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It's January already and I'm feeling excited. Not necessarily because it's the turn of the year, but because it's that time when you don't know what's happening the next minute with players switching clubs.
One minute, a player is rumored to be happy at a club, the next minute, he's on the plane jetting out to sign for another team or someone runoured to be leaving a club, the next second he's pledging his allegiance, typical of what we saw with Granit Xhaka in the summer when it speculated that his deal to join Jose Mourinho at Roma was all but done, only for the Swiss to sign a contract extension at Arsenal.
The January window is quite unique compared to the summer. From the argument that clubs may not get the best players in the winter, to players whose contracts are due in the summer being eligible to speak to clubs overseas.
In my previous post, I had started with a list of Premier League players who may leave their clubs in January, either to another English cub or abroad. In case you missed that, check it out here.
In this post, I'd be looking at the next set of players who I feel may leave their current clubs based on various circumstances.
It's the Winter window. Get your gloves on!
6 Jesse Lingard
This is a name that divides the Manchester United fanbase as some love to hate and others hate to love him. Breaking into the team, he showed prospects that many likened to be the replacement for the now returned Cristiano Ronaldo. His leg work on the ball and his fanciful celebrations were some of the things that drew him close to the hearts of the fans.
Following his impressive loan spell at West Ham for latter half of last season, where he scored 9 goals and gave 4 assists, many would have thought that it was the right time for him to finally depart the Theatre of Dreams and join a team like the Hammers where he found his rhythm.
West Ham wanted him, but he was unwilling to secure a permanent move there, preferring to stay and fight for his shirt at Old Trafford, which hasn't really worked out for him this season.
Understandably, coming off the back of a fantastic end to last season, it was enough to give him that belief that he could find his way back into the team, but having sparsely made appearances in the league this season, coupled with the arrival of Jadon Sancho and the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, a move away might just be the best thing for him now.
West Ham still look interested and Newcastle, who have all the money have also been linked as they look to kickstart their project. He sure would do well with a team that allows him enough space to use his speed and trickery.
7 Anthony Martial
Just like his teammate, Lingard, Anthony Martial has fallen out of favour, not just from making the team but with the fans as well as he looks to have dipped in the quality that they hoped he'd bring on his arrival.
The Frenchman joined with a loud ovation when he arrived from Monaco in 2015 for then record fee of £50 million for a young player. Many likened him as the heir to Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, but this comparison looks to have gone south.
However, looking at his statistics, he has scored 56 goals and given 26 assists in 174 appearances for Manchester United during his six years spell. This does not look bad for a player who is just 26-years. But, at this age he's meant to be at his peak and getting games under his belt which has not been.
He has only made 7 league appearances this season and scored once, with two appearances in the Champions League under his belt. The only game he has completed was in the Carabao Cup. A transfer may be one of the options on his card.
8 Dele Alli
For a player who was touted to be the successor to former Chelsea star and coach Frank Lampard in the England national team, it's come a bit disappointing of how much he has failed to live up to his talent.
In his early days at Tottenham, we saw the glimpse of a star that he could be with impressive results. He scored 28 Premier League goals in his first two seasons, 18 of those coming in the 2016/2017 season. Last season. He was unable to register a single league goal, limited to just 15 league appearances, largely due to his absence with injury and this season, he has score just once in 10 league appearances.
For a young player, he reached 50 Premier League goals faster than the likes of Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, Eden Hazard and even Frank Lampard. These were signs that everyone saw and thought a new star had arrived.
He has definitely found time at Spurs hard for him. He looked to have been resurgent under Jose Mourinho, who deployed him in similar role as he used to play Lampard, but things haven't worked out well as he's been in and out of the team. We are seeing same again under Antonio Conte, getting minutes under his belt, but for how long will he continue with this. Maybe a new challenge could help him.
Like many players, he's also been linked with a move to Newscatle, with West Ham also touted to be another likely destination.
9 Jarrod Bowen
This is a very interesting name on the list, mainly because he doesn't look like one that'd leave West Ham soon, but when you're having a great season and being linked to Liverpool, then anything could just be possible.
Liverpool may be looking at the 25-year old as a long term replacement for Mohammed Salah, who is 29 years old. I, however, doubt that West Ham would be willing to part with one of their brightest prospects considering the opportunities ahead of them this season and European football.
He has scored 5 goals and created 10 in 27 appearances for West Ham this season. 3 of those goals and 9 of the assists have been in the Premier League and has been consistent with his performances for the Hammers. Should Liverpool find a way to sneak this, we could be in for another Diogo Jota kind of signing; little noise, good prospect and great reaps.
10 Ferran Torres
Perhaps, this name shouldn't be under the tag of "who could" as it already looks a done deal for his transfer to Barcelona.
The 21-year old has been injured since the Euro Championship with Spain and has since then not made any appearance for Manchester City.
Prior to his getting injured he was deployed in the false 9 role, which was also replicated with the Spanish national team. He made just four appearances for the defending champions, scoring twice and creating one.
The move away from the Etihad may not be far from the fact that City have a lot of players that could play in his position and he feels he wants to get more time. More interestingly, he may want to be the new face of the Barcelona project and perhaps a return home was very enticing.
Questions though would be if this was the right time to join Barcelona, a team that is yet to settle from the departure of their long time star Lionel Messi and their financial misappropriation, which has left them in very bad financial shape.
Which other players do you think may leave their clubs in the Premier League this window? Let me have your thoughts in the comment section.
More of a 'I definitely hope not or I'll cry in the corner', Lukaku. Surely not but you never know.
Great list. Wouldn't be surprised if they all went to Newcastle with the money they have now
Ahahahahaha... All to Newcastle? That would be a stunt of a transfer.
Come to think of it, do you think if Newcastle get to sign them all, that could save their season? I don't think so. Neither do I think any of these players would like to play in the championship, except perhaps, they have a strong discussion with the management and are convinced with their project, such that going to the Championship would be to come back stronger next season.
Interesting one. What they could do is sign on loan until end of season with a sign on clause if they remain in the EPL. Other option could be to sign with a release clause if they don't make it. Either way I cant wait to see what Newcastle do. But they need to act fast to save their season!
Wow
This is a great idea. Perhaps, Newcastle should hire you on a temporary basis for this. 😁
I think they could do this and it'd be a win-win for both sides if Newcastle could also add a clause on their wages hinging on their staying up, so that they don't milk them and end up in relegation.
Nonetheless, I feel this survival battle would be a tough one for Newcastle.
That's what happens when you've played too much Football Manager in your lifetime like me 😂
Newcastle are indeed in trouble. They've got resources though and they need to use them fast
Dele Ali seems to be in Conte's good books so wouldn't bank on that one happening.
While we many not bank totally on him leaving, we've seen him in similar situation when Mourinho first arrived and here we're again discussing his future. Perhaps, it's time for a new challenge.
Most of them could help Newcastle stay up. Also hasn't ferran already singed for Barcelona?
I doubt if Newcastle'case is salvageable.
Yes, for Torres and this was recognized in the post.