Soccer’s Silly Season

January is well-known in soccer for the transfer window – and the Premier League and European club managers will be evaluating the start of the season to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie.

This is also a popular time for bettors – who will be looking to bet on the football transfer window – and will certainly have an interest in how the teams that they put their bets on will perform when the window closes – on January 31st at 11 pm. Will Spurs sign Luis Diaz? Will Dembele be heading to Chelsea? Let’s take a look at how the transfer window is rumoured to be going…

ANTHONY MARTIAL TO SEVILLA:

It looks as though Anthony Marshall has headed over to Spain to complete his loan transfer from Manchester United to Sevilla. He has been looking to leave Man U since he went into talks with interim manager, Ralf Rangnick earlier in the month. The red’s forward player has made his intentions to leave clear to management and as such, the French international will play with Sevilla on a six-month loan deal.

GINI WIJNALDUM TO ARSENAL

Liverpool’s beloved Gini has moved over to Paris Saint-Germain but it seems as though the former Premier League superstar is looking to make a return, but this time to the London area. Reports state that currently, Wijnaldum is out injured – and that while he won’t publicly come out and say that he wants to leave PSG – because he respects the fans, he is very keen to make a return to English soccer. It’s unlikely that this will necessarily happen in the January transfer window – or even in the summer, but this is certainly possible for the not too distant future. Arsenal is a club that Gini has admired ever since he was young, so a move there would certainly appeal. Arsenal is looking for a midfielder, but PSG doesn’t want to let him go just yet.

DUSAN VLAHOVIC TO JUVENTUS

This was one that the Gunners were gunning for, but they have missed out – as Vlahovic, despite being Arsenal’s top target during the transfer window, has apparently opted to remain in Serie A. Juventus has had their $63 million offer accepted and is apparently now in the process of finalising terms. This is another big miss for the London squad that is desperately seeking trophies now.

TIELEMANS OUT OF LEICESTER

Manager of Leicester City, Brendan Rogers, has admitted that Youri Tielemans is looking at all options now that he has entered the last 18 months of his current deal. Already linked with Tielemans is Arsenal, who are apparently keen. There have also been rumours that Liverpool might be a potential candidate after Gini Wijnaldum went to PSG recently. There is also Man U that has had contact with the Belgium international’s agent.

CESAR AZPILICUETA TO BARCELONA

There has been an agreement in principle made for the Chelsea captain, Cesar Azpilicueta, to join Barcelona at the end of the current season. His West London contract is set to run out at the end of June and the Blues are refusing to offer him anything other than a one-year extension, given their policy regarding players aged over 30 years old. As such, it looks as though his time in London will come to an end and that cash strapped Barcelona have struck a deal for him to join in the summer

THE WAR FOR DEMBELE

There seems to be a war going on for Barcelona ace Ousmane Dembele, who has several big European clubs interested in him. Currently, it looks as though Manchester United and Juventus are battling it out for the pole position, but rumours abound that Chelsea is also throwing its name into the hat during the January transfer window. The forward’s current contract at Nou Camp runs out at the end of the season and there is no indication that he is signing for an extension. Apparently, Juventus and United have been intense in their courting of Dembele, since mid-2021. It is also rumoured that he may have even signed a pre-contract agreement with one of them…

THE RACE FOR DIAZ

Rumours abound that Tottenham Hotspurs have joined the race for Porto’s star player, Luis Diaz in the January transfer window. However, they will have to beat off competition from rival Premier League teams Manchester United and Liverpool. Porto lost Jesus Corona to Sevilla already, while Sergio Oliviera has signed for Roma on a £1 million loan fee with an option to buy for approximately £12 million. So, Porto’s manager is eager not to lose another big name unless his hand is forced.

So, who will go where? What does the post-January season look like? Teams are fighting tooth and nail to get their hands on the best players up for grabs, which makes it exciting for both the teams, their fans – and any football bettors looking to up the ante in the second half of the season.