Alexis Sanchez, Virgil van Dijk and Edinson Cavani tipped for mega moves in 2017
JANUARY can be a difficult time for clubs looking to significantly improve their squads.
Smaller teams are reluctant to sell, and the best players are usually unable to change clubs due to their side still playing in the Champions League.
That usually means, the best and biggest deals are left until the summer.
And with no senior international tournaments to get in the way, 2017 could see records broken all over Europe.
has a unique algorithm which gives a score out of five, helping you decipher which deals are likely to happen and, using their in-house formula, they have picked out nine of the biggest moves they expect to see happen in 2017.
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
The Chilean international has been a revelation since joining Arsenal from Barcelona. The Gunners - until their recent collapse - were pushing for a title challenge, built on the goals of Alexis Sanchez.
The 28-year-old has revealed he finds life in London stressful, and with his contract up in 2018, Manchester City are ready to pounce.
Already Arsenal’s top earner, Sanchez could find Pep Guardiola offering him more than £200,000 a week on top of a fee in excess of £60million.
Felipe Anderson (Lazio)
Heavily linked with moves to Manchester United in the past, it finally looks time for the Brazilian winger to leave Italy’s capital.
The 23-year-old has seven assists for Lazio this season and could be a target for Chelsea as well as French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Able to play on both flanks, he is contracted until 2020 so any deal will have to be around the £42million mark to convince I Biancocelesti to sell their star player.
Thomas Lemar (Monaco)
Monte Carlo is where the rich and famous go to spend their luxury holidays, and it’s where football chairman could be cashing their cheques this summer.
Thomas Lemar is enjoying a superb season, helping knock Tottenham Hotspur out of the Champions League.
The creative midfielder, blessed with a deadly left foot, was bought for £3.4million from SM Caen. Now he could command a fee of around £30million if AS Monaco want to cash in. Spanish clubs have shown their interest, but expect Arsenal and Man City to be following close behind.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)
Not many players in Europe have reached the top of their game as quickly as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang since joining Borussia Dortmund.
He wasn’t even a proper centre-forward when he left Saint-Etienne - now he has scored 100 goals in 165 games for the Bundesliga club.
Blistering pace, with a wonderful ability to finish from anywhere in the box, the 27-year-old has become the perfect striker.
That’s why it will take around £80million – or £125million if you listen to Lothar Matthaus - if Arsenal, City or Chelsea want to do business this summer.
Virgil van Dijk (Southampton)
Since his move from Celtic to Southampton, Virgil van Dijk has become one of the most desirable centre-backs in the Premier League.
Still only 25, he is mobile, great in the air and above all, an excellent defender. Jose Mourinho is a fan, but Antonio Conte’s Chelsea or Liverpool will be hovering as well.
The Saints never hold on to their stars for long and, after paying Celtic £13.35million, they will be hoping to more than double that at least if he does leave in 2017.
Alexandre Lacazette (Olympique Lyonnais)
The time has finally come for Alexandre Lacazette to pack his bags and leave Lyon. He’s played at his boyhood club since 2003 and after another season in the Champions League with OL, he needs a new challenge.
The 25-year-old has scored 75 goals over the last four seasons, leading to Liverpool, Arsenal, Man United and every top club to monitor his progress.
OL President Jean-Michel Aulas will expect nothing less than £50million for his crown jewel this summer - and he’s not known to hand out bargains.
Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)
Paris Saint-Germain are at somewhat of a crossroads. In the post-Zlatan Ibrahimovic era, they look a much weaker prospect and, despite the goals of Edinson Cavani, they are not Champions League contenders.
This could lead to the Uruguayan - with 18 goals this season - to call a halt to his time in Paris and finally make his long rumoured move to the Premier League.
Perhaps a £50million deal could see him replace Sanchez at Arsenal.
Emil Forsberg (RB Leipzig)
In January 2015, RB Leipzig signed Emil Forsberg from Malmo for £3.15million. Two years later and he’s firing the newly-promoted side to the top of the Bundesliga.
Only Kevin De Bruyne has created more assists this season and the Swedish attacker is attracting attention across Europe.
At 25 years old, he’s no kid so it makes him prime for a big move and the likes of Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal and Spurs will fight over his signature.
Expect to pay around £25million for the most impressive player in the Bundesliga this season.
Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Signing a contract extension in the summer may have upped his release clause to €100million, but it hasn’t stopped the top clubs being linked with the French international.
Arsene Wenger is a known admirer of the striker and with Griezmann himself a fan of Manchester United and good friends with Paul Pogba, Old Trafford is a possible destination - if they are willing to pay around £60million this summer, that is.
