20 Players Who Will Regret Not Moving in January Come May
The transfer window has long slammed shut (it has to slam, never close) and so—barring a loan move to a lower division—top-flight footballers are doomed to stay where they are until the end of the season in May.
Some will be happy with that state of affairs, of course, but some will see the January transfer window as a missed opportunity. They needed a move for the good of their career, but never got one.
Who are these players, then? And where could they have gone to?
Check out our rogues' gallery here.
Rickie Lambert
1 of 20
We all know how much of a dream move he was making when he switched to Liverpool in the summer—mainly because everyone kept telling us that—but should Rickie Lambert have accepted a move away from Anfield in order to gain more regular first-team football?
With Daniel Sturridge back fit again and the likes of Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Jordon Ibe and Lazar Markovic all able to play in the forward positions, Lambert is going to have to stay patient.
Roberto Soldado
2 of 20
It is well established by now that Roberto Soldado has had nothing short of a nightmare at Tottenham Hotspur, and surely the Spaniard would prefer a move back to his native land rather than being an understudy to Harry Kane?
With Spurs out of the FA Cup he is likely to get limited opportunities to impress in the coming months, but it is the fact that he never looks like making the most of those opportunities which is the most concerning.
Carlton Cole
3 of 20
As admitted by Sam Allardyce in the London Evening Standard, West Ham forward Carlton Cole was left livid when a deadline-day move to West Brom collapsed at quite literally the 11th hour.
The forward—who believe it or not made seven appearances for England between 2009 and 2010—now faces a few months on the outside looking in as the Hammers look to prolong their impressive season.
Matt Jarvis
4 of 20
Another player who failed to negotiate a move away from West Ham on deadline day was the winger Matt Jarvis, who—as revealed by his manager in that same Evening Standard piece—was close to a move to QPR.
A player with one cap for England in 2011, Jarvis has become something of a forgotten man at West Ham, but perhaps a loan move to the Championship will get his career going again?
Fabio Borini
5 of 20
Although in with more of a chance than Lambert because of his movement and ability to play in a couple of different positions, Fabio Borini is in broadly the same situation as his Liverpool teammate as the Reds try and both qualify for the Champions League and impress in two cup competitions.
He is likely to be seen from the bench during those efforts, but if he's seen at Anfield at all next season, then that'll be something of a surprise.
Nathan Ake
6 of 20
One of the brightest talents coming through at Chelsea, surely the powerful Nathan Ake would have benefited from a loan move away from Stamford Bridge for the latter half of this season?
With the Blues out of the FA Cup and with important Champions League fixtures looming, Ake is going to have to be patient to wait for his chance, and it is a chance which might not come at all as Jose Mourinho trusts his more experienced players to deliver.
Anders Lindegaard
7 of 20
The signing of Victor Valdes at Manchester United was automatically seen as the end of the Old Trafford career of goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, who played 10 league matches as United won the division in 2012/13.
He's played just one league game for them since, though, and many are surprised that he didn't follow the likes of Anderson and Wilfried Zaha out of the United exit door when he had the chance.
Vlad Chiriches
8 of 20
With Jan Vertonghen, Eric Dier and Federico Fazio and perhaps even club captain Younes Kaboul ahead of him in the centre-back pecking order at White Hart Lane, the Romanian Vlad Chiriches has surprisingly opted to stick around.
Athletic and pretty quick, Chiriches is still only 25 and so is likely to have plenty of opportunities to further his career in the near future.
Glenn Murray
9 of 20
Having been recalled from a loan spell at Reading and signing a new contract until 2017, Crystal Palace forward Glenn Murray had to sit and watch Alan Pardew sign both Yaya Sanogo and Shola Ameobi to potentially move above him in the Eagles' striking pecking order.
He could be forgiven for wondering just why he bothered coming back, and a loan move to the Championship could await him again.
Ashley Cole
10 of 20
Without a Serie A appearance for Roma since November, Ashley Cole's Italian adventure with the club from the capital seems to be turning a little sour.
The former Arsenal, Chelsea and England man might be regretting not making a January move back to his homeland, or perhaps even following Steven Gerrard's lead and heading to the U.S..
Fabian Delph
11 of 20
When you have made your fellow teammates shocked by signing a new deal with your current club as Fabian Delph did with Aston Villa, per The Guardian, then it is probably a sign that things aren't exactly going to plan.
The England midfielder surprisingly chose to commit his future to the Villans in January despite their recently awful form, and you wonder if he'll end up regretting that as they slip into the relegation zone.
Serge Gnabry
12 of 20
Arsenal's German winger Serge Gnabry has a bright future ahead of him at the Emirates Stadium, but after a serious injury has completely wrecked his first-team chances this season, Arsene Wenger must have been tempted to send him out on loan for the remainder of this campaign.
He didn't, though, and Gnabry is going to have to be patient in his battle to try and get into the side.
Darron Gibson
13 of 20
Something of a forgotten man at Everton, the ex-Manchester United man Darron Gibson hasn't featured for the Blues since the draw at Sunderland in November.
Fit again and an unused substitute for the goalless Merseyside derby last weekend, the Irishman isn't likely to get much of a look-in at Goodison Park thanks to the presences of Gareth Barry, James McCarthy and Muhamed Besic, and so more time on the sidelines awaits.
Edin Dzeko
14 of 20
Although the January link with Stoke City—detailed here in the Express—might not be one which Edin Dzeko welcomed, surely the arrival of Wilfried Bony at the Etihad Stadium means it is time for the Bosnian to move on?
Manchester City seem to be at their best when David Silva is played behind Sergio Aguero, with the "Plan B" option now seeing Bony able to join Aguero up top. All of which points to more frustrating bench time for Dzeko, who started against Hull City and didn't make the most of his opportunity.
Paulinho
15 of 20
Call it "second-season syndrome" if you want, but things haven't quite gone to plan for the Brazilian midfielder Paulinho in his follow-up to his first campaign in English football in 2013/14.
Now seen as nothing more than a squad player at White Hart Lane, Paulinho doesn't seem to fit in with Mauricio Pochettino's game plan enough to earn regular starts, and it wouldn't be too surprising to see him sold in the summer.
Moussa Sissoko
16 of 20
Despite welcoming reports of a switch during January, such as here on the ESPN website, Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko still found himself at St James' Park when the transfer window closed.
The French international hints at a desire to play for either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in that aforementioned report, at you get the feeling that he is regretting the fact that he didn't make a move to either one already.
Emmanuel Mayuka
17 of 20
Zambian forward Emmanuel Mayuka has featured six times for Southampton this season, but now he's back from the African Cup of Nations and he doesn't look like getting much more game time.
Graziano Pelle and the like continue to be roaring successes for Ronald Koeman's Saints, and Mayuka's career is stalling as a result.
Rio Ferdinand
18 of 20
Rio Ferdinand's great career wind-down at QPR hasn't exactly gone to plan, and the former England defender must have been tempted to leave the club for a switch away from the Premier League in January.
An MLS move would seem tailor-made for him, but the Loftus Road bench will have to do until the end of the season.
Emmanuel Adebayor
19 of 20
As reported by the BBC, West Ham were left frustrated by their failure to wrap up a deal for Emmanuel Adebayor on deadline day, a move which has left the Togolese forward in limbo at Tottenham.
Adebayor might not have universally won over the fans at most clubs he's played for, but there is little doubt that he's got a lot of quality and can show that on his day. It's just that his day doesn't come often enough.
Stevan Jovetic
20 of 20
The twin blows of the arrival of Wilfried Bony and his omission from Manchester City's Champions League squad must have been tough for Stevan Jovetic to take, as the Montenegrin sees his career in English football seemingly grind to a halt.
Injuries have crippled the career of a player who once showed such promise, and a move back to Italy for the former Fiorentina man could be what is best for all concerned.
