January transfer window: Salah, Guehi - who could be on the move this month?

The January transfer window is open and there are plenty of potential big deals that could materialise over the coming weeks.

Most agree that the winter window is notoriously tough to do business, with clubs unwilling to negotiate the sale of their stars, players cup-tied and inflated prices common refrains.

Crystal Palace threw caution to the wind and saw a bid of £35 million accepted by Tottenham for out-of-favour winger Brennan Johnson.

A deal that will see Antoine Semenyo move to Manchester City from Bournemouth appears to be edging closer, with City having triggered the Ghanaian's £65m release clause.

We examine some of the high-profile players who could be inching towards the exit door.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Linked with: Al Ittihad, Saudi Pro League

Salah's future was the hot topic as 2025 wound down. The Egyptian forward accused Liverpool of scapegoating him alone for the club's poor start to the season and he was left out of Arne Slot's squad for an important Uefa Champions League tie at Inter Milan last month.

No sooner was he integrated back into the squad, Salah was jetting off to Morocco to help Egypt's ongoing Africa Cup of Nations bid.

Slot has stated that there is "no issue to resolve" between him and Salah, but clearly, all is not well between club and player.

Salah has previous when it comes to using the media to get his message out, portraying himself as the wronged party, as was the case last year when talks over a new contract dragged out over months.

He may have good reason to feel aggrieved – he is by no means the only underperforming member of Slot's squad – but the overriding sense is that Salah has gone to the well one too many times in criticising the club.

Should Liverpool look to sell, it seems highly likely Salah's next move will be to Saudi Arabia. Long linked with a move to champions Al Ittihad, even league officials are using public platforms to issue "we'll come and get you" pleas.

Whatever Liverpool's stance was, it has undoubtedly been altered since learning that Alexander Isak faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after fracturing his fibula against Tottenham on December 22.

Whether the rift can be mended once Salah returns from Afcon remains to be seen.

Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)

Linked with: Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Bayern Munich

While Salah's "woe is me" has been the main point of analysis for Liverpool's wayward title defence, not nearly enough forensics have been devoted to the alarming decline of Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutch colossus was seminal to Liverpool's Premier League title win last term but time and again hr has been exposed this campaign. Screaming at teammates for mistakes only really works when you are beyond reproach. Now it looks like Van Dijk berates those around him to cover his own flaws.

Ibrahima Konate is far from the finished article but has potential. But it is clear that Liverpool need a major upgrade at the heart of their defence.

To be fair, the Reds did their best to address that last summer, but Crystal Palace dug their heels in and refused to sanction the sale of Marc Guehi.

Marc Guehi has been Crystal Palace's standout performer so far this season. Getty Images

The player responded in just the way you would hope, getting his head down and proving why he is a wanted ma