right player under the right conditions. So new attacking reinforcements for Arsenal are a possibility I would not rule out. I think it's possible.
But as of November 6, which is today, we cannot guarantee that Arsenal will sign a striker or another attacker, because it obviously depends entirely on whether a suitable opportunity arises.
Porzio: Speaking of transfer planning, I believe we will certainly be talking more about Manchester United in the coming days and weeks. But what is the current situation regarding potential player departures in the January window?
Fabrizio Romano: Yes, regarding Manchester United, we have obviously talked a lot about the manager and about January signings in recent videos. I expect Manchester United to move for a new striker, so overall they will be very busy in January, and they have to do something, because, apart from the second half against Roma, their performances this season have generally been very poor and disappointing. We are always talking about signings, the manager, and the director level, but in the new year, 2027, there will also be movement on player departures, such as Luke Shaw.
Luke Shaw is expected to be one of the players to leave Manchester United at the end of the 2026-27 season. There were some related reports today, and I have also learned that Manchester United have started considering the possibility of parting ways with Luke Shaw in the summer of 2027. This is a very likely scenario.
Frankly, I expect Manchester United to make a lot of personnel changes in 2027. We still have to see what happens with the manager; for now, Michael Carrick is still in charge for the match against Aston Villa, but we have to see how the team performs. We also have to see what happens at the director level, because after a poor season, those roles are obviously under strict scrutiny too.
So the changes will involve multiple positions, not just players. But Luke Shaw is indeed one of the players who may leave Manchester United after the season.
Porzio: Let's talk about Antonio Nusa now. It feels like every year, every transfer window, there are rumors of him leaving, but in the end he always stays at RB Leipzig. In 2027, especially in January, will the situation change?
Fabrizio Romano: Listen, I think it will be very difficult in the January window, because Leipzig already raised a huge amount of money last summer by selling Yan Diomande. Although Diomande and Nusa are obviously different types of players, they are both wingers, and Leipzig received a huge transfer fee for Diomande. If Antonio Nusa were sold in January, it would likely blunt the attacking edge of this team. The team has excellent players, but Antonio Nusa is obviously a very special one. Selling him in January would therefore be very complex and would require a crazy offer to make Leipzig change their plans. Of course, in football never say never. Even with Yan Diomande, Leipzig's initial plan in February and March 2026 was to keep the player, offer him a new contract with a release clause, and sell him in 2027. But when those huge offers came, keeping him became impossible. So we will wait and see, but I think the chance of it happening in January is very small.
However, interest in Antonio Nusa is rising, and rising very quickly. Many top clubs are sending scouts to watch the young player, and many top giants are also in contact with people around him. There has already been market movement around Antonio Nusa, and I wouldn't be surprised if something happens in 2027 overall, but there are absolutely no guarantees for January at the moment.
Porzio: Let's end this video with the topic of center-backs. Do you think anyone is already in the transfer process, close to a move, or highly likely to move in 2027?
Fabrizio Romano: Listen, since we're talking about players, I have to stay with Leipzig, and here I want to mention Castello Lukeba. He might be the equivalent of Antonio Nusa among defenders, and there have been many reports about him in recent years. Castello Lukeba has attracted attention from several clubs in England, Spain, and even Italy. Several clubs discussed signing him, but nothing materialized at the time, partly because Leipzig demanded a very high transfer fee. Now the young player has decided to change agencies and is signing with a new one. When a player changes agencies, 90% of the time it is because he wants to prepare for a future transfer. So I expect Castello Lukeba to leave Leipzig in 2027. It could be January, or it could be summer.
By the summer, his release clause will drop to 65 million euros, which will be an excellent opportunity for the many clubs interested in him. However, I have also heard that in January, Leipzig will try to keep the squad together and retain their core players as much as possible. So signing Castello Lukeba in January will not be easy, but there will certainly be substantial transfer activity around this player in the summer window.
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Sounds good