The Premier League’s superstar outcasts who are desperately seeking a move in January

With the January transfer window opening up again later in the week, there is no doubt that clubs up and down the country will have drawn up their late Christmas wishlist.

While the likes of Liverpool might have their sights set on trying to bolster their dwindling defensive options when the window reopens, there still remains plenty of question marks surrounding some of the Premier League’s biggest names.

On a list that includes a World Cup winner and the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, we have taken a look at four superstars who should be desperately seeking a career kick-start over the coming weeks.

Mesut Ozil

With Arsenal managing to pick up a shock 3-1 win against Chelsea on Boxing Day, there is no doubt that Mikel Arteta would have cherished an evening of questions that weren’t centered around Mesut Ozil’s current situation.

Clearly no part of Arteta’s plans at the Emirates and still firmly in North London exile, it is no secret that the Gunners are desperate to get Ozil’s £350,000-per-week deal off their wage bill.

Not even rewarded with a spot in Arteta’s Premier League squad and training away from the Arsenal first-team, the former World Cup winner has not made a single appearance in any competition since March.

While the former German international might have been continuously linked with a potential move to Turkey, Italian outfit Tuttosport have claimed that Arsenal have already reached out to the likes of Juventus in an attempt to get the 32-year-old out the door.

However, despite reportedly being willing to pay 50% of Ozil’s current salary in an attempt to force through a move, the Old Lady were not interested and it is back to the drawing board for the Gunners.

Jesse Lingard

While there still might be a string of Manchester United fans wondering how they can find a place for summer arrival Donny van de Beek in their midfield, one former England star has only continued to freefall down Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s pecking order.

Now firmly behind the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Fred, and Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard has quickly become the forgotten man at Old Trafford over the past 12 months.

Now a million miles away from Gareth Southgate’s thinking ahead of next year’s delayed European Championships, the 28-year-old has often failed to even earn a place among Solskjaer’s 18-man matchday squad.

While both West Ham and relegation scrappers Sheffield United have been tipped among the favourites to snap up Lingard’s signature, the midfielder has also been linked with a potential move abroad in an attempt to kick-start his career.

It was reported by Sky Sports earlier in the month that Spanish outfit Real Sociedad have been in contact with Lingard’s representatives as they prepare for a January switch when the window reopens.

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Watching summer arrival Edouard Mendy really burst onto the scene at Stamford Bridge since making the move from French outfit Rennes back in September, Kepa Arrizabalaga’s days in West London certainly appear to be numbered.

With the Senegal shot-stopped already becoming a real fan favourite amongst the Blues, it is no surprise to many across the Premier League that Frank Lampard’s side are desperate to get Kepa off their wage bill.

Reportedly earning £150,000-per-week and one of the biggest earners at Stamford Bridge, the Spanish international drastically failed to live up to the staggering £71.6million price tag they paid for the 26-year-old back in 2018.

Making a string of high-profile mistakes and with no real route back into Lampard’s plans, Kepa is still remarkably world football’s most expensive goalkeeper and he should be keen to end his Premier League nightmare.

While the Blues know they’re going to take a hefty loss on their investment, it is believed that Chelsea are willing to allow Kepa to leave on loan come January.

Dele Alli

After being dragged off at half-time in Tottenham’s 1-0 loss against Everton on the opening weekend back in September, Dele Alli’s stock has only continued to plummet over the past few months.

Formerly one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s team-sheet, the 24-year-old really finds his career at a crossroads after a string of public spats with Jose Mourinho, most recently following Spurs’ EFL Cup victory against Stoke last week.

With Mourinho bringing in the likes of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg from Southampton over the summer, Alli has not had a sniff of Premier League action, even with the former Manchester United boss having a nine-man bench to choose from.

Heavily linked with a potential loan move to PSG over the summer, it appears that the French side could be looking to reopen discussions with the news that Mauricio Pochettino is expected to soon take charge in the French capital.

With Allimoving to North London when he was just a young starlet at MK Dons back in 2015, the duo famously have a close relationship and there is no doubt that the misfit midfielder would leap at the chance to reunite with his former boss.