As the transfer window prepares to reopen, FOOTBALL NOW examines which players might be moving teams in 2024.
The football season in Europe is almost halfway through. While preparing for the hectic Christmas schedule, clubs are also thinking ahead to January 1st, when the transfer window will reopen.
Clubs are able to purchase and sell players twice a year during transfer periods.
Summer is the main transfer window, which lasts roughly two and a half months and ends around the start of September. Typically, teams use this time to make strategic additions to their rosters. During this window, footballers are frequently traded for large transfer fees.
But because the month-long winter window falls about halfway through the season for many clubs, it usually has a more reactive aspect to it.
Usually, managers use the winter transfer window to add players to cover for injured ones. Additionally, it can increase their prospects of avoiding relegation concerns and aiming for better league rankings and awards. Midway through the season, the chance to add new players may truly upend everything.
Football writer Ronan Murphy for Transfers.com stated, “I think big signings in January can change things for smaller clubs or clubs that are battling relegation, more so than with the clubs at the top of the table.”
“The teams at the top of the rankings often have stronger rosters. There is a lot of competition for their spots. On the other hand, a single player can significantly impact the teams at the bottom of the table by helping them score five or six goals between January and the end of the season.” Ronan clarified
Such ‘panic buys’ could improve underperforming teams and solidify the club’s standing within a division. That might be sufficient to keep them in the league and give them time to improve next summer.
Many significant winter window acquisitions have come to fruition throughout the years, with a number of them having a remarkable effect on both the players and their new teams who were acquired in January.
In January 2007, Real Madrid paid 6.5 million euros to sign 18-year-old Brazilian defender Marcelo to play in Spain. With 22 major awards at Real Madrid, he is considered by many as one of the greatest left-backs of all time.
In the United Kingdom, Liverpool acquired Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton in 2017 for 84 million euros. It is still considered one of the best, though, even if it was one of the most costly January signings in history. Van Dijk is currently the team captain after winning every major award that was available.
Ronan Murphy told Football Now that this January could be a busier transfer window than usual, as fans get excited for news of possible signings.
“That’s most likely due to the approaching European Championships, which require certain players to make a move in order to gain playing time and make an impression on foreign managers. Players such as those will be pressing for a transfer in January, which might lead to a bustling transfer window. Ronan went on
In January, one thing to keep an eye out for is the possible exit of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United.
Sancho, who joined from Borussia Dortmund with a lot of promise, cost the team more than €70 million in the summer of 2021. There are still 2.5 years left on the England international’s deal. Nevertheless, United wants to let him go because of the breakdown in their relationship with manager Erik ten Hag.
Football journalist Ben Jacobs believes Sancho is being used as a scapegoat, while ten Hag believes Sancho’s performance and focus “have not been up to scratch”.
“Unless Sancho apologises both privately and potentially publicly to his peers, it’s unlikely that Sancho will be reintegrated into the Manchester United senior team,” stated Ben.
“That means he’s out in the cold and, therefore, is available in January.”
The history of this problem dates back to September, when United first indicated interest in loaning Sancho, subject to a £50 million purchase obligation.
Sancho’s exorbitant salary—roughly £200,000 per week—might make it difficult for United to find a buyer.
Saudi Arabia has expressed interest, but Sancho is hesitant to relocate. Going back to Germany is a possibility, but there are obstacles due to the limited funds once more. All parties involved must make pricing concessions in order for a January departure to happen.
Football season 2023–2024 has underway. All eyes will be on prospective acquisitions made this winter and the possible impact each one could have on the team’s midseason.
