What players should the big six look to offload this January?

By Jonny Bray

There are a lot of players who are currently struggling for game time at one of the traditional 'big six' sides.

From exciting academy prospects to £30 million signings, there are a wide variety of reasons why those players are struggling to break into the first team at their current clubs.

But this January is an opportunity to break free and finally show what they can do when given a chance.

Jesse Lingard

After his performances for West Ham last season, a lot of fans and pundits were expecting big things from Jesse Lingard this season.

Sadly, the attacking midfielder decided to stay at Old Trafford, limiting his first-team opportunities.

Crucially, he's also wasted another year of his professional career on the bench at a club with no plan for him in the long term.

He may not even be welcome back at West Ham now after their outstanding season, so where Lingard would end up is a mystery.

But anything is better than seeing his immense amount of talent going to waste on the United bench.

Cédric Soares

Cédric Soares is rubbish.

I thought this when Arsenal signed him, and I think it now.

I honestly don't see how Southampton's second-choice right-back managed to fool the recruitment team at a respected European giant like Arsenal.

Before joining, he'd struggled to get game time in a declining Saints side and at Inter Milan.

Some might say there's no shame in struggling for game time in Milan but Inter were far from the force they are now.

Arsenal should get rid of him because his time at the top of European football is up and because the Gunners urgently need better cover for Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

After years of flirting with greatness, it is time for Ruben Loftus-Cheek to accept that he is not breaking into this Chelsea side.

He's played really well off the bench at Stamford Bridge this season, but he simply isn't good enough to compete with the likes of N'Golo Kanté, Mateo Kovačić and Jorginho.

During his loan spell at Crystal Palace, Loftus-Cheek showed that he has the ability to play regularly for a top-half Premier League side.

And if he gets out of west London soon, there's no doubt that he still has the skill to return to that level.

Oleksandr Zinchenko

Often a forgotten man at Manchester City, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been an essential part of the squad for the past few seasons.

The attacking midfielder turned left-back is versatile, hardworking, and full of skill, but it's becoming clear that he'll always be seen as a bit-part player at The Etihad.

If Zinchenko wants to maximise his potential, he needs to be the main man at a club rather than a utility substitute.

And if he leaves City this January, there would be a host of clubs keen to pick up the Ukrainian's signature.

Joe Gomez

Before injuries took their toll, Joe Gomez was being spoken about as Virgil van Dijk's partner at Liverpool and as a future England star.

But he's now fallen behind the superb Joël Matip and the exciting Ibrahima Konaté in Liverpool's defensive pecking order.

He needs to leave now and is currently being linked with a move to Aston Villa, who currently have concerns over the fitness of first-choice centre-back Ezri Konsa - coincidentally both talented young players came through the ranks at Charlton Athletic.

It would be a fascinating move both for Villa and for Gomez.

Tanguy Ndombele

Tanguy Ndombele could go down as one of the most frustrating players in the history of the Premier League.

The midfielder has split the Spurs fanbase, combining mind-blowing talent with an infuriatingly Laissez-faire approach to professional football.

It's a shame because he was such an exciting player at Lyon, and I do not doubt that he is the type of footballer who will either come good in the Premier League eventually or excel in a different country.

He has admirers across Europe, and while Spurs look sure to take a financial hit, it's best for everyone if Ndombele moves on as soon as possible.

Incidentally, the Frenchman's teammate Dele Alli is in a similar position at Spurs and it's conceivable both could leave north London this month.

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