Transfer news live: Man City close on Semenyo, Brennan Johnson nears Palace switch, Man Utd battle for Leipzig winger

Where will Antoine Semenyo end up by the end of the transfer window? (Getty Images)

The new year is upon us and with it comes the re-opening of the transfer window as clubs assess their options for reinforcement in January.

Spending sprees from Liverpool , Manchester United and Arsenal contributed to a record summer of Premier League expenditure last summer, with clubs from England’s top flight collectively splashing more than £3bn on new players.

And while the acquisition of elite players or long-term targets is less common in the mid-season window, it is not completely out of the question, with the saga surrounding Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo expected to reach its climax in the coming weeks or possibly days. The 25-year-old has been linked with moves to every Premier League big hitter but it appears Manchester City are now leading the race for the player , whose £65m release clause becomes active in January.

Elsewhere, Tottenham’s Europa League winner Brennan Johnson is verging on a £35m move to Crystal Palace , while Eagles skipper Marc Guehi remains a person of interest after his deadline day move to Liverpool collapsed . The England international is about to enter the final six months of his contract at Selhurst Park, giving Palace one last chance to cash in if they choose to.

Relegation-threatened West Ham will look to strengthen in January, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo saying he has a “clear idea” of what the club needs - and “the sooner the better”.

Youngsters Oliver Scarles and Freddie Potts featured on Sunday against Brighton, with untried 18-year-old Ezra Mayers and Mohamadou Kante, 20, coming on as substitutes.

“I am pleased for the young players, because they're helping,” Nuno said.

“But it's also clear that, in terms of squad, we need to rebalance our squad. We need to make the right moves in a very difficult transfer window to operate.

“But we need to, so we can improve and have more options for the second half of the season.

“I have a clear idea about everything. I have a clear idea, because this is our job. It's up to us to pass information to the club, so the club is aware of what we need.

“It's coming in a couple of days. The reflection is clear, so the sooner the better.”

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)