The January transfer window opens soon — England’s Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1 on Wednesday, Jan. 1, with Spain’s LaLiga, Italy’s Serie A and Portugal’s Primeira Liga opening for business 24 hours later — and this January looks set to be busier than in recent years because of several clubs and players needing to negotiate transfers.
Injury problems and congested fixture lists mean that clubs including Manchester City and Arsenal will be looking to bolster their squads, while under-performing teams such as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur need to improve in key areas of their player pool. Some players will be targeted for moves now to avoid rivals signing them in the summer, while others will be looking to relaunch their careers elsewhere after losing form and regular football at their present team.
With big salaries on offer in Saudi Arabia (the window there is open from Jan. 1 to 31) and Turkey (Jan. 13 to Feb. 11), players seeking a move could also have a transfer to clubs in those countries as options in January.
So, with the window set to open this week, which players could seal a move in the transfer window?
The Manchester United forward is the player who will dominate the January transfer window, having said in an interview earlier this month that he is ready for a new challenge away from Old Trafford. With new United coach Ruben Amorim dropping the 27-year-old from his match-day squads since mid-December, Rashford’s future at the club appears bleak, but there are no obvious options for a route away for the England international.
With over three years remaining on a £325,000-a-week contract, United will be demanding a significant fee for the player, meaning only a handful of clubs could afford to even consider a move. Sources have told ESPN that United had little interest in Rashford from European clubs during the summer, which makes Saudi Arabia the most likely destination at this stage.
The 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward has fallen out of favour at Parc des Princes under coach Luis Enrique and appears likely to leave the French champions in January. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been linked with the France international, who signed for PSG in a €95m move from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023.
Kolo Muani has scored just two goals in 14 appearances in all competitions this season, and only 12 in 44 games last season for PSG. But his return of 23 goals in 46 games for Frankfurt in 2022-23 made him one of the hottest strikers in Europe and despite his poor form at PSG, a club in need of goals could make a move for Kolo Muani in January.
The Manchester United midfielder has become a peripheral figure in the team following Amorim’s arrival as coach in November, making him available for a loan or permanent transfer in January. Sources have told ESPN that United courted Saudi Pro League clubs over a potential summer deal for the former Real Madrid player, but no firm interest was forthcoming.
With 18 months to run on his £300,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford, United face a financial hit in order to get Casemiro off the wage bill. But with his diminishing value due to his contract length, a deal in January offers United the best chance of cutting their losses on the Brazil international.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca told Chilwell he could find a new club during the summer window, but the left-back was unable to negotiate a move before the transfer deadline. The 28-year-old has made just one first-team appearance all season — a 45-minute Carabao Cup outing against Barrow — and is expected to be one of the first senior players to leave Stamford Bridge in January.
With two-and-a-half years to run on his £200,000-a-week contract, Chelsea will have to subsidise Chilwell’s wages or accept a low transfer fee for the player to get him off the books, but with left-backs in short supply, several clubs will be interested in the former Leicester City defender at the right price.