There are a number of players who could do with moves away from their current club. We look at 5 such players who will seek this move in January.
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The football transfer market is currently in a weird spot thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic’s after-effects. Big clubs still have plenty of money to spare, as can be evidenced by 2021’s crazy transfer window. However, that doesn’t mean it’s all good across the board. Smaller clubs have had to get creative with their transfer business. This means a high degree of loan moves, as well as plenty of free transfer signings. It’s also left certain players – we’re looking at you, Jesse Lingard – stuck at their current clubs with a limited amount of game time set to be seen.
Many a player has been priced out of a move this season. This could be down to their clubs asking for a big fee, or the player commanding big wages.
However, you can bet your bottom dollar that these players will be having discussions once the January transfer window opens. Here we look at five players who would be keen to change clubs in three months time.
Jesse Lingard was one of the most in-form players during the second half of the 2020-21 season. His loan move to West Ham saw him play some of the best football of his career. The spell at the London side under former manager David Moyes clearly rejuvinated him. Which makes it all the more baffling a move was never made permanent.
Professional performance today from the boys ?? happy to get 2 goals and assist ?@JLingz x Siiiuuu #Jlingz #England pic.twitter.com/k3HlFJJPhR
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) September 5, 2021
Still, any hopes Lingard had of maybe fighting for a spot became harder with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo. United’s already-stacked forward line is now even more crowded, and Lingard seems set to suffer the most as a result. A move away from the club – whether on loan or permanently – would suit all parties at this point.
It’s baffling that a player as talented as Bernardo Silva isn’t a regular starter at his club, but Manchester City are not just any club. Their veritable star power means most players struggle to nail down a starting spot. The fact that manager Pep Guardiola also likes to rotate his players probably doesn’t help.
Still, Silva was one City player notably linked with an exit from the side during the summer. His lack of proper game time would be one of the reasons for the same. However, with no move materialising, look out for any news of his departure again once its January.
Once seen as the next Steven Gerrard, it’s safe to say that things have not quite gone right for Ross Barkley. The boyhood Evertonian has not seen his career kick on ever since his move to Chelsea. Indeed, he spent last season on loan at Aston Villa. He began his time there positively enough but his form went downhill afterwards. As such, Villa chose not to make the deal permanent.
There is no future for him at Chelsea, evidenced by the fact he doesn’t even have a squad number. His massive wages were said to put off many clubs, while his recent form hasn’t helped either. That being said, he could be a useful player for a mid-table side and some team might come calling in January.
It’s been nearly four years now since Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool – yes, amazingly so. In that time, the Brazilian has never looked likely to fulfilling his dream of being a success at the Camp Nou. He even spent the 2019-20 season on loan to Bayern Munich – where he picked up a Champions League winners medal. Yet an upturn of form at Barca doesn’t seem likely.
Coutinho is perenially linked with a return to the Premier League, meaning the same could happen in January 2022. At this point, it is safe to say the 28-year-old needs a fresh start. Barca, for their part, would be keen to get his wages off the books too.
Part of Arsenal’s old guard, Alexandre Lacazette only has a year left on his current deal and an extension seems unlikely. His massive wages are also a reason why Arsenal would like to cash in on him. However, it’s also probably why few if any clubs seem interested in him to begin with.
However, an exit seems likely sooner rather than later. Arsenal would prefer getting some cash for a player who cost them somewhere in the region of 50 million pounds, whereas Lacazette would be keen to go somewhere he could play more often.
