Jump directly to the content
Feature
Time to go

Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge, Michy Batshuayi… the five players each of the Premier League top six need to sell this month

As the January transfer window rolls on, it's time for the top six to streamline their squad with a host of deadwood to be thrown

WE'RE nearly halfway through the January transfer window already and there are some big-name signings already in the books.

Liverpool's much-needed, £75million move for Virgil van Dijk remains the biggest coup of the month so far for a Premier League side.

 Virgil van Dijk is one of this January's biggest deals of the transfer window
13
Virgil van Dijk is one of this January's biggest deals of the transfer windowCredit: Reuters

Meanwhile, Ross Barkley swapped Everton for Chelsea, Cenk Tosun joined Everton and, of course, Philippe Coutinho left the Reds to join Barcelona in a £145m deal.

However, there's still around three weeks to go and clubs should not only be thinking long and hard about who to sign, but also who to sell.

A host of the Premier League top six's stars are surplus to requirement - to put it mildly - and for their own good should consider a move away.

We take a look at FIVE players each of the Prem's top six should consider selling, to rake in some cash for an all-important star buy...

ARSENAL

 It's time for Theo Walcott to bring his stint at Arsenal to an end
13
It's time for Theo Walcott to bring his stint at Arsenal to an endCredit: Reuters

Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin, Alex Iwobi, Chuba Akpom, Theo Walcott

WALCOTT never quite lived-up to his potential at Arsenal since leaving Southampton as a teenager.

While many blame the player himself, take a look at Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - another young mover from the south coast to North London.

He too stalled at the Gunners, but has looked man reinvigorated since leaving the Emirates to join Liverpool.

 Francis Coquelin appears to have clinched a move to Valencia this month
13
Francis Coquelin appears to have clinched a move to Valencia this monthCredit: MATTHEW CHILDS


B€$T XI Most expensive XI in the world worth £1billion, as Philippe Coutinho joins Barcelona for £145million


There's still time for Walcott to salvage something from his career - but he needs to move... and quickly.

Elsewhere, Coquelin appears to have sealed an escape, to join Valencia.

Players including Elneny, Iwobi and Akpom oughtn't be too far behind.

CHELSEA

 Michy Batshuayi has never quite got to grips with the Premier League
13
Michy Batshuayi has never quite got to grips with the Premier LeagueCredit: EPA

Baba Rahman, Kenedy, Charly Musonda, Michy Batshuayi, Eduardo

LET'S be honest, Batshuayi has never quite settled down to life in the Premier League...

The Belgian has bags of skill and plenty of potential but has been given chance after chance by Antonio Conte... and failed to take them.

 Charly Musonda will need to look elsewhere to find some first-team football
13
Charly Musonda will need to look elsewhere to find some first-team footballCredit: AFP

Flashes of brilliance simply aren't enough for a club of Chelsea's stature - and perhaps he'd be better served finding a move elsewhere.

Meanwhile, forgotten men such as Rahman and Eduardo would hardly be missed by Blues fans, while the talented Musonda sorely deserves a chance at the big-time.

Kenedy is another player filled with talent, but failing to nail down a spot in the team... he too should be seen as one to sell this January.

Full Saturday Premier League preview including Chelsea v Leicester and Tottenham v Everton

LIVERPOOL

 Daniel Sturridge has effectively been frozen-out at Liverpool
13
Daniel Sturridge has effectively been frozen-out at LiverpoolCredit: Reuters

Adam Bogdan, Dejan Lovren, Jon Flanagan, Lazar Markovic, Daniel Sturridge

WELL, Coutinho certainly wasn't one they'd wanted to sell, but there are five moves Liverpool should be looking to make this winter.

Bogdan is well down the pecking order, behind the frustratingly inconsistent trio of Simon Mignolet, Loris Karius and Danny Ward - and is a no-brainer to sell.

Flanagan is a man who's failed to replicate his 2013-14 form since suffering an horrendous injury and is way down the full-back ranks at Anfield.

 Dejan Lovren's time at Liverpool could well be coming to an end
13
Dejan Lovren's time at Liverpool could well be coming to an endCredit: Reuters

Markovic is never breaking into Liverpool's attacking quartet, even in the worst injury crisis - while Sturridge has been all-but frozen out by Jurgen Klopp, too.

Lovren is an interesting option to sell, with his transfer market value still arguably fairly high.

While he can often be Liverpool's best defender on his day, he's too inconsistent to be in charge of a back-four pushing for a Champions League spot.

With fellow former Saints defender Van Dijk now on the ranks, Lovren could be a surprise name to leave the Merseyside giants.

MAN CITY

 Claudio Bravo could well soon become surplus to requirements at Man City
13
Claudio Bravo could well soon become surplus to requirements at Man CityCredit: AP:Associated Press

Claudio Bravo, Joe Hart, Jason Denayer, Yaya Toure, Patrick Roberts

CITY finally appeared to have landed a top-quality goalkeeper to complement their phenomenal attacking ranks, in Ederson.

With that in mind, back-up stopper Bravo, at 33-years-old, will need to look elsewhere for first-team football... as will Hart, currently on loan at West Ham.

Pep Guardiola ought to consider flogging the two of them for a fairly substantial combined fee and having young England stopper Angus Gunn as the bench-man.

 Yaya Toure is little more than a bit-part player at City in recent months
13
Yaya Toure is little more than a bit-part player at City in recent monthsCredit: PA:Empics Sport

Meanwhile, Denayer is a completely forgotten man at the Etihad, as is Roberts, spending yet another season at Celtic.

While Roberts has bags of potential, it's hard to see a world where he would ever slip into that City attacking midfield.

Toure is another player struggling for first-team football in Manchester - and could easily be allowed to leave this month.

Full Sunday Premier League preview featuring Bournemouth v Arsenal and Liverpool v Manchester City

MAN UNITED

 Marouane Fellaini is one of a few big-names who could be on the way out of United
13
Marouane Fellaini is one of a few big-names who could be on the way out of UnitedCredit: AP:Associated Press

Sam Johnstone, Matteo Darmian, Luke Shaw, Daley Blind, Marouane Fellaini

EVEN at this point of the season, Jose Mourinho can't quite nail down his first-choice XI, particularly when it comes to his defence.

Shaw is one man continually linked with a move away and despite a mini-resurgence of late, his career would be better spent elsewhere.

 Luke Shaw is one man constantly tipped with a move away from Man United
13
Luke Shaw is one man constantly tipped with a move away from Man UnitedCredit: Reuters

The same of course goes for Darmian and Johnstone - who seem destined to spend their time at United rotting in the reserves.

Blind, while often proving to be a solid, dependable player is something of a fringe player this season in a talented midfield.

The Dutchman could well join Fellaini - widely expected to leave Old Trafford either this month or in July - in leaving Manchester.

TOTTENHAM

 Moussa Sissoko has never hit top gear since joining Tottenham
13
Moussa Sissoko has never hit top gear since joining TottenhamCredit: PA:Press Association

Paulo Gazzaniga, Danny Rose, Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela, Vincent Janssen

SISSOKO joined Spurs with his stock at its highest-ever point, on the back of a superb individual and team display at Euro 2016 in his native France.

However, he has become another big-money, Premier League flop - with Tottenham surely keen to cash-in sooner rather than later.

 Danny Rose is eyeing up a move away from Tottenham in the coming months
13
Danny Rose is eyeing up a move away from Tottenham in the coming monthsCredit: Getty

Rose has long looked like a man keen to leave North London and with Ben Davies thriving, Spurs may look to cash-in on their £50m-rated left-back - with Man United interested.

Lamela may look to get back to full-fitness in a new environment having never really fulfilled his potential in England, while Janssen would be best served not returning from his loan deal.

Meanwhile, third-choice stopper Paulo Gazzaniga is surely looking to resurrect his floundering career away from Tottenham.

Monday Premier League preview featuring Manchester United v Stoke
Topics