Paracetamol. Check. Water. Check. Rumour Mill? Check! Welcome to 2025, eerily similar to the end of 2024, save for a new calendar on the kitchen wall and the opening of the January transfer window. Not only does that mean that ailing Manchester-based clubs will be able to sign new shiny players for extortionate prices, but also that players out of contract at the end of this season will also be able to arrange free transfers on the cheap (but with extortionate wages).
Among the latter is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is nearing the end of the record contract – total reported salary of €200m (£177m) per year once commercial agreements are included – that tempted him to Saudi Arabia two years ago. The Portuguese has previously stated that he wanted to win the Saudi title with Al-Nassr, something he has not yet achieved, but when pushed on his future last week he stated: “You never know what can happen in the future.” Whether he stays put or not, Ronaldo will not be short of offers, even with his 40th birthday looming in February. There are a host of superstars out of contract in six months, with Son Heung-min, Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kevin De Bruyne, Joshua Kimmich, Alphonso Davies, Leroy Sané, Jonathan Tah, Jonathan David and Angel Gomes all free to begin talks with other clubs in January.
