With the January transfer window coming to an end this week, Premier League clubs are racing against time to plug the gaps left by mid-season injuries and lack of form. Here are the top names who could be making a late switch this weekend.
Arsenal look to loan out Ainsley Maitland-Niles
With manager Mikel Arteta looking to trim his squad, which saw the likes of Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Sead Kolasinac and Mesut Ozil leaving Arsenal this winter, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is reportedly on his out his way out of the Emirates as well.
The academy star has largely been a utility player for the North-London side, plying his trade as a full-back and in the midfield occasionally. However, with Arteta preferring Cedric Soares as the back-up left-back of late, Niles’ time looks to be up.
With England manager Gareth Southgate clarifying that he will only pick players who are playing consistently, 23-year-old AMN has grown desperate for chances elsewhere. Arsenal are reportedly in discussions with other clubs over a loan deal.
Niles has started just five Premier League game this season after a promising end to the last season, where he held the left flank well behind Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang to win the FA Cup for Arsenal.
Having already got a call-up from the national team in August last year, Niles has been closely monitored by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea making late move for David Alaba
Bringing in Thomas Tuchel midseason meant that the Chelsea board are willing to shell out quids for the second time in six months after a heavy summer investment in August. Shoring up the leaky defence will be Tuchel’s first job and he looks to do that by getting in David Alaba.
The Austrian international looks set on leaving Bayern Munich next summer as a free agent after 13 glorious years in Bundesliga, which includes nine Bundesliga titles, six Pokal crowns and two Champions League titles in over 400 appearances.
Though Alaba has been previously linked with a move to Real Madrid heavily, nothing has been finalized yet and Chelsea will look to capitalize on this uncertainty to get him on loan for the next few months. Chelsea face Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, a challenge that Alaba will relish.
Jese Lingard to West Ham United
With Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer finally finding his starting eleven, who are getting the job done time and again, Jesse Lingard seems to have no place in Old Trafford anymore. The player has failed to make a single Premier League appearance this season.
A move away from Old Trafford has been boiling the entire summer for Lingard with the player rejecting advances from Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion before West Ham United came knocking.
Under former Manchester United manager David Moyes, the Hammers have flourished in the Premier League this season as they sit fifth in the EPL points table. Lingard could reportedly have his medical in Manchester before travelling to London and be ready for his debut against Liverpool on Sunday.
The 28-year-old England international could cost more than £3m in the loan deal, taking into account his loan fee and wages.
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Alastair Grant
