With the January transfer window approaching rapidly, here are some of the potential transfers that you should keep a close eye on.
Edinson Cavani to Barcelona
The Uruguayan forward played really well with Manchester United last season. He registered 17 goals and six assists in all competitions last season and played a great role last season for the club scoring crucial goals.
However, the arrival of club legend Cristiano Ronaldo has pushed the player into the shadows, becoming nothing more than a benchwarmer for the Red Devils this season.
He’s made only eight appearances for the club this season, scoring one goal in the Premier League.
The striker sees his future over at the club and he’s already looking for possible destinations.
Barcelona admire the player highly, and since the sad departure of Sergio Aguero, the club are looking to reinforce their attack with a new striker and they see Cavani as a potential new signing.
Xavi has made it clear to the board that he wants a winger and a striker, and Cavani can be seen as that potential forward. The club are ready to offer the player an 18-month contract, and are closely watching his situation.
Boca Juniors also are interested in Cavani, and they’ve been monitoring the player. However the forward has rejected this opportunity as he wants to remain in Europe for the time being.
Fiorentina have also been watching the player as they know that Dušan Vlahović is destined to depart the club either in January or in the summer transfer window, after the player rejected and closed talks with the club to renew his contract.
Ferran Torres to Barcelona
Barcelona have identified Ferran Torres as their priority in the upcoming window. Xavi loves the attacker and has emphasised to the board that Torres is who he wants to sign as a winger at Barca.
The Spaniard has already agreed personal terms with the Catalan club. He is willing to take a substantial pay cut in order to play for Barcelona.
An agreement has now been reached between the two clubs on a £45 million transfer.
Pep Guardiola has even spoken to Ferran Torres and has told him that he would not get in his way if he wants to go, saying “If you want to go to Barca, I will make it easier for you in sporting terms.”
Manchester City wanted £65 million however FC Barcelona can only pay a fee in the region of £45-50 million.
The club however, are very confident of finalising the agreement with Manchester City and bringing Torres to Barca this upcoming window, with only the final paperwork and medical being required now.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Things are difficult at Arsenal for Aubameyang as of now. Behind the scenes, it’s very tense between Mikel Arteta and Aubameyang.
The board and Arteta are infuriated with his behaviour off of the pitch, as he had to set an example as Arsenal captain, but the board felt that he did the exact opposite of this.
The forward put pen to paper on a contract in September 2020, after a fantastic season the year before, but since he signed the new contract, he has not been the same, as his performances declined for Arsenal.
Now in the final days in 2022 as an Arsenal player, Aubameyang finds himself an outcast within the club.
Arteta stripped the captaincy for the Gabon striker’s ‘latest disciplinary breach', with this being due to a late return from France with his ill mother. The club allowed the trip, even during the risk of catching COVID-19 during this time where the cases are beginning to rise. The Gabon international was consequently a coronavirus risk to the squad upon his late return.
The Arsenal captain broke the rules set by the club too many times, which the entire Arsenal squad are expected to follow. As the captain he should be regularly respecting these rules and even help enforce them.
The forward has consequently been left out of match day squads since. He’s even been training on his own, away from the rest of the squad.
As of now, it is really likely that Aubameyang’s time has come to an end at Arsenal, and he could seek a move away from the club in January. However this can be hard due to his high salary demands.
Sergiño Dest
Sergiño Dest is really struggling at Barcelona right now. He signed in 2019 from Ajax as a promising young wing-back, however he has failed to live up to his expectations at Barca.
In Barcelona’s last UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich, Dest put in a horrific performance which saw the player being ripped apart by Alphonso Davies, leading to Xavi being disappointed in him.
Xavi and the board have given up on Dest, as they do not believe he is the right fit for Barca.
The club are willing to listen to offers for him in January, and if a good offer arrives, they’d be more than happy to let Dest leave, whether it be a loan deal or permanent.
AS Roma have been tracking the player since he was at Ajax, and they could make a loan offer to Barca, however no contacts have been made as of now. Barca have received no proposals from any club, so for now he remains a Barcelona player.
Dani Ceballos to Real Betis
Dani Ceballos would like to leave Real Madrid as he truly believes that he will not benefit from staying.
The player wants to return to his former club Real Betis, where he enjoyed his football, wanting regular playing time as he wants to develop his career further after a disappointing loan period at Arsenal.
Betis are also interested in bringing the player back, but both clubs must agree on a fee. They’ve already contacted Madrid to enquire about the player, who has just recently come back from injury.
Real Madrid had informed Betis of an undisclosed price, however, Betis have still not contacted the club back. Real want to get rid of him in January as they do not want a player at the club who does not want to be at the club.
Real Madrid may end up lowering their original proposal for the player in order to let him go. Both clubs expect the player to leave and join Betis in January and they’re confident in reaching an agreement soon.
