January transfers are mostly underwhelming because the available talents are usually players who clubs can afford to lose. But clubs have been able to attract some top talents in the window, which makes it arguably the most interesting transfer window in football.
We have already seen Philippe Coutinho make a very unlikely move to Aston Villa to be reunited with his former Liverpool teammate, Steven Gerrard, who is now in the dugout for the Villans.
More transfers like that are on the cards for Europe’s biggest clubs, and with that in mind, we thought to bring you some of the transfers that could be completed before the window is closed in a couple of days. Overlyzer provides data from top bookmakers with the best odds and this article was also put together using those metrics.
Dusan Vlahovic
The 21-year-old is the second hottest young striker in the world after Erling Haaland. He is currently fourth in the European Golden shoe race led by none other than Robert Lewandowski, and his 17 goals in the Italian Serie A have earned him a joint top spot at the top of the league goalscorer charts.
He has averaged a goal involvement per match this season, having had 24 goal involvements playing in 24 games for I Viola, and continues to make Fiorentina a threat to other Italian clubs despite their sitting in seventh place in Serie A.
Vlahovic recently was in the news for rejecting Arsenal and choosing Juventus, but it remains to be seen where he will end up by the end of the winter window, with Manchester City, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur all reportedly interested in the Serbian striker.
Dejan Kulusevski
The Swede has fallen out of favor at Juventus since the club axed Andrea Pirlo from the dugout and replaced him with Massimiliano Allegri. The former Serie A young player of the year is still as talented as he used to be, despite not being able to fit into his new manager’s style effectively.
Kulusevski’s talents have attracted the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and while the winter transfer window comes to a close in a couple of days, the likelihood of his exit is still above 50 percent as reports have claimed that the winger is willing to leave the Allianz Stadium in January.
Adama Traore
The 26-year-old La Masia academy product has been fun to watch with Wolverhampton Wanderers since he joined the club in 2018 from Middlesbrough. Despite his great showings in the amber-colored jersey of the West Midlands side, he has not been able to deliver the goods in terms of goals and assists. However, his blistering pace and power, and skillful feet continue to make him a staple in the team.
His time dazzling the Wolves fans looks to be up, as reports linking him with Antonio Conte at Spurs have gained massive traction recently. Reports have also claimed that a deal in the range of £20-30 million has been tabled by the North London club to Wolves, who are considering the offer.
Luka Jovic
Luka Jovic, like many other players, was once the talk of the town after some stellar performances in the German Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt a few seasons ago. Clubs fought for his signature, with Real Madrid winning the battle.
Four seasons later, the 24-year-old Serbian – like many other players – is in a career limbo as the big money move now looks ill-advised. Jovic has not started a single league game for Real Madrid this season, no thanks to the club’s key man Karim Benzema firing on all cylinders.
However, a way out – which he is reportedly open to – has come forth for him through Arsenal, who are looking for a solution to their striker problems following the disappointment of losing out on Dusan Vlahovic. The January transfer window could likely see Jovic become a Gunner for the rest of the 2021/22 season.
Denis Zakaria
The 25-year-old Swiss international midfielder has told his club Borussia Monchengladbach that he will not be continuing with them, and is currently discussing with other clubs. He has been one of the most consistently linked players to the Premier League, with Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United reportedly interested in his services.
Outside the Premier League, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus have reportedly been speaking with his representatives to facilitate a move. While he could finish the season with Monchengladbach, talks with all of the interested clubs are progressing, according to reports, and this could mean that the midfielder could be on his way to a new club by the end of the winter window.
Monchengladbach is also keen on cashing out on Zakaria, as they do not wish to lose a player of such caliber for free when his contract expires in the summer.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s and Arsenal’s love story is officially over following the disciplinary issue which led to him being ostracised from the club. The Gabon international, a Premier League golden boot winner and an FA Cup winner with the Gunners, once a fan favorite, is not even a second thought anymore within the club.
As a result, a move away from North London is on the cards for the 32-year-old, who the Gunners hope to offload in order to finance other deals in the January transfer window. Aubameyang may end up in the French league, or be shipped far away to Saudi Arabia, where two of the country’s biggest sides are in a bidding war for the striker.
Diego Carlos
The 28-year-old Brazilian is a top target for noveau-rich Newcastle United and is reportedly keen on leaving Sevilla for a move to Tyneside.
The Magpies have been busy in the winter window and have been linked with virtually every player available. However, many sources claim that Diego Carlos is a top target and a deal with Sevilla could be completed before the winter transfer window closes.
Robin Gosens
The 26-year-old is a key player in the Atalanta side that took the world by storm in the 2018/19 season and has since kept up his amazing performances for the Bergamo club.
Like many of his Atalanta teammates, Gosens has been scouted by top clubs but he is closest to moving on from Atalanta this season, according to reports. Serie A table-toppers and defending champions Internazionale are discussing with the player’s representatives and Atalanta’s board who are willing to cash in on a player to inject much-needed funds into their squad.
Tanguy Ndombele
Once a much sought-after midfielder, Tottenham Hotspur’s Tanguy Ndombele has fallen out of favor at the North London club. Rifts with management and a reported unwillingness to be a team player have led to the midfielder entering career limbo.
His torrid time with the Lilywhites could be coming to an end, however, as reports claim that Paris Saint-Germain is very interested in bringing the player back to Ligue 1 where he became the much sought-after midfielder he was before his move to Spurs.
Luis Diaz
Antonio Conte and Spurs are currently in talks to sign Luis Diaz, the Portuguese Primera Liga top scorer from FC Porto. The winger has been incredible for the Portuguese club and has attracted interest from several sides. However, Spurs look to be in the lead for his signature.
Luis Diaz ranks top for goals, shots, and touches in the opposition box in the Primera Liga and is also an impressive presser, making him a great fit for Antonio Conte’s style at Spurs. It remains to be seen, however, if Porto will be willing to let their chief goalscorer leave in January. However, reports all suggest that this is a very likely move to be completed before the end of the winter transfer window.
