8 players who need a transfer in January
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Possible transfer targets for the next window
The opening of the transfer window is on the horizon and we have picked out eight Premier League players who need a transfer in January.
Some players will be counting down the days until a move is possible and the expected investment in Newcastle’s squad by their new Saudi owners could make it a busy month in the transfer market.
Here we take a look at the players most likely to be on the move in January.
Jesse Lingard
Lingard was one of the form players in the second half of last season during a loan spell at West Ham.
The England international scored nine goals in 16 appearances, including two on his debut, to help the Hammers qualify for the Europa League.
But he has been unable to continue that form since returning to Manchester United and has failed to find the net since scoring against West Ham in September.
Having played just 88 minutes in the Premier League this season, Lingard will surely be keen to head out on loan again, especially if he has ambitions of being included in England’s World Cup squad next year.
A return to West Ham is a possibility as they look to secure a top-four finish while Lingard looks just the right fit for relegation contenders Newcastle as they prepare to splash the cash in January.
Dele Alli
Antonio Conte will be keen to revamp the Tottenham squad as he gets to grips with the job facing him since returning to London.
Several players could be on their way out and one of those is likely to be Alli, with reports suggesting the club are willing to listen to offers for the 25-year-old midfielder.
The England international has barely featured in Conte’s squad and Newcastle are believed to have already made enquiries while a move to Germany’s Bundesliga is a possibility.
Nat Phillips
West Ham are hoping to bolster their defence after losing Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma to injury and Phillips is one realistic target.
The Liverpool centre-back has not featured as much as he would have liked this season with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all fit.
He shone in the recent 2-1 win at AC Milan in the Champions League and although he fractured his cheekbone in that game, he should be on the verge of a return to action when the transfer window opens.
A loan move until the end of the season is a possibility or West Ham could try and agree a permanent deal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The end is surely in sight for Aubameyang at Arsenal after he was stripped of the club captaincy and not considered for selection against West Ham on Wednesday night.
Aubameyang was dropped for Saturday’s Premier League 3-0 win over Southampton after reportedly returning late from a trip abroad to visit his ill mother.
It is not Aubameyang’s first transgression, having previously been dropped to the bench for March’s north London derby against Tottenham after what was described as a breach of the club’s pre-match protocol.
The striker signed a lucrative contract extension in September 2020 but there is a sense Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would now be ready to offload the player and put his large salary to better use.
Ladbrokes have odds on where Aubameyang will go during the January transfer window, with Barcelona the 5/1 favourites to sign him ahead of Juventus (10/1), Newcastle (12/1) and Manchester City (14/1).
Paul Pogba
The Manchester United midfielder’s future is, yet again, the subject of intense speculation with the player out of contract next summer.
The France international could sign a pre-contract agreement with another club in January and new boss Ralf Rangnick will not be trying to convince Pogba to stay at Old Trafford.
“Players have to want to stay and play for the club,” he said. “For a big club like Manchester United, if a player does not want to play for a club like Manchester United, even in the long term, I don’t think it makes sense to convince him to change his mind.”
Consistency has been a problem for Pogba since he returned to United and now could be the time to leave once again.
Anthony Martial
Another of the players who need a transfer and looks to be on his way out at Manchester United is Martial following comments by his agent suggesting he is keen on a move to secure regular game time.
Martial has become a fringe player at United and has been on the pitch for just 201 minutes in the Premier League this season, scoring one goal.
A knee injury has not helped but Rangnick did not seem impressed by the comments from Martial’s agent, saying: “If he has a wish to go to another club, it should be the player who informs either the board or myself.
“I don’t communicate with agents via the media and the press. The player hasn’t spoken with me or us about it.”
Jay Rodriguez
Maxwel Cornet looks a decent summer signing for Burnley but his arrival has pushed Rodriguez further down the pecking order.
The former Southampton and West Brom forward, in his third season back at his hometown club, is also vying for a starting place with Chris Wood, Matej Vydra and Ashley Barnes.
Rodriguez, who was on the bench in Burnley’s final 10 Premier League games last season, started in the opening-day home defeat to Brighton but did not start again until Sunday’s goalless draw with West Ham.
His only goals this season came in a Carabao Cup tie against Rochdale and Rodriguez could be forgiven for feeling increasingly frustrated at Turf Moor.
Hamza Choudhury
It has been a season to forget so far for Choudhury and the Leicester midfielder looks to be one of the players who could benefit from a January transfer.
He was substituted after an hour in his only Premier League appearance of the season against Crystal Palace in October while he has only come off the bench once during Leicester’s Europa League campaign.
Another 66 minutes followed in the Carabao Cup against Brighton but that is all for a player who made 22 appearances in all competitions last season.
At the age of 24, Choudhury would hope to be getting more regular first-team football than he has this season.
A loan switch to Newcastle on deadline day fell through but it would be little surprise to see Choudhury on the move in January.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
