While some Premier League clubs will look to expand their ranks in January, there will be a few players looking to make changes of their own.
With only six points separating fifth and thirteenth place, the coming transfer period could be important for the final settlement in May. There are currently some big players outside the Champions League places, with reigning champions Manchester City in seventh place, while Tottenham and Manchester United remain in the bottom half after the weekend's defeats.
However, the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules mean some players may have to sell before they can buy. There were only a handful of January deals last season, with Aston Villa's move for Morgan Rogers among the most successful and Spurs' move for Radu Dragus the most expensive.
There are plenty of players who feel the time is right to try their luck elsewhere. Here, Mirror Football looks at 10 stars who could really do with a January departure.
When asked whether Marcus Rashford could play for Manchester United on Boxing Day, head coach Ruben Amorim was non-committal. However, the England international has been left out of United's last two league games and has indicated he is ready for a change.
“For me personally, I think I'm ready for a new challenge and the next steps,” Rashford admitted. “If I leave, there won't be any hard feelings. You won't get any negative comments from me about Manchester United. That's me as a person.”
“If I know a situation is already bad, I'm not going to make it worse. I've seen other players leave in the past and I don't want to be that person. If I leave, I will make sure an explanation and it will be mine.”
The bigger question is which club could match the 27-year-old United's salary. It may be that a loan suits all parties better, with a view to a permanent summer exit.
Chiesa's move to Liverpool at the end of the summer window felt like an opportunistic move with little risk. The Italy international cost Juventus just £12million but his lack of proper preparation was indicative of an injury-hit season.
The wide man has started just once for Arne Slot's side, in a 5-1 Carabao Cup win over West Ham. He also got 45 minutes off the bench in the quarter-final win over Southampton but has not featured in the competition since September.
Chiesa signed a four-year contract when he joined Arne Slot in August. The manager may decide to give the player more minutes on loan if he feels there is sufficient cover in his squad for the time being.
Even before the season started, it looked like Ben Chilwell's chances at Chelsea would be limited. Enzo Maresca made it clear that Marc Cucurella would be his first choice at left-back, while Malo Gusto and Renato Veiga also appeared to be ahead of Chilwell in the pecking order.
“The idea for him was to leave,” Maresca admitted in September. “At the moment he is here, he is part of the team and he is training.”
Chilwell's only minutes this season came against Barrow in the Carabao Cup, with Chelsea leaving him out of their Conference League squad. A departure in January seems inevitable.
Dewsbury-Hall might have expected more opportunities at Chelsea after his summer signing. The midfielder impressed under Maresca at Leicester last season, but has only played 55 Premier League minutes this season.
It's a different story in the Conference League, with the 26-year-old having played 45 minutes or more in all of the Blues' games. He also scored his first two Chelsea goals in the competition, in wins against Gent and Shamrock Rovers.
After remaining an unused substitute for the wins over Tottenham and Brentford, Dewsbury-Hall was not even in the matchday squad for Sunday's draw against Everton. He will have to decide whether those minutes in Europe are enough.
“There are players who unfortunately haven't played much for us in all competitions, like Chilwell, like Carney,” Maresca said before Sunday's match. “They are probably the first to want to leave because they work every day because they want to play.
“If they don't play, they probably think they want to leave. Every player has a different situation, so we'll see if someone knocks on the door and says I want to leave. We'll try to find a solution.”
England youth international Chukwuemeka joined in the summer of 2022 and has made 27 appearances in the past two seasons, scoring his first Premier League goal under Mauricio Pochettino. However, this season the 21-year-old has been limited to 130 minutes in all competitions.
Returning to Manchester United, Brazilian winger Antony could be looking for a move along with teammate Rashford. The Brazilian became one of the most expensive signings in United's history when he joined from Ajax in 2022, but fell out of favor before the arrival of Ruben Amorim in November.
The 24-year-old got 12 minutes off the bench in the recent Manchester Derby but has not started in the league all season. He made just ten appearances in all competitions, scoring his only goal of the campaign in a Carabao Cup win over Barnsley.
“He needs more confidence,” Amorim said of the former Eredivisie star. “If you remember Antony who played at Ajax, he lacks a little bit of confidence to play one-on-one, but he will improve.”
Amorim promised to help Antony improve if the winger could work to get back to his best. However, a move may suit him better than feeding him leftovers when it comes to playing time.
Speaking of big-money signings who haven't lived up to the fee, Beto's time at Everton could soon be over. The former Udinese striker is the Toffees' most expensive signing under Sean Dyche, but has failed to hold down a starting place.
The Guinea-Bissau international has played less than 200 minutes in the league this season, with his only goal coming against Fulham in October. His only start, away against Manchester United, ended in a 4–0 defeat for Dyche's side.
With fellow strikers Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti recently available again after injury, there will be quite a bit of competition for places. If Dyche wants to strengthen himself in other areas, he may not stand in the way of an exit for Beto.
Kieran Tierney might have left Arsenal this summer if not for the injury he suffered in Euro 2024. However, he recently made his return to play for the Gunners long after many thought they had last seen him seen.
However, a return to Celtic remains a possibility. It is certainly a potential route to more regular action, although Mikel Arteta insisted the Scotland international has not asked to leave.
With Bukayo Saka injured against Crystal Palace, Arteta may be forced to enter the transfer market in a different position. Tierney could well be considered expendable as Arsenal look to balance the squad, especially with youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly still preferring him at left-back.
Across north London, Spurs left-back Sergio Reguilon is in a similar position. Like Tierney, the Spaniard returned to his parent club after spending last season on loan but was unable to enjoy regular playing time.
Reguilon was loaned out twice last season, first at Manchester United and then at Brentford. He has played just one minute against United in the Carabao Cup this season, although he has been an unused substitute in four of Spurs' last five league matches.
The 28-year-old is out of contract this summer and there have been no suggestions that his contract will be extended. If a buyer can be found – and Getafe have been linked – the club could be happy to take his wages off the books.
Newcastle winger Almiron signed a contract extension in 2023 but has struggled for minutes this season. A 17-minute run-out at Ipswich on Saturday was only his second league appearance since late October, and it could be time for the Paraguayan to move on.
Almiron thrived in Major League Soccer before moving to St James' Park in 2019, and there appears to be interest in bringing him back across the Atlantic. Charlotte FC explored a summer deal and were tipped to test Newcastle's resolve again during the MLS season.
“Although Miguel is not happy with the minutes he has in England, he wants to stay and fight at Newcastle,” agent Daniel Campos said in November. It remains to be seen whether that situation will still be the same as January rolls on.
Comments