The January transfer window opens across Europe in just a matter of days (find out when for each league here) and for some players the chance to relaunch their career elsewhere can't come quickly enough.
With the COVID-19 pandemic inflicting long-term damage on the finances of clubs throughout the game, recent windows have led to reduced business in the transfer market and many players have missed out on moves due to the lack of money circulating within the major leagues.
But as the January window prepares to open at the start of a World Cup year, a number of top players have now reached the stage where they will have to push for a transfer -- permanent or loan -- in order to guarantee themselves the opportunity of regular football.