January Transfer Window: Mohamed Salah, Kobbie Mainoo, Trent Alexander-Arnold Among Players Expected To Move

The January transfer window or the winter transfer window is when the football clubs aim to fine tune their squads as they aim to improve upon the performances in the first half of the football season.

While the most important deals between the clubs happen during the summer transfer window, the winter transfer window also at times sees lucrative and significant trade happening in the football world.

Some of the best examples of January transfer window signings are Philippe Coutinho's move from Inter Milan to Liverpool, Manchester United signing Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP and Virgil van Dijk's transfer from Southampton to Liverpool.

When is the January transfer window for Europe’s top five leagues?

The winter transfer window will open for the Premier League on Jan. 1, 2026. The window will open on the same day for German Bundesliga and French Ligue 1.

Spain's La Liga and the Italian Serie A will have to wait till Jan. 2 to start trading. The mid-season window will shut for all the leagues on Feb. 2.

With mid-season transfer window fast approaching, here is a look at the footballers who are likely to change their clubs in this span.

1. Antoine Semenyo

Antoine Semenyo has been a player who has been in demand for some time now. The Bournemouth winger has been linked to Liverpool but it looks like Manchester City is going to be his next club.

City are likely to complete the signing of the 25-year-old winger within the few hours of transfer window getting open for around £65 million.

This season, Semenyo has netted nine goals and assisted three times. During his entire stay at Bournemouth, he has made 107 appearances in which he has scored 31 goals and assisted 13 times.

2. Marc Guehi

Marc Guehi has been with Crystal Palace for four seasons now. During this time he has risen in the ranks and become the club captain but it is now looking like his time at the club is coming to an end. The center back is in the final year of his contract and he has made clear that he has no intention to sign a new deal.

With just six months left in his contract, Crystal Palace will be looking to sell him in the January transfer window rather than losing him for free in the summer. The 25-year-old is likely to move to Liverpool for €50m.

3. Rodrygo

Rodrygo has fallen out of favour with Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso. He has lost his goal-scoring touch and desperately needs a change of surroundings if he needs to find his form back.

The Brazilian forward has made 291 appearances for Real Madrid in the last six seasons and netted 70 goals and assisted 55 times. He is still only 24 and will be aiming to find a spot for himself in Brazil's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For that he needs to make a move away from Real and the best time to do that will be during the January transfer window. He could cost any potential club anywhere from €80-€100 million.

4. Kobbie Mainoo

Kobbie Mainoo is not a regular starter for Manchester United. The 20-year-old has made only 11 Premier League appearances this season and all of them have been as a substitute.

Although United boss Ruben Amorim believes that Mainoo's future is at Old Trafford, given his lack of appearances and time played, it is best for the midfielder to leave the club in January.

Mainoo has made 84 appearances for the Red Devils in the last four seasons and has scored seven goals and provided three assists.

Mainoo's transfer value is estimated around €50-€60 million and the Englishman will be pushing hard in January to make a move out of Manchester.

5. Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling hasn't played at all for Chelsea this season. The English forward had a disappointing loan spell in with Arsenal last season. Sterling is still just 31 years old and if he has any hopes to revive his career then he desperately needs to find for himself a new club.

Sterling can still play top-flight football for a few years and it will be best for both Chelsea and Sterling to part ways in January. It is just no use for Chelsea to pay a player in excess of £300,000 per week who doesn't even train with the first team any more.

6. Yves Bissouma

Yves Bissouma is currently in Morocco where he is representing Mali in the AFCON. But the 29-year-old knows that once Mali's campaign in the AFCON is over, he will be struggling to play top-flight football again.

Bissouma has not played a single minute of football for Tottenham Hotspur this campaign. According to reports, he was punished by Tottenham boss Thomas Frank for indiscipline and was was dropped from the club's squad for the Super Cup match against PSG back in September.

Spurs signed Bissouma for €34.3 million from Brighton in 2022, and will be now looking to sell him for a transfer fees of around €15.5 million.

7. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid hasn't panned out the way he had envisioned. The fullback moved away from Liverpool and joined Real Madrid in the summer for €10m. But injuries and inconsistent starts has meant that the 27-year-old is looking for yet another move and this time in the January transfer window.

Several media reports suggest that Madrid could be selling Trent for a fees of around of €40million. Likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle United are eager to sign the defender.

8. Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah is having a poor season. He has netted only five goals and assisted in four across the competitions for Liverpool this campaign. Because of his poor return, Salah was dropped by Arne Slot for three successive Premier League games, which led to the Egyptian feeling that he was being targeted for the team's poor run.

Salah's infamous interview where he said he was "thrown under the bus" made many believe that the Egyptian might have already played his final game for the club.

Although according to Slot, Salah and him are past that incident, but Liverpool could be looking to offload Salah if a good opportunity comes their way. Salah has been heavily linked to Saudi Pro League clubs in the recent past.