- Brentford’s Ivan Toney will return to action in January after his eight-month ban
- Victor Osimhen and Dusan Vlahovic have been linked with moves to England
- Everton players will be fed up with the owners – listen to It’s All Kicking Off
Whisper it, but we’re almost a third of the way through the Premier League season, which means January transfer window is just over five weeks away.
And business could be booming this winter, with some of the top six clubs eyeing new addition to their squads to address injury crises or improve their title credentials. Or in some cases, both.
Arsenal have long been linked with a move for Ivan Toney as Mikel Arteta looks to solve his goalscoring issues following Gabriel Jesus injury, while Eddie Howe desperately needs reinforcements in midfield.
Elsewhere, Kalvin Phillips looks finally set to leave Manchester City and former Premier League stars Raphinha and Ruben Neves have been linked with a return to England.
Here, Mail Sport takes a look at some of the top players who could be on the move in January.
Ivan Toney
Toney is currently sidelined after being handed an eight-month ban earlier this year for gambling offences, but is set to return to action in January.
And the Brentford striker has been linked with a big-money move at the start of 2024 after attracting interest from London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Gunners are reportedly in pole position to secure the 27-year-old’s signature, but it remains to be seen whether Toney will leave the Bees in January.
Thomas Frank said earlier this month that he would like Toney to remain at Brentford ‘forever’, and the Bees are in a strong position as they are under no significant pressure to sell their star striker as he approaches the final 18 months of his deal.
Toney scored 32 goals over the last two Premier League seasons, but a rumoured price tag of £100million is set to test the mettle of any potential suitors.
January move likelihood: 2.5/5. Toney could make the difference for a top six side needing a reliable striker, but hasn’t played competitively for eight months and Brentford don’t need to sell. They could realistically hang on to him until the summer.
Kalvin Phillips
Few players in the Premier League may need a change of scenario more than Phillips.
The England international arrived at the Etihad last year from Leeds in a £45million deal after a superb Euro 2020, but has struggled to make an impact with the Premier League champions and is expected to leave in January.
The 27-year-old had to wait until May to make his first Premier League start for the club and has played just 89 minutes across four league appearances so far this term.
Pep Guardiola admitted opportunities are likely to remain limited for Phillips because of Rodri’s presence in side and has made clear he would not keep players at City against their wish.
Gareth Southgate has stood by the midfielder, who has retained his place in the England squad despite watching from the sidelines at the Etihad, but acknowledged he would like to see the midfielder play more often.
Phillips admitted in October he was ‘going to have to make a decision on [my future] over the next months’ and looks almost certain to leave City in January.
Newcastle and West Ham have routinely been linked with the midfielder.
January move likelihood: 5/5. Phillips needs to leave and Guardiola and Southgate have both admitted as much. City won’t be short of suitors either.
Victor Osimhen
Despite being linked with a host of Premier League clubs in the summer, Osimhen opted to stay put in Serie A after firing Napoli to their first league title in three decades.
The Nigerian scored 31 goals in all competitions last season and has picked up where he left off, netting six times in 10 Serie A appearances this term despite being sidelined since October with a hamstring injury.
The same cannot be said about Napoli, who are already 10 points behind league leaders Inter Milan and last week fired Rudi Garcia after just three months in charge and replaced him with Walter Mazzarri.
Osimhen’s relationship with the club and the fans took a turn for the worst earlier this season, when he was the subject of two controversial videos posted to Napoli’s social media accounts.
Manchester United and Chelsea have both been linked with the 24-year-old, but Napoli chairman Aurelio Di Laurentiis is a notoriously difficult negotiator and slapped a £150million price-tag on his prized asset in the summer.
And the Blues remain the most likely Premier League destination for the Napoli star.
January move likelihood: 2.5/5. Napoli may be treading water but Aurelio de Laurentiis drives a hard bargain and it would take a huge transfer fee to lure Osimhen away from Naples in January.
Jadon Sancho
Less than two years after arriving at Old Trafford, amid much fanfare to the tune of £73million, Sancho’s career at Manchester United looks to be as good as over.
Sancho has been training and eating on his own for the last two months after publicly branding Erik Ten Hag a liar over his omission from the United squad at Arsenal in September.
The 23-year-old has refused to apologise and made the last of his three appearances this season in late August.
Juventus have been linked with a move for Sancho, but they are unlikely to be able to afford a large transfer fee for a player who was available for £45m in the summer.
Borussia Dortmund are also believed to be considering a move to take Sancho back to the Bundesliga, but his £275,000-a-week wages could prove a stumbling block.
Saudi Arabia is another possibility, but Mail Sport reported Sancho would prefer to stay in Europe at this stage of his career if possible.
Al-Ettifaq pulled the plug on out a loan deal late in the summer window because they were reluctant to a £50m permanent move at the end of the season.
January move likelihood: 4/5. Sancho has not future at United with ten Hag in charge and parting ways is by far the best option for both parties. His wages could prove a sticking point, though.
Ruben Neves
The former Wolves star could be on his way back to the Premier League less than six months after moving to Saudi Arabia.
The Portuguese is among the candidates to address Newcastle’s midfield crisis, but any potential move could be complicated by new Premier League rules designed to stop incoming loans between clubs who share owners.
Neves plays for Al-Hilal, whose Public Investment Fund owners have an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle.
The Magpies’ loss could be Arsenal’s gain, with Spanish outlet Sport reporting earlier this week Mikel Arteta has made Neves one of his main targets in the January window.
January move likelihood: 3.5/5. The Saudi league is undoubtedly financially attractive, but would Neves really turn down the chance to play for a top six club in the Premier League at the age of 26?
Raphinha
Like his former Leeds teammate Phillips, Raphina could also be on the move in January, according to reports in Spain.
Mundo Deportivo reported over the weekend that Spurs would be interested in signing the Brazilian winger this winter and Liverpool are also among the suitors, according to Fichajes.
Raphinha scored 10 goals in his debut season at the Nou Camp, helping Xavi’s side win the La Liga title in the process but has been restricted to just five starts so far this term.
January move likelihood: 2/5. Raphinha may have had limited opportunities this season, but cash-strapped Barca are hardly in a position to splurge on replacements.
Dusan Vlahovic
For a player who cost Juventus £71m less than two years ago, Vlahovic’s future seems strangely unclear.
The Serb has so far repaid the Old Lady’s outlay, scoring 14 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions in his debut season, despite missing two months through injury.
Vlahovic has scored four goals in 10 Serie A games this season, but has started just once in the last five matches.
The suggestion Juventus’ top brass may not be entirely sold on Vlahovic was reinforced last month when the club’s sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, revealed the Bianconeri were prepared to allow the striker to join Chelsea this summer.
Mauricio Pochettino had earmarked the Serbian as a target for the Blues and the 23-year-old remains linked with a move away from Serie A.
Juventus, however, will expected to recoup their fee if they are to allow Vlahovic to leave.
January move likelihood: 1/5. Juventus have spent big on Vlahovic and don’t have a replacement lined up.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
