A few days separate us from the start of the new year, and with its first days, the winter transfer market opens its doors to clubs wishing to include players and get rid of others.
Perhaps what distinguishes the winter “Mercato” this year is that it comes about two weeks after the end of the 2022 World Cup competitions in Qatar, which contributes greatly to raising the market value of some players and decreasing the value of others based on what they presented during the World Cup.
Football fans around the world are awaiting clubs' movements during January 2023 and their ability to sign the players they need, in light of the availability of international stars, such as Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Uruguayan Luis Suarez, and other young stars that clubs are panting for their services.
12 winter deals waiting to be decided
In the following lines, we highlight the 12 most prominent deals awaiting resolution in January of next year, including a Moroccan duo.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The "Don" trained for several days at Real Madrid's training center known as "Valdebebas" after his country's exit from the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar, in preparation for moving to its next destination.
Manchester United announced the termination of Cristiano's contract by mutual consent in November 2022, after the statements made by the second, in which he attacked the club's management and the former and current coach of the "Red Devils".
Ronaldo left Manchester United before his contract expired (Reuters)
Many media outlets agree that Cristiano is very close to signing a record contract with Al-Nasr Saudi Arabia, during which he will play two and a half seasons for 500 million euros, and only the official announcement of the deal remains.
Christopher Nkunku
The young French striker missed the World Cup in Qatar due to an injury to the external knee ligament, which he suffered after the intervention of his compatriot, Edward Camavinga, during the "Roosters" training.
However, the future of the German Leipzig striker can be decided with the opening of the winter transfer window in a few days, especially in light of Chelsea's desire to sign him.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who specializes in the player market, confirmed that there is a final agreement between Leipzig and Chelsea to transfer Nkunku from the first to the second, with only the official announcement remaining.
Enzo Fernandez
Not only that, but not only that, but he succeeded in winning the World Cup for the third time in the history of Tango.
Fernandez had arrived from Argentine River Plate to Portuguese Benfica last summer for only 12 million euros, but his price doubled greatly after the World Cup.
The player's brilliance in the World Cup tempted Liverpool to sign him next January, and he is willing to pay 70 million euros for the services of the best young player in the World Cup.
Fernandez also entered the circle of interest of Real Madrid, which in turn sought to sign him in the event that he failed to sign the English young man, Jude Bellingham, from Borussia Dortmund.
Joao Felix
Atletico Madrid opened the door to the departure of its Portuguese player in the winter, and Felix himself said earlier that he would talk to his club's management about this matter after the end of the World Cup.
Joao Felix is on his way to leave Atletico Madrid (Getty Images)
Arsenal is seeking to contract with Felix in order to compensate for the absence of the injured Brazilian Gabriel Jesus, but the "Ganzer" management did not address its counterpart in the "Roky Blancos", which wants 100 million euros in exchange for its Portuguese player, given that it contracted him from Benfica for 127 million euros in 2019.
Isco
Seville announced the termination of his contract with Isco, who joined him last summer at the request of former coach Julen Lopetegui, but he left after his relationship with sports director Monchi soured.
And after playing 19 games with Seville, during which he scored one goal and provided 3 assists, it seems that Isco will join Lopetegui to Wolverhampton.
Ezzedine Onahi
The Moroccan international presented his credentials at the World Cup in Qatar, and was one of the pleasant surprises of the World Cup with the "Atlas Lions" and received great praise, most notably from the dismissed Spain coach Luis Enrique.
Only a year and a half ago, Onahi was a player in the French third division with Avranches, and he is currently defending the colors of Angers.
Bulk offers for Onahi after his brilliance in the Qatar World Cup (Getty Images)
And the president of Angers, Said Shaaban, admitted that his club had received several offers from clubs in Italy, Spain, England and France for Onahi, but the newspaper “Marca” confirmed that Leicester City had already put an amount of 45 million euros on the French club’s table, and the Italian Napoli is seeking with all his might. The power to hold the player.
Cody Gackbo
The PSV Eindhoven striker emerged during the first round matches of the World Cup in Qatar, scoring 3 consecutive goals against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar.
Gakbo left a wonderful impression on him as one of the most important strikers in the World Cup, but before that the Dutchman was coveted by English Premier League clubs, with the recognition of his coach Ruud van Nistelrooy.
It seems that Manchester United is fully prepared to sign Gakpo in the winter Mercato, to compensate for the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Luis Suarez
Despite his great experience and being considered one of the most important strikers in the world, the Uruguay striker does not play for any club currently.
Suarez returned to Club Nacional in Uruguay last summer, and won the local league title with him, and his contract expired a few days before the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.
And the newspaper "Marca" indicates that Suarez will not return to Europe again, while he is on his way to join an NBA club, at a time when the Brazilian club Gremio is trying to persuade him to join him.
Sufyan Amrabat
Amrabat is one of the most prominent Moroccan players in the World Cup in Qatar, to the extent that French President Emmanuel Macron went to the "Atlas Lions" dressing room after the semi-final match to congratulate him on his performance during the tournament, and also tell him that he is "the best midfielder in the tournament."
Sofiane Amrabat was one of the stars of the Qatar World Cup (Reuters)
Last summer, the Italian Fiorentina field was close to signing for Tottenham Hotspur, and now it is coveted by many European clubs, led by Liverpool, who expressed their willingness to pay 40 million euros in order to obtain the player’s services.
Joseph Moukoko
Borussia Dortmund knows that the contract of its 18-year-old young player expires next June, and therefore he is striving to extend it.
But this will not be easy in light of Bayern Munich's ambitions, in addition to his agent Patrick Williams publicly admitting that his client is on the radar of most major clubs, but "we are not close to reaching an agreement."
Yoshko Gvardiol
Leipzig does not think of forfeiting the services of the young Croatian defender, but at the same time he must face the ambitions of the large European clubs wishing to include him.
According to several reports, Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea are fully prepared to sign Gvardiol in the next winter market.
But the 20-year-old defender's agent denied the existence of any agreement until now, and said, "We are not in a hurry. Joshko has a long-term contract with Leipzig."
Substitute for Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich
The sports administration of the "Bavarian" club has placed the issue of hiring a goalkeeper on top of its priorities in the next "Mercato", to replace goalkeeper Neuer, whose season ended due to a leg injury.
The administration has prepared a list of several names in order to contract with one of them in the coming period, led by Moroccan Yassin Bono, goalkeeper of Seville, Swiss Jan Sommer, goalkeeper of Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Croatian Dominic Levakovic of Dinamo Zagreb, all of whom starred in the last World Cup in Qatar.