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Transfers and switches are just as necessary to a footballer as to the football clubs.
The clubs often reflect on the business side of things as there are several reasons for them to buy and sell players. But the players' perspectives are different as money is not always the deciding factor.
The five names mentioned below all have potential, and some even earn a significant amount of money. But all five had become surplus to requirements at their previous clubs, which is the main reason why they moved out on permanent transfers or loan deals.
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#5 Adama Traore
Adama Traore's rise and fall have come in quick succession as the man from Spain lost steam at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Traore's career seemed to be on the rise when deployed on the wings as defenders simply struggled to deal with him. The 2019-20 season, where he managed six goals and 12 assists in all competitions, is testament to that. Traore has regularly stood out in stats like take-ons and dribbles.
But his game isn't free from negatives as his conversion rates have always been poor. The drop-off in his goal involvement in the current campaign has also been evident as he has just one goal in 23 matches across all competitions. Many of those appearances have come off the bench with Wolves boss Bruno Lage preferring to use other players.
Barcelona are not doing too well and a rejuvenated Traore could propel them to a top-four finish in La Liga and a deep run in the UEFA Europa League. The deal marked Traore's return to the Nou Camp after leaving his boyhood club many years ago. He could not make it into Barcelona's first team back in 2015 but is set to be a key player this time around.
#4 Christian Eriksen
No football fan will forget that night at Euro 2020 when Denmark's Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during the match against Finland. It was a nerve-wracking moment for the players, spectators and everyone involved.
While Eriksen quickly achieved stability and recovered, his career at Inter Milan came to an end. This was due to a rule prohibiting the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device in Serie A.
However, there was no doubt about him returning to the fold as few players can match the creative brilliance Eriksen possessed at the peak of his career. His performances for Tottenham Hotspur were incredible and the club still haven't found a replacement for the Dane.
Deadline day threw in a surprise as Premier League newbies Brentford made him a surprise addition to their squad. Eriksen has joined the club on a short-term contract until the end of the season. It remains to be seen if the 29-year-old can help the Bees to a strong finish to their first campaign back in the Premier League.
#3 Tanguy Ndombele
Tanguy Ndombele was one of the best young French footballers during his younger days. His exploits with Olympique Lyonnais were phenomenal, and big clubs took notice of his talents and versatility very early on.
After enjoying a fantastic few seasons at Lyon, Ndombele moved to Tottenham Hotspur. But his Tottenham career has been filled with problems since Mauricio Pochettino's departure.
Ndombele first fell out with Jose Mourinho, who wasn't impressed with his work ethic. Spurs then replaced Mourinho with Antonio Conte and once again Ndombele's lazy elegance simply didn't fit into the Italian's robust playing style.
Having moved back to Lyon last month, he will now look to buckle down and show the world once again how talented he is. The French outfit have lost Bruno Guimaraes to Newcastle United, which is likely to present Ndombele with plenty of playing time.
#2 Donny Van De Beek
If anything has upset Manchester United fans more than the team's poor performances, it is the treatment of Donny Van de Beek.
When Manchester United acquired him in the summer of 2020, it seemed that the club had got themselves a top-quality player on a bargain fee. Sadly, Van De Beek never managed to seal a starting spot. His most natural position has been kept locked by Bruno Fernandes, and the Dutchman hasn't been trusted enough in the central midfield position.
Van de Beek has not received a consistent run of games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or current interim boss Ralf Rangnick. Understandably, his performances have shown only glimpses of his talent and ability but nothing more.
The Dutch midfielder was close to securing a move to Crystal Palace during last month's transfer window. However, Everton swooped in late and managed to acquire him on loan for the remainder of the season.
The Toffees do not have an option to buy, and an excellent loan spell on Merseyside could help Van de Beek win a place in the starting XI at Old Trafford.
#1 Anthony Martial
One often forgets that Anthony Martial has now had seven seasons at Old Trafford and has been one of the most inconsistent footballers in that time.
On some days, Martial has displayed the exquisite trickery, pace and finishing that prompted many to believe he had the goods to become a top-class forward. On other occasions, Martial's game is filled with inconsistencies and errors.
Fans have often claimed that the lack of faith from former managers like Jose Mourinho was a big reason for Martial's underperformance. While that may have been the case, the Frenchman received ample opportunities under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer. He even impressed during the 2019-20 campaign, scoring 23 goals in 48 matches across competitions.
However, the Frenchman couldn't kick on from those performances, partly due to injuries, and has been poor over the last year-and-a-half.
Martial seemingly had a fallout with current manager Ralf Rangnick earlier in the month. However, he did show glimpses of his quality after coming off the bench in the Red Devils' 1-0 win against West Ham United before moving out of the club.
The winter transfer window saw him join Sevilla on loan. Like Donny Van de Beek, he will look to perform well and get back into Manchester United's starting XI next season.
