30 Players Set to Dominate the January Transfer Window Spotlight
Here are 30 footballers set to dominate the January transfer window spotlight.
Criteria
The 30 European-based footballers will be subjectively ranked via a combination of:
- Performance this season.
- Standard of competition the footballer is playing at.
- Likelihood of being a January transfer target.
- Current ability.
30. Victor Valdes
1 of 30
Spanish free agent goalkeeperย Victor Valdes, 32, has yet to commence standard 'keeping drills at Manchester United, according to compatriotย David de Gea.
"Victor is training over in Manchester [with us], he's still not 100 percent after his injury," Deย Gea said, per AS (h/t the Guardian). "He's still not training in goal with us."
The sad reality is that ifย Valdes had extended his contract atย Barcelona, he would be taken care of, given his long tenure at the club.ย
Right now, he is trying to get fit at United but faces an uncertain future.ย
29. Martin Montoya
2 of 30
Barcelona's Spanish right-backย Martin Montoya, 23, has been waiting for an extended starting run since the 2010-11 season.ย
He extended his contract until 2018 in March.ย
But now he is hurt by his lack of opportunities (presumably broken promises) and wants out, per Esports 3 (h/tย AS).
28. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
3 of 30
The development of Bayern Munich's Danish central midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, 19, is stagnating.
He is not getting enough chances underย Bayern managerย Pep Guardiola, having only played 178 minutes in theย Bundesliga this season.ย
"I think the time has come for me to go a different way,"ย Hojbjerg said, per Kicker (h/t Sky Sports). "I feel ready now to take the leap."
27. Sami Khedira
4 of 30
Real Madrid's German central midfielderย Sami Khedira, 27, will be a tantalising transfer option for major European clubs.ย
On paper, it would be aย no-brainer to sign him.ย
But his injury problems, which have limited him to 47 minutes in La Liga this season, cast questions over his durability.ย
Could his body betray him likeย Fernando Redondo?
26. Fabian Schar
5 of 30
Basel's Swiss centre-backย Fabian Schar, 22, is a defender with elite upside.ย
Having represented Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup and withย back-to-back UEFA Champions League campaigns forย Basel,ย Schar should branch out and test himself in a stronger European league.ย
Schar is open to a move to Serie A, perย Blick (h/t Mark Doyle at Goal.com).
25. Suso
6 of 30
Liverpool's Spanish right/central/left attacking midfielderย Suso, 20, has several issues.ย
- Has been sidelined after groin surgery.
- Is not rated as a starter byย Liverpool managerย Brendan Rodgers having spent last season on loan atย Almeria.
- Willย Liverpool extend Suso'sย contract?ย
His agentย Jaume Serra claims "there is noย agreement" to join AC Milan, so signing a contract extension at Liverpool is on the cards, perย CalcioMercato.it (h/tย Phil Kirkbride at theย Liverpool Echo).
24. Yevhen Konoplyanka
7 of 30
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's Ukrainian left-wingerย Yevhen Konoplyanka, 25, could have been aย Liverpool player if not for faulty administrative issues from his club.ย
Konoplyanka was indecisive in a 1-0 UEFA Europa Leagueย defeat to Inter Milan.
He has failed to score or create a goal in four Europa League games this seasonโnot ideal if he wants a transfer away fromย Dnipro.
23. Glen Johnson
8 of 30
Liverpool's English right/left-backย Glen Johnson, 30, seemsย resigned to playing out his final days at the club.
When you watch him, he is going through the motions, which explains why he gets torn apart by mediocre players, one prominent example beingย Crystal Palace'sย Yannick Bolasie.
Johnson should considerย revitalisingย his career by leaving.
But if he wants toย capitaliseย on his earnings, he shouldย play out hisย โฌ150,144/ยฃ120,000-per-week contract.
22. Roberto Soldado
9 of 30
Tottenham Hotspur's Spanish centre-forwardย Roberto Soldado, 29, has been an abysmal failure.ย
In 2,170 career Premier League minutes,ย Soldado has scored six league goals.ย He has turned into the Spanishย Serhiy Rebrov.ย
Soldado needs to quickly move back to Spain if he wants to rescue his career.ย
21. Sebastian Giovinco
10 of 30
Juventus' Italian deep-lying forwardย Sebastian Giovinco, 27, could be a star player at a smaller club or continue being a bit-part player at theย Bianconeri.
Whenย Giovinco was atย Parma, he had extended periods of world-class form.
Now atย Juve, he is just a substitute.ย
20. Emmanuel Adebayor
11 of 30
Tottenham Hotspur's Togolese centre-forwardย Emmanuel Adebayor, 30, only ever seems to play well when he wants a new contract.ย
As soon as he finds a new home, he coasts. To think he once scored 30 goals forย Arsenal in a season.
That said, there will be that one club that takes a risk on him, hoping they can getย Adebayor in the right frame of mind.
19. Sergio Romero
12 of 30
Sampdoria'sย Argentine goalkeeperย Sergio Romero, 27, had some heroic FIFA World Cup moments akin to compatriotsย Carlos Roa and Sergio Goycochea.ย
Yet Romero has had to wait patiently for a chance atย Sampdoria.ย
Even though he is receiving playing time atย Sampdoria, he has the qualities to play for a major European club.ย
18. Xherdan Shaqiri
13 of 30
Bayern Munich's Swiss right/left/deep-lying forwardย Xherdan Shaqiri, 23, has no set position at the club, nor does he have a regular place in the starting XI.ย
Bayern managerย Pep Guardiola seesย Shaqiri as a luxury player, who can be subbed on to pile on extra goals.
But does that leaveย Shaqiri happy? No.
He will continue to pushย Bayern management for more playing time, perย Blick (h/tย PA Sport via ESPN FC).ย
17. Lukas Podolski
14 of 30
Arsenal's German right/deep-lying forwardย Lukas Podolski, 29, finds himself in a situation comparable to hisย Bayern Munich days.ย
A bench warmer, on the outside looking in, and wondering when his next start will come.ย
Podolski has only played 46 minutes in the Premier League this season, so he is primed for a January exit.ย
16. Wesley Sneijder
15 of 30
Galatasaray's Dutch central attacking midfielderย Wesley Sneijder, 30, should be playing in a major European league, as opposed to theย Turkish Super Lig.
Having played inย La Liga and Serie A,ย Sneijder should consider playing in the Premier League or the Bundesliga.ย
Sneijder may have doubts about his long-term future atย Galatasaray after the Turkish club had temporary financial issues.
15. Andre Ayew
16 of 30
Marseille'sย Ghanaian left attacking midfielderย Andre Ayew, 24, needs to make a decision on his future.ย
Ayew has diversified his game, being able to track back and tackle opposing players as well as score and create.ย
Marseille managerย Marcelo Bielsa is not sure ifย Ayew is going to commit long-term to the club, perย Foot365 (h/tย Ian Holyman at ESPN FC).
14. Winston Reid
17 of 30
West Ham United's New Zealand centre-backย Winston Reid, 26, is playing on a rising Premier League club but is torn between staying or leaving for a bigger club.ย
Ifย West Ham were 10th, it would be an easy choice forย Reid. But with the Hammers in fourth place, he is procrastinating on his decision.
West Ham United chairman David Gold tweeted that the club have no intentions of "getting rid" ofย Reid.
13. Stephan Lichtsteiner
18 of 30
Juventus' Swiss right wing-backย Stephan Lichtsteiner, 30, continues to motor down the right flank.ย
Like Forrest Gump, Lichtsteiner just keeps on running.
He may strongly feel his team-first attitude and around four seasons of work should be rewarded.ย
If he was to force a move to a wealthy European club that would be willing to pay him inflated wages, you would not begrudge him.ย
Right now,ย Juve are short-changingย Lichtsteiner, perย Tuttosport (h/tย Football Italia).
12. Tommy Oar
19 of 30
Utrecht'sย Australia left-forwardย Tommy Oar, 22, is finally flashing the elite potential he showed in spurts at Brisbane Roar.
That was what promptedย Utrecht to take a chance onย Oar.
Having created six goals in eightย Eredivisie games,ย Oar could do a job at a mid-tier club in an elite European league.
11. Lasse Schone
20 of 30
Ajax's Danish right/left-forwardย Lasse Schone, 28, has played in the Netherlands his entire professional career.
Unfancied teams from big European leagues could see him as an ideal target because he is in top form (six goals, four assists in 10ย Eredivisie games).
The safe road would be to stay at Ajax, but surely he wonders what it would be like to play outside the Netherlands.
10. Luiz Adriano
21 of 30
Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian centre-forwardย Luiz Adriano, 27, has been a headline-maker.ย
He registered successive UEFA Champions League hat-tricks againstย BATE Borisov, scoring five times in the first encounter and then three times in the second fixture.ย
Could he be anotherย Afonso Alves?ย
9. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
22 of 30
Schalke's Dutch centre-forwardย Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 31, is an archetypal poacher.
While his four goals in 10ย Bundesliga games is respectable, he has bizarrely choked on several occasions right in front of goal.
Before another team takes a chance on him, they need to ask themselves: Couldย Huntelaar experience aย Mario Gomez-like downturn?
8. Andre-Pierre Gignac
23 of 30
Marseille's French centre-forwardย Andre-Pierre Gignac, 28, is in a purple patch he may never emulate.ย
Will he continue scoring 0.77 goals per game? Probably not, hence whyย Marseille should be open to selling Gignac.
Given that Marseille's presidentย Vincent Labrune has been arrested due to transfer irregularities surroundingย Gignac's move to the club in 2010, per The Times (subscription required), don't be surprised if he has already been shopped around.
7. Loris Karius
24 of 30
Mainz's German goalkeeperย Loris Karius, 21, is a rising star in theย Bundesliga.ย
No goalkeeper in theย Bundesliga has made more saves thanย Karius (53) this season.
Givenย Karius' upside, his physical tangibles (6'3", 165 pounds) and his transfer stock still relatively low, expect major European clubs to beย circlingย around him.
6. Dani Alves
25 of 30
Barcelona's Brazilian right-backย Dani Alves, 31, is playing for a new contract.ย
Having completed 35 tackles and registered two assists in eight La Liga games, there are signsย Alves can still function effectively as a modern day full-back for another major European team.
He willย exerciseย his Bosman right to a free transfer and sign with Juventus, perย Tuttosport (h/tย Edu Bachs at Sport).
5. Adam Maher
26 of 30
PSV Eindhoven's Dutch central midfielderย Adam Maher, 21, should be prioritised over the likes of Kevin Strootman andย Sami Khedira.ย
Maher is a complete midfielder: six goals, two assists and 1.9 tackles per game thus far in the Eredivisie this season.ย
In addition,ย Maher has a higher upside thanย Strootman andย Khedira.
4. Memphis Depay
27 of 30
PSV Eindhoven's Dutch left-forwardย Memphis Depay, 20, has superstar potential.ย
He has a monopoly in the Eredivisie being able to beat opposing defenders at will.
His seven goals in eight league games is outstanding, but he wants more, hence why he is driven to continue scoring.ย
PSV managerย Phillip Cocu has conceded the club will sellย Depay, perย HeldenOnline.nl (h/tย Alex Young at Goal.com).
3. Allan Marques
28 of 30
Udinese's Brazilian central midfielderย Allan Marques, 23, isย underrated andย underappreciated.
He should be lauded as one of the best midfielders in the world, but outside of Serie A, he is unknown.ย
An all-action, dominant and powerful box-to-box midfielder,ย Allan is still in the process of refining his game.ย
When he starts adding goals and assists to his game, expect his name to become tabloid fodder in transfer rumours.ย
2. Alexandre Lacazette
29 of 30
Lyon's French centre-forwardย Alexandre Lacazette, 23, is on a run which could garner him a once-in-a-lifetime move to one of Europe's biggest teams, a laย Karim Benzema's move toย Real Madrid in 2009.ย
Lacazette has scored 11 goals and registered four assists in 13 Ligue 1 games this season.
Benzema averaged 0.47 goals per game in league play during his final season atย Lyon whileย Lacazette is averaging 0.85 goals per game.
1. Anderson Talisca
30 of 30
Benfica's Brazilian deep-lying forwardย Anderson Talisca, 20, is arguably the biggest talent in world football right now.
Chelsea managerย Jose Mourinho pre-emptively sayingย Benfica were not the only club in the running forย Talisca's signature when he was at Bahia, perย TVI24 (h/t Sky Sports), suggests those in the know hadย accuratelyย projected his upside.
Talisca has scored eight goals in 10 league games this season forย Benfica.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScoredย
