The January transfer window opens in Europe as clocks around the world strike midnight to usher us all into 2025.
With that comes the usual mid-season scramble for clubs trying to fix their problems – usually these are short-term issues that desperately need a quick fix, as opposed to long-term strategic moves.
Al Jazeera Sport picks out the five names heavily linked with moves, as well as the clubs vying for their contracts and why:
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United). Interested: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Saudi Pro League
First of all, there is only one name, and that’s despite Rashford’s dip in form and what could be the biggest January transfer move in history.
Rashford has been the darling of Old Trafford since his debut in 2016. The now 27-year-old has endured the most difficult period of his career, which has seen him linked to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, among other top European clubs over the years.
At his peak, he was seen as the obvious Galactico for Los Blancos in Spain – in some ways the long-term successor to Madrid’s former United striker Cristiano Ronaldo. More recently with Kylian Mbappe’s lengthy move to the BernabeuRashford has also been linked with filling the void left by the Frenchman in Paris.
Now the future is completely unclear. Rashford lost his place in the England squad last year and missed Euro 2024 – a hammer blow for a player who had been one of his country’s premier players for many years and is, in line with his age, on the rise of the peak of his career. New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has been brutal and quite explicit in his approach to Rashford since replacing Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. The Portuguese says United are a better club with Rashford but four matchday squads have gone by without including the striker who did that clearly indicated that his time at the club was coming to an end.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli). Interested: Manchester United, Chelsea, PSG.
Napoli’s protracted sale of the Nigerian striker is dragging on into another transfer window and there is still no clear end in sight. Osimhen has been linked with all of Europe’s elite – including as an alternative to Kylian Mbappe for Real Madrid – after leading the Italian club to the league title in 2021/22 with 26 goals. Ultimately, Osimhen missed out on making it to the continent’s top table because Napoli rated the striker, who turns 26 on Sunday, so highly. Galatasaray, where Nigeria’s record goalscorer is currently on loanis and always has been a short-term solution a bitter standoff between the player and his parent clubLast season began when a move from Napoli was being discussed.
With Rashford’s future at Old Trafford in doubt, United could be left vulnerable in an already under-resourced area of the pitch. Osimhen’s work rate would certainly suit Ruben Amorim’s philosophy as the new Red Devils coach looks to change the culture at Old Trafford. Chelsea have also been a long-standing candidate for Osimhen, but currently have an already growing squad. One club that may have enough money to end Osimhen’s Turkish exile is PSG, who have yet to replace Mbappé in attack.
Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon). Interested: Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal
Another option for Manchester United as they look to add more goals to their profligate forward line is Sweden international Gyokeres. The 26-year-old has already played for Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League but shone under Amorim before moving to Sporting Lisbon in 2023. The striker never made the first team at Brighton on England’s south coast in three years, but enjoyed a long loan spell at former Premier League clubs Swansea City and Coventry City. The latter made Gyokeres’ move permanent, attracting the attention of Sporting. Most of the Premier League’s top clubs are now being linked with a move away from Sporting, with a number of clubs poised to secure what could be considered one of the better or, to put it more accurately, cheaper returns on their investment .
Manchester City need a replacement for Erling Haaland to lead the attack – and Gyokeres scored a hat-trick in Lisbon’s 4-1 win over City in the Champions League in November. However, the possibility of reuniting their tried-and-tested link with Amorim may be too great for United to resist, while Arsenal are also heavily linked with a move. Bukayo Saka’s injury, which has added to Mikel Arteta’s concerns for the Gunners, could force the Spaniard out in January if they want to go a step further than last season’s second-place finish. PSG could also come, but would Gyokeres be considered as a leader in a forward line that once featured Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar?
Nico Williams (Atletic Bilbao). Interested: Barcelona, Manchester United, PSG
Another transfer that is more a question of “when” than “if” is Spanish prodigy Williams, who scored four goals in 21 international appearances. The 22-year-old was a bright spot for the future of the Spanish national team next to Lamine Yamal while the successful EM 2024 campaign and it was somewhat of a surprise that none of the major European companies moved quickly to secure one of the hottest properties on the continent at this point.
Instead, the Pamplona-born striker continued to shine at one of Spain’s more modest clubs. Bilbao are currently fourth in LaLiga, just five points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who are undoubtedly one of the top candidates to recruit Williams. Whether Barcelona would allow it a club and country connection with Yamal It remains to be seen – and it’s hard to believe – whether it will slip through their fingers, while the number of big clubs looking for young, skilful and willing attacking runners is overwhelming.
However, the biggest dilemma for the Barca move is The current appeal filed by the Catalan club to extend the registration of their playmaker Dani Olmo given LaLiga’s spending restrictions. Both Olmo and Williams could move in January without either ending up at the Bernabeu. Barcelona will try to move mountains to prevent this. Williams has only scored two goals this season, so January may be the right time for Bilbao to capitalize on a player who commands a high transfer fee without significantly undermining their current performance in what will be another impressive season on the field.
Trent Alexander Arnold (Liverpool). Interested: Real Madrid, PSG
Another item to consider in the list of potential January sales is the expiring contract saga at Liverpool. Three big names are available for free transfers in the summer: Mohamed SalahVirgil van Dijk and Alexander Arnold. There is a suspicion that the first two mentioned will sign extensions The Anfield club are aiming for their second title since the English top flight was renamed as Premier League. Both Salah and van Dijk have suitors across Europe and beyond Huge paychecks are likely to be on offer in the Saudi Pro LeagueFurthermore, aged 32 and 33 respectively, the pair appear to have a burning desire to continue playing at the highest level of European football.
There is a good chance that both will remain with the Reds and their current trophy challenges, which will see them top of both the domestic and Champions League tables. Lack of the transfer fee they would demand due to their age is less of a problem for Liverpool compared to their presence on the pitch. However, both considerations will be a big issue when it comes to Alexander-Arnold.
The prospect of losing a player around whom every club in the world could build a team is a huge worry. Real Madrid are the clear favorites – and have a habit of signing elite talents like Mbappe on free transfers – should the Reds fail to convince Alexander-Arnold to sign a new contract. Nobody in Liverpool will want to consider whether the club will cut its losses and make a bad deal for the game-winning defender in January. Especially given the prospect that it could undo what has been an incredibly strong season so far. However, letting a player who would command one of the highest transfer fees in world football leave Anfield for free in the summer is a prospect that the club and its fans wholeheartedly hope will not happen.
