January Transfer Window, 2019: What to Expect from the Top European Teams?
Winter transfer windows have had always given us some key transfers year after year. While there have been mostly some low profile transfers, there have been some groundbreaking as well.
It’s 2019 and the January Transfer Window is here. Football fans around the globe are keeping an eye on the top tier clubs of Europe as to what they do in this window. Clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, PSG, Juventus, Chelsea and Bayern are gearing up for a few significant transfers to execute.
Chelsea has the most going on this window. To start with they have already signed the young American winger Christian Pulisic from Dortmund for 64m euros. He is currently loaned back to Dortmund and will finally join the Blues in this year’s summer window. However, this move can possibly mean two things: Pedro/ Willian may head for Blue's exit, or Hazard finally completing his dream move to Real Madrid.
Sarri is also looking to replace their under-fire strikers Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud with the current AC Milan striker Higuain and West Ham Striker Arnautovic.
Fabregas is set to bid an emotional farewell and join Ligue1 side Monaco after 4 years of service as a Blue.
Manchester United had great winter transfer window 2018 when they announced the arrival of Alexis Sanchez in a grand style. This year given the fact that they are struggling at the moment in Premier League, languishing in the 6th place, they will look to bolster their options. The defense at the back comprising the likes of Bailey, Lindelof, Jones has been way below par. Even though they have won their last four EPL outings under their new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they are currently eyeing on Inter Milan's Milan Škriniar and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly as their new options for centre back position.
Liverpool and Manchester City are well on the course to fight out the Premier League title leaving the rest of the competitors well below in the points table. All the departments of each team are firing and both Pep and Klopp are well into the flow and has little intention as of now to participate in the winter transfer.
Liverpool however still eyeing Nabil Fekir and Adrien Rabiot to join their ranks.
Barcelona has also joined the race with Liverpool and has already made a step closer in the quest to strengthen their midfield by signing PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot and their defense by beating Manchester City to seal the sign of Toulouse defender Jean Clair Todibo in the Summer of 2019, both being free transfers.
Rumour has it that Malcom, on the other hand, has been linked with an Everton move, though both the Managers of the respective teams have denied the speculation.
Barca's arch-nemesis Real Madrid hasn’t had a season to remember till now after forced changes in the managerial post twice. Hazards joining their ranks is still a rumour which may gain momentum in the summer this year. However, they are going to announce within the next 24 hours, the signing of Brahim Diaz from Manchester City with an anti-United clause to bolster their midfield for 15m euros.
Juventus are on the verge of finalising the deal to sign Aaron Ramsey on a free transfer from Arsenal this summer. Teams like Inter, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich, all showed interest in the midfielder, but Turin looks to be his next destination.
The 26-year-old midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure in all probability will leave Watford in the near future to join PSG for around 50m euros but he hopes his club can hold onto him until at least the summer. The Merciside duo Liverpool and Everton are also interested in having his services but PSG remains on top. Lille Midfielder Thiago Mendes is another signing they are willing to make despite tough competition from Southampton and Wolfsburg.
As Aaron Ramsey is leaving Anfield this Summer on a free move to Juventus, Benetia might just do the opposite and join Arsenal along with Denis Suarez from Barcelona.
Bayern is currently in pursuit to add Callum Hudson-Odoi from Chelsea as a replacement of their Stalwart player Frank Ribery who is set to leave this summer along with another stalwart Arjen Robben.
It’s just a matter of time before things will unfold and we will get to know who goes where by the final hour of the deadline day of the transfer window. Until then, speculations and rumours are the only source to keep the football fans interested in what happens to be an interesting winter transfer window, 2019.
