Sometimes in January you take what you can get rather than what you ideally want.
Before the January window has even opened, three Premier League clubs are already moving pieces on the board — each responding to a different kind of absence. Manchester United must replace a legend, Liverpool seek to future-proof their midfield, and Fulham quietly shore up a defense that stands only six points from danger. In football, as in life, the work of preparation rarely waits for the official moment to begin.
- Ronaldo's departure has left United without a true striker, forcing Erik ten Hag to weigh ambition against a budget still bruised by pandemic losses and a heavy summer spend.
- Goncalo Ramos — the 21-year-old who announced himself with a World Cup hat-trick — is United's preferred target, but Benfica's £60m asking price may force the club toward a loan structure or a pivot to the more nomadic Alvaro Morata.
- Jurgen Klopp has held two meetings over Sofyan Amrabat and is preparing a £30m offer to Fiorentina, convinced the Moroccan midfielder is the long-term answer to filling Thiago Alcantara's shoes.
- Fulham, sitting just six points above the relegation zone, are moving quietly but deliberately — targeting Arsenal's out-of-favor Cedric Soares to bring Premier League experience to a backline that cannot afford to be tested.
The January transfer window is still weeks away, but the machinery is already turning. Manchester United, Liverpool, and Fulham are each hunting reinforcements — each with a different wound to dress and a different tolerance for risk.
United's problem is the most visible. Cristiano Ronaldo's exit has left Erik ten Hag without a reliable central striker. Cody Gakpo remains a possibility, though questions linger about whether the winger can lead the line. Karim Benzema is on the radar, but any move there must wait until summer. So United have turned to Goncalo Ramos — the 21-year-old Benfica forward who announced himself to the world with a hat-trick against Switzerland in the World Cup knockout rounds. The ambition is clear, but the price is not: Benfica, emboldened by the Darwin Nunez windfall, are asking around £60 million. United's finances, still strained from the pandemic and a heavy summer, may not stretch that far. A loan-to-buy structure is being explored. If that collapses, Alvaro Morata — experienced, available, and perpetually unsettled — waits in the wings at Atletico Madrid.
Liverpool's pursuit is quieter but no less purposeful. Jurgen Klopp has identified Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat as the ideal heir to Thiago Alcantara — a midfielder whose World Cup performances confirmed what Klopp had long suspected. At 26, with a contract running to 2024 and stalled extension talks, Amrabat is available. Fiorentina cannot match what he could earn elsewhere, and Liverpool believe £30 million would be enough to open the door. Klopp has already held two meetings on the deal. If it lands, Arthur Melo's underwhelming loan at Anfield would likely come to a quiet end.
Fulham are thinking more defensively — in every sense. Ninth in the table but only six points clear of the drop zone, Marco Silva wants Premier League experience in his backline. Arsenal's Cedric Soares, 31 and frozen out under Mikel Arteta, fits the brief. With agent Kia Joorabchian already connected to Craven Cottage through the Willian deal, the channels are warm. Arsenal are willing to sell, and the fee — around £8 million — would feed directly into Arteta's January budget. The dominoes are beginning to fall.
The winter transfer window is still weeks away, but the machinery of football's money game is already grinding. Manchester United, Liverpool, and Fulham are all hunting for reinforcements, each with a different hole to fill and a different appetite for risk.
For United, the problem is immediate and urgent. Cristiano Ronaldo's exit has left Erik ten Hag without a reliable central striker, and the club needs bodies now. The manager has been circling Cody Gakpo at PSV, but there are real questions about whether the winger has the physical presence to lead the line. A more ambitious target—Karim Benzema, the Real Madrid veteran—remains on the radar, but any deal there would have to wait until summer when the Frenchman's contract expires. So United have begun exploring other avenues. They've made contact with Benfica about Goncalo Ramos, the 21-year-old who announced himself to the world with a hat-trick against Switzerland in the World Cup knockout stages. It's the kind of move that would signal ambition. But Benfica, having already extracted a hefty fee from Liverpool for Darwin Nunez over the summer, are asking around £60 million for Ramos. That's a problem. United's finances remain strained by the lingering effects of the pandemic and a heavier-than-expected summer spending spree. The club may have the appetite for Ramos but not the budget. They're exploring whether Benfica might accept an initial loan with an obligation to buy in the summer—a way to defer the cost. If that doesn't work, United are prepared to pivot toward Alvaro Morata, the former Chelsea striker now at Atletico Madrid. Morata has scored 186 goals in 515 career appearances, so he knows his way around a penalty box. But he's also a serial mover, a player who has struggled to settle or convince managers he's worth a long-term commitment. Still, he's available on loan in January, and for a club in United's position, that may be enough.
Liverpool's search is more measured but no less serious. Jurgen Klopp has identified Sofyan Amrabat, the Fiorentina midfielder, as the ideal successor to Thiago Alcantara. The 26-year-old impressed at the World Cup, and his ball-playing ability and work rate align perfectly with what Klopp wants in the middle of the park. Amrabat's contract at Fiorentina runs through summer 2024, but talks over an extension have stalled. The Italian club wants to improve his wages from £25,000 a week, but they can't match what he could earn elsewhere. Klopp has already scheduled two meetings to discuss the transfer, and his interest is reportedly stronger than ever. Liverpool believe Fiorentina could be persuaded to sell for around £30 million—a figure well within their budget and one they're preparing to offer before the January window officially opens. If the deal goes through, it could also spell the end of Arthur Melo's disappointing loan spell at Anfield.
Fulham, meanwhile, are thinking about defense. Marco Silva wants to add Premier League experience to his backline as the Cottagers look to consolidate their position in the top flight. They're currently ninth with five wins from fifteen games, but they're only six points clear of the relegation zone. Silva has identified Cedric Soares, the 31-year-old Portuguese right-back at Arsenal, as a target. Cedric has fallen out of favor under Mikel Arteta, making just four appearances this season behind Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Arsenal are willing to listen to offers, and Fulham believe they can land him for around £8 million. Cedric is represented by Kia Joorabchian, the agent who brought Willian to Craven Cottage in the summer, so the channels are already open. For Arsenal, his sale would add to Arteta's January transfer budget, which sits at around £50 million. The dominoes are beginning to fall.
Notable Quotes
Erik ten Hag is seeking more firepower in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's departure— reporting on Manchester United's transfer strategy
Jurgen Klopp sees Amrabat as an ideal successor to Thiago Alcantara, with his ball-playing abilities and solid engine making him a dream addition— reporting on Liverpool's interest
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does United need a striker right now when they could wait until summer?
Ronaldo's departure left them without a reliable number nine, and ten Hag can't ask his team to limp through the rest of the season with a winger playing center forward. They need someone who can lead the line immediately.
So why not just pay Benfica's £60 million for Ramos?
Because the club is still recovering financially from the pandemic and spent more than expected last summer. They're exploring a loan-to-buy option instead, which defers the cost to the summer when they'll have more breathing room.
What's the appeal of Morata if he's known for moving around so much?
He's available now, he's proven he can score goals, and he's willing to come on loan. Sometimes in January you take what you can get rather than what you ideally want.
Why is Klopp so convinced Amrabat is the right fit?
He plays the kind of football Klopp demands—intelligent passing, constant movement, the ability to control the tempo. He's not flashy, but he's exactly what Liverpool need in midfield.
Is £30 million a fair price for Amrabat?
It's reasonable for a 26-year-old midfielder in his prime, especially when his contract situation gives Liverpool leverage. Fiorentina can't afford to keep him if he won't extend, so they'd rather sell now than lose him for nothing in summer.
Why would Cedric leave Arsenal for Fulham?
He's barely playing at Arsenal. At Fulham, under Silva, he'd get regular minutes and a chance to prove himself. Sometimes a step down in club size is a step up in opportunity.