There will always be players who aren’t fully satisfied with their role in a football club. Be it on the bench, on the field but not in their preferred position, those in loggerheads with their manager and more. With the transfer window almost upon us, it’s an opportunity for such players to push for a move away from the club.
The Premier League is currently one of the hottest competitions in world football with six teams fighting for the title – albeit Chelsea seem like they’re running away with it – and there are a tonne of players who aren’t satisfied with their role they’re currently under.
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Here’s looking at six relatively big players – once from each of the big 6 clubs – who could push for a loan move in January:
1) Arsenal – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Although the 23-year-old is out injured right now, he’s been linked with a move away from the Gunners next month. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a long-term project for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and he could very well become one of England’s better players if he keep himself fit.
He’s had a really good season so far for the North London club. Oxlade-Chamberlain has already scored six goals this season in all competitions and all of those goals came when he started the game on the left or the right wing, making it quite the achievement for the youngster.
Liverpool were said to be interested in taking him on loan but Jurgen Klopp denied the claims in his pre-match press conference earlier this week. A host of other Premier League clubs are interested in giving Oxlade-Chamberlain the kind of platform he could use – like his teammate Jack Wilshere who’s currently flourishing with Bournemouth.
2) Chelsea – Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is regarded as one of the best youth products the club have worked on since their captain, John Terry. But even he can’t get a game in the Premier League this season with the current league leaders.
Antonio Conte’s system is working beautifully and the 20-year-old should look for a move elsewhere, play regularly and gain some confidence. He could then find a way into the team only after all that. He has the potential to be a real match-winner for the Blues but still needs to play more regularly.
Loftus-Cheek is a winger who can also play as a creative midfielder; he has the vision, the pace and the passing range to be an asset for any Premier League side. West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and the like are interested in taking him on in January.
3) Liverpool – Lucas Leiva
Lucas Leiva seems like the kind of player who’s been with Liverpool since forever. Having joined in 2007, the Brazilian is, for the first time, unable to make it to the first team. Jurgen Klopp prefers a more dynamic midfield and just doesn’t see the Brazilian in his plans.
He has started only three Premier League games this season. He’s solid as a rock but can’t contribute much to Liverpool’s style this season – or any other under the German manager. As such, his time at the club is coming to an end.
Serie A side Internazionale are an interested party. They want to take the 29-year-old on loan for the rest of the season and decide on whether they’d like to sign him come the summer. The Anfield side will reportedly not stand in his way should he decide he wants to go out on loan and play regularly.
4) Manchester City – Fabian Delph
Slowly crawling under the host of other names in the team, Fabian Delph will finally see sunlight – albeit with another club in the winter transfer window. It’s incredible how anonymous the Englishman has been this season. But, then again, as soon as Pep Guardiola was announced as manager, his future with the club seemed bleak.
The 27-year-old has made only three appearances for the club this season. He signed for the Manchester giants only last summer in a €11.5 million deal but could soon be playing elsewhere given the dearth of chances under the Catalan manager.
Delph will have a host of Premier League teams after his signature with Bournemouth, Burnley, Middlesborough all possible destinations. The option to sign him at the end of the window will not be too alien to him or the receiving club.
5) Manchester United – Anthony Martial
Perhaps the most marketable athlete on this list, it’s a surprise to see Anthony Martial anywhere but the first-team this season. The 20-year-old was easily Manchester United’s best outfield player last season under Louis van Gaal but under Jose Mourinho, has failed to break into the first team and could seek a loan move in January.
Martial is young, he’s quick, he’s ruthless in front of goal and he’s got the timing and control to be one of the best forwards in the game a few years from now. But the only reason he isn’t in the side is his inability to track back and defend for Mourinho – who usually prefers all of his wide players to work hard when his side don’t have possession of the ball.
The Frenchman will not be short of suitors next month with plenty of Premier League and European clubs all interested in signing him. West Ham and Southampton are options for him domestically while the likes of Sevilla, Marseille and AC Milan are options should he choose to explore other leagues for regular first-team football.
6) Tottenham Hotspur – Eric Dier
Even though Eric Dier has made 22 appearances for Tottenham Hotspurs this season, he’s been linked with a move away from Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the winter transfer window with a host of European clubs vying for his signature.
The 22-year-old central midfielder – who can also double as a central defender when needed – is wanted by Serie A hotshots Napoli. The third-placed Italian team are in search of a ball-playing defender and Dier could fit the bill.
Dier is admired by everyone within Tottenham’s ranks and his future is definitely with the North London club. But with Moussa Dembele and Victor Wanyama impressing heavily for the Spurs in midfield this season, his chances of making into the first team are slowly fading.
