In the world of football, ‘Happy New Year’ means the opening of the winter transfer window, a month of rumours and, at the end of it all, some signings. Few will be subject to speculation quite like those stars who, with the turn of the year, have entered the final few months of their contracts. And in the women’s game right now, there are dozens of top names that fit that bill.
Across Europe, there are Ballon d’Or recipients, European champions and World Cup winners who are just months away from becoming free agents as things stand, making them prime targets for January gossip. For some, the noise may point more towards a renewal rather than a departure, but for many, it’s quite the opposite.
As the chaos of the transfer window begins, GOAL highlights some of those whose situations are well worth keeping an eye on this month and beyond…