The January transfer window is right around the corner, and it's the last chance saloon for some players to make a bid for the World Cup. Next summer's tournament across North America kicks off in just over six months' time and England are one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Thomas Tuchel's side breezed through qualifying, winning all eight of their matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding none. The German hasn't done much chopping and changing with his squads since taking over, but ahead of a tournament, there's always an opportunity for someone to force their way in.

That's exactly what these seven players are aiming to do in the second half of the season. From established internationals to up-and-comers, January can be a lifeline for those who are out of favour are their current clubs.

Mirror Football picks out seven England hopefuls who need moves in order to boost their hopes of playing at the World Cup.

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Raheem Sterling

Frozen out at Chelsea, there's no bigger name currently absent from the England squad than Raheem Sterling. The 31-year-old hasn't played a competitive match since his forgettable loan spell with Arsenal last season.

Class is permanent, they say, so Sterling surely has the quality to play for England. But he'll need to rediscover his form and find a new club if he wants to make a remarkable return to the squad and play under Tuchel, who brought him to Chelsea in 2022.

Kobbie Mainoo

The man who's been taking up more column inches than the rest of this list combined in recent months, Kobbie Mainoo's future at Manchester United is uncertain. Reports claim that the midfielder is keen to leave his boyhood club, with Ruben Amorim failing to give him a single Premier League start this season.

Mainoo was the new kid on the block at Euro 2024, having burst onto the scene in the second half of that season and forcing Gareth Southgate to call him up. He'll be aiming to do exactly the same this time around - but the chances are it wouldn't be with United.

Should Kobbie Mainoo leave Manchester United? Have your say in the comments section.

Kalvin Phillips

Speaking of midfielders who shone at a European Championship, Kalvin Phillips was once undroppable for England. But his £45million to move Manchester City marked the beginning of his downfall.

The former Leeds star missed pre-season after having surgery in May, and is still working his way back to fitness. Could a return to Elland Road next month be the way forward for Phillips?

Conor Gallagher

Another player who knows Tuchel from his time at Chelsea, Conor Gallagher is now playing for Atletico Madrid. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, it's not that regularly.

Gallagher has only played 90 minutes on two occasions this season and wasn't called up for any of England's three camps in the autumn. United have been linked with a loan move - could Mainoo leaving be the key?

Jadon Sancho

A double Aston Villa whammy now. Unai Emery's men might be flying but Jadon Sancho is struggling to make much of an impact and has hot competition in the wide forward positions at international level.

Often restricted to substitute appearances, the winger will have a difficult task forcing his way into Villa's line-up when they're in this vein of form - nevermind the England squad. Due to not featuring for United this season, he'd be eligible to play for a second team if Villa agree to terminate his loan, a decision that's been speculated in recent weeks.

Eight minutes. That's how long Harvey Elliott has been on the pitch since his last start for Villa in September, during which he was hooked at half-time.

If reports are to be believed, Villa would have to pay Liverpool £35million and sign the two-time under-21 Euro winner permanently if he makes just five more appearances during his loan spell. Elliott played twice for Liverpool before making the move to Birmingham, so the best chance of him reigniting his season would be if the Reds exercised their recall option.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

A wildcard to end on. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's last cap came against Kosovo in 2019 and he's currently a free agent training with Arsenal's under-21s.

Having been released by Besiktas in August, Oxlade-Chamberlain has his eyes on a return to the Premier League. The former Liverpool, Arsenal and Southampton ace feels that he provide experience, and he must be dreaming of a fairytale return to the Three Lions' squad.

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