The January transfer window is in full swing, giving clubs another opportunity to strengthen their squads ahead of the business end of the season.
Spurs have made their move in the Premier League, signing Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner from Genoa and RB Leipzig respectively, but there haven’t been really any other major movers and shakers – contrary to the information of every gossip column going.
Some links have some genuine substance to them, while others have elements of truth to them that rely on a number of things falling into place. And some, can you fathom, would appear on the surface to be nothing more than pure fantasy, keeping things ticking over so we all have something to write and talk about.
Here’s six of the best January rumours so far that surely (surely) not going to happen…
Jhon Duran – Aston Villa to Chelsea
The latest Christopher Nkunku injury blow has led to suggestions that Chelsea may look to Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran as a short-term option. The same Jhon Duran who is yet to start a Premier League game for Villa this season – unsurprisingly really given Ollie Watkins’ ongoing brilliance – and has scored two goals in the competition in a year.
Granted, the 20-year-old is a developing talent who is clearly going to get better. He’ll also start to garner more first-team opportunities, which may end up justifying links to a club the size of Chelsea. But for Mauricio Pochettino to be considering a gamble on a player in the infancy of his career when goals are in short supply at Stamford Bridge? It makes absolutely no sense.
Duran arguably doesn’t add any further quality to the Blues’ squad – Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja we’re looking at you – and would most likely be squabbling for minutes as soon as Nkunku is ready to go again from the off.
Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich to Newcastle
There’s not really much to say here other than Bayern Munich are Bayern Munich and Newcastle United are Newcastle United. It’s as simple as that.
Kimmich may be seeking a new challenge away from Bavaria, that much is true, but the German is absolutely not going to be the player to fill the injury-crisis void in Eddie Howe’s Magpies midfield. For starters there’s FFP considerations which mean Newcastle are in no position to be splashing the cash this January – they’ve done plenty of that already in past windows.
It’s also inevitable that Kimmich goes on to play for one of Europe’s real behemoths, if he does indeed end up leaving Bayern. Barcelona, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, those are the kind of calibre clubs who’ll be in the mix, not aspiring Newcastle, and chances are it’ll be the summer when a deal is done.
Ronald Araujo – Barcelona to Manchester United
Manchester United have made an inordinate amount of transfer blunders in recent windows, so the most ridiculous thing for them to do would be to usher in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new minority-ownership era with more high-profile spending on Ronald Araujo.
The Uruguayan is more than a solid centre-back – some may even rate him as one of the world’s premier options – but he’s had more than his fair share of brain farts this season as Barcelona’s progress under Xavi has stunted.
To splash over £60m – the fee being banded about to sign Araujo – would be a jump in the ocean that United don’t need to make right now, even if Erik ten Hag is struggling to string results together. Clear some heavy-hitters out of the club and then really assess what’s needed for a reboot in the summer.
Santiago Gimenez – Feyenoord to West Ham
If it’s goals galore you’re looking for from the continent, you need not look much further than Feyenoord’s all-action Santiago Gimenez, who has 19 Eredivisie strikes tucked under his belt in just 17 outings.
That sensational strike rate has bettered his first season in Europe, so it’s no surprise that some of the biggest hitters have been linked with a move – particularly as a crazy figure as cheap as £30m has been suggested.
While that price criteria doesn’t necessarily rule West Ham United out of the equation, the calibre of club they are potentially competing with should. And if for some reason there’s another Mohammed Kudus situation – where somebody like Chelsea or Manchester United should pull the trigger but inexplicably don’t – the fact that Sebastian Haller and Gianluca Scamacca both did terribly at London Stadium – a systemic fault, not their own – should allow nature to do its healing.
Bruno Guimaraes – Newcastle to Liverpool
It’s a little premature to say Newcastle United‘s bubble has burst under Eddie Howe…but it certainly looks like Newcastle United’s bubble has burst under Eddie Howe.
The Magpies have forked out vast sums of money on Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, Sven Botman, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Bruno Guimaraes over the past 24 months, reaping the rewards of their cash-rich ownership to achieve Champions League qualification last season.
But with lavish spending comes the need to comply with stricter FFP regulations, designed to ensure clubs operate in a sustainable way. That’s led to speculation that Newcastle now need to sell to balance the books – or at the very least hold off on the expensive incomings.
Bruno Guimaraes’ name has been floated in gossip columns around Europe, namely because an appealing release clause worth less than £100m exists in his contract, but Newcastle would have to be barking mad to allow him to join Liverpool or any other Premier League club. That is unless his contractual is clause triggered, at which point Newcastle have no say…
Kalvin Phillips – Manchester City to Barcelona
Kalvin Phillips’ Manchester City hasn’t ever really taken of, largely because Pep Guardiola has decided that the 28-year-old isn’t up to playing for a team who wins absolutely everything.
Fair enough, you’ve got to be at the absolute top of your craft to get a gig at City, but it does beg the question why they struck a deal with Leeds worth up to £45m in the first place. So what next for Phillips? Newcastle United and West Ham United are just two of a number of Premier League teams who have admired the tenacious midfielder from afar, but neither are yet to formalise their interest with a bid.
That’s suddenly led to links with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – a path absolute nobody, including Phillips, thought he would be treading. Chances are the rumours are absolute guff, but hey it’s a fun story nevertheless.
Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid to Manchester United
Vinicius Junior to Manchester United? With the Red Devils willing to pay £130m?
Let’s not be so silly, eh.
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