Olivier Giroud, Daniel Sturridge, Ross Barkley… seven Premier League players who desperately need a January move
In a World Cup year, a host of big-name stars currently rotting on the bench may make a last-ditch move to get to Russia
WITH so many moves going to the wire on transfer deadline day and the World Cup looming, it’s inevitable we’re in for a big winter transfer window.
Clubs will have been plotting their moves for months in advance of January 1 while players and agents will also have been weighing up their options.
With that in mind, we asked our friends at Football Whispers to come up with a list of players who desperately need a move in January.
Daniel Sturridge
The Liverpool striker’s career has stalled horribly at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp with a combination of injuries and the German’s preference for Roberto Firmino to blame.
Since scoring 21 times in 2013-14 as Brendan Rodgers’ side came close to winning the title, Sturridge has failed to hit double figures in the Prem, making just 29 league starts.
It’s clear Klopp doesn’t fancy the England international who, at 28, needs regular minutes to revive his England hopes.
He had been a West Ham transfer target before Slaven Bilic’s sacking.
Ross Barkley
It looked as though the wantaway Everton midfielder would get his move in August.
But it emerged late on deadline day that the Tottenham transfer target had decided against undergoing a medical at Chelsea.
With his contract up next summer, Barkley has made it clear he will not sign a new deal to remain at Goodison Park.
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Frozen out by Ronald Koeman, the England international is also injured.
Uncertainty over the identity of the next Toffees manager will hardly help the situation and January is the club’s last chance to get a fee for the 23-year-old.
Luke Shaw
Another player whose future has to lie away from his current employer for the good of his club and international career is Manchester United defender Shaw.
Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho has been scathing in his criticism of the left-back.
This season he has used winger Ashley Young and midfielder Daley Blind at No3 instead of Shaw.
That's not good enough for a man touted as England's future left-back.
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Aleksandar Mitrovic
The Serbian forward has always enjoyed a rocky relationship with his managers at St James’ Park and Rafa Benitez is no exception.
Despite the Magpies’ lack of goals this season the ex-Anderlecht striker finds himself out of favourand has made just three sub appearances totalling 49 minutes.
Discipline has always been a problem for Mitrovic, who plays on the edge.
With Benitez signing Joselu from Stoke in the summer, it seems unlikely the Brighton transfer target will break into the side.
Theo Walcott
Contracted to Arsenal until the summer of 2019, Walcott is well down the pecking order at the Emirates and has yet to make a Premier League start this season.
The England forward, who is on more than £100,000 still, has been afforded just three substitute outings in the league amounting to less than half an hour.
Used chiefly in the Europa League and domestic cup competitions, Walcott has been subject of West Ham transfer rumours.
Michy Batshuayi
Chelsea fought off competition from Crystal Palace and West Ham in the summer of 2016 to land the Belgian in a £34m deal from Marseille.
But he has been a peripheral figure ever since.
Batshuayi made just one Premier League start last season as Antonio Conte’s men won the title but weighed in with five goals.
Despite Diego Costa’s omission this season the 23-year-old has struggled to prove he is an able deputy to Alvaro Morata and is getting itchy feet at Stamford Bridge.
Olivier Giroud
An Everton transfer target in the summer, the Arsenal forward was close to joining the Toffees - according to sacked manager Ronald Koeman.
But in the end Giroud stayed to fight for his place but has found himself behind Alexandre Lacazette, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez.
With his place in Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad on the line, the former Montpellier forward needs games and goals in the second half of the season.
