Everton's new winger and Man United's own Bellingham; Five Championship stars heading to the Premier League in 2025

The New Year brings new fears for clubs facing a battle to hang onto their star men. And with the likes of West Ham, Manchester United and Aston Villa circling, the February 1st already cannot come soon enough for a few Championship teams.

Whether due to their contract situations, or a standard of performance which creates the impression of a footballer outgrowing his second-tier surroundings, there are a few EFL stalwarts, from Middlesbrough to Millwall, who could be on the move in January.

Josh Brownhill – Burnley

Try as they might – and they certainly are trying – The Clarets remain frustrated in their attempts to tie Josh Brownhill down to a new deal. And, with his contract expiring in the summer of 2025, Burnley may soon have to make a very difficult decision.

Do they sell Brownhill in January, while they can still make a few million quid? Or does the potential of promotion justify the risk of losing their captain for free a few months later?

TBR understands that long-time admirers West Ham United could try their hand at Josh Brownhill once again. The all-action midfielder admitted to turning down a £9 million switch to The Hammers back in 2020, feeling that Burnley was a more stable destination at a time in which David Moyes’ team were battling against the tide of relegation.

Fulham and Brighton are also watching Brownhill’s situation closely, alongside a host of clubs from across the continent; Serie A giants Lazio and Fiorentina among them.

Chris Rigg – Sunderland

If Premier League football is to return to the Stadium of Light at long last in 2025, then it is likely to be the Black Cats’ 17-year-old sensation who drags Sunderland over the line.

Arguably the most exciting Championship teenager since Jude Bellingham was strutting his stuff in the blue of Birmingham City, Manchester United are determined to sign Chris Rigg. Of course they are. The Red Devils are, after all, still haunted by Bellingham slipping through their fingers back in 2020.

Sunderland have made it clear that they are not open to offers in January. Not with promotion on the line.

But should Man United, Arsenal, Liverpool or even local rivals Newcastle put their money where their mouth is, Sunderland’s desire to retain their homegrown hero at all costs is likely to be tested.

Hayden Hackney – Middlesbrough

There are obvious similarities to be drawn between Rigg and Hayden Hackney. While Sunderland’s baby-faced number 11 rose through the Academy of Light ranks after being brought up in Hebburn, Hackney is Redcar-born and Middesbrough-made.

Another young midfielder with both purpose and poise. And another with plenty of Premier League admirers. TBR reported that Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Wolves scouted Hackney in action for Michael Carrick’s occasionally-brilliant but flawed Boro outfit a few months ago.

There is also interest from a Tottenham outfit who invested over £30 million in bringing Archie Gray to North London from Leeds United.

Fortunately, having tied Hackney down to a long-term contract back in 2023, Boro – unlike Burnley with Brownhill – hold all the cards.

Romain Esse – Millwall

There is a reason why Crystal Palace were just as determined to retain sporting director Dougie Freedman this year as they were captain Marc Guehi. Freedman, heavily linked with Man United and Newcastle, is just about the best in the business when it comes to plucking rising talents out of the Football League.

And that is an approach which has served Crystal Palace very well down the years. Esse, meanwhile, appears to be the next Championship whizzkid in Freedman’s sights after the successes of Ebere Eze, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton and ex-Swansea City loanee Guehi.

The Standard reports that Crystal Palace have held talks regarding a deal which could see Esse join January before returning on loan to The Den until the summer.

A regular in Millwall’s XI already at the age of just 19, Esse also has three league goals to his name. And a Crystal Palace side crying out for a spark on the right-hand side may be hoping that, three years after the £8 million signing of Olise from Reading, his Selhurst Park successor can be found in a similar location.

Tom Fellows – West Bromwich Albion

Chalk-booted, touchline treading wingers have been in relatively low demand in an era of goalscoring wide forwards tasked with scoring rather than creating. But if there is any manager who could bring about a resurgence of those more old-school attributes, who more appropriate than Sean Dyche?

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Everton have been watching Fellows race down the flanks at West Brom this season. No player in the Championship has more than his seven assists from 15 starts, meanwhile, with Fellows’ on-a-sixpence crosses a major reason why Josh Maja is emerging as a genuine Golden Boot contender.

Lord knows Dominic Calvert-Lewin could do with this sort of service. Everton’s misfiring number nine is at his best attacking floated balls into the box. The sort of balls Fellows has rapidly made his trademark move since being promoted into the starting XI by Carlos Corberan a few months back.

West Brom reportedly turned down bids from Ipswich and Southampton in August. But, with that alleged £15 million price-tag looking more and more like a bargain every time he drops a shoulder and delivers from wide, The Baggies know that another challenging month of speculation lies just around the corner.