10. Yaya Toure (Man City)
Sluggish and static, Yaya Toure first looked doomed when Pep Guardiola took charge at Manchester City in 2016. Yet as the team floundered, the Ivorian playmaker returned to the line-up. Having celebrated his 34th birthday last May, he even got a new one-year deal. The game looks up now, however, given that Toure has not started a league game since.
What could he offer elsewhere? Hand him a luxurious midfield role, get others to do the running, and he may well be worth a punt. If work rate is temporary, class is usually permanent.
9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man United)
The imperious Swede would sit higher on this list based on talent alone, but injuries put a question mark over his value. Having returned from a serious knee injury in November, he suffered a setback in late December that will cost him another month. Barring a sensational comeback, Manchester United will surely not extend his deal beyond this summer.
So how fun it would be if someone else snapped him up? Though his legs may not be as fast at 36, Ibracadabra can lift squads with his mere presence, charisma and winning mentality. He’d be a gamble, expensive too, but if anyone can defy the ageing process it is him.
8. Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace)
Crystal Palace shattered their wage structure to sign Cabaye from Paris Saint-Germain in 2015, but now risk losing him for nothing. He may well go in summer, as Roy Hodgson says he won’t sell him in January. At 31, Cabaye would bolster several Premier League sides with his defensive nous and diligent passing.
The seasoned Frenchman has formed the backbone of the Palace team, and though his stay has coincided with two relegation scraps, he has also been part of why Palace have survived each one.
7. Marouane Fellaini (Man United)
The Belgian is not universally adored, but Jose Mourinho loves throwing him on to chase or protect leads, preferably with big headers and the odd elbow. Yet Fellaini could leave. United have others whose deals expire soon – Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw – but the club can extend their stay for another year.
With Fellaini, no such clause exists. Why would Fellaini leave? At 30, he won’t get a bigger club, nor one that pays better. The issue might be playing time, though a new deal still looks the best call for both parts.
6. Ross Barkley (Everton)
The contract rebel rejected Chelsea on deadline day in August and has not signed a new deal either. The saga has gone on for a while now and with the midfielder injured all season so far, Everton may want to cash in soon. Suitors in January seem to include Chelsea and Tottenham.
Sam Allardyce could use the money and Everton know their manager unearthed January bargains at his previous two clubs, Sunderland and Palace. As for Barkley, he’ll want to revive his career. It looks unlikely to happen on Merseyside.
5. Emre Can (Liverpool)
The box-to-box midfielder is a classic Jurgen Klopp player; a hard-running fighter who makes Liverpool more aggressive and dynamic. Yet as much as Klopp wants to keep him, Can has refused to extend, and won’t be sold. The standoff could go on until summer. Reports say Juventus want Can, who won’t be more tempted to stay should Philippe Coutinho leave Anfield.
Should Can go too, he’ll be a 23-year-old Germany international with top-club experience, free of cost. He won’t be on the market for long.
4. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Wilshere is showing fine form, which may be both good and bad news for Arsenal. Focused and fit, the playmaker can be a gem of a player, driving through enemy lines and feeding the forwards.
Yet the exits of other stars could make him think twice about staying. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left the Emirates in August, accepting less money to go to Liverpool, and should Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez jump ship in summer, Wilshere might follow. On Wednesday, Wilshere said his contract talks have not progressed. Pep Guardiola is an admirer.
3. Fernandinho (Man City)
At 32, Fernandinho belongs to the top bracket of defensive midfielders. One of many players improved by Guardiola, the street-smart Brazilian covers for David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, and may be called an underrated cog in City’s winning machine.
The club would thus be mad to let him go in summer, and a deal will surely be signed. Some reports say an agreement has already been reached, with an announcement imminent. That would make sense. After all, letting key players leave for free is never a good idea. Which brings us to...
2. Mesut Ozil
Oh Arsenal. Hard as they’ve tried to tie him down, Ozil refuses to extend and could walk out of the Emirates in summer. Rumours link him to a reunion with Jose Mourinho, his ex-coach at Real Madrid, a prospect that would surely horrify Wenger after the Robin van Persie debacle.
Wenger adores Ozil for his inventive passing and sense of timing, and has defended him at all times. Some may say the Frenchman deserves some loyalty back, but top players want big titles and Arsenal are nowhere near them. Decent form of late has boosted Ozil’s value, and his situation is bound to be monitored by several top clubs.
1. Alexis Sanchez
How has it come to this? Alongside Ozil, Sanchez looks set to cost Arsenal more than £100m worth of players in summer.
Reports say he was close to joining Manchester City last August. Should he make the move in January or summer, few could blame him. As a player used to lifting trophies with Chile and at Barcelona, Sanchez has raged when Arsenal have squandered points and slipped down the table.
His contract saga has reportedly divided the squad too, with some players feeling it would be best for all if he just left. They’re unlikely to have to wait for long.
