January Transfer Window: 15 Possible Unconfirmed Transfers
By Jim James
The January Transfer Window is a one of a kind Window. Managers and Boards get to look at the last 4.5 months of play and evaluate what they need. I did a post like this all the way back in December 2018, and I enjoyed reading that now, in 2021. Could I be reading this in 2024? Who knows. Anyway, today I’ll be looking at 15 possible transfers for January that could happen OR pre-contract signings that could be announced over the coming month. As said in the title, unconfirmed transfers will be reviewed, so no Ferran Torres or Dani Alves. 15 transfers, let’s begin!
I want to get one thing clear here. Cristiano Ronaldo is NOT signing for Barcelona. It was posted by a Spanish source, and it’s the equivalent of April Fool’s day there. The big news articles have got it misconstrued. If Ronaldo ever does sign for Barça, I will release a 1500 word post on how Ronaldo is the GOAT. You have my word. Let’s begin!
1: Edinson Cavani to Barcelona
Fee: Free
Likelihood: 8/10
After the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo and the stripping of the #7 shirt, although Edinson Cavani has been alright for Man U when he’s played, he hasn’t been getting enough game time, and if he knew Man U were going tosign Ronaldo, he may have not signed the contract.
Meanwhile Barcelona, with the need of a new #9 after the sudden retirement of Sergio Aguero, see Edinson Cavani as a main target. Edinson Cavani was also reported to have asked Man U to terminate his contract for a Barca move. I see this one happening.
2: Anthony Martial to Sevilla (Loan)
Fee: Loan
Likelihood: 7/10
Another problem CR7’s return has caused is an Anthony Martial situation where he isn’t getting much game time either. The 26-year old has stagnated over the last few years at United and the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo putting him further down the pecking order in what has to be his make-or-break season didn’t help at all. He’s been at Manchester United for a while, so maybe a change of scenery for a few months is what he needs.
After a 1-1 draw with Barcelona last week, Sevilla is getting a little more desperate in a charge to catch Real Madrid in the La Liga title race. They do need a striker, and have since they sold Wissam Ben Yedder in 2019. Anthony Martial could be the last piece of the puzzle to finally get this Sevilla team success in 2021-22. I also don’t see Man U declining to sell him either.
3: Samuel Umtiti to Newcastle
Fee: 14m
Liklihood: 3.5/10
One thing I don’t understand is, Newcastle, with their bottomless pit of money, choose of all people to go for, Samuel Umtiti. A man who will lose them more games than win them. They’re 19th, and they want Samuel Umtiti to secure relegation.
The reason I put this transfer so low on the probability scale because Umtiti does not want to leave Barca in January or the Summer. A handsome offer frm Newcastle could convince him to leave Catalunya, so a transfer is possible.
4: Mason Greenwood to Arsenal
Fee: 36m
Likelihood: 1/10
Are you seriously suggesting for one minute that Mason Greenwood is going to pull a reverse RVP and sign for Arsenal? Sure he’s unhappy, but I don’t think he’d go to those lengths. It’s terribly unlikely.
5: Mattigs De Ligt to Chelsea
Fee: 60-85m
Likelihood: 4/10
It seems possible, but I can’t see it happening this window. I feel that January isn’t the time for a move like this to take place. Rumors have swirled around that Juventus have put Mattigs de Ligt up for sale to raise funds for a Dusan Vlahovic signing (we’ll get to that).
Chelsea need center backs with Thiago Silva getting old and Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger both looking like they’re going to leave for nothing this summer, to stay competitive at the back Chelsea need someone like de Ligt who would control the back line for the next decade. It also helps that Juventus are getting desperate for a sale and are putting up the potential next Virgil van Dijk up for sale at a bargain. I’m unsure whether the transfer will happen to Chelsea in January, but I am sure he’s getting sold somewhere in 2022.
6: Bruno Guimares to Arsenal
Fee: 38m
Likelihood: 7/10
I see this one happening. This is the transfer I can picture the most as of yet. Mainly because Arsenal have spent a lot on foreign young midfielders recently (Dani Ceballos, Lucas Torreira, Martin Odegaard, Albert Sambi Lokonga, etc.) and I think that Bruno Guimares could be a good fit.
The brazilian Guimares could be seen as surplus at the Groupama stadium as Lyon already have well surpassed their quota of promising midfielders with Lucas Paqueta, Houssem Aouar, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Thiago Mendes, Maxence Caqueret, and arguably even Rayan Cherki all young midfielders there, and could look to cash in on some of them. My advice to Guimares: DON’T DO IT. I wouldn’t. Look what happened to the aforementioned foreign young midfielders Arsenal have signed. They haven’t developed, and from the young midfielder stance, are the Lyon of the Premier League. I’d sign for a team like Wolves, West Ham, Leicester, or Newcastle where they’re competitive (In Newcastle’s case they could pay me handsomely, and I’d be a perennial starter. Just not Arsenal.
8: Mykhalo Mudryk to Brentford
Fee: 10-20m
Probability: 6/10
Mykhalo Mudryk is mysterious. I don’t really know a lot about the Ukranian League, as Mudryk plays for Shakhtar and I don’t know why Brentford is going for him. They have a lot of international players, but few from eastern Europe. They also have a good and relatively young LB in Rico Henry, one of Brentford’s only players and he’s only 24. Even if he’ll be a midfielder, they’re set there as well.
Despite the curiousness of this transfer, I can still see it happening. That doesn’t mean I understand it, but I can see it happening.
9: Dusan Vlahovic to Juventus
Fee: 70-90m
Probability: 5/10
Dusan Vlahovic is one of the most improved players this season, who now looks like he’s going to become Serbia’s best attacker since Dragan Drazic. However, he plays for Fiorentina and can’t stay there forever. Fiorentina have accepted this and put a hefty asking price on him, a bold move on someone who’s contract expires in 2023 and isn’t renewing.
Juventus is in the front seat to snatch Vlahovic, with Paulo Dybala considering a move to Barca and Juve just needing more firepower up front, this seems like a good match. Vlahovic wants to move to a big team, and Juve need goals. Simple. There is a roadblock or two, however. Juventus have to be gingerly about their business with the investigations going on about them, and they don’t have as much money as they’re used to because of the pandemic, and as I said before, need to sell de Ligt for funds, so because of those reasons, I’m puting this transfer lower on the possibility scale.
10: Philippe Coutinho to Arsenal
Fee: 15-25m
Proability: 8/10
Let’s be honest, Phil Coutinho has been poor this season. Very poor. Only 2 goals this season, both of which I remember fondly but he hasn’t got any points for Barca this year and after the signing of Ferran Torres, we need a fire sale. Coutinho has had links of an exit for years and he’ll probably be one of the first players to go under Xavi in January.
11: Fabio Blanco to Barcelona
Fee: <5m
Probability: 10/10
This one has happened already, it just isn’t announced. I couldn’t find his transfer fee anywhere on the internet so I do admit, I guessed. However, it is the second former Valencia talent we’ve signed this week.
I’m surprised we’ve signed him so soon after he joined Frankfurt. He joined this summer, and looked to have a lot of promise in Germany, but we’re signing him, he’ll join on January 1st, remember the name Fabio Blanco.
12: Frenkie de Jong to Arsenal
Fee: 81m
Probability: 2/10
I just can’t see this happening, to Arsenal or in January. However, we will go along with it.
Frenkie de Jong is a Barca man in need of a change of scenery, and Barcelona are a team in need of money. Arsenal are looking like they might hijack Man U’s deal for Frenkie de Jong and do it soon. Arsenal need a star midfielder and as much as I would love to keep de Jong, with a Haaland transfer necessary at this point for Barca, we need all the funds we can get and we aren’t short for future midfield stars.
However, what makes this transfer so unlikely is that there is no indication that de Jong would join Arsenal. It’s like Newcastle, sure they can afford it, but why leave one of the biggest names in the world for a team like Arsenal? I also can’t see a transfer this big happening in January.
13: Lorenzo Insigne to Toronto FC
Fee: Free (Pre-Contract)
Probability: 8.5/10
As a Toronto FC fan, I couldn’t believe this when I heard that Lorenzo Insigne was seriously considering accepting a $7m offer from little old TORONTO FC to become the biggest signing in MLS history. It isn’t confirmed yet, it isn’t done yet, as Fabrizio Romano said, but it’s almost done.
The $7 million is double what Napoli is offering him to extend his deal, and he has an asking price of $5 million, which it’s hard to see him accepting with an offer of this magnitude on the table. I’m going to make a post on this soon. If you’re tired of hearing about Toronto FC, too bad, because there’s another pre-contract deal for Toronto FC that’s AMAZING.
14: Andrea Belotti to Toronto FC
Fee: Free (Pre-Contract)
Probability: 6/10
Another HUGE move. Andrea Belotti is only 26 and he too is considering joining the MLS. I don’t mind, he looks like he’ll join TFC as well. The rebuild is happening. Lets go!!!!
15: Cesar Azpilicueta to Barcelona
Fee: Free (Pre-Contract)
Probability: 9/10
This one is looking more and more likely. It was reported that Barcelona agreed a contract with him in principle. Barcelona could use a new defender, and I think Azpi could be perfect for Barca’s needs. Watch out for this transfer.
I’m just looking forward to the window. There’s a lot of headlines, news, and stories that will be resolved in the upcoming month. Thank you for reading this post. See you soon.