The eight most likely deadline day moves, including Aubameyang, Cantwell and Dembele

Paul Okey
31 January 2022

These players are odds-on to make a switch on January 31, with Arsenal and Newcastle in the thick of the action.

Newcastle United are set to dominate Transfer Deadline Day with up to five new arrivals expected at St James' Park and relegation clauses aplenty.

The Magpies are overwhelming favourites to make the most signings on January 31 and considering they have been linked with well over 100 players since the Saudi-backed takeover they have plenty of names to go at.

But which players are considered most likely to join Eddie Howe's men and which other top stars are set to be on the move as January draws to a close?

Planet Sport rounds up the players who are odds on to make a move before the window closes.

Matt Targett (Aston Villa to Newcastle)

Recruiting a left-back has always been a priority for the Magpies this window and having missed out on Lucas Digne - among others - they are targeting the man he effectively replaced at Villa Park. A loan until the end of the season has been mentioned.

Todd Cantwell (Norwich City to Bournemouth)

The 2019/20 season's Conor Gallagher, he has not featured in the last six games for the Canaries and Dean Smith clearly doesn't fancy him. Promoted out of the Championship twice with Norwich, he looks set to be handed an opportunity to complete the hat-trick. Another loan deal with an option to buy is on the cards.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal to Barcelona)

Thankyou for your service and helping us win the FA cup @auba. This was one of your finest games for us. Top quality hattrick. pic.twitter.com/pqLyCBDIUM
— GoonerViews (@GoonerViews) January 30, 2022

So desperate to play for Barcelona is he that Aubameyang has stated he is willing to play for "practically nothing" to fit in with their salary cap. Currently earning £350,000 a week, his practically nothing and our practically nothing are likely to be some miles apart. Still it seems the move is a goer, with Arsenal so keen to get him off their wage bill that they are willing to waive the loan fee.

Alexander Isak (Real Sociedad to Arsenal)

And that money that Arsenal save on Aubameyang looks set to go straight into the pocket of Swedish striker Isak. Unfortunately, it appears the Gunners will also have to shell out close to £75million for the 22-year-old who caught the eye at Euro 2020 and has bagged 30 goals in 89 appearances for Real Sociedad, including eight in 25 in 2021/22. Cue loads of wicked games for the north London side.

Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona to PSG)

Ousmane Dembele's time at Barcelona is up after refusing their latest contract offer

The Barcelona forward has apparently agreed terms with the Ligue 1 leaders with the fee now proving the stumbling block.

Barcelona paid an initial £96.8million for Dembele in 2017 and are angling for around a sixth of that for a player who is out of contract in the summer. His availability interested a number of Premier League clubs but the financial fair play rules coupled with his crippling wages mean it is Paris or nowhere for the 24-year-old.

Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal to Newcastle)

Newcastle are keen to sign the 22-year-old permanently before the window shuts and it looks like they will get their man.

Out of contract in the summer, Arsenal are open to the idea of selling the England under-21 international and have already rebuffed a number of offers from Crystal Palace. Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach are also interested but Newcastle's financial pulling power looks set to win the day.

Renato Sanchez (Lille to AC Milan)

They've come in late but it looks like AC Milan are set to land the Portuguese midfielder.

Liverpool and, surprise, surprise, Newcastle were linked with the 24-year-old who has reignited his career at Lille after an unhappy time at Bayern Munich which even included a loan move to Swansea. There is speculation there may not be enough time to complete the move, but a switch to Milan still remains odds-on.

Jesse Lingard (Manchester United to Newcastle)

Lingard is odds-on to join the Magpies in the window but only Evens to remain at Old Trafford so this is the least likely of the eight moves to go through. It makes sense for Lingard to move on, of course it does.

In the summer it was admirable loyalty and a fantastic determination to knuckle down and win his place that kept him at United. Now, just two starts later, remaining there is a criminal waste of talent and an inability on Lingard's part to see the bigger picture - it's over for him at Old Trafford.

Another Newcastle move that will begin as an initial loan and end with Lingard signing, or relegation to the Championship.