With the January transfer window opening on January 1, Premier League clubs, and those around Europe, will be assembling their profiles in order to bring fresh faces into the team.
The top clubs in England are no different and Liverpool, for example, have already made their move in bringing Red Bull Sazlburg’s Takumi Minamino for a deal worth £8 million, per his release clause.
We can confirm an agreement has been reached with @redbullsalzburg for the transfer of Takumi Minamino 🙌
リヴァプールフットボールクラブは南野拓実選手の移籍についてレッドブル・ザルツブルクと合意に達したことを発表する pic.twitter.com/2yH2N0v3Y1
— Liverpool FC (at 🏠) (@LFC) December 19, 2019
What other teams could be ready to pounce in the market?
Manchester City
With the long-term injury to Aymeric Laporte occurring in September, Manchester City have been on shaky legs ever since in defence. John Stones has had his fair share of injuries as well, with Pep Guardiola occasionally having to resort to a central defence partnership of Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho.
One player in particular, Nathan Ake of AFC Bournemouth, has been routinely monitored by the Citizens, and is a player that the club have respect for. Given the market inflation that has occurred in defenders over the past few years, the southern side are not going to release the Netherlands international out of his contract for less than £50 million.
With Otamendi also being 31, turning 32 in February, City’s recruitment staff are well aware of the urgency of bringing in a new central defender by latest summer. Ake will be the priority, but Leicester City’s Caglar Soyuncu has also been impressing.
Manchester United
There has been no shortage of transfer rumours in the lead up to this January transfer window.
But one has an element of truth to it: Jadon Sancho. The Borussia Dortmund forward was under the microscope earlier in the season by the club’s bosses, but his recent explosive form has enabled him to bounce back with some might.
With the new addition in Erling Haaland, Dortmund now have the opportunity to be more relaxed when approaching to sell Sancho. Although not a like-for-like replacement, another forward in the door for Dortmund helps them massively be ahead of the curve.
Manchester United have expressed their interest in the young England international early on, but so have Chelsea, Liverpool and several other top clubs. It will take over £100 million to accrue his signature.
If the right player becomes available in January that is a midfielder, the club will not be hesitant to pull the trigger and bring them to Old Trafford. After selling Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera, one of the Red Devils’ priorities is to bring in a combative midfielder to bulk up the middle of the park.
Chelsea
Frank Lampard took over Chelsea last summer knowing that his club were under a transfer embargo. With that now coming to an end and the Blues able to register players to feature for him, they will be back in the market in January looking to strengthen their team.
Sancho is a name that is regularly mentioned with Chelsea, primarily because the young Englishman grew up supporting the West London club. But with Christian Pulisic having arrived from the club last January, due to him being left out of the team because of Sancho, it will be a hard sell for either player to be in competition with each other once more.
Whether or not that happens in January, Lampard will certainly be looking for competition in defence and a left full back that can be dangerous in the final thirds. January is usually a difficult month to get right, with Chelsea finding the inconsistencies in their purchases throughout the years.
