The hectic festive schedule is now in full-swing and several players may be gearing up to move clubs in the upcoming January transfer window. Whether they have been unfairly treated, not got the gametime they deserve or simply need a loan to develop their game, we have picked out five Premier League stars that could make a move in January.
Dele Alli
The 25-year-old Tottenham midfielder has had a rotten time of late and now finally will be given the chance to leave the club in January. Having starred under Mauricio Pochettino at White Hart Lane, a loan move to PSG could be a possibility and his ability is unquestionable - we just haven’t seen it enough in recent years.
He helped Spurs get to the Champions League final, but under Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo has been unable to get going and it seems off-the-field issues may have been affecting his football. A move away could reinvigorate his career, and perhaps another Premier League club will take the gamble. Pochettino could be in the Old Trafford dugout this summer of course…
Anthony Martial
Talking of Old Trafford another man who looks like he needs a move away is Anthony Martial. Bought in as a teenager for £36m, he simply hasn’t lived up to his talent in the red shirt and now looks as though his time at Old Trafford could come to an end.
He wasn’t fancied by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and in Ralf Rangnick’s early tenure he has also been a bit-part player. If he does make his departure from Manchester in the New Year, it will be another wasted talent for United. Turns out the English press were right all along.
Falorin Balogun
Arsenal have confirmed that their talented young striker will be sent out on loan in January in a bid to get more first-team football under his belt, with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah all above him in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order.
The most likely destination for the England U21 international looks to be the Championship at this moment in time where the likes of Emile Smith Rowe earned their stripes, so Arsenal could consider the likes of West Brom as a potential option, although the promotion chasers will not want to disrupt their squads too much.
Jesse Lingard
Another name at United, and one that really should have left in the summer after his fantastic loan spell at West Ham almost got him in England’s Euro 2020 squad. Now Lingard will be well aware that his hopes of making the World Cup squad are diminishing with his lack of game time at Old Trafford and will surely push for a move away.
With just six months left on his contract United are likely to cash in while they can, with the likes of West Ham and Newcastle potential suitors for the 28-year-old. For both the club and the player, it makes an awful lot of sense for Lingard to leave Manchester this winter.
Todd Cantwell
Perhaps a surprise name on the list, but Todd Cantwell was Norwich’s standout player the last time they were in the Premier League, along with Teemu Pukki. Under Dean Smith he has been back in the fold but is yet to get any meaningful game time and given the Canaries sold Emi Buendia in the summer, they could also consider cashing in on their local lad Cantwell if the right offer comes in.
His current deal expires this summer with the option of an additional year, but if the club are going to get relegated he is likely to leave this summer in any case. Maximising his transfer value in January, cashing in and spending the money wisely could keep the Canaries up. Everton have been long-term admirers.
