Ranking the 20 Players Most in Need of a Move in January Transfer Window
We're midway through the January transfer window and, as usual, clubs have been rather reticent when it comes to making moves or playing their hand in the market.
There's an inherent reluctance to spend, but the truth is there are a number of potential deals to be had this month that could well end up on the cheap side. Some players are in desperate need of moves this month and no-one is pretending otherwise.
Some have already done what's required; the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Simone Zaza and Jeffrey Schlupp have found new homes for 2017.
The following 20 players should follow suit.
20. Jean-Kevin Augustin, Paris Saint-Germain
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Jean-Kevin Augustin is rated highly by the Paris Saint-Germain hierarchy, but he's only made one league start this season (in November) and is woefully short on minutes.
Augustin only needs look to colleague Alphonse Areola to see what a loan move that brings first-team football can do for you, as the goalkeeper used a year at Villarreal to jump ahead of Kevin Trapp in the pecking order.
With Julian Draxler through the door, it's possible the only way PSG manager Unai Emery can fit Jese Rodriguez into this team is as Edinson Cavani's backup.
Unless the club want Jese to pan out as an expensive error, it might be best for him to play the role of reserve striker while Augustin grabs minutes elsewhere.
19. Franco Di Santo, Schalke 04
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Franco Di Santo is still only 27 years of age. For those seeking the fountain of youth, please enquire here.
He only really plays for Schalke 04 when the injuries pile so high the squad can't breathe, and that's no position to be in. The club have invested in some stellar youth talents over the last few years, and Di Santo seems at odds with the intended direction.
He's been with the Konigsblauen for 18 months but hasn't really been able to break into the first-team setup on a consistent basis.
18. Davie Selke, RB Leipzig
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Davie Selke is seen by some as a potential German striking great, and his strong showings at the 2016 Rio Olympics cemented his status as one of the most talented young players the country has produced recently.
But the forward, who turns 22 on Friday, isn't going to fulfil his potential if he's stuck on the bench at RB Leipzig, and although they're on course for a very good season, his path to the first team has been blocked by Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen.
Sure, he could wait for next season when European games force squad rotation, but that's a whole nine months away. Does any footballer have that time to waste?
17. Ashley Young, Manchester United
4 of 20Ashley Young has performed dutifully whenever called upon by Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho this season. The only problem is that those calls have been few and far between. He's made two Premier League starts this term, and in one of those he played at right-back (he played it well, to be fair).
Provided his wage demands aren't extortionate, Young is still good enough to command offers from plenty of clubs lower down the league table. Plus, as B/R's Dean Jones revealed in the video above in December, he has offers in China and the United States.
Fringe players sometimes hang around at top clubs in order to collect a final medal, but unlike Branislav Ivanovic, Young's opportunities to do this are severely limited. Might as well head somewhere else?
16. Fabio Coentrao, Real Madrid
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Fabio Coentrao is in a rut; his 2016 was as miserable as it gets for a top-level footballer, and unless he's careful, 2017 won't be much better.
He missed Portugal's Euro 2016 victory through injury, paving the way for Raphael Guerreiro to emerge as the Selecao's go-to left-back, and he can't get a game at the Real Madrid either.
"It'll be very tough to get playing time here," he said in November, per ESPN. "Marcelo is the best left-back in the world right now."
Given Zinedine Zidane has used Danilo at left-back in the past when Marcelo can't play, and that Nacho can slot in there too, it might be best for Coentrao to call time on a subpar Blancos career. Still just 28, there's another big move in him.
15. Adrian, West Ham United
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Many were shocked when manager Slaven Bilic decided to ditch Adrian for Darren Randolph, but in fairness to the Irishman, he's justifying his spot in the West Ham United team on a weekly basis.
It leaves the Spaniard, whose contract runs out in the summer, with what seems like an easy choice to make.
Adrian is a Premier League-quality goalkeeper. His form may have dipped a little this season, but he's hardly been poor, and much of the early-season struggles were down to the porous defensive line; the 30-year-old was left helpless in most games.
14. Josip Drmic, Borussia Monchengladbach
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Although injuries have played a part, that Josip Drmic played just 25 minutes of Bundesliga during the Hinrunde is shocking.
A €10 million signing for Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2015, things haven't really panned out as expected. The 24-year-old has scored one goal for the Foals and spent time on loan at Hamburg—the fifth club he's played for already.
The player might be hoping for a strong, healthy Ruckrunde to rebuild his stock, but it might be wiser to bite the bullet this month and try somewhere else.
13. Daniel Sturridge, Liverpool
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Despite Liverpool being riddled with injuries right now, Daniel Sturridge hasn't seen his playing time increase much. It appears he's the third-choice striker behind Roberto Firmino and then Divock Origi, and with Philippe Coutinho returning to fitness, his limited scope for playing time has been narrowed further.
It appears he and Jurgen Klopp do not retain each other's trust. In January, the German was dragged into another conversation about the player's fitness, per ESPN, and Klopp admitted in 2015 that he felt many of Sturridge's injuries were psychological, per the Guardian.
The Reds may be loath to lose Sturridge this month, but from the player's perspective, a move really wouldn't go amiss.
12. Keisuke Honda, AC Milan
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What is Keisuke Honda still doing at AC Milan?
His move from CSKA Moscow to the San Siro in 2014 came with no small amount of interest, but it hasn't really panned out as most expected. He's managed just 78 league appearances since moving to Italy and has played just 96 minutes in Serie A this season.
Given he's a high earner and has hit the 30 mark in terms of age, it's unlikely any major sides would be interested in taking him on, but Honda could still be a marquee signing for a Major League Soccer club.
11. Raul Jimenez, Benfica
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Raul Jimenez has made just four Liga NOS starts for Benfica this season and has been heavily linked with moves away from the club. It's fair to say this one will soon come to its natural conclusion.
Last week, Record (h/t AS) reported the Mexico international was on the brink of a lucrative move to China, but a Super League rule change regarding foreign quotas meant the contract was scrapped. Squawka reported in December that Liverpool had shown an interest, too.
Jimenez's big move to Europe in 2014 hasn't exactly gone to plan, but there's scope yet for it to succeed given he's 25 years of age.
10. Gerard Deulofeu, Everton
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Despite the fact Yannick Bolasie will miss the rest of Everton's season with a knee injury, Gerard Deulofeu has been exiled from the first team. That doesn't bode well for your future chances.
According to the Mirror, both Ajax and AC Milan want the Spaniard, with both permanent and loan offers being mooted. No club can take him on a loan with an option to buy, though, due to the presence of a Barcelona buyback clause in his contract.
Once seen as a potential elite player while rising through the Barca and Spain ranks, he's tailed off but still has the raw talent to be a star.
9. Sergio Oliveira, FC Porto
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It wasn't supposed to be like this for Sergio Oliveira.
After starring for Portugal at the 2015 Under-21 European Championship, playing a pivotal role in midfield for Rui Jorge, he returned to FC Porto from his loan exodus with the chance to stake a claim for a place in the side.
But the Dragons melted in 2015-16, firing Julen Lopetegui after a rudderless start to the season and, in playing catch-up for the rest of the season, they never gave fringe players their chance.
This term has been more of the same, with coach Nuno Espirito Santo preferring Danilo, Oli Torres and Hector Herrera in the middle.
At 24, Oliveira now needs to kick on, and a fresh start at a club who could use an energetic box-to-box midfielder could be just the ticket.
8. Lassana Diarra, Marseille
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Lassana Diarra is essentially finished in Marseille. Stripped of the captaincy due to attitude issues, he's only playing football for them now because the squad is so incredibly thin.
With Morgan Sanson signing for the club this month, Diarra's minimal minutes will take another hit.
He will need to seek pastures new to revive his playing time, but that might not be too hard given how he rebuilt his stock in the buildup to Euro 2016.
7. Carl Jenkinson, Arsenal
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Carl Jenkinson needs to call time on his Arsenal career. Fortunately, there's a good offer waiting in the wings.
Per the Evening Standard, Sam Allardyce said that Crystal Palace have agreed a fee with the Gunners for him, but an agreement with the player is yet to be struck.
Jenkinson played for the Palace boss on loan at West Ham in 2014-15 and did well, so it seems like a good deal for all in principle.
It might be tough for Jenkinson, who is a lifelong Arsenal fan, but it's the right thing to do.
6. Manolo Gabbiadini, Napoli
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Napoli's feelings towards Manolo Gabbiadini were made clear the moment Leonardo Pavoletti signed this month for a fee in the region of €18 million, per Reuters (via MailOnline).
Even with Arkadiusz Milik injured, Gabbiadini can't get a first-team game. Dries Mertens is starring as a striker and Pavoletti has been recruited as a rotation option when required.
According to TalkSport, a healthy queue of Premier League clubs are waiting for the Italian should he decide to move on. Pick one and go, Manolo.
5. Jose Fonte, Southampton
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The situation between Southampton and Jose Fonte is becoming more uncomfortable with every passing day of the transfer window.
Sporting director Les Reed confirmed to BBC Radio Solent earlier this month that the player had handed in his second transfer request of the season, and he's since been dropped from the XI, with Maya Yoshida partnering Virgil van Dijk instead.
It's a shame, as for a long time Fonte was a hero at St. Mary's Stadium, having been with the club during its bleak League One days. He's also the club captain, making his attempted forced exits even more difficult to stomach.
4. Neven Subotic, Borussia Dortmund
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Neven Subotic hasn't played a single minute of football for Borussia Dortmund this season and, at 28 years of age, should make seeking pastures new a priority this month.
He told Bild (h/t Gazette Live) in November that he'd be interested in reopening talks with Middlesbrough about a move that failed in the summer due to medical concerns, and he's fit again now having played for the reserves a little recently.
Injuries have been a big problem with Subotic over the last three years, but if a centre-back-needy team is willing to gamble, they might be rewarded with a player who, at his peak, held a starting spot in a side that reached a Champions League final.
3. Memphis Depay, Manchester United
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Memphis Depay hasn't set foot on a pitch for Manchester United's first team since November, and manager Jose Mourinho isn't bothering to hide the fact he'd happily see the back of him.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Lyon are the only club in play to take him permanently this month, although they're £5 million short of the Red Devils' £18 million valuation of the Dutchman.
Memphis, who scored 34 Eredivisie goals from 2013-2015 as a winger, has seen his stock plummet dramatically since joining United but retains real talent should a manager have the patience to coax it out. He needs to get his career back on track fast, and the only way to do that is to leave Old Trafford.
2. Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool
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As a result of some pre-season mishaps, Mamadou Sakho's Liverpool career appears to be over. Per the Guardian, Jurgen Klopp revealed he'd disrespected some team rules and missed a flight.
He's a better defender than both Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan, and on paper Sakho-Joel Matip is the Reds' strongest central-defensive pairing, but Klopp's mind seems made up.
The Liverpool boss had the chance to bring him back in from the cold this month—particularly given the sheer number of games the team has played—but hasn't taken the option up.
Sakho is now wasting away in Liverpool's reserves, and with the club looking to sell him, per Sky Sports, he must find a new home this month.
1. Dimitri Payet, West Ham United
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Dimitri Payet takes the biscuit when it comes to defining "untenable circumstances." In these terms, he's your veritable Fox's Christmas selection box.
He's attempting to force a move back to Marseille and the clubs are in discussion over a price, but L'OM appear to have been watching West Ham's bidding strategy eagerly this month and are following suit, placing offers well below the market rate. The latest, according to BBC Sport, is £20 million—at least £10 million below the asking price.
This only ends one way: West Ham, despite insisting they would not sell the Frenchman, will eventually wave goodbye to the player every fan adored up until this week.
Right now, the supporters despise him and have altered their song for him to include unsavoury words. Staff at London Stadium had to guard the Payet painting during their last home game on Saturday.
All statistics via WhoScored.com
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