The January transfer window is just a fortnight away, bringing an opportunity for clubs to bolster their ranks mid-season, but also helping out players who are no longer enamoured with their current employers.
Across the Premier League, there are many players who will be eyeing a move in the upcoming window.
Here we pick out five that should be feature on a number of rival club’s shopping lists:
Aaron Ramsey
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has entered the final six months of his contract at the Emirates and it now seems as though the Gunners are resigned to losing the Welshman
Ramsey was not offered a new deal by the club’s owners after they pulled out of a revised contract offer earlier this year and has been linked with a mid-season move ever since, while Arsenal will be keen to allow the player to move for a cut-price deal in January rather than lose him on a free in the summer.
The 27-year-old is a potential target for Manchester United though is also rumoured to be fancied by Liverpool and Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
Evidenced by United’s showing in centre midfield against Liverpool, Ramsey would be a great addition to Mourinho’s side, but according to bookmakers Bayern are 7/2 favourites to secure his services in January, while 5/2 is being offered across a number of free bet no deposit sites for the Welshman to join any German club at any time.
Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill has a been a bedrock of Chelsea’s title winning teams in recent years, but turning 33 this month he is now in a position where he is no longer a first-choice centre-back at Chelsea.
Cahill recently retired from international football in an attempt to prolong his club career and with the defender another player who is out of his current contract at the end of this season, you have to assume he will chomping at the bit for a move in January.
Aston Villa are keen to sign their former player and Cahill would get plenty of game time for their beleaguered defence in the Championship. Villa are currently 7/4 with bookies William Hill to sign him in January.
David de Gea
Despite Man United suffering their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign and already conceding more goals (29) after 17 games than they did in the entirety of last season, the reason that United have struggled to keep clean sheets has rarely been David De Gea.
The Spaniard has kept United in many games and his ability still attracts many admirers from across the continent. The keeper is understood to be frustrated by the current situation at Old Trafford and reportedly has a fractious relationship with Jose Mourinho.
Man United have just activated a one-year extension on De Gea’s contract, but Italian giants Juventus are currently 7/1 to get De Gea’s signature in January.
Cesc Fabregas
Like Gary Cahill, Cesc Fabregas is another Chelsea veteran that is struggling to get game time under new manager Maurizio Sarri and the Spaniard’s contract also runs out at the end of this season.
Chelsea won’t to lose him for nothing in the summer, so Fabregas is another player that might be moving for a relative bargain in the winter transfer window. Both AC and Inter Milan are understood to be keeping an eye on his situation.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba has been left out of important fixtures for Manchester United recently and – like many at Old Trafford right now – seems seriously unhappy with his current situation.
Despite signing for United only two years ago for a then record breaking £89 million, the Frenchman could be on the move in January, with bookies offering 5/1 on him leaving Manchester in the window. Barcelona and former club Juventus are the favourites to sign him.
