00:00 The transfer window is about to open once again, just in time for clubs to reshuffle their pack.
00:06 For some it's a chance to strengthen their squad in an effort to turn their season around,
00:10 for others it could even win them some silverware.
00:13 Hello there and welcome to Football Now.
00:19 Now we are almost halfway through the European season
00:22 and with clubs going through a busy Christmas schedule
00:25 they'll be looking ahead to that transfer window reopening on January 1st.
00:30 Now the opportunity to sign a player midway through a season can cause a real shake-up.
00:34 It could be the difference between relegation and survival or even lifting a trophy in May.
00:39 So let's remind ourselves of some of those January transfer window signings
00:43 that have made a huge impact over the years.
00:45 We'll start in Spain where Real Madrid signed Brazilian defender Marcelo in January 2007
00:51 when he was just 18 years old.
00:53 He went on to make 386 appearances for Los Blancos,
00:57 winning 22 major honours including four European Cups.
01:01 He is widely regarded as one of the best left-backs of all time
01:05 and certainly one of the biggest bargains at €6.5 million.
01:09 Iconic Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar became an Ajax player in 2006
01:14 after a January move from SC Herenveen.
01:17 He became a household name in the Netherlands, scoring 102 times in middle over two years,
01:22 winning the KNVB Cup in the process.
01:25 Before Kevin De Bruyne became one of the Premier League's top stars at Manchester City,
01:29 he was sold by Chelsea to German side Wolfsburg in January 2014.
01:34 Despite not being favoured by Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge,
01:37 De Bruyne found his groove in the Bundesliga and was named 2015 German Footballer of the Year.
01:43 City signed him two years later for almost triple what Wolfsburg paid for him.
01:47 And one of the most expensive January signings of all time is still regarded as one of the best.
01:53 Many eyebrows were raised when Liverpool paid €84 million to Southampton for Virgil van Dijk back in 2017,
02:00 but he has more than proven to be worth it.
02:02 Since his arrival at Anfield, he has won every major honour available and now captains the club.
02:07 He also ranked runner-up in the 2019 Ballon d'Or Awards, beaten only by Lionel Messi to the accolade.
02:14 Yeah, I think the January transfer window is kind of for teams who want to push on to that next step
02:19 and perhaps are knocking on the door of a top four or a Champions League place across Europe
02:24 and maybe need that extra player or extra two players to push them over the line
02:28 and make them meet their aims by the end of the season.
02:31 Obviously, the players that are available in January maybe aren't as good as the players in the summer
02:37 because clubs don't want to lose big players during the season.
02:41 But if the money is right, you can always convince someone to do a deal in January.
02:45 Yeah, some really iconic signings in there from over the years.
02:49 Now let's take a look at some of the players that could be on the move this January, starting in Italy.
02:54 Victor Rossmann was the star man for Napoli as they won their first Serie A title in three decades.
02:59 But after the manager Luciano Spalletti left the club to take charge of the Italian national side,
03:04 Gliazuri have suffered a major dip in form.
03:07 In fact, Champions League qualification next year is not guaranteed.
03:10 And with plenty of suitors for Osserman around Europe, could he be about to exit the club?
03:15 I don't see Victor Ossiman leaving Napoli in January unless Aurelio De Laurentiis gets the €200 million offer that he wants.
03:25 That's just how it works with him. He doesn't sell until he gets what he wants.
03:30 And that's just how he is. So I think it's highly unlikely that Ossiman leaves in January.
03:36 I'd be very, very surprised. He did receive a ridiculous amount of money offer from Saudi Arabia,
03:41 but he turned that down and he wants to continue. It's no secret that he wants to play in the Premier League.
03:47 And I think he will at some point, but I don't see that happening in January.
03:51 Now another big name player that could be on the move is Manchester United's Jadon Sancho.
03:56 There have been reports that the relationship between him and the manager Eric Ten Hag has broken down,
04:01 meaning that United are ready to move on a player which cost them €70 million just 18 months ago.
04:07 Jadon Sancho is likely to leave in January and his relationship with Eric Ten Hag can be described as tense.
04:17 And there's two sides to that story. Sancho said in his public statement now deleted that he feels scapegoated,
04:24 but Eric Ten Hag feels like his focus and performances and training haven't been up to scratch.
04:30 And that led to a fallout. It's unlikely that Sancho will be reintegrated into the Manchester United senior team.
04:40 An exit is likely because Sancho realises that he's frozen out, but it's not an easy sale because of the wages,
04:47 because of the financial considerations and because of where Sancho may wish to go.
04:52 Two of Europe's biggest names could be on the move then, but there are whispers that there are plenty more deals to be done.
04:57 Let's take a look at some of those to keep an eye on.
05:00 Fresh from winning the Copa Libertadores in South America, Fluminense midfielder Andre has caught the attention of some Premier League sides.
05:07 Liverpool are long-term admirers, whilst Fulham are also thought to be interested.
05:11 Wherever he lands, he will make a big difference in the middle of the pitch.
05:15 Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams is still only 21 and is a key player for the club, but his current contract runs out in 2024.
05:23 It's a disaster for manager Ernesto Valverde to lose him in the summer for nothing, which could prompt cash bids from across Europe in the winter.
05:30 Brentford's Ivan Toni is nearing the end of his ban from all footballing activity due to contractual breaches earlier this year,
05:37 which makes him a target for several Premier League sides.
05:40 Both North London clubs Arsenal and Tottenham are thought to be interested.
05:44 Toni could certainly fit the bill as an adequate replacement for Harry Kane, whose spurs lost in the summer to Bayern Munich.
05:50 So, an interesting transfer window taking shape then.
05:53 That is all we have time for on this week's show.
05:55 Do let us know your thoughts at home using the hashtag #footballnowtransfers and we'll see you next time. Bye for now.
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