Fansided

5 players who should move before the transfer deadline

By Kameron Duncan

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Anthony Martial of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester United at Turf Moor on January 20, 2018 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Anthony Martial of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester United at Turf Moor on January 20, 2018 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Gonzalo Higuain of Juventus celebrates his third goal during the serie A match between Juventus and US Sassuolo on February 4, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Gonzalo Higuain of Juventus celebrates his third goal during the serie A match between Juventus and US Sassuolo on February 4, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) /

Gonzalo Higuain

The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus sent shockwaves throughout the soccer world, and the fallout may affect the very club Ronaldo has joined.

Gonzalo Higuain scored 16 league goals last season as Juventus won Serie A for a seventh consecutive year. Higuain’s 16 goals were second only to his fellow Argentine forward, Paulo Dybala, who scored 22. With Ronaldo coming in, those numbers are likely to change.

Even at 33 years old, Ronaldo scored 26 goals against spirited competition in La Liga. Barring injury or unforeseen decline, that output will likely continue. As Ronaldo comes into Juventus in this stage of his career, he figures to play a more central role. This would mean diminished chances and possibly a diminished role for Higuain.

Though Higuain is 30, several clubs in Europe are looking to sign him. He has already reportedly been linked to both Chelsea and AC Milan. The former could use him as a replacement for the disappointing Alvaro Morata, and the latter would give him a chance to stay in Italy and potentially star for a different club in the same league. Both situations would keep him on the field and in an important role. Perhaps even more importantly, he would be out of Ronaldo’s massive shadow.

A change of scenery could help Higuain get over a disappointing summer. He made little to no impact at the World Cup, failing to score a goal in 132 minutes of playing time. A move to a different league, or even just a different team, could be the spark Higuain needs to remind the world of the kind of player he is.

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