The European transfer window is just about to open and teams are already linked with plenty of players to strengthen their squad. All top-five European leagues spend big in the summer transfer window but lately, there were some big transfers that happened in the January transfer window.
English Premier League always tops the numbers in both transfer windows with big teams spending heavily to stay in the race for the title race and top-four finish. In the latest summer transfer window, we witnessed one of the biggest deals happen in the English Premier League. Manchester United signed legendary figure Cristiano Ronaldo for the second time. Romelu Lukaku also returned to Stamford Bridge in a shocking big-money move. Arsenal signed young defender Ben White for a fee of £52m. Jack Grealish moved to Manchester City for a reported fee of £100m and Manchester United secured their long-term target Jadon Sancho.
Manchester United and Arsenal were big spenders and Liverpool were too quiet in the summer with just one signing. Arsenal are now showing results for their heavy investment in the summer and Red Devils are struggling to perform. Manchester City and Liverpool continue their dominance in English football with just one signing in the summer and Chelsea are not far behind after another big-spending window this season.
Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Manchester United will be dipping in the winter transfer window to close the gap to the other three clubs from the so-called top-six of the Premier League. But eyes will be glued on Newcastle United, who became the richest club in the world in October after a takeover from the Saudi government’s SWF(Sovereign Wealth Fund). The Magpies are struggling in the relegation zone with just one win so far this season and the transfer window will be a helping hand for them to get out of it. The changes are already in effect at Newcastle with managerial change, Eddie Howe came in and handed them their first win.
So let’s see a top-five probable transfer that will happen next month.
5. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona & Newcastle United
Aubameyang severed his relationship with Arsenal with a disciplinary breach once again. This month he has been removed from the captaincy duties and missed the last five matches for the Gunners. It is very likely that the veteran has played his final game for Arsenal. He has scored just 4 league goals from 14 appearances and will enter in the final year of his contract after this season.
Barcelona lost summer signing Sergio Aguero who was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia and retired this month. Star youngster Ansu Fati and another summer signing Memphis Depay sidelined with injuries. So signing a new striker is a priority for manager Xavi, who recently secure a January transfer of winger Ferran Torres from Manchester City for a reported transfer fee of £55m.
Newcastle United are also looking for a new striker this season who has Premier League experience. Joelinton and Callum Wilson are struggling this season after stellar performances last season. After the Manchester United fixture, they lost Wilson to muscle injury which will keep him out for several weeks.
4. Franck Kessie to Tottenham Hotspur
North London against are recently linked with their former target Franck Kessie. AC Milan are in contention for the title race with Inter Milan this season and will ask big if Spurs make an official offer in January. Kessie has only six months available on his contract and he informed Milan about not signing a contract extension. So instead of losing their best player for free, Rossoneri will try to sell him next month for the right price.
Kessie scored a brace in their lastest fixture so it will also affect his transfer value in the winter window. He has scored a total of 5 goals already and was crucial for Milan’s last season’s success as runners-up. According to a report from the Express, Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race for the Ivorian superstar and in advanced talks to finalize a move next week.
3. Dusan Vlahovic to Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, & Real Madrid
Dusan Vlahovic is in great form this year with consistent performances last two seasons. The 21-year-old Serbian striker is leading the goalscoring charts in Serie A this season with 16 goals in 19 league matches. He has also scored 2 goals in 2 Copa Italia fixtures. Last season he scored 21 league goals as well to set his transfer valuation above £40 million. But now after six months, he is valued at around £70m and Fiorentina are happy to sell him above that valuation.
Recent reports suggest that the player is aware of his demand in the market and now asking weekly wages of £200, 000 plus bonuses. Tottenham Hotspur are preparing themselves with a pre-option as star striker Harry Kane is sure to exit in the next summer. Arsenal are also looking to replace Aubemeyang in the coming weeks and linked with a big-money move for the Fiorentina striker. La Liga leaders are also interested to invest in Vlahovic as an alternative to Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
2. Anthony Martial to Newcastle United & Sevilla
The 26-year-old French forward has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford recently. He has made just 7 league appearances this season and scored just 1 goal. The recent arrivals of Ronaldo and Sancho have made it almost impossible for him to start every fixture. Ralf Rangnick recently confirmed that the player is unhappy at Old Trafford and wants to leave in the January window.
Newcastle United are in the market for a new striker with Premier League experience, who can help them avoid relegation this season. La Liga title contenders Sevilla are the latest club to link with Martial and according to a report from Sky Sports, they have made the first loan offer which was quickly rejected by Red Devils. Sevilla are reportedly preparing for another offer as soon as the transfer window opens.
1. Philippe Coutinho to Arsenal & Tottenham Hotspur
Former Liverpool star is currently in North London to finalize his move to either Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur as soon as the January transfer window opens on January 1st. Coutinho moved to Barcelona in January 2018 move for a club-record fee of £142 million but struggled with Catalan giants with injuries and lack of form. He is poised to exit in this summer transfer window as Barcelona are looking to offload the Brazilian who earns £450, 000 a week at Camp Nou.
The 29-year-old Brazilian playmaker is in his prime and has a proven record in the Premier League. According to the Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has confidence in Coutinho’s possible resurgence and has given a green light to his club to finalize this move. Tottenham Hotspur are also in contention to sign Coutinho but Antonio Conte is waiting on Kessie’s move and the possible departure of Dele Alli first.