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The season is long. The tables across Europe show that there are neither any guaranteed Champions League spots nor any relegation survivors. What is guaranteed is that no club is going to have an event-free transfer window.
The January transfer window provides teams the perfect opportunity to fill the voids that have emerged since the season's inception. While some teams need a surge of life elsewhere, others would be looking to fill their pockets for the summer by offloading their non-performing players.
This transfer window, millions of cash, contracts aplenty and host of rumours will spark to life. Here we look at five highly rated players that could be on the move this January.
#1 Mesut Ozil
A lot is being spoken about Mesut Ozil of late. The 29-year-old playmaker has made his intentions clear. Metro reported back in October that the German playmaker has told his teammates he'll be signing for Manchester United.
The Emirates chiefs have given up hope on retaining the services of the former Schalke and Real Madrid midfielder. Arsene Wenger has hardly built a squad to lure Ozil into staying a gunner. Ozil deserves better, is capable of better and he is well-aware.
Highly ranked in Europe, Ozil tops the wish-list of several clubs that offer him the chance of competing in the Champions League. Ernesto Valverde and Jose Mourinho have long been admirers of the man who demands a wage of £330,000 a week.
Although one seriously hopes Wenger has learnt his lessons from the Robin van Persie transfer, the 5-time German Player of the Year could possibly be sporting the Blaugrana shirt this January.
#2 Arda Turan
Possessing great vision, strong work ethic, excellent technique and impressive dribbling skills, there was little doubt that the £34 million Arda Turan would fail to adapt at Catalonia. Fast forward two years, the 30-year-old's move simply put is a flop one.
The Nou Camp chiefs will be looking to balance the books should the Philippe Coutinho move materialize over the transfer window and the first to be offloaded would be the Turan.
The Turkish midfielder is yet to feature this season with Valverde looking to groom younger players such as Gerard Deulofeu, Denis Suarez and Aleix Vidal. With Dembele back, the attacking trident will look irreplaceable and with the midfield already populated, a move looks imminent.
Under contract till 2020, Turan has been linked with a move back home to Galatasaray. Fenerbahce also seem to be interested. However, with Sanchez, Ozil, Coutinho and Mkhitaryan all uncertain about their future, Arda could be a short-term solution and value addition to a host of Premier League clubs.
#3 Philippe Coutinho
The most obvious of the lot has just been made more obvious by Nike. Barcelona's kit manufacturers have already hinted at an imminent move for the player they sponsor. Philippe Coutinho has made no efforts to hide his intention of wanting to play at Nou Camp.
Valverde, a long-term admirer, has been relentless in his pursuit. €130 million is no big price for the Catalonians, given that they received a stunning €222 million from the shock Neymar move.
The Liverpool No. 10, who had already handed in a transfer request in August, is likely to push for a move again. With Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mohammed Salah forming a dangerous trident with a more than capable Adam Lallana waiting along the lines, the Kop would not be very displeased with the transfer.
With Virgil van Dijk having arrived for £75 million and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for another 35, the Reds could look to cash in by letting Coutinho go.
#4 Lucas Moura
Five top quality players in Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria, Julian Draxler and Lucas Moura are vying for the two spots in the wings at Paris Saint-Germain. PSG, under pressure from the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, would look to balance their books by offloading at least one if not two of the aforementioned players.
Future Ballon d'Or prospects, Neymar and Mbappe would definitely stay. The highly talented Draxler could be developed and be given enough game time through squad rotation. This leaves them with Di Maria and Lucas.
From being a regular starter under Laurent Blanc, Lucas has found it hard to find a starting position this season. He has played just 71 minutes in all competitions for the current Ligue 1 table-toppers. At just 25, Lucas has tremendous potential to be a future starlet for Brazil.
The Premier League could suit the winger where he would be able to make use of his speed and technique. Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are keeping tabs on the youngster.
A player of the similar mould in Thomas Lemar commands a hefty price tag. As a result clubs interested in Lemar could well settle down for a player who would be available at arguably less than half his price.
#5 Alex Sandro
Marcos Alonso has arguably been the best left-back in the Premier League this season. In just one season, he's established himself as one of the most important players in the Chelsea line-up.
Antonio Conte would want competition for the former Fiorentina full-back and look to give him much needed rest considering Alonso has featured in all 21 Premier League matches this season. With a tight schedule ahead, one which involves Barcelona twice and both the Manchester clubs on the trot, Alex Sandro could provide the much needed break for Alonso.
Chelsea failed in their attempts to bring the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge in the summer. Ever since, Sandro has reportedly been unhappy in Turin.
Juventus CEO Beppe Moratta confirmed that he can leave should he hand in a transfer request. Moreover, the Old Lady has already identified Bayer Leverkusen's Wendell as a potential replacement for the former Porto man.
