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Will Paul Pogba and Dele Alli leave in January?
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No winter break, a shorter season and accumulating injuries.
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Whether a team is fighting for the title, aiming for a place in Europe, or looking to avoid relegation, reinforcements may well be needed for that push in the second half of the season.
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Will the clubs decide to enter the competition or will they seek to bring in players for short-term contracts? BBC Sport is taking a look at which players could change clubs when the transfer window opens on January 4.
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Premier League
PAUL POGBA (27, midfielder, Manchester United)
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He has contacts with Juventus.
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Will leave, will not leave? Pogba’s future at Manchester United is on everyone’s lips across the Channel. The French medium is more than ever on the start according to the British media.
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The world champion has been a regular United player this season, with 19 appearances, but his agent said earlier this month that the player was “unhappy” at the club and that he “had to change teams” during the next transfer window.
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- MESUT OZIL (32, midfielder, Arsenal)
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Related to: Fenerbahce, DC United, LA Galaxy, Inter Miami
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Ozil has been banned by manager Mikel Arteta, not making the Arsenal squad for the national and European campaign this season.
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World Cup winner with Germany in 2014, Ozil is one of the Gunners’ highest paid players. His contract ends next summer, but he could leave earlier if a deal can be made.
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- DELE ALLI (24, midfielder, Tottenham)
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Related to: Paris St-Germain, Everton
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The future of England international Alli at Tottenham has become increasingly uncertain; he has fallen out of favor with Jose Mourinho and has only made one start to the Premier League season so far.
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Paris St-Germain tried to sign Alli last summer, but his owner Daniel Levy refused to accept a deal. The French champion seems ready to make a new attempt in January.
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- OLIVIER GIROUD (34, striker, Chelsea)
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Related to: West Ham, Atletico Madrid, Marseille
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Olivier Giroud’s career at Chelsea appears to be coming to an end this summer, with boss Frank Lampard stepping up his attacking options with people like Timo Werner.
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However, the former French striker has been in great form at club and national level, scoring 14 goals in 23 appearances – including all four in the 4-0 win over Sevilla.
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This form has apparently alerted a number of clubs, including Atlético de Madrid. The Spanish team recently released Diego Costa and could see Giroud as the perfect replacement.
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- DIVOCK ORIGI (25, forward, Liverpool)
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Related to: Wolves, Newcastle, Leeds
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Anfield cult hero Origi has seen his playing time cut to Liverpool following the arrival of Diogo Jota this summer. He only played eight matches and scored one goal.
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Wolves retain a long-standing interest and may well make an offer as they seek cover for forward Raul Jimenez, who is recovering from a broken skull.
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- FIKAYO TOMORI (22, defender, Chelsea)
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England international Tomori made 22 appearances for Chelsea last season, but he has hardly played this term, making just three appearances in all competitions.
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Leeds appear to be the most likely destination, with the West Yorkshire side in need of cover for long-absent Robin Koch.
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- ADAMA TRAORE (24, winger, Wolverhampton Wanderers)
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Adama Traore has had a very impressive season in 2019-20, but has not been able to maintain that form in this campaign and has struggled for playing time this season.
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The Spain international has only appeared nine games this season and hasn’t scored a goal or provided an assist. As Euro 2020 approaches, the winger needs new ground to regain his form.
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- OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO (24, full-back, Manchester City)
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Related to: Southampton, Loups, Leicester, West Ham
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Ukraine full-back Zinchenko has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium, playing just 12 minutes in the Premier League this season.
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Without any guarantees of playing in the Premier League, City will “listen to the offers” for the player and have no shortage of suitors.
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- YVES BISSOUMA (24, midfielder, Brighton)
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Related to: Liverpool, Manchester United, Monaco
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Malian midfielder Bissouma has been a regular at Brighton since he signed for Lille in 2018.
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But as Georginio Wijnaldum has yet to sign a new contract at Liverpool, Bissouma has been presented as a possible replacement for the Dutchman.
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- JAMES TARKOWSKI (28, defenseman, Burnley)
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Related to: West Ham, Leicester
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Center-back Tarkowski has been a mainstay of the Clarets’ backline and has also won two England caps.
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But he has yet to secure a new contract with Turf Moor, with his current contract expiring in 18 months.
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- JAMES MCCARTHY (30, midfielder, Crystal Palace)
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Related to: Celtic, Aston Villa, Burnley
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Ireland international McCarthy has failed to keep his place in Crystal Palace’s first team and has only played four appearances this season.
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The experienced midfielder has made more than 250 appearances in the Premier League, but his contract is broken at the end of the season and he could be transferred in January.
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EF.L
- JOSHUA KING (28, forward, Bournemouth)
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Related to: Aston Villa
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King almost moved to Manchester United last summer but ended up staying at Bournemouth after relegation to the Championship.
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The Cherries are thriving in the Second Division and could benefit from King, whose contract ends at the end of the season.
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- EMILIANO BUENDIA (24, midfielder, Norwich)
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Related to: Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Valencia
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Buendia has been in great form this season, scoring six goals and providing six assists as Norwich look to bounce back in the Premier League on their first attempt.
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The Argentine may well be looking to return to the Premier League and would be a creative force for Arsenal, who are in desperate need of inspiration in the final third.
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- MATTHEW SORINOLA (19, defender, MK Dons)
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Related to: Leeds, West Ham
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Young defender Sorinola drew attention during his breakthrough season for MK Dons in Ligue 1, appearing in 19 games.
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Many recruiters have been impressed with his progress and several clubs are said to be looking for his signing next month.
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Scotland
- ODSONNE EDOUARD (22, striker, Celtic)
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Many expected the France Under-21 international to leave in the summer – and Edouard himself was among them. While the noise of transfers is heard around him, the forward’s form at the start of the season is disappointing at best. No offer was made before the end of the summer and since then Edouard is far from having reached his best level.
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Celtic are unlikely to be on the lookout for suitors, but if one comes up with a tempting offer there is quite a possibility that a deal will be made.
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- ALFREDO MORELOS (24, striker, Rangers)
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Around the same time last year, the Colombian was in great shape. Goals followed one another in the first half of the national season and the striker was also very present in the Europa League. Clubs across the continent are throwing greedy glances. Then it stopped. The goals dried up as the Rangers’ title fight fizzled out.
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With Rangers keen to generate income through the sale of players, Morelos appears to be a likely candidate to leave after a frustrating first half of the season.
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In the entire Europe
- DAVID ALABA (28, defender, Bayern Munich)
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Related to: Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG
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Austria international Alaba won the Treble with Bayern Munich last season, but is in the final year of his contract and has yet to agree on a new contract.
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The defender can start chatting with other clubs in January. A multitude of major European clubs are interested in his signing.
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- PAPU GOMEZ (32 years old, striker, Atalanta)
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Related to: Juventus, Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Rome, PSG
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The Argentine attacking midfielder appears to have fallen out with his coach Gian Piero Gasperini. He is 32 years old, but he is one of the most important players in Atalanta. He played a major role in Atalanta’s recent Champions League success, where he reached the round of 16 in the past two seasons.
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- CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN (28, midfielder, Inter Milan)
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Related to: PSG, Arsenal, Manchester United
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The Danish star’s departure from Tottenham for Italy 12 months ago has not worked out and he has a strained relationship with Inter head coach Antonio Conte. At 28, he is at a key point in his career and wants to play regularly in the first team.
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- HOUSSEM AOUAR (22, midfielder, Lyon)
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Related to: Real Madrid, Juventus, PSG, Arsenal
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French midfielder Aouar was heavily linked with Arsenal in the last transfer window.
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As Lyon challenge PSG for the title this season, they are more likely to move during the summer than in January.
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- LEANDRO PAREDES (26, midfielder, PSG)
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Related to: Inter Milan
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According to Italian media, a swap deal involving Marcelo Brozovic and Leandro Paredes collapsed on deadline day in October. Paredes was coming and going at PSG from the 11th before the recent dismissal of manager Thomas Tuchel, and they were able to let him go in order to free up space and money to bring in one of their targets.
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- ISCO (28, middle, Real Madrid)
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Related to: Sevilla, Juventus, Arsenal, Everton
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Zinedine Zidane no longer seems to consider Isco one of his main Merengues players and Spanish media report that the 28-year-old sees his future outside of La Liga. His contract does not expire until 2022, so anyone interested would still have to pay a considerable sum.
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- DIEGO COSTA (32, forward, free agent)
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Related to: Arsenal, Wolves
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Costa’s departure from Atlético de Madrid in December paved the way for a possible return to the Premier League.
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However, the 32-year-old will be highly motivated by regular football after making just three appearances as a substitute since mid-October. The Spanish striker has scored 59 goals in 120 appearances for Chelsea between 2014 and 2017 and still has the aggressiveness to upset defenders even though he is no longer as prolific as before.
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- MERGIM BERISHA (22, attacker, RB Salzburg)
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Related to: Parma, Sassuolo, Turin
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At this time of year, RB Salzburg is Europe’s premier football supermarket. Takumi Minamino and Erling Braut Haaland left the Austrian club 12 months ago and Dominik Szoboszlai has already agreed to move to RB Leipzig, to do so officially as soon as the window opens in January.
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Berisha has attracted attention, especially with goals against Bayern Munich and Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League.
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- RENATO SANCHES (23, midfielder, Lille)
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Related to: Liverpool, Inter Milan
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The Portuguese international midfielder, who burst onto the Benfica scene as a teenager, has rebuilt his reputation after life at Bayern Munich didn’t work out.
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Like many French clubs, Lille are struggling financially and, with new owners at their helm, they may be allowed to leave to raise funds.
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- ARKADIUSZ MILIK (26, striker, Napoli)
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Related to: Roma, Juventus, Fiorentina, Everton, Tottenham
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The Polish striker has been excluded from Napoli’s Serie A and Europa League teams this season following a contract dispute. He has scored 48 goals in 122 appearances in all competitions for the Italian club, which he joined in 2016 from Ajax.
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