Having missed out on some key targets, Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal may be keeping an eye out for possible transfers in January.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
Having been linked to a number of targets over the summer, clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United may look at key players again in January as they look to bolster their ranks.
While rumours circulated late in the transfer window about Spurs’ reported interest in Real Madrid’s Isco and United’s apparent late interest in Antoine Griezmann came as a surprise, the long running transfer rumours of Alexandre Lacazette, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Christian Pulisic had been gathering pace for quite some time. With Griezmann only emerging due to the fact that their previous big name target, Paul Pogba, had already signed for the club in a deal believed to be worth £89 million.
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba in action with Hull City’s Tom Huddlestone
But whilst Spurs and United’s interest in two players emerged late in the transfer window, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool had long been linked with moves for Lacazette, Koulibaly, and Pulisic.
Whether these signings failed because of wage demands, transfer fees, or club ambitions remains to be seen, but with the race for the Premier League just getting started, Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino and company will have one eye on January.
With a number of clubs keeping a close eye on the January transfer window, we take a look at which club might return for their summer targets as they look to build upon what they feel they might be lacking.
Isco – Tottenham Hotspur
Throughout the transfer window Pochettino’s side had long been linked with a number of targets and were even reported on the final day of the season making a move for Manchester United’s Morgan Schneiderlin, as reported by The Sun. But it was not the move for the France midfielder that emerged as the most surprising target Spurs had set their sights on. Pochettino was interested in bringing Isco to White Hart Lane as reported by The Independent, and whilst it remains to be seen whether it is just a rumour or a legitimate interest that could result in the Spaniard heading to North London, Spurs’ interest may become more concrete come January, should the midfielder still be on the fringes of Real’s starting XI.
Antoine Griezmann – Manchester United
Mourinho’s interest in Griezmann only emerged late on deadline day of the transfer window, and only materialised after United had completed the signing of Pogba. Up until that point United only seemed interest in the former Juventus midfielder, and after completing the world record transfer, they appear to have turned their attentions to another French international, and it is not beyond the realms of possibilities that Mourinho’s United will break the transfer record twice in one season, as it is clear that is what it will take to prise Griezmann away from Atletico Madrid.
Football Soccer – France national soccer team Training
Christian Pulisic – Liverpool
Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic has been a long-term Liverpool target under Klopp, and on several occassions it has become clear this is the man the German wants to bing to Anfield. Pulisic only broke in to the Dortmund team in January, and his rise in the Bundesliga has been meteoric, with Klopp keeping a close eye on his progression. While Liverpool had a bid of £11 million rejected in the summer as reported by The Telegraph, it became clear this week why Klopp was so eager to bring the 17-year-old to Merseyside, when Pulisic became the youngest American international to score in a World Cup qualifier, when the United States played St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Alexandre Lacazette – Arsenal
Despite interest from West Ham United throughout the summer, Arsenal remain keen to bring French forward Alexandre Lacazette to the club. While Lacazette has remained at Lyon, he appears destined for a move away from the club at some point in the next twelve months. With Arsene Wenger appearing to stand his ground, as was expected, over the transfer fee being asked, Lyon’s resolve looks like it will once again be truly tested as Lyon look to fend off Arsenal’s interest in the player.
Olympique Lyon v Caen – French Ligue 1
Kalidou Koulibaly – Chelsea
Much like the Arsenal and Lacazette situation, Chelsea remain keen to bring the Napoli centre-back Koulibaly to Stamford Bridge. But like Lacazette, so far Napoli have resisted the temptation to sell. All summer the Senegalese international was linked with the club as they looked to strengthen at the back. But while their immediate attention had switched to completing the signing of their former player, David Luiz, there is the feeling that Antonio Conte will re-enter the transfer market in January to plug the holes at the back, and that Koulibaly will head that list of targets.
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