Time is running out for Premier League clubs to bring in reinforcements as they look to strengthen their squads for the remainder of the season. Because the last day of January falls on a weekend, this year's winter transfer window will shut at 19:00 GMT on Monday 2 February. Football writer Ben Bloom looks at some of the biggest transfers that may or may not be completed.
Is Lucas Paqueta's time in the Premier League over?
Brazil midfielder Lucas Paqueta is on his way out of West Ham United after the London club confirmed he had been given "permission to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms with Brazilian club Flamengo, after a fee was agreed for his permanent transfer."
Paqueta has made 110 Premier League appearances since joining West Ham in 2022, but he has missed the club's last three matches with a back complaint.
Asked about Paqueta last weekend, Hammers head coach Nuno Espirito Santo said: “What I hope is for the situation to be resolved as soon as possible. Every part involved has to be resolved and to be clear, so we have a direction to move forward.”
Is Robertson’s proposed Spurs move off?
Andy Robertson appeared likely to give Tottenham Hotspur some valuable experience by swapping Liverpool for north London this month, only for the Reds to reportedly pull the plug.
Robertson has been at Liverpool since 2017, but has made only four Premier League starts this campaign. However, it appears Liverpool do not want to take a risk by letting him leave six months before his contract expires.
The reigning Premier League champions have Robertson's fellow left-back Kostas Tsimikas on loan at Roma, while Joe Gomez is currently out injured, and Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are expected to miss the rest of the season. Milos Kerkez has been Arne Slot's first-choice left-back this campaign.
When asked about Robertson last weekend, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said: “He’s my vice-captain. Robbo is a very important member of our team and I want him to stay, but whatever happens, let’s see.”
Will Mateta stay at Crystal Palace?
It has been a tough period for Crystal Palace fans, with former captain Marc Guehi joining Manchester City, manager Oliver Glasner confirming he himself will leave in the summer and Jean-Philippe Mateta reportedly informing the club he would also like to depart.
The French striker has been linked with a move to the likes of Juventus, Villa, AC Milan and Nottingham Forest, but started for Palace at the weekend against Chelsea.
Last week, Glasner stated: “It is pretty clear. JP will stay if we don’t have the right replacement who can play immediately.”
Can Palace find a replacement for Guehi?
Now that Guehi has left, Palace supporters will be keen for the club to bring in a replacement for the England international at the heart of their defence. They are not alone.
When asked last week about bringing in a new centre-back, Glasner said: “The club is working hard. It’s not that you get every player you want.
"You can’t afford every single player you want. It’s picking the right one, finding the right one who is available. It’s a challenging situation, but the club is doing its best.”
One young defender linked with a move to Palace is Josh Acheampong, who has started only two Premier League matches for Chelsea since the end of October.
If the move were to materialise, Acheampong would follow in Guehi's footsteps by swapping Stamford Bridge for Selhurst Park. Guehi came through the youth ranks at Chelsea before joining Palace in 2021 after enjoying a productive 18-month spell on loan at Swansea City in the Championship.
Will Strand Larsen stay at Wolves or move elsewhere?
With Newcastle United reportedly interested in signing Jorgen Strand Larsen last summer, Wolverhampton Wanderers ensured they kept hold of their man. Six months on, their current predicament may call for a different approach.
The Norwegian has not started any of Wolves’ last seven Premier League games, and the club may opt to cash in while they can with relegation looking likely.
He has been linked with the likes of West Ham, Forest and Palace, but Wolves head coach Rob Edwards last week confirmed that the club had not accepted an initial offer from Leeds United.
“That came in earlier this week,” he said. “We’re under no pressure to sell. We want to try and be as strong as we can throughout the period. Unless we feel it’s the right thing, no one will go.”
Could Loftus-Cheek return to England?
Aston Villa have already signed Tammy Abraham this month, but another ex-Chelsea player has been linked with a move to Villa Park.
Central midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been mooted as a potential target, amid fears that Boubacar Kamara could miss the rest of the season. Youri Tielemans sustained an ankle injury in Sunday's win at Newcastle, while John McGinn is also currently sidelined.
The former Chelsea man is in his third season at AC Milan, having also spent periods at Palace and Fulham earlier in his career, and was recalled to the England squad for the first time in six years last September.
With the FIFA World Cup looming, a return to the Premier League could be as beneficial for Loftus-Cheek as it is for title-chasing Villa.
Will Fulham land Bobb as a potential Traore replacement?
With Adama Traore departing for West Ham, another winger might be on his way to replace him at Fulham. When Oscar Bobb broke into the Man City team in 2023/24, it looked as though he could soon be there to stay.
Injuries and alternative signings have hampered the Norwegian’s development though, and it looks as though he may well leave the Etihad Stadium, with reports linking him with a move to Fulham.
Asked about Bobb’s situation last weekend, Pep Guardiola said: “I know there are rumours, I know there are talks. But I don’t know right now.”
On whether Bobb wants to leave City, Guardiola replied: “I think so.”
Will there be a big Deadline Day signing?
Managers habitually talk about the difficulties in signing suitable players during the winter transfer window compared to the summer window, but that does not stop clubs from splashing plenty of cash in the hunt for mid-season boosts.
Indeed, in January 2023, Premier League clubs reportedly spent a record sum of £800m.
Many Premier League stars made major moves on Deadline Day – a list headed by Enzo Fernandez, who cost Chelsea a reported £106.8m to sign him from Benfica on 31 January in 2023.
Other big outlays that did not take place until the final day of the winter window in other seasons include Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool to Chelsea) and Luis Suarez (Ajax to Liverpool).
Whether any late movers this year can match the impact those players had remains to be seen.