The January winter transfer window is now open, allowing Europe’s top clubs to strengthen their squads mid-season or, conversely, to make ill-judged panic buys in a desperate attempt to salvage a floundering campaign.
There have already been some notable deals, with Matheus Cunha, the Atlético Madrid forward, agreeing to join Wolves on loan for the rest of the season. Luizão, the young São Paulo defender, has joined West Ham, the first signing to be filed in the cliche drawer under “one for the future”.
All eyes will be on Mykhailo Mudryk, the livewire Shakhtar Donetsk winger, over the next few weeks. He is Arsenal’s top target this winter and the Premier League leaders have already made a formal offer for him, but Shakhtar are tough negotiators and are holding out for £85m.
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo is still without a club after forcing his way out at Manchester United. He has been offered vast sums of money to play for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, but whether or not he is willing to take the plunge into obscenely lucrative obscurity remains to be seen.
While United search for a short-term replacement, Liverpool, their old rivals, have agreed an initial £37m deal to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven. United were heavily linked with Gakpo and Erik ten Hag was a confirmed admirer but, then, that’s the sort of plot twist that makes the January transfer window so intriguing, isn’t it? There’ll be more where that came from.