It's January, and that means the transfer window is open. Which players are likeliest to move before it closes at the end of the month? David Amoyal rates the top rumours from around world football.
Christian Eriksen to Real Madrid: 30 percent
After failing to adequately replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer, Real Madrid are mired in an unexpected crisis. In order to find their way back up, Los Blancos are preparing an overhaul, especially in midfield, with Tottenham's Christian Eriksen being very high on Florentino Perez's wish list. The Dane, whose contract with the Spurs will be up in 2020, is stalling on an extension with the London side, and he is pondering whether this is the right time for him to make a step up in his career. Despite the leverage the contract situation could give to Real Madrid, however, Tottenham are adamant that they won't listen to offers below the £100 million mark.
Aaron Ramsey to Juventus, Diego Godin to Inter: 85 percent
Since last week, the Serie A champions have made more progress in the negotiation to sign Ramsey from Arsenal on a Bosman deal. The Welsh midfielder is set to sign a multiyear deal with an annual salary of €7m, but while Juventus will make an attempt to bring him in during the January window, Arsenal are determined to keep him the same way Liverpool were with Emre Can last season. Ramsey isn't the only high profile Bosman signing set to arrive in Serie A next season, since Inter have reportedly agreed to terms with Godin on a two-year contract with an option for a third season.
Kostas Manolas to Manchester United: 15 percent in January, 45 percent in summer
Reports that the Greek defender hired agent Mino Raiola sparked rumors of an imminent move to the Red Devils. While the significance of this hire was overblown considering it was Raiola who brokered Manolas' transfer to Roma in 2014, Manchester United are very interested in acquiring the player. But there are considerably better odds the move will take place in the summer since Manolas' €36m exit clause can't be activated during the January window. Roma are also determined to keep the center-back until the end of the season since the revenues that come from qualifying for the Champions League are crucial to their balance sheet.
Gonzalo Higuain to Chelsea: 35 percent
Maurizio Sarri has been pushing to be reunited with the Argentine striker since moving to the Premier League, while Chelsea are always reticent to invest heavily in players over 30. But with Alvaro Morata continuing to struggle at Stamford Bridge, there's once again some momentum for this potential transfer. The deal is, however, more complicated now because Milan would have to find a replacement for Higuain in order to terminate his loan.
Denis Suarez to Arsenal: 55 percent
With Suarez's contract expiring in 2020, Barcelona are interested in cashing in on the 24-year-old midfielder. Arsenal are looking to find someone to help replace Aaron Ramsey, and Suarez has ties to Gunners coach Unai Emery dating to their time together at Sevilla in 2014. The deal could be completed for around £20m during the January window.
Allan to PSG: 15 percent in January, 35 percent in summer
The French club were impressed with the Brazil international when they faced Napoli in the Champions League last fall, particularly during the match at the Parc des Princes. While they are interested in acquiring him at some point in 2019, they have yet to make a formal offer because of their Financial Fair Play parameters. A deal in the summer is more likely than in the January window, since by then PSG can also complete some sales to be more in line with UEFA's expectations. Regardless of the timing of a transfer, one thing is certain: Napoli will demand a very high transfer fee for their starting box-to-box midfielder.
Franck Kessie to Tottenham: 30 percent
The Ivory Coast international had already been linked to Premier League clubs dating to his time at Atalanta, and he has only raised his profile since joining Milan. Spurs and Chelsea are the two teams that have expressed the most concrete interest, but a deal is more likely in the summer. Milan will almost certainly have to sacrifice a big name or two because of Financial Fair Play, and while Spurs seem like a more natural fit, Chelsea have the advantage of still owning the rights to Tiemoue Bakayoko, a player whom Milan would like to keep once his loan expires at the end of the season.
Timo Werner to Dortmund: 50 percent
With his contract expiring in 2020, Werner could be one of the hottest names in the future transfer windows. The 22-year-old German striker made it clear that, if he were to leave RB Leipzig, he would like to stay in his homeland, fueling interest from Bayern Munich and especially Borussia Dortmund. The current Bundesliga leaders could involve a player for whom Leipzig has shown great interest, such as Maximilian Philipp, in order to lower the club's €60m asking price.
Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal: 30 percent
With Danny Welbeck out for most of the season, the Gunners are eyeing the transfer market for a winger. One of the names on Unai Emery's radar is that of Pepe, a 23-year-old Ivorian currently at Lille. The winger is enjoying a sensational season in Ligue 1, with 12 goals in 19 games, pushing his price tag up to €80m, a sum very distant from the Gunners' reported offer of £45m. However, the English club has time to try to mitigate Lille's demands, as both Pepe and the club insisted that the player will remain in France until the end of the season.
Stevan Jovetic to Schalke 04: 45 percent
After a rough start to the season, Schalke are on the market for a striker who could bolster their attacking unit. The German side have particularly eyed Montenegrin striker Stevan Jovetic, who seems to be out of Monaco's plans for this season. The good relationship between the two clubs could be decisive in the German club getting ahead of another suitor, Sevilla, in the race to Jovetic.