Memphis Depay to Man Utd, Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea – the January 8 transfers we'd like to see

It's January 1 and the 2023 winter transfer window is open with Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea all looking to attract top signings. Liverpool are the only club to have confirmed a major addition so far with the £37m signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV. Express Sport looks at some transfers we'd like to see follow the Gakpo deal over the next few weeks...

Jack Otway - Memphis Depay at Manchester United

Memphis Depay was a misfire during his first spell at Manchester United, which lasted just 18 months before being whipped at Lyon by Jose Mourinho. However, in the years that followed, it evolved. And, today, he is a completely different player from the beginning of his career.

United need a striker and Barcelona are happy to sell. Depay, cheaply, would certainly be wiser than landing Alvaro Morata - or even Marko Arnautovic, who has been linked this summer.

Depay has unfinished business at Old Trafford and playing him alongside Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford would make an impressive top three.

MUST READ: Man Utd's 25-man squad this time next year if Ten Hag signs four stars

Joe Krishnan - Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea

It hasn't been since the days of Michael Ballack and Michael Essien that Chelsea have embraced their need for a midfield enforcer, but it looks like Enzo Fernandez could be the signing that will bring the team from Graham Potter on the next level.

The 21-year-old is a neat passer and plays with a refreshing tenacity and eagerness to win the ball back, which is a central thesis of Potter's high pressing system and will complement Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount in midfield at three. .

His performances at the World Cup were nothing short of outstanding and he was a deserving winner of the Young Player of the Tournament award, and I'm delighted to see how he's doing with a clear progression from Portugal to the Premier League.

Tom Parsons - James Maddison in Newcastle

James Maddison has clearly shown he has what it takes to succeed at a top Premier League club. Leicester will struggle to give the creative genius the platform they need to earn silverware as they have struggled for form this season. And Newcastle could be the team to take advantage of it.

The Magpies will be confident of winning Champions League football next season after climbing into the top four in the Premier League. And Maddison would surely jump at the chance to be part of Newcastle's journey and make a name for himself in the North East.

Neil Squires - Harry Maguire in Leeds

Maguire needs first-team football and for all his World Cup form for England it seems unlikely he will get it under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United where he is the fourth-placed centre-back choice.

Leeds United have not kept a clean sheet for nine games. Put the two together and you could have a win-win with Maguire - a Yorkshireman - just the kind of spit-and-sawdust defender that Elland Road might come to idolize.

Andrew McLean - Kieran Tierney in Newcastle

The Scot is comfortably one of the best left-backs in the country but won't get the playing time he deserves at Arsenal given that Oleksandr Zinchenko is a better fit for Arteta's system. So he might have to look elsewhere and Newcastle might be perfect.

Dan Burn held the fort beautifully, but it's a position the Magpies should look to improve upon if they are to reach the heights they are capable of.

Tierney can be that man, locking down the position at St James' Park for the foreseeable future and becoming a driving force behind the defence.

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