While some European leagues don't make the January transfer window a particularly important moment, the Premier League is no doubt very fond of the joyous transfer drama that took place in the middle of the season. With so much money and talent hovering over England's top flight, it's almost certain that this window that has arrived will showcase a series of compelling deals between some of football's biggest and richest clubs. So which players are most likely to cash out their chips and try their luck at another club this month?
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
There is no doubt that January will be a busy month for United, with the player most likely to leave is Jesse Lingard. Not only was Jesse Lingard's contract expiring at the end of the season and was completely inadequately utilized at Old Trafford, but there were plenty of clubs willing to pay him a symbolic fee, allowing him to join the new club six months before signing him for free in the summer.
Pogba (Manchester United)
Another Manchester United star who is leaving for free is Paul Pogba. Despite a good start to the season, the tall midfielder began to slip in form, and in the match against Liverpool he was sent off the field with a red card. The midfielder then suffered a hamstring injury and is now in a situation where Pogba can agree to join another club before putting on the Manchester United shirt the next time.
Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was Arsenal's biggest threat and goalscoring hope on the offensive end, but he has now been expelled from the Mains Stadium. A disciplinary issue believed to be related to punctuality led to Aubameyang being stripped of his captaincy position, and he has not been seen at the club since. He's probably already played his last game for the Gunners, and the team from Spain is interested in him.
Rudiger (Chelsea)
It is still possible for Rudiger to sign a new contract with Chelsea and continue to be a key player in Tuchel for years to come. However, even the most avid Chelsea fans are now sure to wonder what is holding them back. Whether Lüdiger is simply asking for more money or genuinely wants a transfer to the club, Stamford Bridge fans deserve more answers in January, when other clubs can negotiate with Rudiger. He has a close connection to Real Madrid's transfer, but that could be as a free agent.
Ndombele (Tottenham Hotspur)
When Antonio Conte was appointed head coach of Tottenham, one player who might worry about the future was Ndombele. The former Lyon midfielder has been accused of not working hard enough in training or in games, and his laid-back style has often been criticised. Conte's training intensity will never fit Ndombele unless he completely changes his professional attitude. In fact, the Italian has already said that Ndombele needs to improve as a team player, so if a good bid comes, Spurs could be happily sold.
Martial (Manchester United)
United's ups and downs over the past 12 months can certainly be documented alongside Martial's fate, who is now in an awkward position in this team as an unused and inexorable striker. Anthony Martial is still young and Lonnick may assign him a suitable role to keep him growing in this team, but if the new Manchester United manager is desperate to sign a new player, he may decide to sell the France international instead. Lonnick admitted that Martial had asked to leave, while Sevilla's loan application had been rejected.
Tillermans (Leicester City)
Leicester City don't look very good at the moment and if the big clubs really want to sign Tillermans, things could get worse in January. The Belgium international has been closely linked to transfers to larger teams in Spain and England for some time now, and if Tiermans feels the Leicester city team has reached a bottleneck, he could facilitate a move in January.
Winks (Tottenham)
Conte will make some adjustments to his Tottenham hotspur in the January transfer window, with some of the players likely to be sold in exchange for extra cash. Winks is undoubtedly a talented Premier League player, but he has had a tough time getting play in North London this season and he admits he may need to look elsewhere for a chance to play. He has made more frequent appearances for the team recently, but Conte may be looking for a better solution.
Ziyech (Chelsea)
Chelsea have a lot of attacking players, but not all of them have had a particularly good season at Stamford Bridge. Unfortunately, Ziyech is one of those players who has had a depressed life. The Morocco international has scored just three goals and four assists in 18 games at Chelsea so far this season and has only started six times in the Premier League, and it's clear that Tuchel doesn't rate him as much as the other strikers. If a club wants to test Chelsea's resolve with an offer, the Blues may want to make some money from Ziyech and then switch to reinforcements in other positions.
Zinchenko (Manchester City)
Although Zinchenko played a major role in the club's Premier League triumph last season, he found himself useless in Guardiola's plans, playing just five league games this season. Clubs like Newcastle United will be interested in the defender, and Zinchenko may want to consider his options in January and find a team that can give him weekly playtime.