The January transfer window is nearing its close with a week left for clubs to finish their respected business for this season.
While some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League are still looking to conclude business, it is the final chance for players to move in the 2021/22 season.
With 168 hours for disgruntled players to secure a move away, here is three players that could yet make a move this window.
Dele Alli
It hasn’t been a great few seasons for Dele Alli.
Flashback to 2015/16 and the English international was on fire, ending the season with 10 goals and 11 assists as Tottenham finished third in the Premier League.
But this season Alli has seen a mixed bag featuring 18 times in all competitions, scoring just twice.
Under former manager Mauricio Pochettinho Alli excelled, but under the management since the former MK Dons man has seen a severe downturn in form.
Speaking to Amazon’s All or Nothing series, Jose Mourinho remarked to Alli: You are f****** lazy.”
Tottenham, now managed by Antonio Conte, are typified by their hard work and work rate. Something that the 25-year-old somewhat lacks.
Newcastle United are said to be interested in the midfielder, with the club certainly not short of finances after their takeover by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
It is an interesting prospect, one that certainly took the interest of former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane.
“You’ve done your time here, you’ve lost your way – be good to the kid. He’s been a good signing – they paid £5 million for him – let the kid go,” he told Sky Sports.
“Newcastle? Get his career going up there, the fans would love him.”
A deal for Alli would see him initially leave on loan with a potential to leave Spurs permanently for the summer. For the sake of his England career, he may need to leave sooner rather than later.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Former Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was a bonified superstar when he joined Arsenal in January 2018. But January could see him move again with the club keen to move him on this window.
It has a been a strange few months for Arsenal forwards. Despite impressing in the FA Cup fans who called into TalkSPORT still didn’t rate the young forward, and Alexandre Lacazette hasn’t fared much better this season with just three goals this year.
With a clear upgrade needed up front, and the Gabon international’s reported £250,000-a-week wages the Arsenal hierarchy are looking to cash-in on their 32-year-old forward.
Combined with the fact that Aubameyang missed Gabon’s Africa Cup of Nations clash against Ghana due to ‘heart lesions’ following a bout with Covid-19, the Gunners are in a race against time to offload the striker.
The club pushed for a deal to a club in Saudi Arabia, but the player was reported to be against that deal. But he remains an attractive option for European suitors, with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus said to be watching his situation in north London.
Anthony Martial
It is a strange time to be at Manchester United. Whilst the club bolster superstar signings such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane, their fourth place league position — 10 points off third place Chelsea — suggests anything but a super season.
With Ralf Rangnick serving as interim Red Devils’ manager before joining the club in a executive position, the Manchester based side are keen to finish the season as well as they can before appointing a permanent manager in the summer.
Anthony Martial who is seeking some consistency in his playing time ahead of the upcoming World Cup this December, may have to force a move away with the likes of Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, Marcus Rashford and most recently 19-year-old Anthony Elanga ahead of the Frenchman in the pecking order.
Barcelona were said to be interested in the player, but rumours have cooled after the Spanish side signed Fernan Torres from Manchester City.
But it could be Spain yet who could offer the player a lifeline with Sevilla rumoured to be watching Martial with interest. Elsewhere Juventus are also monitoring his situation too.
Like Jesse Lingard, Martial is in a sort of transfer limbo at the club. For both player’s sake, the club need to figure out whether they are surplus to requirements, or let them go.
