5 Premier League players who need to move in January

Within the blink of an eye, a week into the new year has passed and the January transfer window in Europe is slowly gaining momentum. With a handful of signings and transfers already done, one can expect a lot more action unfolding over the next three weeks.

There are a number of players who are desperately in need of a move. There are quite a few in the Premier League itself; players who are shunted to the wings and find themselves ostracized from the group.

Here, we whittle the figure down to just five. Five players who must really look for greener pastures in the current transfer window.

#5 Leonardo Ulloa (Leicester City)

Remember the man who struck the injury-time winner against Norwich that triggered celebrations wild enough to cause a 0.3g earthquake in Leicester? Well, Ulloa has disappeared as quickly as the tremors that day.

The Argentine was never a starter, thriving in his impact substitute role, but even that isn't the case anymore.

With Jamie Vardy, Shinji Okazaki, Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa all staking a claim for the striking role, Leicester City is packed to the rafters in the attacking department and poor Ulloa is at the bottom in this pecking order.

Since the start of last season, the 31-year old has participated in only 20 league games out of 60, scoring just once. He has been given the cold shoulder and whether he admits to himself or not, he is surplus to Leicester 's requirements.

Ulloa still has some years left, but his career right now hangs by the balance. A change of scene at the earliest is imperative if he was to salvage his career.

#4 Danny Ings (Liverpool)

Danny Ings isn't breaking into the Liverpool XI anytime

The bubbles of anticipation rising upon his arrival in 2015 were quickly burst when Ings succumbed to a serious knee injury that kept him out of action for a lengthy spell.

Upon his return, he dealt with another fatal blow on his other knee to sit out for another nine months. Fate has been really cruel to him, but Liverpool seems to have moved on with several new names now calling the shots.

That leaves Ings on the outside looking in at the club, and a move elsewhere is likely on the cards. Premier League strugglers Newcastle United have apparently shown interest in his services, although Liverpool remains defiant on his stay.

But for the sake of his own playing chances, Ings must jump at the prospect of it as the Magpies have had some striking issues this season.

#3 Aleksander Mitrovic (Newcastle United)

Mitrovic has to improve if he's to represent Serbia at the World Cup

As mentioned in the earlier slide about Newcastle's struggles up front, one of the main culprits for the same is the terrible form of Mitrovic, the man once thought to be the next big thing at St. James' Park.

Brought in from the Belgian side Anderlecht after a prolific campaign, the Serb has found the going really difficult after a fairly convincing debut season in 2015/16.

This season, Mitrovic has been given only six chances to prove his worth (all from the bench) but has mustered a poor return of just one goal whilst also being guilty of squandering some good chances and losing his temper frequently.

Rafa Benitez has been cautious when it comes to pinning his hopes on him after being consistently disappointed and would be more than happy to offload him.

It may be time for Mitrovic to start afresh.

#2 Yaya Toure (Manchester City)

Yaya Toure has again been overlooked by Pep Guardiola

The Ivorian's tenure at Manchester City was supposedly ended following the arrival of Pep Guardiola last season, but the two managed to bury the hatchet for a while as Toure would then play 22 times in the Premier League after the initial absence.

This term, he's completely out of the picture and yet to make a single appearance in the league. To make matters worse, Manchester City is going great guns without him, and in fact, racing to the title without the slightest of hiccups in his absence.

This really doesn't bode well for the midfielder. Toure may be 34, but hasn't lost his ability and can still prove to be an important asset if only a few takers do show up at his door.

#1 Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Its time for Theo Walcott to head through the exit door

The star that never was, Walcott's time at Arsenal may have finally come full circle. The England international is nothing more than a liability to the club now and wouldn't be surprising if they cut their losses this January.

Walcott, over the years, has shown his talent in fits and starts, but never really built on that promise. His best position still remains a mystery to many, including Arsene Wenger himself, whereas the long spells of recurring injury layoffs have done no good to his cause.

Walcott is a fading memory at the Emirates, and the best he could do before watching himself get completely bypassed is find a new club to ply his trade.

He could do much worse than finding it this month with old club Southampton said to be interested.