The January transfer window is well underway and while there’s been limited big-name movement to date, it is expected that large fees will be exchanged between clubs in the coming weeks.
January is often labelled as a difficult month in which to do business, with clubs demanding inflated fees to part with leading names mid-season. However, value can be found and a winter window signing can often have a transformative impact.
We’ve looked at one realistic January signing that could improve each ‘Big Six’ team this month.
Arsenal – Ivan Toney (Brentford)
Arsenal’s faltering form has highlighted the need for attacking reinforcements, with back-to-back home defeats to West Ham and Liverpool having seen the Gunners miss a glut of chances.
“At the moment it doesn’t look realistic,” Arteta said on signing a striker in his post-Liverpool press conference, but one name who continues to be linked with the Emirates is Ivan Toney. The Brentford goal-getter’s eight-month ban comes to an end next month and speculation continues to surround a potential move.
Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick today in a behind-closed-doors game against Southampton U23s.
Ready for his return 👀 pic.twitter.com/l0svbys5dW
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 6, 2024
Toney appears an ideal option for Arsenal, a readymade Premier League talent with attributes to compliment the club’s current forward options. Brentford will demand a huge asking price for the 27-year-old, who scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season, and Arsenal would need to get creative to sign Toney amid their current FFP restrictions.
Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson all appear potential fund-raisers – or sweeteners – in a deal to sign a striker this month.
Chelsea – Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord)
Chelsea’s extraordinary spending has failed to address issues at centre-forward, with neither Nicolas Jackson or Armando Broja having convinced that they can be the long-term solution.
Santiago Gimenez is a name who has been linked with Europe’s top clubs after a prolific run of form for Feyenoord. The Mexican has scored 43 goals in 67 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch side across the last 18 months, including 18 in 16 Eredivise games this season.
Chelsea have been linked with signing Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen, though each would command huge fees. Gimenez appears a more attainable option mid-season, despite the risk associated with signing talents from The Eredivisie.
31 – @Feyenoord‘s Santiago Giménez scored 31 @eredivisie goals in 2023, the second-highest tally for a player this century, after Mateja Kezman in 2003 (32). Goleador. pic.twitter.com/EUwLCUdZqw
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) December 31, 2023
The 22-year-old scored his 31st league goal of the calendar year last month, the second-highest total scored in the Dutch top-flight this century, and better than Luis Suarez’s best return at Ajax (30).
Only Everton (9.95) and Brentford (8.77) have a greater underperformance in terms of xG to goals than Chelsea (7.96) in the Premier League this season. Gimenez might just be a risk worth taking.
Liverpool – Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon)
Liverpool’s focus for the winter had looked set to revolve around a defensive midfielder, but Wataru Endo’s improved performances and defensive injuries have changed the immediate need at Anfield.
The absences of Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas have left Liverpool without a recognised option at left-back, while Joel Matip is expected to miss the rest of the campaign with an ACL injury. Goncalo Inacio could prove the perfect solution for the Reds, as a left-sided centre-back with the comfortability in possession to operate in a wider role.
Inacio has featured as a left-sided centre-back in a three-man backline for Sporting Lisbon, operating in an area of the pitch that would not be dissimilar to the left-back role at Liverpool, given Trent Alexander-Arnold’s invitation to invert into midfield from the opposite flank.
The Portugal international leads the Primeira Liga for touches (1268), passes into the final third (107), successful take-on percentage (85%) and progressive carrying distance this season, while ranking sixth for progressive passes.
The 22-year-old – who has a release clause of around £51m – could be an ideal option for the short and long term at Anfield.
Manchester City – Valentin Barco (Boca Juniors)
Manchester City’s squad is one with few weaknesses, but the lack of a natural left-back is perhaps something to address in the upcoming transfer windows. The Premier League champions have been credited with interest in Valentin Barco, who despite being one for the future could be a shrewd signing in the winter window.
The 19-year-old impressed during the Argentine side’s run to the Copa Libertadores final, performing admirably at full-back and in a more advanced role. Barco’s versatility and natural instinct to venture forward could make him an ideal option for Guardiola, who values flexibility in his tactical approach and personnel.
🇦🇷Valentín Barco, if clubs need a LB or LM
Go and get this 19-year-old this month.
Or you’ve missed your chance
— TheSecretScout (@TheSecretScout_) January 5, 2024
City have often selected four central defenders across the backline in recent months and Barco could offer an alternate, more forward-thinking, option from full-back. Brighton are believed to be pushing to sign the teenager, who has an appealing release clause of around £8m.
Manchester United – Mehdi Taremi (Porto)
Manchester United have endured a tough season under the management of Erik ten Hag, with the Red Devils eighth in the Premier League table and facing an uphill task to secure Champions League qualification.
Ten Hag’s headline summer arrivals have not worked out as hoped to date, with Andre Onana unconvincing, Mason Mount struggling for fitness, and Rasmus Hojlund raw around goal. The latter took 15 league games to break his goalscoring duck in the Premier League, and has a shot conversion rate of just 6.25% in the league this season.
An impressive Champions League campaign, in which Hojlund scored five goals despite the club’s group stage exit, is evidence of his promise, but the 20-year-old needs support at this stage of his career.
Mehdi Taremi could be an appealing option for Manchester United, as the Iranian approaches the end of his contract at Porto. The 31-year-old would offer experience and goals in the short-term, while not blunting the progress of Hojlund at Old Trafford.
Taremi has scored 86 goals in 176 appearances for Porto and has twice finished as the Primeira Liga’s leading scorer, winning the Bola de Prata for a second time last season. Taremi also topped the division for assists in 2020/21 and could serve as a low-cost and low-risk signing for Hojlund to learn from.
Tottenham – Radu Dragusin (Genoa)
Tottenham’s need during the January transfer window is defensive depth, with the recent absences of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero having highlighted the club’s lack of centre-back options.
Spurs held talks with Nice over Jean-Clair Todibo earlier in the window, before transferring their attention to Genoa centre-back Radu Dragusin. Despite competition from Bayern Munich and Napoli, Spurs are understood to have held positive talks with Genoa over the 21-year-old, who has impressed since the Italian side’s promotion to Serie A this season.
🚨⚪️ Understand Tottenham had new positive contacts with Genoa for Radu Dragusin deal!
Deal advancing to final stages of the negotiations.
🇷🇴 Spurs hope to get the deal done next week as talks continue, it’s all on verbal proposals waiting for the final, official bid. pic.twitter.com/geRWHrKOHM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 7, 2024
Dragusin ranks second in Serie A for clearances and third for aerial duels won in 2023/24 to date, boasting an aerial prowess that would add presence to the North London side. Though his capabilities, statistically at least, in possession require improvement, the Romanian has the raw attributes to develop under Ange Postecoglou.
