Time is running out for teams to make a splash in the January transfer window. With the buy-in period closing next week and a flurry of late activity expected in the coming days, we’re highlighting a player Europe’s top clubs should be targeting at the 11th hour, even if it means showing some trepidation. creativity to close the deal. line .

Note: Estimated transfer values ​​provided by transfermarkt.com.

premier league

Arsenal: Alexander Isak

club: Real Sociedad | Position: Striker | Value: 40 M€

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on outs and Alexandre Lacazette floundering, Arsenal have scored one goal in their last five matches – the Gunners badly need an influx of punches. Seemingly set to miss prime target Dusan Vlahovic, the north London side would be well advised to put all their effort into convincing Real Sociedad to part ways with Isak, the 22-year-old Swedish gem who would become the focal point of the Arsenal attack.

Chelsea: Jules Kounde

club: Seville | Position: Central defender | Value: 60 M€

Chelsea’s interest in Koundé is longstanding – and for good reason. The Frenchman is a typical modern defender: he reads the game well, has excellent mobility and, above all, is comfortable with the ball. With Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Cesar Azpilicueta all pending free agents, the Blues need to be proactive to ensure they don’t find themselves in frantic competition for signings this summer.

Liverpool: Christophe Nkunku

club: RB Leipzig | Position: Attacking midfielder/winger | Value: €55m

Nkunku is ready for the next step. An electric talent who offers positional versatility, his familiarity with a high-octane system at Leipzig would help ease the process of acclimating to Liverpool a bit. Rumors of interest in Nkunku suggest that the club’s scouting and analysis departments have already done their homework and identified the Frenchman as an ideal signing. The Reds hit a home run with Diogo Jota, and Nkunku could have the same impact.

Manchester City: Julian Alvarez

club: River Plate | Position: Striker | Value: 20 M€

What do you get for the team that has just about everything? One of South America’s most exciting young strikers, apparently. Manchester City are close to agreeing a deal for the 21-year-old Argentina international, ensuring their recent Premier League dominance will continue long into the future. The city does need Alvarez right away – the title race is already pretty much settled – and can start thinking about the years to come.

Manchester United: Bruno Guimaraes

club: Lyons | Position: Midfielder | Value: 30 M€

Few teams can match Newcastle United’s newfound riches, but Manchester United, one of the sport’s established powerhouses, is certainly one of them. The Red Devils, like Newcastle, are in the hunt for a central midfielder and could be aiming to hijack the €40m move announced by their peers for the Brazilian Guimaraes. It would respond to a crying need and would send a message that at least some the power still resides at Old Trafford.

Tottenham Hotspur: Adama Traore

club: Wolverhampton Wanderers | Position: Winger | Value: 28 M€

Antonio Conte’s prospect of working with Traore is tantalizing. For some time, the discussions surrounding the burly 26-year-old have focused too much on what he can not do in the field – that is, its end product is sometimes lacking. But Traore brings so much to the table with his elite dribbling ability, and one of Conte’s best traits as a manager is amplifying the specific skills his players To do have. Together, the two could work magic at Tottenham.

the league

Atletico Madrid: Darwin Nunez

club: Benfica | Position: Striker | Value: €32m

While Luis Suarez is set to leave this summer and Joao Felix could join him in search of a better stylistic fit, Atletico Madrid are set to be looking for another striker. Fortunately, Nunez fits the bill. The 22-year-old is exactly the type of rugged presence you associate with Diego Simeone’s side. Very athletic, the combination of speed and physicality of the Uruguayan striker would be welcome at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Barcelona: Alvaro Morata

club: Juventus (on loan) | Position: Striker | Value: 35 M€

Despite relying on bank loans and magic beans to sign new players, Barcelona remain active in the transfer market. The Blaugrana in reconstruction have many issues to rectify, and additional scoring prowess is at the top of the list. Xavi’s admiration for Morata could help push through a deal, but any move is complicated as the Spaniard is on loan to Juventus from Atletico Madrid, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations.

Real Madrid: Noussair Mazraoui

club: Ajax | Position: Right back | Value: €18m

Real Madrid have a few players who can operate at right-back but apart from Dani Carvajal there are no natural options. The Spaniard is now 30, however, and he’s endured an injury-plagued 2021 – the decline is underway for the decorated veteran. Mazraoui is set to become a free agent this summer, but Los Blancos could jump the line and pay a small fee to secure the services of the 24-year-old Ajax star, who provides a ton of attacking momentum.

A-series

AC Milan: Andreas Christensen

club:Chelsea | Position: Central defender | Value: 35 M€

With Simon Kjaer sidelined for the campaign and Fikayo Tomori out for at least a month with a knee injury, AC Milan would be wise to strengthen their backline if they hope to leapfrog their club rivals. city, Inter Milan, in the race for this season’s Scudetto. Christensen, whose contract expires, represents an opportunity to add someone who can improve the team immediately, but also offers a long-term solution should Alessio Romagnoli leave.

Inter Milan: Paulo Dybala

club: Juventus | Position: Before | Value: 50 M€

Dybala’s contract kerfuffle presents an enticing opportunity for Inter to make a huge statement and, frankly, stick to a direct rival in a hugely satisfying way. The Argentine striker is vice-captain of Juventus and is a long-time mainstay of the team. Beppe Marotta, the former CEO of Juve now at Inter, could bolster his attacking ranks and give his former club a kick while they’re down. Inter have already ended Juventus’ title race – now it’s time to step up a gear.

Juve: Denis Zakaria

club: Borussia Monchengladbach | Position: Defensive Midfield | Value: 27 M€

Juventus are close to agreeing a deal for prolific Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic which is sure to help the club’s anemic attack. The addition of the Serb, while a huge boon, does not fix the glaring weakness in midfield that continues to plague Max Allegri’s side. Zakaria would instantly improve a positional group that lacks mobility and a reliable shield for defense while simultaneously freeing up Manuel Locatelli to advance more often.

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich: Josko Gvardiol

club: RB Leipzig | Position: Central defender | Value: 25 M€

With towering defender Niklas Sule set to leave at the end of the campaign, Bayern Munich have been named as players in Antonio Rudiger’s impending draw. But bidding wars for stars in their late twenties aren’t this team’s modus operandi – signing exciting young talent has become Bayern’s way of doing things. Gvardiol, the 20-year-old Croatian who can play both at center and at full-back, would help replace the versatility and physicality provided by Sule.

Borussia Dortmund: Karim Adeyemi

club: Red Bull Salzburg | Position: Before | Value: 35 M€

Beating everyone to the punch and securing the services of a young rising star is the epitome of Borussia Dortmund fare. That’s part of why it’s been almost too much a lot of sense for Adeyemi to end up at the Westfalenstadion. The German striker, who just turned 20 last week, would add to Dortmund’s famous generation of youngsters while helping to soften the blow if Erling Haaland were to move elsewhere this summer.

League 1

Paris Saint-Germain: Tanguy Ndombele

club: Tottenham | Position: Midfielder | Value: €38 million

For the good of the player and the club, Ndombele’s time at Tottenham seems to be coming to an end. The partnership simply never worked out the way it should have. But the Frenchman remains an extremely gifted midfielder, and reuniting with former boss Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint-Germain could boost his career. Would a midfielder with Ndombele and Marco Verratti be functional? Maybe not, but it would be a wild ride that we deserve to see.