Ahead of the January transfer window, Sport360 is running a series of features on the players across European football’s top leagues which look at the players who may be on the move this winter.
This time around, it’s the English Premier League, with the futures of Leicester star Riyad Mahrez, Joel Campbell and Kevin Mirallas all up for debate.
– Bundesliga: January transfer window watch
– Ligue 1: January transfer window watch
Kevin Mirallas (Everton)
Clubs interested: Monaco, West Ham, Tottenham
Likelihood: 8/10
Despite signing a new three-year deal at Goodison Park in August, Mirallas has become the Toffees’ forgotten man this season – making just two starts in the Premier League amidst the straight red card he received two minutes after coming on from off the bench against Swansea.
This was meant to be the 28-year-old’s time to help fire Everton into the Champions League, and with that now virtually impossible, expect a number of clubs to come in for the Belgian.
To compound things further, Mirallas did not feature for the Blues during the 4-3 home defeat against Stoke City, despite playing two days prior in a match-winning cause at Newcastle United.
Sadio Mane (Southampton)
Clubs interested: Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich
Likelihood: 6/10
Mane, who has scored seven goals in 24 outings in all competitions this term, is Southampton’s key man and a vital part of Ronald Koeman’s team, with the Dutchman fending off a wrath of rumours in August linking him with a £15m move to Old Trafford.
Saints want to tie Mane down to a new deal (his current contract expires in 2018) and do not need to cash in on the 23-year-old, so it may come down to whether the tricky attacker wants to force a move.
The gut feeling is that he will stay in January but move on in the summer if the Red and Whites don’t secure European football.
Loic Remy (Chelsea)
Clubs interested: Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain, Wolfsburg
Likelihood: 8/10
The Frenchman’s spell at Stamford Bridge has been average at best since he joined the Blues at the start of last season, but on his day he has proven he can score goals in the Premier League.
Seemingly surplus to requirements at Chelsea, near-doomed Aston Villa have been linked with a loan move for the 28-year-old while clubs elsewhere in Europe would be willing to look for a short-term deal to see how the former QPR and Newcastle forward performs.
Given his wage demands a loan switch would be the most likely option for Remy in the interim, although he is likely to be part of a clear-out at the London side at the end of the season.
Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City)
Clubs interested: Porto, Valencia, Sevilla
Likelihood: 7/10
The £32m centre-back has had to deal with a lot of criticism to come his way so far during his short career at City, and it remains to be seen whether the club will persist with the defender a little while longer or ship him out at the closest opportunity.
The 24-year-old has only been a bit-part player this term but has been backed by team-mates to come good and realise his terrific potential.
For the time being, though, expect Manuel Pellegrini to give Mangala the opportunity to go out on loan and play regular first-team football between now and the end of the campaign. A move back to old club Porto could be on the cards while Spanish duo Valencia and Sevilla could land the powerful defender.
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)
Clubs interested: Fulham, Reading, Charlton
Likelihood: 7/10
Beleaguered Aston Villa are set to bring in a new goalkeeper during the window to replace Brad Guzan.
The American shot-stopper has endured a difficult season with the Premier League basement boys and could leave Villa Park next month as Remi Garde makes a move for Marseille’s Steve Mandanda, who is available for a cut-price fee.
Guzan, 31, has been a solid servant for Villa since 2008 but is likely to be loaned out to a Championship side. Frenchman Garde has to try something new to bring an uplifting effect to the Midlands club’s fortunes in the New Year, otherwise relegation to the Championship is a certainty.
Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
Clubs interested: Manchester United, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain
Likelihood: 5/10
Surely Leicester won’t harm their once-in-a-lifetime Premier League title dream by selling star man Riyad Mahrez? It’s unlikely but the possibility of the Algerian leaving Claudio Ranieri’s men needs to be mentioned.
Why, you ask? It’s simple, there are a host of clubs tracking the winger, who has been in sensational form this season, scoring 13 goals and bagging lots of assists too.
The 26-year-old is playing out of his skin and his acquisition could change the fortunes of any club, particularly with heavily linked Manchester United. You would expect the Foxes to keep hold of him in January but there will be clubs forming a not so orderly queue to rubber stamp an agreement to sign him for upwards of £30m in the summer.
Joel Campbell (Arsenal)
Clubs interested: Celta Vigo, Atletico Madrid, Werder Bremen
Likelihood: 9/10
The Gunners are set to let the Costa Rican leave in January in a part-exchange deal with Celta Vigo for their hitman Nolito, who has long been tracked by Arsene Wenger’s men.
Campbell, 23, has featured regularly for Arsenal over the past two months but sources at the club have hinted they want to use the striker as bait to tempt the Spainish international to the Emirates Stadium.
The next two weeks could be pivotal for Campbell to prove to Wenger he still has a future in north London, but having had since 2011 to fully convince the experienced French boss, the exit door looms large.
Bojan (Stoke City)
Clubs interested: Liverpool, West Ham United, Espanyol,
Likelihood: 5/10
Reports suggest Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is preparing to test the water at the Britannia Stadium and bid for Stoke’s former Barcelona prodigy.
The 25-year-old Spaniard recently revealed he is happy with life playing for Mark Hughes’ men but Bojan is said to be keen to test himself at one of European football’s powerhouses once again and a move to Anfield could be just what the doctor ordered.
Although it is unlikely to take place in January given Stoke’s fantastic form and Liverpool’s inconsistency, Bojan holds all the cards to his future if he continues to perform well.
Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)
Clubs interested: Tottenham, Liverpool, Newcastle United
Likelihood: 8/10
There won’t be a transfer window that goes by now without the England striker’s name being linked with a move away from the Hawthorns, given the fiasco that went on in the summer.
The 22-year-old has fallen well behind in the pecking order under Tony Pulis and expect several Premier League sides to come in with an offer for the wantaway striker.
Pulis recently claimed Berahino was “lucky to be on the bench” for the Baggies and it appears his days are numbered at the Midlands club. Expect a bid of between £12-15m to secure his services in January.
Matt Ritchie (Bournemouth)
Clubs interested: Manchester United, Everton, West Ham
Likelihood: 4/10
The talented winger has certainly made the step-up to the top level of English football this season and has been Bournemouth’s key man as Eddie Howe’s side try to maintain their top-flight status at the first attempt.
The 26-year-old’s eye catching form on the wing and ability to chip in with goals and assists have made him a joy to watch.
Several divisional rivals are chasing his signature but it is uncertain if the South Coast side will sell a key asset at this stage of the season, given their mounting injury list and the greater financial rewards for staying in the Premier League next term.
