20 Big Deals That Could Happen in the January Transfer Window
Here are 20 big deals that could potentially happen in the January transfer window, a time for major European teams to supplement their squads or sign a quick fix.
Will the likes of Arturo Vidal, Juan Cuadrado, Lukas Podolski, Marco Reus, Petr Cech, Sami Khedira et al be moving in the upcoming January transfer window?
These 20 players are subjectively ranked on name recognition.
20. Robbie Kruse
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Predominantly a super-sub last season, Robbie Kruse would have made inroads in his quest for more starts at Bayer Leverkusen if he was healthy for the entire season.
However, tearing an anterior cruciate ligament affected his chances of making a big impression in Leverkusen.
Karim Bellarabi, Heung-Min Son and Julian Brandt are the primary options for a wide role
If Josip Drmic, who scored 17 goals in the Bundesliga last season, can't even get into the Leverkusen starting XI, then it will continue to be an arduous road ahead for Kruse.
To make matters worse, Kruse is still not even fully fit.
He should consider a loan to a smaller Bundesliga team in the January transfer window.
Two seasons ago, along with Dani Schahin, Kruse was a standout player at Fortuna Dusseldorf.
19. Bruma
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Galatasaray winger Bruma will be subject to multiple bids in the January transfer window, according to his agent Marco Kirdemir.
"This summer Everton and Monaco wanted Bruma on loan," Kirdemir said, per Radyo Spor (h/t talkSPORT). "The president made it clear that he would only consider bids for a permanent deal. It wouldn't be a surprise if more offers were made this season."
Since starring at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Bruma's career has stagnated instead of skyrocketing.
An immensely talented and confident dribbler with a rapid first step, Bruma will receive another chance at a big club if Galatasaray doesn't work out.
18. Diego Rolan
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Bordeaux right-winger Diego Rolan has scored three times and created a goal in his opening four Ligue 1 games.
Cheick Diabate was expected to be the main man for Bordeaux, but Rolan has stolen the headlines with his directness and productivity.
The money flowing into the Premier League enables unfancied clubs like Hull City to make a £10 million calculated risk on Abel Hernandez.
Hull should consider targeting Hernandez's compatriot Rolan, who is on course for a breakout season.
17. Connor Wickham
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Sunderland forward Connor Wickham could opt out of his contract.
He holds leverage because he flashed brilliance last season and will be a free agent at the end of this campaign.
The window of opportunity will enable him and his agent to negotiate an upgraded salary.
If Sunderland cannot secure his signature for the long term, Wickham will be sold in the January transfer window.
16. Bernard
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Shakhtar Donetsk winger Bernard has had a tempestuous spell at the Ukranian club.
He may be talented, but he might be too much of a burden for Shakhtar to handle. He has been accused by his manager, Mircea Lucescu, of spending more time on social media than being a footballer.
Clearly there are incompatible feelings between the two parties, which could lead to Bernard's sale.
15. Yevhen Konoplyanka
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What are Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's plans regarding Yevhen Konoplyanka?
In an ideal scenario, Dnipro would extend Konoplyanka's contract to maximise his transfer stock.
Then Dnipro would sell him to the highest bidder in the January transfer window, like how Olympiacos handled Konstantinos Mitroglou last year:
- December 19, 2013, per Fotis Voinikas at Sky Sports: Mitroglou extended his contract at Olympiacos until 2017.
- January 31, 2014, per BBC Sport: Olympiacos sold Mitroglou to Fulham for €13.9/£11 million.
Dnipro have already admitted searching for a Konoplyanka replacement, per Jamie Jackson of The Guardian.
Konoplyanka is a dynamic, skilful and incisive winger, who had lively moments against Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League last season.
Being a set-piece specialist further increases Konoplyanka's allure.
14. William Carvalho
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Sporting Lisbon defensive midfielder William Carvalho was involved in a protracted summer transfer window saga that is still unresolved.
While Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) and Marcos Rojo (Manchester United) were granted exits from Sporting, William's future is still in limbo.
It gives him incentive to play well in order to sustain his transfer stock.
But it is a catch-22: Should he dominate, Sporting will be even more difficult to negotiate with.
13. Andre Ayew
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Marseille held on to Andre Ayew despite the impending expiration of his contract.
Ayew will either be sold at a reduced fee in the January transfer window or be forced to play out his contract.
Marseille have a tendency to either not offer an extension or accept their players' rights to a free transfer:
- Souleymane Diawara → Nice (2014)
- Brandao → Saint-Etienne (2012)
- Lucho Gonzalez → Porto (2012)
- Gabriel Heinze → Roma (2011)
- Taye Taiwo → AC Milan (2011)
- Vitorino Hilton → Montpellier (2011)
Ayew is a quality footballer able to play out wide or centrally.
Not only is he technically proficient, but his work rate is excellent.
12. Adrien Rabiot
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After Kingsley Coman's outstanding Serie A debut for Juventus against Chievo Verona, it is imperative that Paris Saint-Germain persuade Adrien Rabiot to stay.
If Coman can shine when given a chance, what about Rabiot?
Significantly more experienced than Coman, Rabiot is a technically flawless midfielder with a complete playing style.
Should Rabiot keep up his stance of refusing to extend his contract, PSG will have to sell him in the January transfer window.
At least there would be a transfer fee, unlike with Coman.
11. Sebastian Giovinco
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For years, Sebastian Giovinco has been an are-we-there-yet player.
He is too inconsistent to be a regular starter, yet is such a tantalising talent that it is hard to discard him.
Now 27 years old, Giovinco is not there yet and does not have upside as a reason to keep him.
Juventus studied offers for Giovinco during the summer transfer window, according to his agent Andrea D'Amico.
"We received many proposals and passed them all on to Juventus," D'Amico told Fanatik, per Football Italia. "Juve also spoke to Cesare Prandelli's Galatasaray, discussing a loan with an option to buy."
10. James Milner
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Aside from a 12-minute cameo against Newcastle United, James Milner has had an inactive start to the season for Manchester City.
Does he want to continue being a spectator?
The businesslike move would be to sit out his contract because any prospective move would likely be his last big-money deal at a major European team.
But given Milner's competitive streak, his professionalism and his reliability over the years, he could choose regular starts at a mid-tier Premier League team in January over earning a truckload of money to watch football at City.
9. Glen Johnson
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One of the primary problems with Liverpool full-back Glen Johnson's demise is his aloofness.
He can vent at the "sofa experts" for being "absolutely clueless," but he was lapping up the praise when he was being lauded as a world-class full-back.
His performances in the last 18 months are not Premier League standard, his lack of effort is appalling and his desire is non-existent.
Liverpool are paying £120,000 a week for a player who does not take pride in representing the club.
Despite his awful form, he will be given another shot by a Premier League team because he is English and a big name.
If he does not drastically improve, he will either be playing in the Championship or in a non-European league in the next few years.
8. Christoph Kramer
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Christoph Kramer has become such an integral part of Borussia Monchengladbach's setup that they should attempt to sign him before one of Europe's wealthiest clubs steps in.
Kramer's playing rights are owned by Bayer Leverkusen, but he has been on loan since 2011.
He has transitioned from a raw, lanky and inconsistent prospect to one of the most dominant midfielders in Europe.
7. Allan Marques
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Udinese's Allan Marques is one of the best central midfielders in Europe.
He has accumulated 135 and 153 tackles in his last two seasons.
In Udinese's 2-0 win over Empoli, Allan completed 93 percent of his passes and made six tackles.
If major clubs have a hole in midfield, it is imperative they target Allan in the January transfer window. Should he improve his efficiency in the attacking half, he can emulate Arturo Vidal.
6. Juan Cuadrado
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Fiorentina utility player Juan Cuadrado has remained focus after a summer transfer window in which he was linked with most of Europe's major teams.
"Manchester United's and Barcelona's interest? It has been spoken about but, to tell you the truth, I have always been calm," Cuadrado said, per Sky Sports. "I'm happy to stay at Fiorentina for another season."
When substantial offers were lodged for Felipe Melo, Gabriel Batistuta, Matija Nastasic, Rui Costa, Stevan Jovetic et al, Fiorentina buckled.
While Cuadrado has operated in defence as a full-back or wing-back, he is substantially better charging forward as a winger or wide-forward.
Yes, he does work hard off the ball, but his defensive positional sense is subpar.
That said, he is special in the attacking half because, when isolated in a one-on-one situation, he is one of the most dangerous players in the world.
Expect bids for Cuadrado to resume in the January transfer window.
5. Petr Cech
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Chelsea backup goalkeeper Petr Cech is open to leaving the Blues after being relegated to second choice.
"In football, nothing can be predicted in advance, nothing is ever perfect," Cech said, per the Press Association (h/t The Guardian). "The offer would have to be right for everyone. I do not exclude anything [or] know the answer."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho caved in to Thibaut Courtois' demands for a guaranteed starting position.
Is it unfair on Cech? Yes, because he is not in disarray like Joe Hart or Iker Casillas.
Cech will feel cheated.
But Courtois is 10 years younger and a can't-miss prospect.
He is a once-in-a-generation goalkeeper.
Like the Indianapolis Colts waving goodbye to Peyton Manning and welcoming in Andrew Luck, Chelsea chose Courtois over Cech looking at the bigger picture.
4. Sami Khedira
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Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's statement of Sami Khedira playing for a new contract suggests the World Cup-winning Germany international will be offloaded in the January transfer window.
"[Khedira] wasn't as categorical [as Angel Di Maria] when he turned down our new contract offer," Perez said, per Delfin Melero at Marca. "If Real Madrid don't reach an agreement with [Khedira], it's in his interest to have a good season so that there are more offers for him."
Perez's ruthlessness towards players not named Cristiano Ronaldo indicates two scenarios:
- Real will continue to offer terms Khedira finds derisive.
- Perez will sell Khedira at a discounted fee in January.
When fit, Khedira is a world-class central midfielder, who can play in a box-to-box role or cover the back four.
However, his recent injuries have diminished his transfer stock.
3. Lukas Podolski
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Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski's time at the club is nearing an end.
While no club bid for Podolski in the summer transfer window, it could be different in January.
"A move away from Arsenal did not fall through because I had no offers to move," Podolski said, per Bild (h/t Thomas Zocher at Sky Sports). "If I am at 100 percent fitness, I do not fear any competition for places in the first XI."
Like at Bayern Munich, Podolski has been serviceable at Arsenal, but he has not played like the superstar with over 100 international appearances for FIFA World Cup winners Germany.
Is Podolski a big fish in a small pond?
2. Marco Reus
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Borussia Dortmund deep-lying forward Marco Reus is injured again.
A world-class footballer out wide and centrally, Reus' career is taking a Sebastian Deisler-like turn for the worse.
Liverpool once signed an injured Andy Carroll for £35 million, so if an absurd bid from a Premier League team is lodged for Reus, Dortmund should seriously consider it.
1. Arturo Vidal
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Juventus central midfielder Arturo Vidal has refuted claims of his body breaking down again.
"My knee is perfect," Vidal said on social media, h/t Sky Sports. "Please stop making stuff up."
Vidal's knee is hardly "perfect," given the wear and tear he has suffered throughout years of playing such an energy-draining, dynamic and physical brand of football.
It is why he is the world's best box-to-box midfielder, but his injuries are a red flag for prospective suitors.
Statistics via WhoScored.com
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