The action is getting vigorous as we approach the midway through the January transfer window. While a few top deals have already concluded, fans expect to witness some key movements in the remaining days. That being said, we dive deep to take a look at all the latest happenings in the ongoing transfer window.
Liverpool finding Wijnaldum replacement
Liverpool and their midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum have hit the rock bottom in finding a solution to his contract extension. The former Newcastle United midfielder sees his contract expiring at the end of the 2020-21 Premier League season, and there are high chances that he moves away in the summer, with FC Barcelona deemed as a potential destination. With that being said, Liverpool have identified a certain Renato Sanches as a worthy replacement.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano, through his Here We Go podcast, has said that Liverpool might very well make a move, albeit in the summer transfer window. “Pay attention to Renato Sanches,” he said. “Next summer he will be on the market and Liverpool are looking at him.
“There is nothing advanced yet but they are looking at him as an opportunity. He’ll be the main target for top clubs and also for Liverpool.”
The 2016 Golden Boy recipient endured subpar tenures at Bayern Munich followed by a brief spell with Swansea City in the Premier League before making a permanent move to the Ligue 1 club Lille in 2019.
Alli wants PSG move
Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival at PSG has rekindled Dele Alli’s transfer speculation to the French capital. It is being quoted that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is pushing for a move for the England international this month. After falling down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho, Alli himself is looking for a change, at least for the remainder of the season, and interest from PSG is certainly hard to reject.
PSG are very keen to sign Dele Alli on loan. Pochettino wants him and Dele is pushing to leave Tottenham - he respects the club but he wants to play. 🏴#THFC at the moment are *not* convinced yet and they’re taking time. The deal is not ‘easy’.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2021
📲 More: https://t.co/7HBI3ajf8B
As for Tottenham, they are reluctant on doing any kind of business as they believe every player in the team will be a key cog in the final six months of the season. Alli, on his part, has made a mere four appearances in the league this season, playing just 74 minutes. He has further played eight games across the UEFA Europa League and domestic cup games.
There are no suggestions that Alli has had a fall-out with anyone in the team, but he does want to play regular football.
Can United finally sign Jadon Sancho?
Manchester United’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund starlet Jadon Sancho was arguably the most talked-about saga in the 2019 summer transfer window. The transfer eventually failed as the Red Devils refused to meet the €120m valuation of the player, but there’s a glimmer of hope for Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer as it is being quoted that Dortmund have brought in a certain 19-year-old Stuttgart winger Tanguy Coulibaly in their radar.
Coulibaly, who joined VfB Stuttgart on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last year, has been identified as a potential Sancho replacement and if Dortmund manage to conclude a deal, there are high chances that Sancho will be allowed to leave. It will, however, be interesting to see how Dortmund conclude the transfer especially after stating that the demand of €120m ‘never existed in reality.’
“The alleged transfer fee often mentioned in the media never existed in reality,” said Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. “And if you get a signal at some point that a large part of the amount offered will only be paid in a few years, it will finally be a purely theoretical discussion,” he explained.
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Peter Powell