Frenkie de Jong, Randal Kolo Muani and European outcasts who could be Premier League transfer targets in January window

Endrick followed in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo by moving from the Brazilian top-flight to Real Madrid in the summer, and thusly arrived at Santiago Bernabeu with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. The former Palmeiras wonderkid could scarcely have asked for a better start as he marked his debut with a goal in a 3-0 La Liga win over Real Valladolid, before becoming the youngest Madrid player to ever score in the Champions League with a spectacular solo effort against Stuttgart, but he has been unable to build on those dream milestones.

Unfortunately, Endrick joined the club at the same time as Kylian Mbappe, who has hogged the limelight and the No.9 slot since his arrival. As a consequence, the 18-year-old only made Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI once in the first half of the season. Ancelotti has repeatedly insisted Endrick will eventually get his chance, but Madrid are reportedly open to loaning him out in January, with Tottenham and Southampton mooted as potential destinations.

It seems more likely that Endrick will join another La Liga club if Los Blancos do sanction a loan, but a Premier League move cannot be ruled out. He would certainly see plenty of minutes at Southampton, who are in desperate need of a goalscorer to boost their slim chances of avoiding relegation.

Paris Saint-Germain saw off competition from a host of top clubs to sign Randal Kolo Muani in 2023, having seen him emerge as one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe at Eintracht Frankfurt. Kolo Muani didn't come close to justifying his €75m (£62m/$77m) fee during his maiden season at Parc des Princes, though, and now finds himself on the fringes under Luis Enrique.

PSG are reportedly ready to offload the 26-year-old permanently or on loan in the current window, with Manchester United and Chelsea said to be among his admirers. However, Tuttosportclaims Arsenal is a more realistic move as Mikel Arteta desperately tries to find cover for injured talisman Bukayo Saka. Kolo Muani is not in the same class as Saka, but a loan deal might help boost the Gunners' title chances, especially since Raheem Sterling's move from Chelsea hasn't worked out as hoped.

For the best part of six seasons, Leon Goretzka was a vital cog in the Bayern Munich system, but he's slipped down the pecking order since Vincent Kompany's appointment as head coach. Goretzka has long been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, and according to Sky Germany, Manchester United have been monitoring his situation again in recent weeks.

A lack of quality in midfield has been a big reason for United's well-documented struggles, and adding a proven winner like Goretzka to their ranks would be a shrewd move. The 29-year-old could come cheap, too, given his contract at Bayern is due to expire next year, though he has expressed a desire to stay and fight for his place at Allianz Arena.

Donyell Malen may be the first big name to secure a transfer in the January window, with The Athletic reporting that Aston Villa are working to sign the Borussia Dortmund forward. Villa have seen an opening offer of €18m (£15m/$19m) rebuffed, but negotiations are still ongoing, with Unai Emery eager to bolster his frontline after a disappointing start to the season.

Sky Sports claims that Malen is pushing for an exit after being restricted to just six starts in Dortmund's first 15 Bundesliga games. The 25-year-old is a versatile player who carries a real goal threat, and would be a useful addition for Villa as they juggle Premier League and Champions League commitments if a deal is pushed over the line in the coming days.

"People think I want to stay at Barcelona forever because life outside of football is so good here, but what happens on the pitch is always more important," Frenkie de Jong told Voetbal International this week. "If I felt like I couldn't contribute enough, or if the team wasn't competitive, I would leave." Right now, it's fair to say that De Jong is definitely not contributing enough to Barca's cause.

Hansi Flick has only started De Jong in two games since replacing Xavi as head coach, amid fears that the Dutchman could aggravate a long-standing ankle issue. Barca are reportedly eager to get the 27-year-old's €300,000 per-week wages off their books and will listen to any cut-price offers this month.

El Nacional reports that long-term suitors Manchester United are still interested in De Jong, while Chelsea are also now weighing up a swoop. De Jong is open to a change, too, because he doesn't believe his situation will improve under Flick. It would be a huge risk for either of the Premier League clubs to bring in the Netherlands star given his uncertain physical status, but there's no doubt he remains one of the best technical operators in the business.

Douglas Luiz was Juventus' marquee signing of the summer window, as they lured the Brazil international from Aston Villa in a €50m (£42m/$52m) deal. The all-action midfielder was outstanding during Villa's run to a top-four Premier League finish in 2023-24, and the hope was he could have a similar impact for the Bianconeri in their bid for Scudetto glory under new coach Thiago Motta.

So far, though, the marriage just hasn't worked. Luiz has failed to nail down a role in Motta's line up while struggling to shake off a muscle injury. The 26-year-old has made 12 appearances across all competitions, but has looked well short of his best level, and it has been reported that Motta has concerns about his tactical conditioning.

According to Calciomercato, Juve could loan Luiz back to Villa this month. Luiz would have to leave behind his girlfriend Alisha Lehmann, who followed him to Turin from Villa in the summer, but Villans sporting director Monchi has welcomed the prospect of the Brazilian's return, and he might see it as an ideal chance to rebuild some confidence, especially if Motta continues to leave him on the sidelines.

Sky Germany has reported that Mathys Tel is a loan target for multiple Premier League clubs, with Bayern prepared to send him away for the next six months so he can see more regular playing time. The 19-year-old has only featured in seven Bundesliga matches under Kompany, who has favoured Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane on the flanks.

Tel is a very talented player, but it will harm his development if he continues to play little more than a back-up role at Bayern. Nottingham Forest are among the English clubs to have been linked with Tel, and they could be an ideal match.

Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi have thrived since their respective moves to the City Ground, and Tel is a similar profile: a pacey, versatile winger who loves to take players on. Tel would reportedly prefer to stay at Bayern until the end of the season, but the decision may be taken out of his hands if the Bavarians receive a formal offer.

Ansu Fati was bestowed with Lionel Messi's iconic No.10 shirt after the Argentine's shock departure from Barcelona in 2021, having made a big impression in his first two years of senior football at Camp Nou. But the weight of that honour has since proved too much for Ansu to handle.

The 22-year-old has been plagued by serious injuries and was essentially exiled from the Barca squad during Xavi's final season in charge, which led him to him enduring a very underwhelming loan spell at Brighton. Ansu's fortunes haven't improved since Flick's arrival in Catalunya, and it has been suggested Barca could sell the Masia graduate this year.

Reports in Spain suggest Manchester United are keen on Ansu, and Flick has supposedly given the green light to a potential swap deal involving Marcus Rashford this month. It's unclear whether Barca are in a strong enough financial position to make that happen, but Ansu may well want to prove his critics wrong by having another bite of the cherry in the Premier League, with Wolves another club to have been linked with the young forward in the last few months.