The clock is now well and truly ticking for those hoping to find a new club in order to kickstart their careers
It's always been difficult to find value for money in January, but this has been an incredibly quiet winter window to date, with even Premier League clubs reluctant to splash the cash because of the recent clampdown on breaches of financial regulations.
Consequently, several players desperately hoping for career-reviving moves are still searching for new clubs with just one week to go before the window slams shut on February 1. All is not lost, of course. There is still plenty of time to get deals done and business always picks up as the sense of desperation increases towards the tail end of January.
So, which players have to do everything they can to secure a transfer over the course of the next seven days? GOAL ranks those most in need of a move, from young players looking for game time to unsettled superstars…
Getty10Joao Palhinha (Fulham)
A bumper new contract certainly took the edge off the immense disappointment Joao Palhinha suffered on deadline day last summer, with the Fulham midfielder admitting that he and his family were "really affected" by the eleventh-hour collapse of his proposed move to Bayern Munich.
However, Palhinha has admitted that his "ambition" remains to play at a "higher" level – and he's running out of time in that regard. Remember, Liverpool were unwilling to invest in the 28-year-old Portugal international because he didn't fit their preferred age profile.
If Palhinha doesn't get his move soon, he may never play for one of Europe's elite, which would be a shame, given he's easily one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League.
AdvertisementGetty Images9Goncalo Ramos (Paris Saint-Germain)
Paris Saint-Germain paid €65 million (£56m/$70m) for Goncalo Ramos just last summer, but it's been reported that the Ligue 1 leaders are already willing to cut their losses on the Portugal international, who has scored just three goals in France's top flight, and started only eight games.
The rather obvious problem is that Kylian Mbappe is being deployed in his preferred position of centre-forward and that doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon. Coach Luis Enrique has publicly supported Ramos, saying he's doing a "spectacular job for the team", yet also conceded that PSG don't play to his strengths as they don't put many crosses into the area.
In that context, Ramos would be just as well-served by a January transfer, particularly when one considers the intense competition for places in the Portugal squad. Ramos has an excellent record for his country (seven goals in 10 games), but his chances of starting at Euro 2024 hinge on him playing regularly at club level.
Getty8Divock Origi (AC Milan)
Is Divock Origi ever going to be known as anything other than Liverpool's one-time super-sub? It's starting to look highly unlikely at this stage. After an absolutely disastrous debut season at AC Milan, featuring just twice in 36 appearances in all competitions, the Belgian was loaned to Nottingham Forest at the start of the season.
However, the return to the Premier League hasn't gone according to plan at all, with Origi still goal-less after nine outings. Forest have absolutely no intention of taking up their option to buy the 28-year-old and the word now is that he will be sent back to San Siro so that Milan can try to move Origi on to one of the MLS sides supposedly willing to take him on.
At this stage, a drop down in level looks the best option for a striker that has never netted more than eight league goals in a single season.
Getty7Jesse Lingard (free agent)
Ahead of the January transfer window, Jesse Lingard posted a picture of himself in the gym with the accompanying quotation, "Doors are opening for you. The wait wasn't punishment, it was preparation."
However, the former Manchester United attacking midfielder is still looking for a new club – more than six months after being released by Nottingham Forest. However, Lingard has just sacked his agent and is reportedly closing in on an MLS move, with Portland Timbers looking like the most likely destination for the former England international, who is still only 31.
Lingard briefly revived his career with a mid-season move to West Ham in 2021 – maybe he can do so again…