Sports
Seven transfer targets who could improve any team this month
Clubs around Europe have been busy planning their transfer business during the winter window, and a few have already signed players. But there is more work to be done.
January is traditionally not a month when clubs push the boat out to spend lots of money on new additions, but times are changing and pressure is ramping up.
So, here we assess a few players who could be worth taking a gamble on if the conditions are right.
*Market value and contract data taken from Transfermarkt.
Yan Diomande, FW, 19, RB Leipzig
Market value: €45 million
Contract expiry: 2030
Diomande’s first season at RB Leipzig has marked him out as one of the most eye-catching young attackers in Europe, and he is a natural target for the big spending teams. Signed from Spanish side Leganes last summer for a fee of €20 million, the 19-year-old has developed at a remarkable speed, especially when considering he only arrived in Spain from U.S. College football’s AS Frenzi in January 2025.
Deployed on both wings at Leipzig, Diomande’s impact is mainly seen from his ability to drive forward from wide areas. He is particularly effective when moving inside, where his quick changes of direction, excellent balance, admirable determination, lightning-quick first step and close control make him difficult for markers to get to grips with. Those traits are reflected in his 3.80 successful dribbles (per 90 minutes), with most of those actions being designed to gain meters and disrupt defensive shape rather than for show.
Furthermore, his forward momentum regularly carries Leipzig into dangerous areas. His 4.5 touches in the opposition box (per 90) highlights how often he arrives in positions to create opportunities, and he has scored seven goals himself across all competitions.
Although the defensive side of his game remains a work in progress, the scale of his breakthrough has already drawn sustained attention from some of the biggest clubs, with Bayern Munich reported to be in the running. Though his transfer fee is likely to be around €80 million.
Castello Lukeba, 23, CB, RB Leipzig
Market value: €45 million
Contract expiry: 2029
Tailor-made for RB Leipzig’s front-footed style of football, Lukeba is a mobile, proactive, left-footed center back who anticipates opposing attacks early and has the recovery speed to succeed in a high defensive line. That pace is not anecdotal as he’s been recorded at 35.1 km/h in the UEFA Champions League, and it is a crucial component in a system that regularly leaves large spaces behind the defensive line when Leipzig push their midfield and full backs high.
In possession, Lukeba is not a safety-first distributor. He leads the German Bundesliga for progressive passes with 11 (per 90), at an impressive 80% accuracy, which speaks of both his ambition to move the ball forward and his ability to play out from the back under pressure. For that reason Leipzig usually use him as a primary passer out of defense and trust him to break lines rather than simply recycle possession. He also has the ability to expedite precise switches and pick out early runs from his wide forwards.
So why has still not been picked up by a top side? One explanation might be a certain weakness in his aerial game — he has a success rate in duels of roughly 40% — which suggests he is uncertain when it comes to defending crosses and set pieces. That said, given his speed, reading of the game, comfort in possession and a proven ability to perform in a high-intensity league, he’s still a top prospect.
Ismael Saibari, 24, AM, PSV Eindhoven
Market value: €32 million
Contract expiry: 2029
The centerpiece of PSV’s attacking structure, Saibari has had an enormous impact this season and is likely to have been a talking point at many recruitment meetings leading up to the transfer window. The 24-year-old has nine goals and four assists from 16 Eredivisie starts so far, numbers that place him among the most productive attacking midfielders in the league.
Used primarily as an attacking box-to-box No. 8 (or as a No. 10 behind the striker) but with license to drift wide, the Morocco international is not only decisive in the box but also carries playmaking skills outside it. His 1.2 key passes (per 90) illustrates how well his maps the movement around him, while 0.55 xG (per 90) is impressive for an advanced midfielder even in the attack-friendly Eredivisie. His ability to move the ball is also impressive with his 4.2 progressive carries (per 90) allowing PSV to break defensive lines rather than circulating possession harmlessly.
But it’s the late runs into the box that make Saibari particularly interesting, as the timing and finishing with either foot are on another level. Being physically robust and tall, he is also difficult to knock off the ball and has clearly moved beyond being a supporting presence to becoming the primary driver of PSV’s output in the final third.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, DM, Lille
Market value: €40 million
Contract expiry: 2029
Already a first-team member for two years, Bouaddi has made 76 appearances for Lille. Mainly used as a No. 6 holding midfielder, his skillset also translates to being a box-to-box No. 8 courtesy of his superb first touch under pressure, regular scanning of the field, fine dribbling, and a passing range that can switch play or thread into runs between the lines. In either role, the teenager’s ability to keep possession under pressure and link play suggest he will be a top midfielder for years to come.
Bouaddi also covers ground quickly and efficiently, blending fine agility in tight spaces with the engine to shuttle across the pitch to close passing lanes. Physically, he is well equipped and more than keen to enter duels, often stepping out to win a second ball and stave off transitions early. The downside, however, is that his aggression can tip over the limit: he was sent off in successive matches against Le Havre (Ligue 1) and Young Boys (Europe) before Christmas, with both incidents coming from an over-eagerness to stop danger early.
While his profile and age may point towards a stepping-stone move to a team like Brighton, sources have told ESPN that Paris Saint-Germain are leading the race to land him in the summer, so other major teams should act quickly if they want to land him.
Santiago Castro, 21, ST, Bologna
Market value: €35 million
Contract expiry: 2028
Castro has become one of Bologna’s most important attacking outlets after his breakthrough season. The Argentina U20 international finished last year with seven goals in Serie A and has followed up this season with five from 17 games, often delivering in some high pressure and decisive moments.
Interestingly, Castro is different from the technique-based players who get the most attention from modern scouts, as he is more like a classic South American No. 9. Instead of breathtaking finesse, his game is driven by directness, intensity and a constant willingness to compete and hassle center backs. He plays on the edge, presses aggressively from the front, and consistently looks to unsettle defenders through his movement and strength.
In possession, Castro offers a practical, efficient skillset that needs some work. But he strikes the ball cleanly with his right foot and links play well on limited touches, particularly when dropping deep. Even when he is not scoring, his industry, pressing, off-ball movement and ability to open up space for his teammates give Bologna a player whose value goes beyond goals and assists.
Samu Aghehowa, 21, ST, FC Porto
Market value: €50 million
Contract expiry: 2029
Arguably one of the most exciting center forwards in the European game, Samu is a modern No. 9 striker whose game is as much about imposing himself on center backs as it is about finishing moves. While his 6-foot-4 frame suggests he is an obvious target man, it’s equally interesting how often he turns those physical attributes into repeatable shot volume (3.13 per 90, at an impressive 60% accuracy). Indeed, data models consistently place him among the most frequent and highest quality shooters — 46 goals from 70 appearances for FC Porto — in Europe’s top leagues.
In addition to his calm finishing, the Spain international pins the defensive line back, attacks the six-yard box with conviction and always gives the team a direct route when buildup slows down. In the air he is a presence too, and he brings an edge on crosses and set pieces. His excellent mobility also sets him apart from most other classic No. 9s as he is comfortable moving into the channels, carrying the ball forward and nipping into spaces left by defenders.
While there are still elements of his game to refine — his creative output remains modest compared to his final-third presence, and he is not yet a natural operator between the lines — Porto boss Francesco Farioli mainly asks him to focus on his strengths: occupying center backs, turning possession into shots, and giving the team’s attack a natural target.
Victor Froholdt, 19, CM, FC Porto
Market value: €30 million
Contract expiry: 2030
A €20 million summer arrival from FC Copenhagen, Froholdt has wasted no time in imposing himself on a new league and environment. Just 18 months after his breakout in Denmark, the 19-year-old has stepped straight into Farioli’s demanding, high-tempo midfield and looks at home. He has now played every minute of the last eight matches, which is a clear signal of how central he has become to the team’s structure.
What stands out in the Denmark international’s game is his completeness. Froholdt can sit at the base of a double pivot and dictate the tempo, or burst forward as a No. 8, or drift higher as a roaming attacking midfielder without disrupting the balance around him. For a teenager, his blend of physicality, stamina and tactical awareness is highly impressive.
He competes in duels, reads the rhythm of games well, and adds creativity when in possession. He can find excellent passing angles, either dropping deep to start moves with vertical passes or arriving late into advanced areas, while his close control and calmness under pressure also allow him to wriggle out of crowded areas.
Perhaps his most distinctive trait, though, is how he advances play while carrying the ball. Froholdt drives through midfield with balance and directness, regularly gliding past opponents (2.3 progressive runs per 90 is chart topping for a No. 8 in the Portuguese Primeira Liga). Those progressive sprints, backed by strong dribbling numbers, explain why Manchester United, Tottenham, and other top clubs in England have been linked.
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He may be one of the best players in the NFL, but Cleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett isn’t great at following traffic laws.
The 2025 Defensive Player of the Year was cited for driving 94 mph in a 70-mph zone on Interstate 71 in Congress Township, Ohio, which is between Cleveland and Columbus, back on Feb. 21, according to court records.
This speeding ticket marks the ninth since Garrett has entered the NFL since his rookie season in 2017, which includes a scary moment where he flipped his Porsche in 2022 after an incident where speeding was a factor.
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Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Garrett was cited then for going 65 mph in a 45-mph zone at the time.
Garrett was also driving a Porsche during this traffic stop, as the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office pulled over the Browns star as he was going 24 mph over the speed limit in the early hours last month. Before being pulled over, Garrett was spotted at a college basketball game between Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio in Oxford, which is near Cincinnati.
Prior to this ticket, Garrett was pulled over during Browns training camp on Aug. 9, when he was driving 100 mph in a 60-mph zone in Strongsville, Ohio, which is near the team’s Berea training facility.
The Browns had just returned home from their preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers, which led to a $250 fine for Garrett as well.
He was peppered with questions from the media about his speeding past following his then-eighth citation, but he declined to respond.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns looks on during the second quarter in the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 26, 2025, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“I’d honestly prefer to talk about football and this team than anything I’m doing off the field other than the back-to-school event that I did the other day,” Garrett said to media on Aug. 20.
Garrett added that he tried to “keep my personal life personal. And I’d rather focus on this team when I can.”
It was hard not to ask Garrett about what happened in 2022, when he suffered a shoulder and biceps strains, among other less serious injuries, after his car flipped over. He had to miss the team’s Week 4 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, though he returned to his normal self that year. He had 16 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games for Cleveland.
This past year, Garrett broke the single-season sack record (23) with a league-high 33 tackles for loss in an insane campaign that made him a lock for the Defensive Player of the Year Award in his ninth season for the Browns. He had now made it three straight first-team All-Pro honors and five overall.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns looks on during warmups prior to the game at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
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But Garrett will now have to either appear in court on March 10, or pay a fine of more than $100 for his latest speeding ticket, per WKYC in Cleveland. After signing a then-record four-year, $160 million extension with Cleveland last year, the latter is likely the option he’ll choose.
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Spanish club Celta Vigo have called on Madonna and their club fans to help them end their 36-year search to find the team jersey that the global icon wore during her concert at their Balaidos stadium in 1990.
Madonna’s show on July 29 1990 in Vigo marked the first major international concert in the city and was one of the last stops on the pop star’s Blond Ambition European tour.
The LaLiga outfit said it wants to recover the “unique and irreplaceable garment” to add it to its historical archives.
“That night, the artist donned a Celta Vigo jersey with [former Celta defender Jose Manuel] Espinosa’s number 5 on the back,” a club statement said.
“This moment, captured by photographer Víctor de las Heras, became an iconic image in the history of the club and the city. After the performance, the jersey vanished, its whereabouts unknown ever since. Celta Vigo has now revealed that it had been searching for it privately for years, but the investigation stalled.
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“Thirty-six years later, the club is launching an appeal to all Celta Vigo fans to help locate the jersey, with the intention of adding it to its historical archives. For Celta Vigo, it is a unique and irreplaceable garment that forms part of its emotional heritage. For this reason, the club would appreciate any relevant information regarding the whereabouts of the shirt Madonna wore on stage at Balaídos. The following link has been provided to receive any information related to the garment.”
Celta president Marián Mouriño has also written an open letter asking Madonna for her help while explaining why that jersey means so much to the club.
“Your image with our shirt has become a myth and is part of the history of Celta that is also written off the pitch,” she wrote.
“Many see all this as a simple anecdote. But I like to think that nothing happens by chance. Although it was not the only shirt you wore on stage, that image began to shine in a different way over the years. Because we understand better what you defended back then: questioning the established and standing up to those who try to tell you what you can or cannot do.
“At the club that I preside over, we recognize ourselves in that way of being in the world.”
In the letter, Mouriño said her club will “dedicate a gesture of affection” to Madonna ahead of Friday’s home league game against Real Madrid with the intention of asking the singer: “Do you have it? If you know where it might be or want to help us, please contact us by private message.”
It’s never too early for clubs to be planning transfers. While the window might be closed, you can guarantee all 20 Premier League clubs are still working furiously behind the scenes to produce short lists, decide on targets and set their course for next season.
They won’t have all the answers yet — for many, those depend on relegation or European qualification — but what should they at least be thinking about? What do they already know needs addressing?
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Arsenal
NEED: Even more attacking juice
Arsenal spent £162 million to bring in Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke last summer to boost their attacking corps, but there’s a strong argument to be made that they still need more. With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus experiencing severe injury issues and the club lacking a top-shelf left wing threat, they should be in the market for a forward of some sort.
Aston Villa
NEED: Plan for potential major departures
Aston Villa are operating on a very strict budget due to a UEFA settlement, so any move they make must be carefully considered. They are also in a tricky spot, given that one or more key players could conceivably depart the club, which means replacements would be required. Earning Champions League football may eradicate the need to make any deals they don’t wish to, but if they fall short, the likes of forward Morgan Rogers and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez will be eyed up by others. Villa need to know who they’ll target if this happens.
AFC Bournemouth
NEED: Figure out the center back situation
Bournemouth are facing all sorts of questions at center back for the second year running. The most important one revolves around Marcos Senesi, whose contract is set to expire this summer and has been linked with a series of top clubs, including Barcelona and Juventus. If the Argentina international left, would Veljko Milosavljević be ready to step up and start consistently? If not, the Cherries might need to sign two new defenders this summer (luckily, they’re very good at this).
Brighton & Hove Albion
NEED: A natural right back
Brighton may have drifted a bit this season, but when looking over their squad, there aren’t many issues to address from either a qualitative or quantitative perspective. One upgrade they could make is at right back, where they have plenty of options, but no specialist outside of Joël Veltman, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The Seagulls will also need to be ready and willing to sign a center midfielder if Carlos Baleba leaves the club.
Brentford
NEED: Carefully manage some departures
Brentford are in an incredible spot. The squad is good; they have a star striker in Igor Thiago (17 league goals), an excellent goalkeeper in Caoimhín Kelleher, and everything in between. If they finish in the European spots, they’ll need to add further to the ranks. If not, it might be time for some of the old guard — such as Ethan Pinnock and Rico Henry — to depart. Time will tell.
Burnley
NEED: Promotion players for next year
Likely doomed for relegation, Burnley’s eye should be on who can get them promoted from the second tier next season. They’ve got a looming issue in midfield, as Josh Cullen has torn his ACL, James Ward-Prowse has only replaced him on loan, and Florentino Luís may not wish to stick around.
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Chelsea
NEED: Some veteran, steadying presences
Chelsea‘s policy of investing heavily in young players brings some great benefits — but also some noted negatives. Chief among those is a lack of maturity and discipline running through the squad, which has resulted in a whopping seven red cards in the league this season (no other team has more than three). While it might break from policy, it could be time for Chelsea to consider adding a few adults to the room.
Crystal Palace
NEED: Where do you even start?
Major uncertainties surround Palace heading into the summer. We don’t know who will take over from Oliver Glasner as manager, and the squad look short in multiple areas. If they stick with a back-three system, they’re probably in need of a center back and a right wing back. Regardless of the shape, they’ll have to sign some new center midfielders, as both Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma are out of contract, and Adam Wharton is sure to command interest from top clubs.
Everton
NEED: A truckload of full backs
Everton need to sign at least two, perhaps even three, full backs this coming summer. None of James Garner, Jarrad Branthwaite or Jake O’Brien are naturally full backs, yet they’ve all played there recently as David Moyes lacks options. The only consistently available first-team full-back is Vitaliy Mykolenko, whose contract expires this summer. There’s no doubt they’d love to sign winger Jack Grealish permanently, too — once his loan from Man City expires — but that all depends on the fee.
Fulham
NEED: Future-proof the forward line
Fulham tried (and failed) to sign USMNT and PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi in January, which is an obvious hint as to what this summer’s priority might be. Raúl Jiménez’s contract is set to expire, as is midfielder Harry Wilson’s, while winger Samuel Chukwueze is only on loan (with an option to make the move permanent). This trio have scored 20 of the Whites’ 40 league goals; best figure out who stays, who goes and who needs to come in — and fast.
Leeds United
NEED: A new goalkeeper
Leeds got the vast majority of last summer’s recruitment right, but fumbled in one key area: between the posts. Lucas Perri, signed for €15 million from Lyon, struggled and lost his place to Karl Darlow, who has spent most of his career as a backup at this level. Expect the Whites to enter the market for a goalkeeper once again this summer.
Liverpool
NEED: Long-term solutions in defense
Jérémy Jacquet is on the way to Liverpool from Rennes for €60 million, and young Giovanni Leoni will recover from his ACL tear in time for next season, but there are still big questions hovering over this Liverpool defensive line. Center back Ibrahima Konaté‘s contract is set to expire, left back Andy Robertson nearly moved to Tottenham Hotspur in January, and all of their right backs appear to be injury prone. Big changes could be on the way.
Manchester City
NEED: A long-term solution at right back
Credit is due to Matheus Nunes, a midfielder who has converted into a solid right back. He has filled in admirably in the post-Kyle Walker era, taking up the mantle while City’s faith in academy product Rico Lewis has seemingly waned. But a club with City’s spending capacity should probably have a specialist to call upon, and it is the most obvious way to upgrade this XI over the summer.
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Manchester United
NEED: You guessed it! Central midfield
Center midfield has been an area of concern at United for well over a year now, and the need to sign a player for this position has only intensified since Casemiro announced he will leave the club this summer. This could get really expensive — the club have been repeatedly linked with Nottingham Forest‘s Elliott Anderson, Crystal Palace‘s Adam Wharton and Newcastle United‘s Bruno Guimarães, among others — but the United higher-ups can’t put it off any longer.
Newcastle United
NEED: Defensive reinforcements … and a striker?
Newcastle’s forward situation needs figuring out. Yoane Wissa, Nick Woltemade and Anthony Elanga cost a combined £167 million to sign last summer, but Eddie Howe has struggled to get them going. Do you give them another season, or spend again? Regardless of that call, the defensive line needs addressing. Of the center backs, only Malick Thiaw has been fit and available all season long, and the club badly need adequate cover for full backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento too.
Nottingham Forest
NEED: A manager and a consistent playing style
It’s hard to nail your recruitment when you go through four managers in one season — and those four managers all coach different playing styles. Forest have loads of players, several of which are excellent, and the thing they need the most is a consistent direction to travel in.
Sunderland
NEED: A forward and a left back
Newly promoted Sunderland have spent most of the campaign in the top half of the table, which is a miraculous achievement. This is a well built squad that, unlike last summer, does not need wholesale changes. If the Black Cats can spot a forward who can elevate this team, they should pounce. It’s also worth looking at cover for Reinildo at left back, who has missed time due to injury and suspension.
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Tottenham Hotspur
NEED: A progressive passing center midfielder
If Tottenham avoid relegation, they must take an axe to their midfield setup, which is chock full of runners and ball-winners — but curiously lacking in players who can pass the ball forward and through the lines. Many of their other issues will iron themselves out when key players return to fitness, but the midfield balance can only be fixed via the transfer market.
West Ham United
NEED: If they stay up, a defensive leader
West Ham are right on the precipice, but if they do manage to stave off relegation, they’ll need to add a defensive leader — likely a center back — to prevent the same desperate fight next season. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo loaned Axel Disasi from Chelsea in January to address this, but that’s only a short-term solution.
Wolves
NEED: Plan for the Championship
Wolves have shown immense spirit of late, with some fine results against bigger teams, but the smart move is still to plan for the Championship next season. They’ve already partaken in that by swapping out Jørgen Strand Larsen for Adam Armstrong in January and more moves of that ilk loom.
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