January Transfer Window: 10 Strikers Most Likely on the Move
The January transfer window opens in under two months, bringing with it extortionate spending and make-or-break signings.
Several clubs are in urgent need of a new striker to boost their firepower for the second half of the 2015-16 season.
But it's not always easy to strike gold in January, as Liverpool will attest. On January 31, 2011, the Reds signed Luis Suarez, a player who very nearly carried them to the Premier League title in 2014.
On that very same day, Liverpool also signed Andy Carroll. We all know how that one turned out, with Carroll playing just one full season for the club before leaving for West Ham United on an initial season-long loan in 2012.
We take a look at the 10 strikers most likely to move in the winter window, taking into consideration price, form and whether their current clubs are willing to sell. We also included each player's likely destination, based on his prospective team's budget and how badly they need a new striker.
Is Charlie Austin set for the Premier League? Does Javier Hernandez's fine form make him more likely to find pastures new?
10. Gonzalo Higuain
1 of 10Where to?
Chelsea
Why?
Gonzalo Higuain is in hot form, scoring 11 goals for Napoli this season and seven in his last nine games.
He’s a perfect striker for a Chelsea squad lacking in the goalscoring department.
Chelsea have netted 16 goals in the Premier League this term, the same number as Norwich City. Diego Costa is a shadow of the player whose 20 goals fired Chelsea to a league title last season, picking up more yellow cards (three) in the league than he has scored goals (two).
Despite his demise, Costa has been more productive than Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao, who have netted one league goal between them and provided little competition to Costa.
Chelsea scouts have watched Higuain, according to the MailOnline's Sami Mokbel. Yet he’s No. 10 on this list because it would take a sizeable fee to prise him away from Napoli, who would be reluctant to sell their best player as they chase a Serie A title and a return to the Champions League.
9. Jese Rodriguez
2 of 10Where to?
Arsenal
Why?
A product of Real Madrid’s youth academy, Jese Rodriguez is reportedly frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities at the Bernabeu, per AS (via the Mirror’s Liam Corless).
The Spaniard, whose main position is on the left wing but who can also play as a striker, has started just four times in the league this term. He was on the bench against Sevilla on Sunday despite Karim Benzema’s absence from the squad.
“In small spaces his technique is better than Ronaldo's,” Spanish football expert Guillem Balague told Sky Sports' Adam Bate of Jese last year. It’s no surprise he’s apparently grown restless at simply being a benchwarmer.
If Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud haven’t done enough to implant in Arsene Wenger’s mind the belief he has a striker capable of leading Arsenal’s title charge, Jese will give Wenger another option as he pursues a first Premier League title since 2004.
However, Wenger had all summer to sign a striker and failed to do so, and when Walcott returns from injury, it’s easy to see the Frenchman being content with his options for the remainder of the season. For this reason, Jese is low down on the list.
8. Ayoze Perez
3 of 10
Where to?
Manchester United
Why?
Manchester United’s attack is in desperate need of fresh impetus and the skilful Ayoze Perez would certainly provide it.
The 22-year-old has scored three goals this season and assisted two for a struggling Newcastle United side.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is known to enjoy turning a profit, and having signed Perez from Tenerife for around £1.7 million just last year, he is now in a position to enjoy a healthy profit by selling him, with the Sun (via the Mirror) reporting Perez would cost around £15 million to acquire.
The Spaniard wouldn’t start ahead of Wayne Rooney right away, but he could be a similar striker to the one Javier Hernandez was at Old Trafford, coming off the bench and posing problems for tiring defences.
7. Benik Afobe
4 of 10Where to?
Aston Villa
Why?
If Remi Garde is to keep Aston Villa in the Premier League, he must bring in new faces in January.
Perhaps of all the teams on this list, Villa are the one in most need of a striker. They have scored just 10 Premier League goals this season, the joint-lowest tally in the league, and summer signing Rudy Gestede hasn’t scored since September 29.
Though he’s currently on a five-game goal drought, Benik Afobe has netted seven goals this season and scored 13 in 21 games for Wolverhampton Wanderers last season. After missing out on last season’s Championship play-offs on goal difference, Wolves are currently sitting in mid-table and have done nothing to suggest the second half of the campaign will be an inspired one.
With that considered, it’s hard to imagine Afobe passing on the chance to become the star of a Premier League side were they to make a £10 million offer for his services, as the Sun on Sunday reported they would (via the Birmingham Mail).
6. Alexandre Pato
5 of 10Where to?
Liverpool
Why?
Well, the Corinthians president confirmed Alexandre Pato would be on his way to Merseyside. That’s why.
Club president Roberto de Andrade told Tutto Mercato Web (via the Independent’s Simon Rice): “There is an agreement in principle with Liverpool for the transfer in the coming weeks."
De Andrade claimed Pato has “expressed a desire to return to Europe” and that the Premier League “will be a new springboard” for the 26-year-old.
With Danny Ings out for the season and Daniel Sturridge’s return date from his latest setback unknown, per ESPN’s Mike Whalley, it’s no surprise Liverpool have been linked with a striker.
According to ESPN FC, De Andrade denied making the aforementioned comments. In an interview with SporTV, he said, “Corinthians have receiving nothing. Nothing concrete has arrived.”
Pato has hardly set the Brazilian league alight, so a move to the Premier League is one of the more surprising rumours. That is why Pato to Liverpool fails to crack the top five.
Nevertheless, Pato is expected to leave Brazil when his loan deal with Sao Paulo expires next month, per ESPN FC. Whether Liverpool is his next destination remains to be seen.
5. Paco Alcacer
6 of 10Where to?
Chelsea
Why?
Valencia’s Paco Alcacer has drawn interest from Chelsea for much the same reason Higuain has—the dire production of Costa, Remy and Falcao.
Chelsea want Alcacer, according to ESPN FC (via Uche Amako of the Daily Express), and one imagines Jose Mourinho will plead for Alcacer’s services with incredible desperation given this season could be his last as Chelsea boss if things fail to improve.
Alcacer has scored five Primera Division goals—four coming in his last three league games—and is touted as one of Spain’s brightest talents, Andy Woods of Outside of the Boot calling the 22-year-old, “one of the figureheads of Spain’s new generation.”
Although his career isn’t quite as decorated as Higuain’s, of the duo, Alcacer is most likely to be playing at Stamford Bridge in January.
Napoli are unlikely to part ways with a striker who has already scored 11 goals this season, and if they are, would likely request upward of £30 million.
4. Javier Hernandez
7 of 10Where to?
Chelsea
Why?
Another striker reportedly on Chelsea’s list of targets is Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez, according to the Guardian’s Paul Doyle.
Having freed himself of Manchester United’s shackles, Hernandez has taken to the Bundesliga incredibly well, scoring 10 goals this season and six in his last five games.
It’s this production that will make Bayer Leverkusen keen to hold onto the Mexican. Yet Chelsea have the funds to tempt them into selling, and Hernandez might feel he has unfinished business in England.
Chelsea haven’t had much success when signing former United strikers such as Falcao, but Hernandez’s form certainly makes him an attractive target.
Hernandez is more likely to join Chelsea than Higuain and Alcacer. He’s cheaper than the Argentinian and more proven than the Spaniard. The Blues would also find comfort in Hernandez’s grasp of the Premier League.
3. Fraizer Campbell
8 of 10
Where to?
Queens Park Rangers
Why?
Fraizer Campbell has struggled for game time this term, starting only one Premier League game all season and not playing a minute since October 24.
He’s a useful squad player for Alan Pardew to have, but the Crystal Palace boss may decide to sell Campbell to fund his own January spending. Campbell’s lack of action means he’s unlikely to protest against leaving Selhurst Park.
The former Manchester United striker is more than capable of starting for a Championship club and a move to fellow Londoners Queens Park Rangers would be ideal for all parties.
It’s a move that hasn’t been widely reported since the summer, but with Charlie Austin potentially leaving Rangers in January, it could materialise if the Hoops lose their star striker.
2. Andy Carroll
9 of 10
Where to?
Newcastle United
Why?
If Andy Carroll is to have any chance of starting for England in next summer’s European Championship, he needs to play regular football between now and the end of the domestic season.
That’s something he can’t be guaranteed at West Ham United.
Although he’s enjoyed starts in both of West Ham’s previous two games, Diafra Sakho is expected to return from a small tear in his thigh for the game against Tottenham Hotspur on November 22, per the Press Association's Andy Sims (h/t the MailOnline).
Had he scored in either of the games against Watford and Everton, manager Slaven Bilic might have opted to start Carroll against Tottenham. But disappointing performances in both matches means Carroll will likely find a comfortable seat on the bench.
That could be the case until January, when, providing the right club comes calling and West Ham are open to offers, Carroll has the chance to join another club and an opportunity to impress England manager Roy Hodgson.
According to the Mirror’s Darren Lewis, Newcastle are planning to re-sign Carroll in January in a move that will reunite a club in desperate need of a spark with a player yearning for game time.
With Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal reportedly interested in Ayoze Perez, per the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards and Mark Ogden, and Papiss Cisse not having completed 90 minutes since September, Carroll would likely start at the club with whom he started his career and enjoyed success from 2009 to 2011.
The only thing preventing the move, per the Evening Standard’s James Olley, is Carroll’s price tag. West Ham are seeking an offer in excess of £15 million.
The reason Carroll doesn’t top the list is due to those starts against Watford and Everton. Bilic decided to start Carroll ahead of Nikica Jelavic, so he’s clearly worth something to the West Ham manager.
1. Charlie Austin
10 of 10Quite how Queens Park Rangers managed to keep hold of Charlie Austin in the summer transfer window is a mystery, but his days as a Championship player are certainly numbered.
Austin showed last season with Rangers that the Premier League is not a step above his level, proving his talent with 18 goals.
QPR will lose him on a free transfer next summer if they fail to sell him in January. According to the Mirror’s Darren Lewis, they have set a price tag of £8 million for interested parties.
One of those interested parties is Sunderland, per the MailOnline's Sami Mokbel. The Black Cats are 19th in the Premier League and manager Sam Allardyce is set to be given up to £20 million in January to stave off relegation. Based on his efforts last season in a poor QPR team, spending £8 million on Austin and leaving £12 million in the kitty looks a wise move.
Austin is the striker most likely to move in January because if QPR don’t sell him when the winter window opens, they risk losing a player they valued at £15 million last summer for nothing. They would probably try to keep hold of Austin if they were competing for the Championship title, but QPR are currently closer to the relegation zone than they are the sixth-placed play-off spot in terms of points.
