The top players who should change clubs in January 2025

The January 2025 transfer window would be an important window in the careers of some of the players in Europe’s top clubs.

Most players are having a brilliant season at their present teams, and some have been featured in all their club’s matches this season unless they are injured or suspended.

Others have not had that much game time, even if they are fit, because their managers have simply preferred alternative players.

The January transfer window is a good time for clubs to improve their squads and sign new players to make them better for the second half of the season.

However, it is also an important time in the careers of some players who have not been playing because it offers them a chance to change clubs and make things better for themselves.

In this article, we will consider the players who have failed to make their team fans buy match tickets on Seatsnet because they have not had enough game time.

Arda Guler, Real Madrid

Guler has been at Real Madrid since last season and has played just 19 league games for them combined. Despite being a substitute in most of those matches, the Turkiye international has scored six times.

Guler arrived in Spain as a prodigy whom Barcelona also wanted to sign, so he came to the Bernabeu with a fine reputation.

However, similar to Martin Odegaard, he is not getting the game time that he needs because of his age and lack of experience.

He must leave in January to gain more game time, especially because Real Madrid is targeting several world-class players to sign for next season.

Joe Gomez, Liverpool

When a new manager arrives at a club, every player has to work hard to convince him, but not all of them succeed.

Joe Gomez is one of the players who have failed to impress their new gaffer, and the defender has to leave Liverpool.

His form at the end of last season earned him a place in the England squad for Euro 2024, but now he cannot get on the Liverpool team.

Arne Slot did not buy many players at Liverpool this summer, his first at the club, yet he sticks to only a few, and Gomez has suffered.

In January, he has the chance to leave Liverpool and enjoy some game time on loan until the end of the season.

Raheem Sterling, Arsenal

Since becoming Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta has performed some rescue missions, most notably transforming Martin Odegaard's career.

However, his decision to sign Raheem Sterling on loan in the summer has been a bad one so far.

The attacker struggles to play, and if he is serious about enjoying his career, he needs to cut short his loan spell in January and join another club for the second half of the term.

Wataru Endo, Liverpool

Just like Gomez, Endo has struggled for game time under Slot and it has surprised most Liverpool fans because he was arguably their most important signing last season.

The Japan international would strengthen many clubs in other European leagues. If he is serious about continuing to enjoy his career at the top, he needs to consider leaving Liverpool in January.

Carney Chukwuemeka, Chelsea

It is hard to fault Enzo Maresca nowadays because the bold decisions he has taken as the Chelsea manager has largely paid off so far.

He has stabilised the team, but his decision not to include Chukwuemeka as often as possible has come as a surprise.

The youngster was making good progress under Mauricio Pochettino last season and the Chelsea fans were delighted, but he is now surplus to requirements.

At 21, Chukwuemeka has to play more games, and he should push to leave Chelsea in January.

Christopher Nkunku, Chelsea

Nkunku is another player who should leave Chelsea unless he gets more game time because he is too good to play just a few games.

Maresca has made him a regular in the Europa Conference League, but Nkunku should also play every weekend in the Premier League.

That has not been the case, and it is affecting his international career, so the attacker will have to consider his future in January.

Jakub Kiwior, Arsenal

When Arsenal added Riccardo Calafiori to their squad in the summer, that made them the team with the strongest defence in the Premier League, but it also sent a message to Kiwior about game time.

The Polish defender has been at the clubs since the start of 2023 and does well when he gets a run of games like the end of last season.

However, the competition for game time at the Emirates is too much, and he has interest from Serie A sides like Juventus and Napoli.

He deserves to play more often, and a return to Italy could bring him back to life with more game time.

Endrick, Real Madrid

Endrick joined Madrid in the summer, over a year after they agreed to sign him after he broke out at Palmeiras.

The striker earned comparisons to some of the game’s greatest players even before he stepped foot in Madrid, but he has not received game time.

He arrives at the club at the same time as Mbappe, who is eager to break some records, and the Frenchman has more pedigree than Endrick, so he enjoys more game time.

Endrick needs to leave on loan as soon as possible so that he can play more often because that would aid his development.

Giacomo Raspadori, Napoli

Raspadori was the youngest player in the Italy squad to win Euro 2020, and the striker was a key member of the Napoli squad to win Serie A in 2023.

However, he has struggled for relevance at Napoli since Antonio Conte became their manager in the summer.

Everyone agrees that the gaffer is the perfect coach for their team, so his decisions are not being questioned.

This means Raspadori will spend a long time on the bench, and he would be smart to ask for a move away from the club in January.

Michael Kayode, Fiorentina

When a team is performing well, it is hard to question its managers' decisions, but it is baffling that Kayode cannot start for the team at Fiorentina.

The youngster was targeted by the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle United last season and now he cannot get game time.

He only plays in the Europa League, as Raffaele Palladino has decided that Dodo is his best option at right-back this term.

At 20, Kayode needs game time and he probably should leave Florence on loan in January to get more games.

Milan Skriniar, PSG

Milan Skriniar could easily be considered one of the top players not getting game time in Europe this season.

Luis Enrique hs surprisingly not fancied the former Inter Milan defender and now he is being linked with a return to Serie A.

Juventus wants him to replace Gleison Bremer, who has been injured and could be out until the end of the season.

The Slovakian will significantly make the Juve defence stronger and we expect him to push to make that move happen.

Leon Goretzka, Bayern Munich

Leon Goretzka was one of the best players in the world when Bayern Munich dominated German and European football.

However, the arrival of Vincent Kompany as the manager of the Bavarians this season has changed his fortune.

He was told he could leave in the summer, but he did not find a new home and has played very limited minutes now.

If he is still interested in making a difference on the pitch, he will have to find a new club in January.