If you found yourself lost in the small break between the month-long sprint that was the men’s World Cup and the reignition of the club season, your dose of soccer chaos is here again.
From Jan. 1 to the end of the month, teams across European soccer will enter an all-out race to sign the most coveted prospects from around the globe. It’s a crucial window for title contenders to bolster their depth and middling teams to find that missing piece. Many young players used the unique stage of a winter World Cup to boost their standing in the eyes of top clubs just before the window began. And as has been the case for years, many of Europe’s richest teams are looking to go on a spending spree to try and alter their fortunes this season.
Here’s a look at some of the top names to watch during the 31 days of chaos.
Already signed
David Datro Fofana
Former club: Molde
New club: Chelsea
The 20-year-old likely won’t solve Chelsea’s striker blues, but he should at least add a viable depth option. He’s been nothing short of elite for Norwegian club Molde, scoring 15 goals in 24 matches. The team that has scored the fewest goals of any of the Premier League’s “Big Six” could use that sort of clinical touch in front of net.
Endrick
Former club: Palmeiras
New club: Real Madrid (2024)
The next Brazilian prodigy is here. Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, born in 2004 (!), reportedly has agreed on a transfer to the Spanish giant for a fee of more than $75 million. He won’t officially make the move to Madrid until 2024, but his growing legend back home in Brazil makes him a tantalizing prospect. At just 16, he’s already shown the kinds of flashes that made his mononymic Brazilian predecessors so great.
Cody Gakpo
Former club: PSV Eindhoven
New club: Liverpool
The Dutch World Cup sensation wasted no time making his move after Qatar. PSV announced his departure to the Merseyside club Tuesday. Gakpo and his former club were the beneficiary of a strong World Cup showing in which he scored three goals, all from remarkable strikes. Now the question begs: How will another left-sided forward fit into Liverpool’s system?
Christopher Nkunku
Former club: RB Leipzig
New club: Chelsea (reported)
Chelsea’s transfer strategy over the last few years has been simple: Throw attackers at the wall and see who sticks. Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner didn’t. The jury is still out on Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz. In Nkunku, the west London side has a versatile forward who is still entering his prime. What’s another (reported) $63 million to new owner Todd Boehly, who seems more than willing to (wisely or not) throw money into the transfer market?
Cristiano Ronaldo
Former club: Unsigned
New club: Al-Nassr (reported)
The Ronaldo Problem at Manchester United finally came to a head after his scorched-earth interview with Piers Morgan. He now finds himself out of European soccer for the first time in two decades. His reported contract will last two years and rake in $75 million per. For a player who has had all eyes on him for the better part of 20 years, the move to the Saudi Pro League could be a bit of an anticlimactic finale.
Still on the market
Jude Bellingham
Current club: Borussia Dortmund
Transfermarkt value: $117.45 million
Football didn’t come home this winter, but the future of the English midfield may well be. Bellingham is coming off a stellar showing in Qatar and a breakout season at the German club. He’s reportedly drawn interest from just about everyone, but Liverpool and Manchester City are in pole position to land the 19-year-old. Either way, Dortmund will likely profit handsomely, whether his transfer comes in this window or in the summer.
Enzo Fernández
Current club: Benfica
Transfermarkt value: $55.72 million
The Argentine is the hottest commodity from the World Cup champions. He stepped into the lineup in place of an injured Giovani Lo Celso and was instrumental to the Albiceleste’s title run. Fernández is drawing interest from many of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Real Madrid, Liverpool and most notably Chelsea, who is reportedly in hot pursuit. His Portuguese club reportedly intends to keep him until the end of the 2022-23 season, unless another team triggers a release clause upwards of $125 million. Yet things can change in an instant.
Christian Pulisic
Current club: Chelsea
Transfermarkt value: $40.69 million
The USMNT star’s time at Chelsea hasn’t yet come to a head, but it could be coming soon. Manchester United has reportedly shown initial interest in nabbing Pulisic to replace the outgoing Ronaldo, and the 24-year-old didn’t entirely rule out a move in the January window. New owner Boehly may need the funds should the club splurge on Fernández and others in this window. But Pulisic got the start for the Blues last weekend against Bournemouth. Should his form recover under Graham Potter, he may remain in London for the time being.
Joško Gvardiol
Current club: RB Leipzig
Transfermarkt value: $79.93 million
Croatia’s third-place finish at the World Cup wouldn’t have been possible without Gvardiol. He anchored a resolute back line for a side that allowed just two goals in regular time before being thrashed by eventual champion Argentina in the semifinal. The usual suspects are reportedly circling (Real Madrid, Chelsea and even Tottenham). A bidding war could ensue for one of the world’s best young central defenders.
Alexis Mac Allister
Current club: Brighton
Transfermarkt value: $44.91 million
Another beneficiary of the World Cup champion bump, Mac Allister returns to Brighton as one of the brightest young midfielders in the Premier League. His insertion into the lineup after Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia—alongside Fernández—solidified the midfield and helped key the title charge. He’s been linked to several top English clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea (surprise!). Any move would likely garner a huge profit for Brighton, who paid more than $8 million for him in 2019.
James Maddison
Current club: Leicester City
Transfermarkt value: $58.62 million
The Newcastle takeover has thrusted the Magpies into the top three of the Premier League table, and they’re looking for more. Maddison, a member of England’s World Cup squad, has been superb as a forward-thinking midfielder for struggling Leicester. If he does indeed move this transfer window, whether it’s to Newcastle or fellow Premier League contenders Arsenal and Tottenham, it’ll be one of the more pricey transfers of an English player in recent memory.
Youssoufa Moukoko
Current club: Borussia Dortmund
Transfermarkt value: $32.10 million
The next product of the Dortmund factory could be shipped off as soon as this January. Barcelona reportedly want him when his contract expires this summer, but some of the richer Premier League sides could swoop in for a bidding war for the 17-year-old, as he’s stepped into a hole in Dortmund’s attack and played well beyond his years.
Mykhailo Mudryk
Current club: Shakhtar Donetsk
Transfermarkt value: $42.81 million
This one seems to be all about Arsenal. Mudryk has impressed in the Champions League at just 21 years old. The North London club has been hot on his tail since last summer. Shakhtar is reportedly asking a hefty fee, potentially as high as $100 million. Negotiations have reportedly begun, and the Premier League leaders could end up bucking up a pretty penny in the transfer market to try and secure an unlikely league title.
Rúben Neves
Current club: Wolves
Transfermarkt value: $42.81 million
As many of Europe’s top clubs search for answers in central midfield, Neves is reportedly on the table. Cash-strapped Barcelona has reportedly tried to finagle a deal. Manchester United, as it is with every top player on the market, has also been linked to the Portuguese national.
Marcus Thuram
Current club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
Transfermarkt value: $34.25 million
Mönchengladbach sits at eighth in the Bundesliga table but has scored more goals than just three clubs this year. That’s in large part due to the elevated play of Thuram, who is second to only Nkunku with 10 goals on the year. Inter Milan may yet be the frontrunner for a potential January transfer for the Frenchman. He’ll have fierce competition for spots in the front line, but he’d be a very nice piece in a reserve role this year before Edin Džeko finally loses his powers.
