The January transfer window is heading towards its busiest period with less than 10 days for the window to slam shut. The clubs have been heavily active across the continent and the UK with transfers taking over the football fever. As the second half of the season starts to set its pace, the clubs will hope their additions and removals will aid their squad building for the rest of the season and the summer to come.
The transfers of Jadon Sancho to Borussia Dortmund and Timo Werner to Tottenham Hotspur already suggest the plans that are being drafted by the clubs to salvage and or bolster their season. That said, here are five transfers that might have flown under the radar thus far.
Valentin Barco to Brighton and Hove Albion
The football manager wunderkind has found his way to the shores of England as Brighton and Hove Albion confirm his arrival for an undisclosed fee. Barco has been gaining attention from the big clubs across the continent.
Despite that, the coup from Brighton will be one they hope to make the most out of as they bring in one of the hottest prospects from the South American continent. The versatile player will be a welcome addition to De Zerbi’s squad as he intends to lock their place amongst the top 7.
Donny Van de Beek to Eintracht Frankfurt
The loan transfer of van de Beek may have slipped under the radar amidst the Jadon Sancho saga. But he has not had the easiest of times ever since he left Ajax in 2021. The midfielder heads to Germany to rediscover whatever is left of his prime as the Dutch international aims to kick start his career and hopes to secure a move away from the ‘Theater of Dreams’ that has been anything but a dream.
If van de Beek can impress the German side throughout the second half of the season, he will hope that they will extend his stay and end his nightmare back at Old Trafford with the €11 million option to buy.
Thilo Kehrer to AS Monaco
West Ham United has decided to loan former PSG defender back to Ligue 1, as Kehrer joins AS Monaco. After helping the London club to their first UECL title, the defender’s stock has fallen off a cliff, having not made a single appearance since the end of August. Meanwhile, Monaco will welcome the addition of a former Ligue 1 champion as they sit fourth in the league standings.
Saša Kalajdžić to Eintracht Frankfurt
Wolves fans will continue to dream about what could have been with the unfortunate predicament of Saša Kalajdžić. The Austrian forward joined the club back in 2022/23 after a stellar couple of seasons with Stuttgart, but a freak injury ended his debut season.
And ever since then, Kalajdžić has never been the same, notching just 12 appearances for the club, and has now joined Frankfurt in hopes of revitalizing his career in a fresh environment.
Fabio Carvalho to Hull City
Liverpool’s transfer business has been quite smart over the past couple of seasons. With the additions of Luis Díaz, and Harvey Elliot flourishing under Jürgen Klopp, it is curious to see why Fabio Carvalho has failed to hit the mark.
Although the loan spell to RB Leipzig earlier this year was meant to aid the young forward’s development, his recent return and eventual move to Hull suggests it has been anything but. Both Carvalho and Liverpool will hope he can find his feet sooner rather than later or this could very well become a case of what could have been.