5 Big-Name Players Who Missed Out on January Transfers

The 2025 Winter Transfer Window Closes with Some Unfinished Business

• The winter transfer window officially shut on Monday evening.
• Several high-profile moves were anticipated but never materialized.
• Here are five star players who remained with their clubs despite heavy speculation.

1. Christopher Nkunku – Chelsea

The sight of Marc Guiu getting minutes ahead of Christopher Nkunku against West Ham speaks volumes about his current standing at Chelsea.

Despite interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester United, Nkunku remains in London due to Chelsea’s steep £60m asking price. Now, he has six months to prove his worth or risk a summer departure.

Will Nkunku reclaim his place in Chelsea’s starting lineup before the season ends? Let us know your thoughts!

2. Alejandro Garnacho – Manchester United

Garnacho was strongly linked with a move away from Manchester United, with Napoli viewing him as the ideal replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia following his transfer to PSG.

However, United’s £70m price tag scared off suitors, including Chelsea, who reportedly explored a swap deal involving Nkunku. With the transfer window closed, Garnacho remains at Old Trafford.

Should United have cashed in on Garnacho or was keeping him the right call? Share your opinion in the comments!

3. Oleksandr Zinchenko – Arsenal

Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund expressed interest in signing Oleksandr Zinchenko, but Arsenal opted to hold onto the Ukrainian defender.

With Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival and Myles Lewis-Skelly emerging as a viable left-back option, Zinchenko has slipped down Mikel Arteta’s pecking order. Game time could be hard to come by for him in the coming months.

Do you think Arsenal should have let Zinchenko leave in January?

4. Andreas Christensen – Barcelona

Barcelona’s financial struggles saw Andreas Christensen linked with a move away, as the club sought funds for an ambitious loan move for Marcus Rashford.

Despite interest from Premier League clubs like Manchester United and Newcastle United, Christensen remained at Camp Nou. With Inigo Martinez impressing alongside Pau Cubarsi, the Danish defender faces a battle for minutes.

Can Christensen force his way back into Barcelona’s starting XI?

5. Douglas Luiz – Juventus

Douglas Luiz has struggled for game time at Juventus since his £40m summer transfer from Aston Villa.

Both Manchester City and Chelsea were interested in bringing him back to the Premier League on loan, but Juventus refused to sanction a move. Expect this saga to resurface in the summer.

Will Douglas Luiz return to the Premier League next season? Let us know what you think!

Conclusion

The January transfer window brought plenty of excitement, but not every deal came to fruition. These five players now face uncertain futures at their respective clubs as they fight for game time in the latter half of the season.

Which transfer saga surprised you the most? Drop a comment and join the discussion!