Products You May Like
The January transfer window closes at 11 p.m. GMT on Friday and it has so far been one of the quietest periods of trading in years for the Premier League clubs.
But while there has been a distinct lack of high-profile incoming deals involving the “Big Six,” they all have out-of-favour or unsettled players who could yet leave before the end of the week.
So as the clock ticks down to the Jan. 31 deadline, who are the players that the “Big Six” could, or should, dump?
Jump to: Arsenal | Chelsea | Liverpool | Manchester City | Manchester United | Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal
New boss Mikel Arteta is facing a rebuild at the Emirates, but he must first shift some of the club’s big earners. Arsenal are unlikely to make a high-profile signing this month, but the exit of a couple of expensive misfits could unlock an incoming deal. Don’t expect the club to stand in Mesut Ozil‘s way if a suitable offer comes in, but the playmaker’s wages would be a major problem.
The Germany defender has made a handful of appearances under Arteta, but he has failed to convince in any of them. With 18 months left on his contract, Arsenal could cash in this week but the 27-year-old is attracting little interest.
Injuries have affected the Spain midfielder’s season-long loan move from Real Madrid, with Ceballos not making an appearance since early November. Arsenal could cut short his loan deal this week if Arteta is unconvinced by his ability to make an impact at the Emirates.
Chelsea
Frank Lampard has money to spend after the lifting of Chelsea’s two-window transfer ban, but he could also accelerate his rebuild by offloading a number of high-earning, out of favour stars.
Chelsea are open to offers for the 29-year-old left-back and former boss Antonio Conte is considering a move to take the Spaniard to Inter Milan. Alonso has made just 15 appearances all season and will be allowed to leave if an offer comes in this week.
Barcelona have been linked with a move for the French striker as a short-term replacement for the injured Luis Suarez, but while a move to Camp Nou is unlikely, Giroud is almost certain to leave Stamford Bridge this week. Strikers are in demand and, without Chelsea appearance since November, Giroud is available.
Inter Miami, New York City FC and Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe have all be linked with a move for the former Barcelona forward who has suffered of the emergence of Mason Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi under Lampard. The 32-year-old is likely to leave this week.
The Belgium forward is available for loan or sale this week, but while Lampard is happy to let him go, Batshuayi remains a useful option from the bench and he could yet remain at Chelsea until the end of the season if Giroud heads out of the door first.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has insisted that he does not want to sell any of his squad this month due to Liverpool still being involved in three competitions, but cash offers for some fringe players could prompt a deal.
The Switzerland winger has started just two Premier League games for Liverpool this season and has fallen behind Divock Origi and recent signing Takumi Minamino in the pecking order. Klopp wants him to stay, but the offer of first-team football could prompt the 28-year-old to move on this week.
The central defender came close to a summer exit to Roma six months ago. He has since made just 8 Premier League appearances and fallen to fourth choice centre-back, so move away from Anfield could suit the Croatia international.
Manchester City
Injuries have hit Pep Guardiola’s squad this season, especially at the back, so it is likely to be a quiet week in terms of outgoings.
Guardiola had been a huge admirer of Stones when he signed the England defender for £47.5m from Everton in 2016, but his progress has stalled and there are now serious doubts over his future at the Etihad. Stones won’t leave this week, but he may now have less than six months to save his City career.
– ESPN Premier League fantasy: Sign up now!
– VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide
– How VAR has affected every Premier League club
Manchester United
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is caught between trying to strengthen his squad at the same time as offloading expensive misfits. Ashley Young has already been sold to Inter Milan this month but others could follow, despite the injuries that are mounting up at Old Trafford. While Paul Pogba is likely to leave in the summer, only a huge bid this week would persuade United to sell.
Rojo has made just 15 senior appearances since the start of last season, but United have been unable to offload the Argentina defender, who is under contract until June 2021. United may be forced to pay up the 29-year-old’s contract to get him off the wage bill this week, but there is interest from Mexico and Italy which may lead to a deal.
The former England defender scored his first goal in six years during United’s 6-0 FA Cup win at Tranmere Rovers on Sunday, but he has become a fringe player under Solskjaer, making just eight appearances this season, and could be sold if an offer comes in this week. There has been little interest so far, however.
The Dutch winger is out of contract at the end of the season and has attracted interest from Inter Milan and Real Sociedad. The 20-year-old could hold out to become a free agent in the summer, but a cash offer would prompt United to sell this week.
Matic is out of contract in the summer and United have yet to offer the Serbia midfielder a new deal. He had been expected to leave this month, with AC Milan and Atletico Madrid both interested, but injuries to Pogba and Scott McTominay have led to a recall and United are now unlikely to sell him this month.
Tottenham Hotspur
Jose Mourinho wants to add to his squad rather than weaken it, but the uncertainty over Christian Eriksen‘s future is likely to be resolved this week and potentially that of others too.
A move to Inter Milan is close to completion, with Eriksen set to be sold this week rather than being allowed to leave as a free agent in the summer. But having rejected interest from Manchester United last August, Eriksen could yet snub Inter and run down his contract at Spurs.
The Kenyan midfielder has made just four appearances in all competitions this season and has yet to kick a ball under Mourinho. Spurs are open to offers for the former Celtic and Southampton man and it would be a surprise if was still at the club at the end of the window.
The England defender has vowed to run down his Spurs contract and leave as a free agent in 18 months’ time, so any offer that comes in for the left-back will be considered by the club. Persuading Rose to leave may be the difficult part, but if the offer is appealing enough to the player, a deal could happen.