Five Premier League Stars Racing Against the Clock to Find January Exits

The January transfer deadline looms, and while we're not anticipating any last-minute fireworks, there's a clutch of established names who'll be working the phones overtime with their representatives. Here are five players who simply must engineer an escape before Monday night.

Joshua Zirkzee

Michael Carrick's arrival at Old Trafford has reinvigorated the place. Everyone, that is, except Zirkzee. The Dutch striker's conspicuous absence from the squads that dismantled Manchester City and Arsenal speaks volumes – particularly given his presence in the previous 10 fixtures and his ever-present status on the Premier League bench all season.

That's about as subtle as a brick through a window from the interim boss, and with time running out, there's no room for diplomatic niceties.

United are desperate to move him on, naturally, but they'll need a willing buyer to bite. Enter Tottenham and Crystal Palace, both circling with interest. Palace's uncertainty over Jean-Philippe Mateta's future adds another layer, while Juventus reportedly fancy both strikers – though they've cooled on Youssef En-Nesyri after he made clear he wants a permanent deal at Fenerbahce rather than a temporary arrangement.

Raheem Sterling

Chelsea's treatment of Sterling has been nothing short of brutal. The £325,000-a-week winger landed in the doghouse after the club failed to offload him last summer, confined to the fringes until they took the nuclear option on Wednesday: terminating his contract.

Let's be honest – plenty would have been content to sit tight and collect those wages for minimal graft. But Chelsea faced a £25million bill to keep him on the books through 2027, making them considerably more motivated to find a way out.

The Blues would have preferred Sterling to remain on their payroll, allowing them to loan him out while another club topped up his salary. Curiously, no admirer stepped up with genuine intent.

Fulham and West Ham have emerged as potential London landing spots, while Roma and Napoli are among the European suitors keen to resurrect his career. The ball's now squarely in Sterling and his agent's court.

Harvey Elliott

This one's genuinely peculiar. A loan with a £35million obligation to buy seemed tailor-made for Elliott last summer – a chance for the youngster to flourish. Villa gave him three appearances: two cameos and a single start before Unai Emery yanked him at half-time.

The catch? Elliott needs 10 Premier League outings to trigger the mandatory fee. He's miles away. Worse still, his single substitute appearance for Liverpool at Newcastle in August means he's ineligible for any other European club this season.

MLS has been floated as an option, though a return to Anfield might appeal more. Problem is, Liverpool have already written him off financially and moved on. Neither club is particularly invested in salvaging this situation.

At 22, Elliott desperately needed this loan to accelerate his development. Instead, he faces a wasted season at a critical juncture – a genuinely unfortunate state of affairs.

Kalvin Phillips

You'd be forgiven for forgetting Phillips exists. The midfielder has effectively lost three-and-a-half years, cast aside by Pep Guardiola as a non-starter in City's midfield plans. Guardiola hasn't hidden his regret over how it's played out, but the damage is done for a player who was England's Player of the Year in 2021 and a Leeds United darling before his £42million move to the champions.

The City boss recognised the mistake swiftly enough, though it took 18 months before Phillips escaped on loan to West Ham – where he proved no more convincing than at the Etihad. A season-long stint at Ipswich last term offered fleeting encouragement, insufficient to tempt any suitors last summer.

Guardiola gave him a seven-minute outing in the Carabao Cup at Huddersfield – his first City appearance in 645 days – perhaps to remind the world he still exists, but it hasn't moved the needle. Wolves have registered interest, and at 30, Phillips needs to get away and play regularly, anywhere, to have any chance of resurrecting his career.

Federico Chiesa

The Italian hasn't kicked up a fuss about his Anfield situation and has actually accumulated more minutes this season compared to last, albeit mostly in brief cameos. He's conducted himself with quiet professionalism and, remarkably, has emerged from this campaign with his reputation relatively intact.

Yet a decision awaits. Juventus are hunting attacking reinforcements and would welcome Chiesa back to Turin, where he played before joining Liverpool in 2024. A reported £8million fee could see him reunite with the Old Lady – and potentially boost his chances of making Italy's World Cup squad.

There's a caveat, though. Italy haven't qualified yet and face play-offs in late March. Chiesa was offered a November call-up for the final qualifiers but declined, as he did in October. Gennaro Gattuso hasn't held it against him.

If Chiesa's refusals stem from fitness concerns, departing for regular football elsewhere represents his best path to both sharpness and international redemption.