Hello all, welcome back, and Merry Christmas! The holiday season is in full swing and the festive spirit is well in the air. In my opinion, what better Christmas gift than a new star signing for your club? After all, it is the gift that keeps on giving the whole year long! (And hopefully a few more after that). While January can’t ever quite compete with the great summer window, we’ve still seen some massive moves over the years in January. Some historic examples of great January moves could include:
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s PSG move in 2025
Enzo Fernandez’s record-breaking Chelsea switch in 2023
Bruno Fernandes’ United transfer in 2020
Erling Haaland’s Dortmund move in 2020
The 2018 January window, featuring Coutinho to Barca, Van Dijk to Liverpool, Alexis to United, and Aubameyang to Arsenal
As you’ll see today, there are a couple moves today that may be able to join that list of names. There may be some signings that could have a big impact on football for a while to come, as well as some quick impact moves that may be able to shake up the most important part of the season. Join me for all the January storylines, at a glance.
Endrick to Lyon
Current Club: Real Madrid
Age: 19
Position: ST
Fee: Loan (6-month)
Probability: 100%
The only official move on the list, Endrick, with two appearances all year so far for Madrid, may finally get some game time in France. In a move that gives many similarities to the move Madrid made in 2017 to send away backup striker Mariano Diaz before buying him back and seeing him become a serviceable backup striker.
Oddly enough, the move was to the same club, Lyon. Mariano would score 18 goals in 37 games, becoming a very good contributor in his one season in France. Endrick, once touted as the heir to Pele, will be hoping for similar production at the Groupama Stadium. Perhaps he can get his career back on track, and maybe even steal a World Cup spot with Brazil.
Antoine Semenyo to City/Utd/Liverpool
Current Club: Bournemouth
Age: 25
Position: RM
Fee: 65m
Probability: 85%
The main saga in the Premier League leading into January, Antoine Semenyo has been gaining massive interest from the Premier League’s top clubs. Nearly all of the big six have shown interest in the Ghanaian at some point, but it looks like the saga may finally be coming to an end.
While City, United, and Liverpool have been the clubs pushing hardest for him, it appears he’s chosen Manchester City as his preferred destination. Despite City’s signings of Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Rayan Cherki, and the rise of Oscar Bobb in recent years, Semenyo believes that he’ll be able to make an impact in the City rotation, which he has the ability to. Only time will tell if he will, however.
Alessandro Bastoni/Nico Schlotterbeck to Barca
Bastoni:
Current Club: Inter
Age: 26
Position: CB
Fee: 65-85m
Probability: 10%
Schlotterbeck:
Current Club: Dortmund
Age: 26
Position: CB
Fee: 40-60m
Probability: 25%
Barcelona fans have been crying out for a centerback, and according to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona will “explore options” for a defender in the winter window. If Barcelona are to sign one, these two would be at the top of their list. Signing either of these two, especially Bastoni, would be a game changer. Barcelona seemingly needs defensive depth to be able to make a real challenge in the business end of the season, and this may be their last chance with an attack as great as it is right now.
While the Bastoni and Schlotterbeck signings are pretty unfeasable for the club as midseason signings, it’s very possible Barcelona sign a smaller name on loan before attempting to solve the problem for good come summertime. Keep an eye on this developing situation.
Gabriel Mec to Liverpool
Current Club: Gremio
Age: 17
Position: AM
Fee: 10-20m
Probability: 50%
Not to be confused with Vasco de Gama and LA Galaxy star Gabriel Pec, Mec is a talent who’s been tearing up the Gremio youth teams over the years, and has now attracted the eye of Anfield. Mec is considered the best academy talent out of Gremio since Ronaldinho emerged in the late 90s.
The only caveat is that, despite Mec’s apparent talent, he’s been entrusted with just two senior Gremio appearances so far, with his Eighteenth birthday on the horizon. A move would likely be expensive and quite the gamble for Liverpool, and wouldn’t have any impact on their current season, with the move having to be completed in the summer before the 26/27 season.
Hamza Abdelkarim to Barca
Current Club: Al Ahly (Egypt)
Age: 17
Position: ST
Fee: 10-15m
Probability: 35%
A prospect compared to “Egypt’s Erling Haaland” who Barcelona have been fresh in negotiations for, Barcelona is hoping this Egyptian prospect may end up being a creative solution to the club’s long-term striker issue. It is, however, still very early for those expectations.
Abdelkarim has only 4 senior appearances for Al Ahly so far, but has scored 12 in 19 Egypt U17 appearances. Like the Mec move for Liverpool, this transfer would be a gamble and potentially followed up with one or two loan moves to get some game time, so we’ll have to see if Barca are willing to take the gamble and spend some of their short supply of money.
Jeremy Monga to City/Chelsea
Current Club: Leicester City
Age: 16
Position: LW
Fee: 40-50m
Probability: 30%
Potentially the Theo Walcott of today, Jeremy Monga has been a new young sensation at Leicester in the Championship. Born in 2009, Monga has made quite a few Championship appearances and could fetch Leicester a massive transfer fee.
While I’ve only put City and Chelsea in this list, Monga has been looked at by every top Premier League club, and even some top clubs outside of England, such as Real Madrid. The Jeremy Monga saga, whether it’ll be determined in January or the summer, will certainly be a very interesting watch.
Conor Gallagher/Ruben Neves to Utd
Gallagher:
Current Club: Atlético Madrid
Age: 25
Position: CM
Fee: 25-40m
Probability: 35%
Neves:
Current Club: Al Hilal
Age: 28
Position: CM
Fee: 20-35m
Probability: 30%
While United have looked better in the start of the season, a midfielder is still among the list of things United desperately need ahead of a potential Champions League push in the second half of the season. United is still at a point where they need to start Manu Ugarte in some games, which has produced losses the past six times they’ve done it.
United though, have now seemingly shortlisted two very solid options. Which one they bring in will likely be a matter of who’s available, but I don’t think they can really go wrong with either of them.
Darryl Bakola to Arsenal/Chelsea/Newcastle
Current Club: Marseille
Age: 18
Position: AM
Fee: 10-15m
Probability: 55%
Another rather unproven talent, Bakola has played just 8 games with Marseille this season at 18, just 114 minutes, but has already attracted interest from big clubs in England. We still need to see more of Bakola’s game in order to make a judgement, I’d say, but it seems clubs are buying young stars earlier and earlier in their development, and Bakola doesn’t seem much different.
It’ll be another big gamble, and it’ll be fun to see.
Artem Dovbyk to West Ham/Everton/Sunderland
Current Club: Roma
Age: 28
Position: ST
Fee: 35-40m
Probability: 60%
The 2024 Pichichi winner looks to be on the move again, and perhaps the Premier League will be able to get the best out of the Ukranian once again. With 24 La Liga goals in a 23/24 title charge, Dovbyk has since regressed in Italy with Roma, but as several Premier League clubs look for a bona fide striker, Dovbyk looks like he could be the man.
It’ll be an interesting fit, I can’t predict what would happen, but I hope Dovbyk won’t be the flop that it seems that he might be. I’d love to see the Ukranian finally find his feet again, and get the recognition he deserves.
Michael Olise to Liverpool/Madrid/City
Current Club: Bayern
Age: 24
Position: RW
Fee: >150m
Probability: 5%
Very much a pipe dream in my eyes, while this move would shake up the football world, there’s no way Bayern’s willing to give up Olise for any price that anyone could muster up in January. The winger is looking incredible, 16 G/A in 15 Bundesliga games, and is now one of the best wingers in the world. I think Olise is a Bayern lifer at this point, and will at least spend the next 7-8 years at the club.
While big moves to Liverpool, Madrid, or City would change the entire future at each club, there is ZERO CHANCE Bayern sells. Not only is Olise one of Bayern’s great front three with Kane and Diaz, but he’s also the youngest. He’s the heir to Robben. No chance.
Mo Salah to Leave Liverpool
Current Club: Liverpool
Age: 32
Position: RW
Fee: 50-75m
Probability: 75%
While we don’t know where he’d go, it seems Mo Salah’s legendary tenure at Liverpool is coming to a close after eight long years. After a public falling out with manager Arne Slot, Liverpool is actively shopping around the forward. A move will likely take place after AFCON, but we’ll still need to get more updates as they happen.
That’s all for now, folks, I can’t wait to see which of these moves happen, the storylines, surprises, everything. This is why we love the transfer window. For now though, enjoy Christmas, happy holidays, and I’ll see you next time.