Hello again! It’s January, and you know what that means — the transfer window is officially open for business. I’m Pardeep Cattry with a primer on the moves that could be in the cards this month.
📺 Footy fix
All times U.S./Eastern
Wednesday, Jan. 3
🇪🇸 La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Mallorca, 1:15 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
🇫🇷 Ligue 1: PSG vs. Toulouse, 2:45 p.m. ➡️ beIN Sports
Thursday, Jan. 4
🏴 FA Cup: Crystal Palace vs. Everton, 3 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
🇮🇹 Coppa Italia: Juventus vs. Salernitana, 3 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇸 La Liga: Las Palmas vs. Barcelona, 3:30 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
⚽ The Forward Line
⚫🟡 Sancho’s Dortmund return?
The January transfer window is historically mild compared to its summertime counterpart, but serves as a major opportunity for much-needed moves for players and clubs alike. For no one is that more true than Jadon Sancho, who has not played for Manchester United since Aug. 28 because of what the club described as a disciplinary issue, something the player has denied.
The end of Sancho’s nightmare in Manchester might just be in sight. Borussia Dortmund, the club where he made a name for himself before, is reportedly interested in bringing him back this month. Sancho scored 37 goals and notched 41 assists in 92 games for Dortmund, and would provide a boost to the team as they currently sit outside of the Bundesliga’s top four and as their Champions League round of 16 tie against PSV approaches. A strong finish to the season might also keep the 23-year-old in the running for a spot on England’s roster for the Euros.
As James Benge reports, though, there’s one hurdle that needs to be cleared before Sancho moves anywhere: the price tag.
- Benge: “A crucial factor in the success of club-to-club negotiations will be what proportion of Sancho’s salary, understood to be worth around $340,000 a week, Dortmund are able to cover. Even the highest earners at the Westfalenstadion are reported to be on nearly half of that amount. However, bringing Sancho back is a prospect that Dortmund have been entertaining for some time. CBS Sports sources have indicated that the two clubs discussed a loan in the summer only to see the deal fall apart due to United’s loan fee demands, the same reason that Al-Ettifaq’s deadline day swoop did not come to fruition.”
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🔗 Midfield Link Play
❓ On the market
Sancho leads the list of potential targets this January, but a few notable moves might be completed before the month’s over. A handful of Europe’s top clubs are looking for depth as they hit the business end of the season, including last season’s Champions League finalists Inter. As Jonathan Johnson notes in his list of transfers to keep an eye on this month, they might land Canada’s Tajon Buchanan.
- Johnson: “[Inter] are in for Club Brugge’s Canada international who could finally be on the move after what feels like lengthy speculation. The versatile 24-year-old is expected to undergo his medical ahead of a deal to join the Nerazzurri for around $7.6 million plus potential add-ons. Buchanan … has two goals and two assists so far this season and it feels as if this move has been in the offing for some time. Inter often wait for players to run down their contracts before pouncing, so clearly feel that the Canadian will add something special immediately to be stumping up cash to bring him in from Belgium.”
Italy might be a hub for meaningful incomings and outcomings this month, with Napoli leading the race for Udinese midfielder Lazar Samardzic after he was previously linked to Inter and Genoa center back Radu Dragusin on the verge of joining a depleted Tottenham Hotspur. Outside of Italy, West Ham’s Thilo Kehrer might be on his way to AS Monaco after a less than successful spell in East London.
🔗 Top Stories
🤝 Transfer window latest: Sergio Reguilon’s loan at Manchester United is over and FC Cincinnati star Brandon Vazquez’s potential Monterrey move might not be the transfer he actually needs. Plus, more on Sancho’s potential and a look ahead to Kylian Mbappe’s future with PSG.
🇸🇳 Senegal’s chances: Before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off next week, here’s a look at Senegal’s hopes after the reigning champions were placed in the tournament’s so-called group of death.
🔴 Life after Salah: The AFCON will provide Liverpool a chance to discover their on-field identity while Mohamed Salah competes for Egypt, and potentially ahead of a move to Saudi Arabia waiting for him in the summer.
🏆 Cup watch: AC Milan’s lopsided win over Cagliari strengthens their argument as favorites to win the Coppa Italia, while the FA Cup third round offers plenty of compelling storylines when it begins tomorrow.
🔮 2024 predictions: At roughly the halfway point of the 2024 season, here are four predictions ahead of what is sure to be a thrilling finish to the Premier League campaign.
🏴 Managerial change?: After West Ham’s 0-0 draw with Brighton yesterday, it might be worth asking: Is it time for the club to move on from manager David Moyes?
💰 The Back Line
💵 Best bets
- FA Cup: Crystal Palace vs. Everton, Thursday, 3 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Both teams will not score (+110) — Neither side has an above-average reputation for scoring and mostly play games with a tight scoreline, so expect a closely-contested affair between these two in which one side dominates. Considering recent form, it might be Everton who comes out on top. - La Liga: Las Palmas vs. Barcelona, Thursday, 3 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Less than 2.5 goals scored (+110) — After winning just two of their last five competitive games, Barcelona are the heavy favorites to begin 2024 with a high and hopefully turn over a new leaf. Do not expect the scoreline to flatter them too much, though — Las Palmas have conceded just 15 goals in 18 league games so far and might be able to maintain some of Barcelona’s pressure.
📺 What’s on CBS Sports Golazo Network
☀️ Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): Hosts Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, Nico Cantor and Alexis Guerreros help fans get their day started on the network’s flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the biggest soccer storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast form, so you’ll never have to miss an episode.
📦 Box 2 Box (Weekday afternoons): The news-driven show quickly recaps all the latest headlines from around the world with panelists previewing the top matchups of the day. Catch Box 2 Box on CBS Sports Golazo Network on the CBS Sports app, PlutoTV and Paramount+.
3️⃣ Attacking Third (Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening): The leading women’s soccer podcast and social brand is now a live studio show. Just because the NWSL season is over doesn’t mean that our coverage of the women’s game is going anywhere. Our analysts will be breaking down the USWNT. NWSL offseason and European domestic season all winter long.
👟 Kickin’ It (Tuesday, 7 p.m.): CBS Sports Golazo Network’s new unfiltered interview show returns Tuesday Hosted by Kate Abdo, Clint Dempsey, Mo Edu and Charlie Davies, the group chat candidly with the biggest names from the Beautiful Game and share their stories from on and off the pitch.
⚽ Call it What You Want (Monday night): A weekly podcast where Jimmy Conrad, Jesse Marsch and Charlie Davies cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States.
🥅 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the newest place for fans to catch up on all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from the top soccer competitions and all the can’t-miss goals from the day’s action, starting Thursday and airing seven days a week.
📺 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel exclusively dedicated to offering unparalleled coverage of all the top soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV and Paramount+.
