The January transfer window is getting closer with every passing day, and so the rumour mill is in overdrive as deals are prepared to be made, players get ready to move club and agents start raking in some cash.
It’s an exciting time for fans of the beautiful game as they get to imagine if their favourite player might just join their team, but it’s also a nervy period because it might just be the shop window that sees your best player tempted away.
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But what about the stars who are in desperate need of a move to save their own careers or for a new change of scenery? Which clubs will let which wantaway players leave and start making free deals away?
#1 Axel Witsel
We’ve all been waiting for Axel Witsel to really make his mark at the highest level of professional football, but plying his trade with Zenit St Petersburg hasn’t served him up the chances to do that.
The Belgium international has been eyeing up a big move to Italian Serie A champions Juventus for some time now and he could have joined them last season, but the move broke down. Now, as his contract enters the final six months he is set to join the Bianconeri for around £7 million, according to Calciomercato, although if that doesn’t transpire he could leave for free in a few months’ time.
Should the Russian Premier League outfit put him in the shop window at the start of 2017, Juve might be tempted by the opportunity to bring him in earlier than next summer to fend off others, especially as the talented midfielder is eligible to play in the UEFA Champions League.
We might just see Witsel hit the heights he has always hinted at – he might even lift ol’ big ears in the Millenium Stadium.
#2 Pepe
As it stands, by the time January rolls around Real Madrid’s Pepe will be free to sign for another club – and a pre-contract, or verbal, agreement, means that until Los Blancos secure him with another big-money contract the volatile defender could be leaving.
The Mirror are linking him with moves to the Premier League – and the Chinese Super League where he has already received offers – where lots of cash could be enough to tempt him away from the Santiago Bernabeu, a venue he has called his football home since 2007.
A winner of last summer’s Euro 2016, Pepe has long been one of the most accomplished protectors of any defence around and although he is 33 years of age the best defenders get even better with age.
It might be difficult for Madridistas to envisage him in another jersey, but Pepe has the mental endurance and the battle-hardened spirit to make any move work in his favour.
#3 Murat Saglam
Labelled a ‘wonderkid’ by a variety of outlets, Murat Saglam is currently being monitored by West Ham United, according to West Ham Way.
A relatively unknown exciting attacking player who can play as an offensive midfielder or a right-sided winger, his versatility would be welcomed by the Hammers boss Slaven Bilic who likes to add some flair players to his plans on matchday – look no further than Dimitri Payet as the obvious example.
A promising U19 international with Turkey, while he has not featured for VFL Wolfsburg’s first team yet, the 18-year-old starlet has plenty of time to grow and develop and is being tipped for big things.
No deal has yet been finalised, but it is understood that Saglam is nearing an agreement that should be completed by January and he would be set to join officially by the time the summer arrives.
#4 Branislav Ivanovic
Struggling for game time at Stamford Bridge, and with his current deal up at the end of the 2016/17 season, the Chelsea star could well be given the nudge as early as January.
According to Goal.com, Barcelona are planning to swoop for the 32-year-old as a ‘stop-gap’ option and it’s easy to imagine why the Serbia international would jump at the chance to join the Spanish La Liga champions, and one of the best teams in the world. He would add great strength to their suspect back-line and it could be one of the best moves of the transfer window.
It all depends whether Luis Enrique will want to wait until the summer to snap him up because by then although he will be available on a Bosman, he’ll also be free to negotiate the best deal with whoever comes offering him a contract – and there would be so many suitors.
At the moment, he’s simply costing the Blues money on the sideline and is clearly not part of Antonio Conte’s plans so Roman Abramovich would obviously prefer to get some cash for him. As for the player himself, he can use January as the opportunity to secure a pre-contract agreement, and if the move is on the table he'd be wise to go with the Blaugrana.
#5 Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Stoke City haven’t exactly scored a glut of goals this season, but that could all start to change soon if they manage to get their hands on Schalke star Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
The 27-year-old Bundesliga player has only grabbed a handful of league goals this term so he’s not Schalke’s best striker, but he has potential, he is very comfortable acting as a lone striker and knowing how to act as a target man and his close-control technique is good enough to assist those around him.
His best period came with Mainz before he secured a transfer, where he netted 20 goals in 74 league appearances.
It would be a gamble, but as reported by the Mirror he will be allowed to sign a pre-contract agreement come January although there would be no room for an actual move until the summer window opens up, and the good news is that with his current contract set to run out then, he would join the Potters for free.
