The exiled Valencia winger who is ideal for a January Premier League move

The January transfer window is looming ever nearer, and that means Premier League managers will already be thinking about just who they might need to bolster their options come the New Year. One man who may well suit a whole host of clubs is winger Pablo Piatti.

The former Argentina international is currently on loan at Espanyol from Valencia, and got off to a fine start this season with two goals and three assists in just four La Liga appearances.

Injury has seen him miss the Catalan club’s last three fixtures, but with Espanyol also offered a buyout clause by Valencia, it seems Piatti will be on the move sooner rather than later.

With that in mind, Premier League teams should be putting the 27-year-old on their radar as an available, and cost-effective option come January.

Piatti first came to prominence with Almeria, starring in the same side as Alvaro Negredo, and his appearances across three seasons with the Andalusia side saw Valencia come calling in 2011 for a €7.5m fee.

But the last five years haven’t been easy for those associated with Els Taronges, who have seen 10 managers come and go in that spell.

That’s had an effect on Piatti too, who has only been able to show fleeting glimpse of his talent in such a turbulent environment.

Nevertheless, his statistics impress. A solid first season with five goals and six assists in his debut campaign was followed by a nightmare second year.

With Mauricio Pellegrino and Ernesto Valverde failing to appreciate his talents, Piatti struggled for game time and was transfer listed in the summer of 2013.

Reports of a move to Everton were touted, but the Ucacha native fought back into the team in 2013-14, to fire in five goals from 17 appearances.

It was the following campaign however where Piatti finally got some consistency and regular gametime, notching seven goals and seven assists from just 28 matches as Valencia finished fourth.

But things took another sour turn last season with the club going through four managers – including Gary Neville’s infamous spell – and that naturally, saw Piatti in and out of the side.

But now free from the politics, Piatti could be set to thrive at his new Espanyol surroundings, and in turn, impress Premier League scouts.

Valencia seem more than happy to part ways permanently, and with a transfermarkt.co.uk value of just over £5m, perspective buyers needn’t be put off.

Middlesbrough fans in particular may be intrigued. Could a potential reunion with Negredo be on the cards?

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing