The top ten most wanted players during the January transfer window.
10. Keisuke Honda
At one point it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Japan international would be joining AC Milan. So confident were the Serie A side that they weren’t prepared to splash out a modest fee to secure his signature as they were certain that he would be joining for free in January.
However, they’re now being made to sweat as Everton, Liverpool and Arsenal have overtaken them in the race to take him away from Russia. Kaka’s recent return will soften the blow if he does go elsewhere, However, it certainly won’t be the last that we hear of this story as the San Siro side are bound to revive their interest in the 27-year-old.
Milan are hoping to add more options to their attack with Robinho and Kevin Prince-Boateng likely to move on themselves this summer, though the former has just seen his return to Santos break down.
So though he may not actually be leaving Moscow this summer, he could secure the move over the next couple of months.
9. Emmanuel Adebayor
The Togolese international’s future at White Heart Lane has been thrown into doubt after a disappointing campaign last season and continued speculation linking the cub to a number of new strikers this summer.
His misery has been further compounded by being asked to train with the reserves and seeing his path to the first team blocked by the newly arrived Roberto Soldado.
Andre Villas-Boas had his hands tied this summer and couldn’t afford to let him go. Spurs were having trouble bringing another striker on board, so the only sensible thing to do was to hang on to him, if only to cover their own backsides. There will undoubtedly be a club out there willing to take a chance on his in January, thus freeing up space in the squad as well as a considerable chunk of the wage bill.
Links to QPR have been mentioned, but it’s not likely that he would want to drop down a division. And nor should he, Spurs could easily recoup the £5m they paid for him las summer and he could no doubt recover his best form under a manager that can get the best out of him.
8. Mohamed Salah
If there was anyone who hadn’t head of the 21-year-old before, they have now following his starring role in Basle’s midweek shock victory over Chelsea in the Champions League.
Able to play either as a winger or a striker, his pace, quick feet and eye for goal make him a viable threat in a number of positions.
He had originally been spotted by the Swiss side during a friendly game that saw them defeated by an Egyptian under-23 side. Salah scored a brace after coming on at half time to help his country win 4-3. Basel offered him a trial, and it didn’t take long for them to put a deal to keep him there for longer on the table.
His six goals in 36 appearances in Switzerland may not sound all that impressive, but for a young player still making a name for himself in Europe, as well as learning his trade, his return should be looked upon as an achievement rather than an opportunity to criticise.
His record with the national side make far more exciting reading too, with 17 goals in 24 appearances so far he is set for a big future on the national stage.
Spurs are reportedly already interested and at the rate they buy midfielders a move in January could very well be on the cards.
7. Burak Yilmaz
The Turkish international has enjoyed quite the rise in fortunes recently. Having joined Galatasaray last summer from Trabzonspor, where he scored 58 times in 93 games, and he continued that good form throughout last term by bagging 26 in 31 appearances.
His performances for the Turkish giants has caught the eye of a number of top European clubs such as Spurs, Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Chelsea. So far the only serious interest has come from England with the north London club thought to be in direct competition with United for his signature.
Whilst United will be a tough proposition to turn down, Tottenham could entice the 27-year-old by outlining the rebuilding plans that Andre Villas-Boas will surely have.
Spurs are currently lacking for options up front, with Jermain Defoe out of the side and Emmanuel Adebayor outcast to training with the reserves, he may be the ideal partner for Roberto Soldado to help the club ensure that remain frontrunners for that valuable fourth spot.
That being said, the chance to make a starting spot his own is there providing he finds the back of the net on a regular basis.
6. Marco Verratti
The 20-year-old signed on from Pescara last summer has been a target for a number of sides already this year with Manchester United reportedly showing an interest.
He had been thought to be seeking an improved deal in the French capital with several news sources claiming he was unhappy with the terms of his current deal.
A summer away with the Italian Under-21 side at the European Championships where he helped the country to the final saw his stock rise even more, which has apparently prompted the Ligue 1 champions to tie him down to a new deal.
And though he has been rewarded with a new deal, there still remains question marks over his head that suggest that the contract was only awarded to him to drive his asking price up. PSG were apparently bracing themselves for his departure by lining up a move for Newcastle United’s Yoan Cabaye.
Verratti made 39 appearances across all competitions last season but failed to find the net once.
United are still thought to be keen on bringing him to the Premier League as David Moyes looks to add more creativity to his midfield, and depending on how the season pans out for the new manager, a January move could still be on the cards.
5. Demba Ba
Ba’s move is very much dependant on how Samuel Eto’o gets on next to Fernando Torres this season, but Ba’s days at the club already seem numbered.
Linked over the summer with a return to West Ham, as well as with a move to Arsenal to make room for Wayne Rooney, it appeared that West Bromwich Albion could be the favourites to land his signature as they failed to adequately replace the impressive Romelu Lukaku (who subsequently snubbed the chance to return to go to Everton).
His chances aren’t expected to come thick and fast this term and a move away, whether on loan or permanently, will probably be a welcome occurrence.
His move to Chelsea had an air of knee jerk reaction to it. When Chelsea buy strikers, they’re usually pre-established stars with nothing to prove as their reputation precedes them. There was sound logic behind his acquisition – 29 goals in 58 games for Newcastle , but some players just can’t perform at the highest level.
However, six goals in 24 appearances for the Blues isn’t good enough. If Chelsea really want to make a serious challenge for honours this season they’d do well to let Ba go and recoup what they can.
4. Arda Turan
The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League since his time with Galatasaray in his homeland, however, in 2011 he headed for Spain and joined Atletico Madrid in 2011 and has gone on to become a key figure in the side that won the 2012 Europa League and last season’s Copa Del Rey.
However, despite his recent successes at the club, his agent Ahmet Bulut has hinted that his client would be happy to leave the club should either of the Premier League sides match the £29 million buy out clause in his contract.
Like Verratti as PSG, he has since put pen-to-paper on a new deal at the Vicente Calderon, but with the state of affairs in La Liga it’s just smart sense to tie your most valuable stars to a new deal in order to ensure the maximum price is paid.
Turan had previously expressed a desire to one day turn out for either Arsenal or Liverpool, and with both still looking to add a creative spark to the ranks, a move in January wouldn’t be out of the question.
3. Angel Di Maria
Though the Argentinian has stated that he want’s to stay with his current club, but having Isco, Mesut Ozil and Gareth Bale (soon) as company in a packed midfield could provide problems if he wants to get a regular run in the side ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
With Ronaldo operating on one flank, and Bale soon to be taking the other, there will be very little wiggle room for the former Benfica man to stake a claim for a starting spot, and there are already rumours that coach Carlo Ancelotti is making him available for transfer.
Real were never going to let both Ozil and Di Maria go on transfer deadline day, but there is still time for both player and club to change their minds.
Madrid have always been experts at hoarding some of the world’s finest talent and keeping them in and around the side just enough to frustrate them – just ask Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben. The Argentine could find his playing time very limited this year, and PSG will have enough money to ensure that he won’t feel that way for long.
There certainly wouldn’t be a shortage of club’s interested in Di Maria, and he could find himself playing in either England, Germany or Italy.
2. Wayne Rooney
This summer wasn’t the first time that the England man faced a storm concerning his future, though it was the first time where it genuinely looked as though he would actually move on.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain were all set to pounce, before the Blues landed Samuel Eto’o and PSG bagged Cavani. Arsenal got Mesut Ozil, but no striker, and reports are suggesting that Arsene Wenger will return with another £30m bid for him in January.
However, with the England man’s form returning, and news that he is set to be offered a fresh extension at Old Trafford could put any potential move on hold.
It does appear slightly unlikely that Rooney will actually move in January, but that won’t be for the want of try and there is sure to be plenty of speculation surrounding his future. David Moyes will certainly want to keep hold of him, but if things don’t go well for the 28-year-old and he still finds himself behind in the pecking order then he will be looking to garner as much interest and move on as soon as the opportunity arises.
1. Juan Mata
Not a player that many thought would be heading this list, but his situation at the west London club has changed dramatically and he may well now be forced to find a new club if he wants to be a part of Spain’s World Cup squad next summer.
The Spaniard has been the club’s player of the season for the previous two campaigns, but saw his future thrown into doubt following the arrival of Jose Mourinho with rumours of a move away following him all throughout the transfer window. Speculation was intensified after he was left out of the encounters with Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Mourinho has preferred to go with new signing Andre Schurrle and the returning Kevin de Bruyne alongside Oscar and Eden Hazard behind the Blues lone striker, whilst the signing of Willian has also increased competition.
Mata had tried to deflect the speculation by insisting that his absence was down to injury, but Jose Mourinho has since confirmed that he is looking toward Oscar to take up Mata’s favoured role instead.
Whether is be in England or back home in Spain, there will certainly be no shortage of options for him to reassert himself as one of the best and most intelligent footballers in the world today.