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Often times, teams find it difficult to find top-quality players for sale during the mid-season transfer window. With the exception of Çaglar Söyüncü to Leicester City on transfer deadline day and Virgil Van Dijk to Liverpool early in the window, not much buying and selling occurs mid-season without the spending of large sums of money. However, there are many teams that need players midseason this year. With injuries and struggling center backs, Man City is in desperate need of replacements. With Eriksen’s contract ending and his clear statement that he does not wish to stay, multiple clubs are waiting for his contract to expire to take him on a free transfer. Tottenham, of course, would like to push a move through before his contract is up. Additionally, Chelsea received the verdict on their transfer ban that was in place for the following allegations of issues with 29 of its 92 youth signings.

City’s Center Backs

Man City needs a center back. Desperately. The Citizens aren’t at its best when 35-year-old Fernandinho is assigning at center-back when the group is playing a high line. Clearly, Aymeric Laporte, City’s star back and one of the best on the planet, will have returned from injury that has sidelined him for six to eight weeks. Be that as it may, up to that point, Man City can’t afford to lose any more points, as they now sit 11 points behind first-place Liverpool. With John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi both struggling, perhaps signing a full-back in January, even a veteran from Spain or Germany, could help the team or at least provide defensive cover for the time being.

However, at a press conference on Monday afternoon, Pep Guardiola made it clear that he is content with the squad he has and doesn’t intend to use the upcoming January transfer window to upgrade his squad.

Eriksen’s Destination

The arrival of Jose Mourinho, one of the most famed and successful managers in the Premier League, has brought hope for Spurs fans. The approaching transfer window promises to be his first test. With Christian Eriksen remaining adamant that he desires “a new challenge” in Spain or Italy, Tottenham wants to release him before his contract expires and they are unable to profit off his signing with a new team.

Last year, when approached by Real Madrid and Juventus, Tottenham had placed a €250 million price tag on the Dane. Now, Tottenham has began taking offers under €40 million. Manchester United has expressed interest in transferring for the 6-foot midfielder for approximately $55 million.

The Red Devils have also made it clear that they are open to a player swap, namely that of Nemanja Matic, a 31-year-old Serbian center midfielder who could act as a replacement for Eriksen and the departing Giovani Lo Celso.

Chelsea’s Transfer Ban

Beginning last year, FIFA began investigating allegations against Chelsea for issues with their youth signings. By February of this year, it was found that of their last 92 signings, 29 have breached Article 19 of FIFA protocol for the signing of minor players. The club was given a two-window ban and fined £600,000. A decision was reached on December 5, that they will be allowed to sign players during the January 2020 transfer window.

The club did not appeal before the summer transfer window but chose to appeal now due to their desire to add to the team. With the ban be lifted, the team is looking to bring in Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell to replace Marcos Alonso and Moussa Dembele or Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha to back up Tammy Abraham in place of Oliver Giroud. The Blues are also looking to replace the aging Pedro and Willian and are linked to Borussia Dortmund right-winger Jadon Sancho, a deal that they reportedly are willing to pay record fees (above €100 million) to bring in during the next window.

(Photo Credit: independent.ie)