The January transfer window is open, allowing clubs the opportunity to make mid-season moves in an effort to strengthen their squads.
While the headlines will be dominated by the big-money deals for the most sought-after players, like Cody Gakpo and Enzo Fernandez, there are plenty of other deals on the table. January offers the chance for new stars, but it also offers solace for those in difficult positions.
For every player currently flourishing, there is one struggling for minutes and eyeing the exit. Some have fallen out with their managers, some have been overlooked after injury problems and some have become the victims of bloated squads.
Here Mirror Football casts an eye over the players who really need to seal a transfer before the transfer window closes at 11pm on January 31.
Harry Maguire
Maguire had a strong World Cup with England, but has returned to find that his status at Manchester United remains unchanged. Erik ten Hag’s arrival has so far not helped Maguire, who has found himself sidelined for large parts of this season.
Having previously been benched in favour of a partnership between Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane, he saw left-back Luke Shaw play centre-back with Varane in the 1-0 win over Wolves on New Year’s Eve.
Despite being club captain, Maguire has started just three Premier League matches this season, partly due to injury. Now fully fit and off the back of a strong tournament, it is clear Ten Hag does not fancy Maguire. A move might be difficult to find for the £80million defender, but it might be worth pursuing.
Donny van de Beek
Another United player who could do with a change of scenery. Van de Beek’s £35m move from Ajax in September 2020 just has not worked out and it could be time to call it quits.
Ten Hag’s arrival as manager looked like it could be a much-needed boost to Van de Beek’s career, given his background at the same club, yet it has not proven to be the case.
The Dutch midfielder has just three starts across all competitions this season after spending the second half of last season on loan at Everton. The signing of Christian Eriksen in the summer has ruined his chances of featuring and a fresh start is needed.
Djed Spence
Tottenham had to beat off the competition to sign Spence in a £20m deal from Middlesbrough in July. He signed a five-year contract, but has been stuck behind Emerson Royal and Mat Doherty in the pecking order at right-back.
Spence did come on as a late substitute against Aston Villa on New Year’s Day, but is yet to start a single game this season and Antonio Conte was damning in his assessment back in October. “If I don’t decide to pick a player, it’s because maybe he’s not ready.
"We are talking about a young player with a good prospect, but I try to pick the best team,” he said. “I’m not stupid, I don’t want to lose.”
With Conte once again complaining about the lack of investment at Spurs, the sale of Spence could provide much-needed funds.
Joao Felix
Felix has fallen out with Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone and wants to leave this month. Simeone’s style of football does not suit Felix and the mutual feeling is that a departure would be best for both parties.
The problem is the money involved. Atleti paid Benfica €127m for Felix in 2019 and want to limit their losses. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been contacted recently by agent Jorge Mendes, with Atleti seeking an £18m package to send him on loan.
That is a hefty price tag for a temporary move, but Felix’s talent is undoubted. If the Spanish side can be haggled down, then it could be worth it.
Facundo Pellistri
Pellistri had a fairly prominent role for Uruguay at the World Cup, where he played in all three of the group games. The 21-year-old winger has 10 caps for his country, but remarkably is still yet to feature once for Manchester United in two and a half years with the club.
Ten Hag has hinted recently that Pellistri could be integrated into the first team set-up in the coming weeks and months, but he might not want to wait much longer. His agent has already suggested that is on the cards, stating he would use the World Cup as a platform to drum up interest.
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Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho’s arrival at Aston Villa was very much driven by his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard’s presence as manager. Gerrard’s departure and the subsequent hiring of Unai Emery was not good news for the Brazilian midfielder.
Reports in Brazil state that Coutinho is eager to move back to his home country after growing tired of life in Birmingham. After grabbing five goals and three assists last season, he has none of either in 15 appearances this campaign.
Villa’s superb 2-0 win over Spurs on New Year’s Day was built on the partnership of Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara in midfield. Coutinho is not needed.
Memphis Depay
Depay is yet another player who excelled at the World Cup, but is much less sure of a starting place at club level. The 28-year-old forward continued his remarkable scoring record in Qatar for the Netherlands, who have benefited from 43 goals in 86 appearances, but is unwanted at Barcelona.
Depay has played just four times for Barca this season after they tried to sell him in the summer and, with his contract set to expire in June, a move looks very likely this month. A return to Manchester United is an intriguing option, with the club in the market for a forward after Cristiano Ronaldo ’s exit.
Nat Phillips
Phillips remains at Liverpool, but the club are understood to be open to selling him for a fee of around £10m.
The 25-year-old centre-back should be in the prime of his career, but is receiving limited opportunities on Merseyside, with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez all preferred by Jurgen Klopp.
Phillips showed his worth when the aforementioned defenders were injured and may think that the time is now to join a club who can offer him first-team football regularly.
Cedric Soares
All is well at Arsenal, who are riding high at the top of the Premier League table. But their good vibes might not be shared by Cedric, who has spent most of the season so far watching on from the sidelines.
The 31-year-old full-back has featured just four times in all competitions this season, with just one start given to him by Mikel Arteta. Ben White ’s emergence as a right-back has seen Takehiro Tomiyasu become the second-choice right-back, while Oleksandr Zinchenko has arrived to provide competition to Kieran Tierney on the other side.
Cedric has been linked with a move to Fulham and a transfer appears likely to go through this month.
