Transfer Watch: Tottenham duo among possible January bargain buys

The January transfer window is in full swing and while the big name teams are yet to make a move, there are big name players on the market. A host of performers across the continent are out of contract in the summer and the turn of the year signalled the opportunity for some to discuss pre-contracts ahead of a switch at the end of the season. With the January sales in full force, we take a look at 10 who could be of interest to a number of sides this month... 

Christian Eriksen - Tottenham 

Christian Eriksen's reluctance to pen a new deal with Tottenham did not go down well with, firstly, Mauricio Pochettino, and then Jose Mourinho. The Dane has started just nine league matches this season as Spurs endure a labourious domestic campaign. And yet, despite registering just 978 minutes of league action, only Son Heung-Min (25) and Harry Kane (20) have created more goalscoring chances than Eriksen (19) of all Spurs players in the Premier League this season. 

Heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid last summer, Eriksen stayed put and now has ample suitors to negotiate with ahead of his impending Spurs exit. The north London side are keen to cash in on the 27-year-old this month rather than lose him on a free later this year and are hoping interest from Juventus, Inter, Manchester United and Real Madrid will spark a bidding war that will see them at least turn a profit, however marginal, on Eriksen. 

Jan Vertonghen - Tottenham 

Another Tottenham man, and Ajax alumni, is out of contract at the end of the season. Many a Spurs fan expected Jan Vertonghen to quickly follow in compatriot Toby Alderweireld's footsteps when the Belgian extended his contract last month, but there has been little movement on that front of late. The 32-year-old may have lost a yard of pace, yet he remains the club's most experienced defender and interest from Italy, in particular, comes as little surprise. 

With Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth Spurs' other current centre-back options alongside Alderweireld and Vertonghen, losing the latter this month, or even at the end of the season, could prove costly. Second for interceptions (2.7) and third for tackles per game (2.4) of all Spurs players merely reinforces his quality and if the club can convince Vertonghen to put pen to paper on a new deal, then it would be a boost for Mourinho's side. 

Edinson Cavani - PSG 

PSG's all-time record goalscorer is free to agree a pre-contract this month with Edinson Cavani's time in France set to come to an end sooner rather than later. Atletico Madrid are the frontrunners to secure the Uruguayan's services, but recent interest from England is understandable. Cavani has 198 PSG goals to his name and he'd hope to break the 200-goal barrier before a possible exit. 

The arrival of Mauro Icardi from Inter has restricted Cavani to just four league starts this season, though despite a lack of regular game time, the experienced forward has five goals to his name in all competitions for PSG. Capable with a partner or as the lone striker, the 32-year-old remains high on the wishlist of a number of teams. 

Dries Mertens - Napoli 

The second Belgian to feature, Dries Mertens may have failed to recapture his barnstorming 2016/17 form following Maurizio Sarri's exit, however he offers versatility across the frontline, which makes the 32-year-old a viable striking option for any side keen on boosting their attacking ranks this month. Arkadiusz Milik's return from injury, and impressive form to boot, would certainly ease Mertens' departure should it come to pass this month. 

Fernando Llorente is a viable backup for Milik under Gennaro Gattuso, while in Lorenzo Insigne and Hirving Lozano, the Italian has plenty of offensive weapons in his arsenal. Competition has pushed Mertens, who has nine goals across 22 league and Champions League appearances, and a WhoScored rating of 7.50 from the latter competition. He could prove a solid pickup this month, or a bargain addition at the end of the summer. 

Jose Callejon - Napoli 

Another experienced Napoli forward whose contract comes to an end this summer, there have been rumours of Jose Callejon penning a new deal with the Partenopei in recent months, but talks have stalled, paving the way for the Spaniard to discuss pre-contractual terms elsewhere. Despite discussions reaching an impasse, Callejon remains a key player for Napoli having provided more assists (5) and made more key passes (43) than any other Napoli player in Serie A this term. 

A regular feature following his arrival in Naples back in 2013, his exit would be a blow for the Italian powerhouse and while no team has been credited with a serious interest in Callejon, a number of sides would be wise to monitoring his situation at the Stadio San Paolo. 

Josip Ilicic - Atalanta 

There have been five perfect 10s awarded in Serie A this season. Josip Ilicic is responsible for two of those having earned the rating in his last two league outings in back-to-back 5-0 wins over AC Milan and Parma. The latter victory saw Ilicic muster more shots (11) than any other player has managed in a game in Europe's top five leaues this season with Ilicic in fine form of late having netted six goals and provided two assists in his last four Serie A appearances. 

While not the most glamourous name in Italian football, the 31-year-old is one goal away from reaching double figures for league goals this season having achieved the feat in three of the previous four Serie A campaigns. Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini will be reluctant to see Ilicic depart Bergamo, particularly as he favours a system with two strikers, yet now free to discuss a pre-contract, the Slovenian's time with Atalanta could be drawing to a close. 

Thomas Meunier - PSG 

Thomas Meunier rejected an Everton move over the summer, citing that his ambition was to remain with PSG, but with his current deal running until the summer, the Belgian's spell in France may end later this year. Arsenal and Manchester United were credited with an interest in the right-back last summer, only for a move to England fail to materialise, yet rumours of a switch to the Premier League could again don gossip columns before too long. 

Meunier faces competition with Colin Dagba for a starting right-back spot for Thomas Tuchel's side and a lack of guaranteed first team action as he approaches his peack years may convince the Belgium international to leave for pastures new. Defensively sound and a solid attacking threat from deep, Meunier is a player any top team in need of right-back reinforcements should be tracking this month. 

Ryan Fraser - Bournemouth 

12 months ago, Arsenal were heavily linked with a move to Ryan Fraser. In November, Liverpool were also rumoured to be keeping tabs on the Scot. Fraser's form may have dipped this season as Bournemouth struggle, but the 25-year-old has plenty of credit in the bank. With his contract on the south coast running until the summer, there will be plenty of suitors in the winger, who has created more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities (31) than any other Premier League player since the start of the 2018/19 campaign. 

Even accounting for Bournemouth's goalscoring struggles - only Watford (17) and Crystal Palace (19) have scored fewer league goals than the Cherries (20) this term - Fraser has managed to score one and assist three, and create more goalscoring chances (26) than any other Bournemouth player. The club are likely to be doing everything in their power to keep Fraser in Bournemouth, but the winger is perhaps ready to take the next step in his career. 

Luka Modric - Real Madrid 

DC United have emerged as surprise frontrunners to sign Luka Modric to cover the departure of Wayne Rooney, who now plies his trade for Derby, in a capture that would prove a substantial coup for the MLS outfit. The 34-year-old's best years appear to be behind him now, but the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner is still able to dictate play from deep with ease. 

The Croat gave a timely reminder of his ability as Real Madrid secured a 3-1 win over Real Sociedad back in November and any side would be blessed to have a midfielder of his quality pulling the strings from deep. The lure of MLS may prove too strong, but Modric is a player who can still offer so much to a top team in Europe. 

Jarrod Bowen - Hull City 

Turning our attention to the Championship, a year ago Jarrod Bowen was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, with Tottenham and Everton both courting the 23-year-old last January. The Premier League pair were put off by the Tigers' asking price, but Bowen didn't let talk of a move impact his performances. Indeed, he has now scored more goals (38) than any other Championship player since the start of the 2018/19 season amidst reports Leicester are now keeping tabs on Bowen. 

The young forward is doing everything in his power to keep Hull's playoff hopes alive having scored the third most Championship goals (16) this term and rumours of interest from England's top tier isn't a shock. Hull will hope to keep Bowen at the KCOM Stadium until the end of the season at least as they seek a return to the Premier League. They have an option to extend his deal by a further year, which is a huge boost for the Tigers, but will be wary of big money bids from above this month.