With just over week remaining before the January transfer window closes, numerous teams are eyeing up moves to improve their squads. Here are five specific transfers that are not only plausible, but also make sense for (mostly) everyone involved.
1. Abdoulaye Doucoure to Spurs
One-half of the central midfield tandem at Watford, Doucoure has the ability to disrupt attacks and pick out a pass. One of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League, the Frenchman currently has 3 goals and 5 assists for a Watford team that sits at seventh in the table. Spurs have been thin at center mid all season, and due to injuries to Wanyama and Eric Dier, Harry Winks is the sole provider of quality at the position. Doucoure would be an immediate upgrade and could contribute from the jump, and Watford are in a comfortable enough position to let him go - for the right price. PSG are also very interested in the player, and could easily offer more money than Tottenham in the summer, which could ultimately be the demise of the deal.
2. Gary Cahill to Fulham
No team has struggled defensively in the Premier League like Fulham, and earlier in the season they were on pace to concede over 100 goals for the season. Claudio Ranieri's appointment has helped, but the Cottagers still lack a dominant defender to cut back on the goals conceded and lead them out of the bottom. Who better than Chelsea outcast Cahill, who has loads of experience in the league with both Bolton and the Blues of London.
The two London clubs reportedly came to an agreement on a deal, yet it seems that Cahill himself is holding the deal back. Ranieri has been outspoken in saying that Cahill would be a perfect fit, but is not sure that he would want to "come fight with us." The move would be a win-win for each side, with Fulham adding an elite defense organizer, and Cahill gaining the ability to remain in London. Let's make it happen.
3. Bradley Dack to Bournemouth
Since joining Blackburn in 2017, center midfielder Dack has been their top player, earning League One Player of the Year in his inaugural season. He has continued his stellar form in the Championship, scoring or assisting on nearly twenty goals in all competitions. Most notably, he recently scored at St. James' Park against Newcastle in their FA Cup tie.
Injuries have ravaged the Bournemouth midfield, and creative mid Lewis Cook is out for the season with a knee injury. Dack could play a similar role in the squad, and has been dubbed as a player who is bound for the Premier League in the near future. Blackburn will not be eager to let go of Dack, but would be convinced to part ways for less than 10 million pounds. However, after spending nearly 20 million on striker Dominic Solanke, the Cherries may be wary to flaunt much more cash.
4. Charlie Austin to Crystal Palace
Since making the move to Southampton 2016, Charlie Austin has failed to live up to the form he reached at Burnley and QPR. However, injuries have played a large role in his goal-scoring consistency up front, re-writing the reputation of a man who scored 18 PL goals in 2014/15. With new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl taking over from Marke Hughes, Austin could find himself on the outside looking in - and available for a January move.
Palace are desperate for a target man up top, and are still a few weeks before Christian Benteke returns to full fitness. Austin has the ability to hold the ball up, distribute, and also be dangerous on crosses in the box - a perfect fit for how Palace operates. Though the South Londoners would probably be more interested in a loan deal for the likes of Batshuayi or Origi, a move for Austin may do the trick. Whether Southampton is willing to sell while in a relegation battle is another story.
5. Michy Batshuayi to Everton
Having returned from his loan spell at Valencia, the Bat is back at Chelsea, who is now looking for suitors for his services. Many clubs have expressed interest in the Belgium international, who has struggled to find consistent minutes since his move from Marseille to the Blues in 2016.
Rumor has it that Chelsea would prefer a permanent move for Batshuayi, rejecting the numerous loan moves that have been proposed. Everton is in the market for a new striker, with Cenk Tosun struggling and Calvert-Lewin as the only reliable option up top. Marco Silva's squad has slowly been inching farther down the table, and now sit at eleventh after a string of poor performances. Though Batshuayi failed to make a huge impact at Chelsea (7 goals in 32 apps), he found form while at Borussia Dortmund, bagging the same amount of goals in only ten appearances.