The January transfer window is set to come to a close Monday, January 31st for teams across Europe. Now is the time for any side looking to improve their squads to make the necessary moves needed to win a league title, to clinch a European place, or even avoid the drop. Today, it is time to dish out four predictions for teams in the English Premier League, and how their January business will conclude.
Donny van de Beek Leaves Manchester United
After arriving for a reported £35 million from Ajax in the summer of 2020, Donny van de Beek’s time at the Theatre of Dreams has been a nightmare. Making 50 appearances up to this point, van de Beek finds him on the outside looking in of new Manchester United manager Ralph Rangnick’s plans. Talking Points Sports understands that at least two Premier League clubs, one of which being Crystal Palace, have an interest in taking van de Beek on loan before the Monday deadline. Spanish club Valencia also maintain an interest to sign van de Beek on loan as well.
It is imperative that Manchester United do not make the same mistake twice with van de Beek. The club paid a high transfer fee to bring him to Manchester, and now they have to see whether he is up to scratch at the Premier League level. Crystal Palace are a step down from Manchester United, obviously, but van de Beek would walk into Patrick Vieira’s team sheet upon arrival. Still only 24 years of age, van de Beek could use a loan deal to boost his stock to either get back into the Manchester United first team picture, or leave permanently in the summer allowing United to recoup some of the £35 million paid to sign him.
Newcastle Make Three or Four More Signings
No club has been more active in this January market than Newcastle United. Thanks to their new ownership team Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, money is no object for the Magpies. The club have already signed Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, from Atlético Madrid and Burnley respectively. Now, Newcastle look set to make even more splashes before the January 31st deadline. Talking Points Sports understands the club have made offers for Lille defender Sven Botman and Sevilla defender Diego Carlos, with both approaches turned down.
This leaves Newcastle, who currently sit 18th in the Premier League standings, desperate to make signings to help avoid the dreaded drop. The club have been active in trying to recruit new signings, with Jesse Lingard of Manchester United mentioned. The club are very interested in making Lingard a centerpiece of their project, with Lingard said to be intrigued about the move. Newcastle have also kept tabs on Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno, and Brighton & Hove Albion defender Dan Burn. Do not be surprised if Newcastle make a splash, with Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimarães being touted for a move to St. James’ Park this month.
Arsenal Run Out of Time on Marquee Additions
Arsenal fans have had a rough go of it lately, being knocked out of the FA Cup, League Cup, and failing to register a goal against the last place side in the Premier League Burnley this past weekend. Now, the club have to focus on making January additions if they have any hopes of making the top 4 this season.
Mikel Arteta has reportedly flown to Los Angeles from London to meet with Arsenal Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke, with the aim of this meeting being quite clear, to secure transfer funds for signings. Arteta and technical director Edu Gaspar know they have to improve the side, but will not go for players that do not immediately improve the side. Arsenal spent the entire window chasing Fiorentina striker Dušan Vlahović, who now looks set to make a big money move to Turin giants Juventus.
So where does this leave the Gunners? Sources have confirmed to Talking Points Sports that the club are actively trying to make a striker signing and a midfield signing this month. Arsenal had been linked to Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo, who now looks likely to stay at Juventus. The club have also been linked to Bruno Guimarães, who now looks likely to sign for Newcastle. Arsenal maintain long standing interest in Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar and Lille midfielder Renato Sanches, but any deal with Lyon or Lille will be very difficult in January. Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz has also been linked with a move to Arsenal in this window.
Arsenal are also known to be admirers of Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak and Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, two players that could be up for moves in the summer. Real Madrid have also contacted the Gunners about the possibility of signing Luka Jović on loan, which would add to Arsenal’s depleted forward ranks. As of now, the move is not a priority for the club or the player.
The club have also made contact with MLS side New England Revolution about their goalkeeper Matt Turner, with a deal said to be imminent.
Tottenham Hotspur Make Two Signings
From one North London club to another, Tottenham Hotspur have to feel pressed to make signings this winter for their new manager Antonio Conte. A serial winner wherever he has gone, Conte signed with Spurs under the condition that he be given significant funds in the transfer market. Conte, along with director of football Fabio Paratici, have earmarked several players that could improve Tottenham’s ranks this month.
Tottenham have submitted a bid to Porto for the signing of Colombian forward Luis Díaz. The proposal, said to be in the range of €45 million, has been turned down by Porto at this time. Tottenham are going to try again however, with a fee north of €50 million suggested. Diaz is a pacey, skillful, direct forward, who would add a new dimension to an already blistering Tottenham attack featuring the likes of Song Heung-min, Lucas Moura, and Harry Kane.
Tottenham are also in the market for a new midfielder, with the club interested in signing Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat on an initial loan with a reported €16 million buy option in the loan agreement. The move for Amrabat is reportedly hinging on club record signing Tanguay Ndombele completing his pending loan move to Paris St. Germain, along with a potential Dele Alli exit this month.
Rapid Fire Predictions
Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United all look set to stand pat with their current squads in January. Manchester City are signing highly rated Argentinian forward Julián Álvarez from River Plate, but will be loaned back to River Plate for the remainder of the season.
Aaron Ramsey looks set to return to the Premier League after a disastrous spell at Juventus. A return to Arsenal could make sense for him, given their lack of midfield options at this moment in time. Burnley also appear to be interested in the Welsh midfielder, along with Crystal Palace if they fail to secure the signing of Donny van de Beek from Manchester United. Perhaps Newcastle could be interested as well if their initial targets fall through.
Rodrigo Bentancur, an Uruguayan midfielder who currently plays for Juventus, will sign for Aston Villa before Monday’s deadline for a fee of around €16 million. New Villa boss Steven Gerrard has been keen to add to his midfield ranks this month, having already signed Phillipe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona, and will land another one before Monday.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang will not leave Arsenal this month, after a proposal from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr was turned down by the Gabon international. Aubameyang wishes to continue his playing career in Europe, with a move away from Arsenal touted for the summer.
Dele Alli will leave Tottenham this month, with as many as five Premier League clubs interested in his services. Southampton, Brighton, Everton, Burnley, and Newcastle, are all said to be looking into adding Alli to their ranks. Both a straight loan and a permanent move are on the table if Alli chooses to leave White Hart Lane.
Burnley are closing in on the signing of Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Mislav Orsic. The Clarets are looking to add to their goals tally after Chris Wood departed the club earlier this month for Newcastle United. Orsic is a powerful, direct forward, is most known for scoring a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur for Dinamo in the Europa League round of 16 which sent Dinamo to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in the club’s history.
