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The January transfer window can prove to be a period of great uncertainty for all clubs across Europe. With top clubs looking to strengthen their sides, inflated transfer fees have become the norm and the sale of Philippe Coutinho has shown that even the very biggest of transfers can be pulled off for the right amount.
While no manager would like to lose an important player in the winter window, there are a few Premier League stars who could well be playing for new teams by the time this transfer window ends. We take a look at 9 Premier League stars who could leave their respective teams in the coming weeks:
#9 Javier Hernandez (West Ham)
Signed amid much fanfare from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window, Javier Hernandez has failed to impress for West Ham. The Mexican striker has managed only 4 goals in 24 appearances and was even left out of the starting line-up in the Hammers' 4-1 win against Huddersfield Town.
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A supreme goal-poacher, Hernandez had an extremely successful spell at Manchester United where he made more than 100 appearances and scored some very important goals.
Often used as a super sub under Sir Alex Ferguson, the 'little pea' failed to replicate his goalscoring form when David Moyes took over at Old Trafford and soon fell out of favour with the Scotsman.
With David Moyes now manager at West Ham, the Mexican is reportedly up for sale in the January transfer window. In fact, according to The Telegraph, former club Manchester United are interested in signing him and could sign their man if they pay the £17 million fee demanded by the Hammers.
Chicharito, who is 29, could prove to be an intelligent gamble for Manchester United as they look to provide some back-up for Romelu Lukaku.
Javier Hernandez is still remembered fondly by many Manchester United fans.
#8 Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
The longest-serving player at Arsenal currently, Theo Walcott's almost 12-year career as a Gunners player could be coming to an end with both Everton and Southampton reportedly interested in signing the pacy 28-year-old.
The England international has really fallen out of favour at Arsenal this season, having made only 5 appearances off the bench in the Premier League.
Everton manager, Sam Allardyce, in a recent interview with The Guardian even sounded hopeful of luring the Arsenal man to Goodison Park in the January transfer window:
“He (Walcott) knows me, he knows Sammy [Lee], he knows Craig [Shakespeare] and he knows Martyn [Margetson, Everton’s former England goalkeeping coach],” he said
“At this moment in time he is the right age with the right experience to make an impact on Everton Football Club. He is the prime age for a player in today’s Premier League world and because of all the experience and knowledge he has gained he should be at the peak of his career.”
A move away from Arsenal could just reinvigorate the 28-year-old's career.
#7 Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
Undoubtedly one of the most talented strikers in the League, Daniel Sturridge has struggled for regular playing time this season because of form and fitness issues.
A key contributor to the 2013/14 nearly season, the England international has failed to truly recapture that wonderful form and has seen his pace and confidence drop because of the many unfortunate injuries he has suffered.
The 28-year-old is desperate to make the World Cup squad for England and with Firmino in fine form, opportunities for regular playing time look few and far in between for the former Manchester City man.
According to the Daily Mail, the Reds have slapped a £30 million fee on their man and are ready to let go of him in the January transfer window if they receive that fee. Stoke City have been mentioned as a club interested in securing his services and it remains to be seen where the talented 28-year-old will be playing once the January transfer window ends.
#6 Daley Blind (Manchester United)
Daley Blind has strongly been linked with a move away from Manchester United in the January transfer window. Having been used sparingly by Jose Mourinho this season, the United defender has reportedly been courted by the likes of Barcelona.
In fact, according to ESPN (via The Metro), the Dutch international will be allowed to leave by Jose Mourinho if he does indeed demand a transfer.
The 27-year-old has made only 3 Premier League starts this season with Mourinho preferring Ashley Young to play in the left-back position. Although Blind did start the FA Cup tie against Derby County, he still remains behind Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof and Marcos Rojo in the pecking order.
Capable of playing in multiple positions (left-back, centre-back, and even as a central defensive midfielder), Blind can certainly prove to be a useful squad player for any team in Europe. With the Dutch international's contract running out next year, United might well cash in on the defender in the January transfer window.
#5 Emre Can (Liverpool)
Liverpool's German midfielder Emre Can could be on his way out of Anfield in January. Currently, in the last six months of his contract, the 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Serie A giants Juventus. One of Klopp's most used players this season, the potential move could be a huge blow to the Reds.
Having arrived at Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, Emre Can soon established himself as a vital member of the squad with his running, dynamism, and creativity from the centre of the park. However, with Juventus keen on a move, Can has held off on signing a new contract.
Juventus star Sami Khedira even urged his team to sign the German star. Speaking to Sky Sports Italy, Khedira said:
"I know Emre very well, First of all, Emre is a very good player. He is a young player, he can improve of course, he is powerful and is talented but of course, he has to learn.
"And if there is a possibility that Juventus can sign this player you have to use this chance because I think he is a free agent in the summer period.
"So, if I am a manager, of course, I would try and sign him."
The arrival of Naby Keita in the summer could potentially soften the blow for Liverpool.
#4 David Luiz (Chelsea)
One of Chelsea's most important members in last year's stunning league triumph, David Luiz has found himself frozen out of the Chelsea squad for both fitness and form concerns. The 30-year-old Brazilian has made only 14 appearances this season as Conte has preferred using Gary Cahill, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Antonio Rudiger ahead of him.
According to The Sun, David Luiz is desperate to move away from Stamford Bridge and play for either Real Madrid or Barcelona. Conte even admitted this week that he would be ready to let go of Luiz in January:
"I was a player – I will understand if someone is worried for the World Cup. I will understand if someone is thinking in this way.
"I prefer to have players very happy to stay here than to have players that are unhappy because when you are unhappy you transfer this to the other players, to me and to my staff and I don’t like this. I like to avoid this situation.
With Barca having signed Yerry Mina, it will be interesting to see if David Luiz does indeed move in the January transfer window.
#3 Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United)
It is fair to say that the Armenian star has not had the best of times at Old Trafford. One of the first signings of the Mourinho era, Mkhitaryan has not shown the form which made him one of the best playmakers in Bundesliga.
Having started the Premier League season in glorious form, the 28-year-old attacking midfielder's performances have slowly dropped and he has been frozen out of Mourinho's team this season making only sporadic appearances.
With Manchester United looking to strengthen in the transfer market, it looks like the Portuguese manager is not averse to losing the Armenian for the right fee.
Asked about Mkhitaryan's future in Manchester, Mourinho – speaking in a press conference ahead of Monday's visit of Stoke City – said: "My approach is that every player has a price. And I am not the kind of blind manager.
"Blind in the sense that this player is untouchable, this one can never be sold.
"I think every player has a price. So, when the transfer window is open it's also open for any club that is interested in our players. Then it's up to us to make the decision yes or no. It's up to us to make the right price."
Mkhitaryan at his best is capable of unlocking any opposition defence.
#2 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
One of the biggest names available in this transfer market, Riyad Mahrez has been linked with plenty of top clubs across the Premier League.
The Algerian superstar's future has been subject to intense speculation since the summer transfer window and his performances throughout this season have shown that he could be an excellent addition to any top club in Europe.
A source close to Mahrez even said that the winger is keen on a move away from the Foxes, Speaking to Algerian newspaper Le Buteur (via The Sun), he said:
"Riyad is a very important part of Leicester's squad. They have promised him that he can leave if the club that wants to buy him meets their asking price.
I think that if he does leave Leicester it will happen close to when the transfer window closes. The negotiations will surely take a lot of time.
I can confirm that Riyad still wants to leave Leicester for a big club."
Riyad Mahrez has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in the January transfer window.
#1 Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
Alexis Sanchez is in the last six months of his contract and it looks highly likely that the Chilean superstar will be departing Arsenal in the coming weeks. Undoubtedly Arsenal's standout player last season, the 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to either Manchester City or Manchester United.
Mourinho even hinted that he might be interested in a move for the wantaway Arsenal star. Speaking to reporters in a press conference, Mourinho hinted that he would be open to signing someone in the winter transfer window if a fantastic opportunity opened up:
"Our plan was not to have new players in January. We build a squad with this idea and I share this philosophy with [executive vice-chairman] Mr. [Ed] Woodward and the owners.
"But if there is a fantastic opportunity on the table, you fight for that fantastic opportunity. If it happens, it happens."
With Sanchez heavily linked with an exit, Arsenal fans will be hoping that Arsene Wenger steps up and signs a suitable replacement in the January transfer window.
Update: Sanchez has been left out of Arsenal's squad which will take on Bournemouth tonight
