With Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba facing a myriad of problems at their respective clubs, here are five international stars who need to move on in the January transfer window!
Sancho's public fallout with Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has brought his career to an abrupt halt, and a move away from Old Trafford in January could be one of the more compelling options he has. The winger remains frozen out of the first team following his claim that he was being used as a "scapegoat" by his manager after the tactician dropped him for a game against Arsenal in September, citing poor training for his omission from that matchday squad. The rift does not seem to be nearing a resolution, although it is believed that could easily change if Sancho made a public apology to Ten Hag, who is said to have the full support of the club in his decision to isolate the player from the group. It appears, though, that sorry seems to be the hardest word for the Englishman!
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While the 23-year-old remains in isolation under the supervision of assigned trainers, he is now linked with a departure in January, with Juventus reportedly willing to offer him a lifeline in a deal worth £60 million (R1.4 billion), according to The Sun. Sancho has undoubtedly failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford since his £73 million (R1.7 billion) switch from Borussia Dortmund two years ago, and now holds a relatively poor record of only 12 goals and six assists in 82 games for the Red Devils. Should his situation stay the same even after the current international break, it seems quite logical that his best option may be to find a move in January, with clubs in Italy and Saudi Arabia reportedly keen on his signature.
Pogba's case is glaringly different to Sancho's, with the Frenchman's career now halted by a doping scandal after recent tests found that he had too much testosterone in his body. In September, he was suspended by Italy's anti-doping commission as a result of his failed test, but later requested that the sample be analysed again in the hope that there was an error the first time around. However, it was revealed last week that a follow-up test showed the same outcome, with his suspension staying in place. He received another blow as it was reported that he had to take a drastic wage cut due to his ban and now earns only a fraction of his annual salary, with his earning reduced to just €42 177 (R843 890).
It is clear the playmaker's reputation as an elite footballer has taken a big hit as he has made only 12 appearances since leaving United in June 2022 as a free agent. He has now missed more than 400 games since returning to Serie A, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup with France last year. Given that he seems to be unable to stay fit, it could be time for the 29-year-old to move away from Europe's elite and join those players making the switch to the Saudi Pro League, where his Les Bleus midfield partner N'Golo Kante went to earlier this year after extensive battles with injuries at Chelsea. That, though, could depend on whether or not he is handed an extensive ban from football altogether, which may yet be the case with the doping matter still under investigation.
Back in England, Kalvin Phillips continues to struggle at Manchester City after his €49 million (R980 million) transfer from Leeds United in July 2022. Manager Pep Guardiola has shown very little confidence in the England international, and it is said the Citizens are now prepared to offload him in January. Even with the recent absence of Rodri in the deep-lying midfield role due to suspension, Guardiola has instead used the likes of Rico Lewis, Mateo Kovacic, and Matheus Nunes in that position. Last month, the Catalan boss also hinted at being unable to mould Phillips into the kind of player he wants.
According to The Sun, Guardiola said: "I'd love to have done with Kalvin what Marcelo [Bielsa] has done to him. We have our own specific way to play and [he] sometimes struggles in a few things, while the previous [Leeds playing style] was perfect [for him]." A way back for the 27-year-old looks like a distant reality, and clubs such as Everton, Newcastle United, Liverpool and West Ham United have reportedly been keeping an eye on his situation.
Suspended Brentford star Ivan Toney is currently serving an eight-month ban, but the striker is the subject of a lot of interest from clubs such as Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. A move in January remains foreseeable, according to reports, as the Bees have dropped off this season, with just one win in their first eight Premier League games. He scored 21 goals in all competitions last term, and many now feel he is ready for a big move, so a January switch could prove useful for him to adjust to a new environment.
And now for the big one. The next transfer window could be PSG's last chance to make a buck off Kylian Mbappe as his contract is set to expire in June 2024. Currently, he hasn't signed the one-year extension option included in his deal, and if he continues to resist putting pen to paper, it would be wise of the club to sanction the sale in a few months' time, especially if PSG somehow fail to advance to the next round of the UEFA Champions League, which has become a genuine possibility following their loss to Newcastle last week. Quite a number of people feel that the 24-year-old has overstayed at the Parc des Princes, and that a move to Real Madrid should have happened in previous seasons already.
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