A look at 50 potential deals and their chances of happening this January.
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Shane Long (West Brom to Hull City)
After missing out on the signing of West Brom striker Shane Long late on on transfer deadline day, Hull City are already said to be thinking about making a move for the Republic of Ireland international again in January. Steve Bruce is keen to add another forward to his ranks after also missing out on the likes of Peter Odemwingie and Nicklas Bendtner during the summer.
West Brom have since said that they plan to keep Long as part of their first-team plans, but given how close they were to selling him in the summer, this move seems pretty likely to happen when the opportunity comes again in January. 7/10.
Patrick Olsen (Inter Milan to Arsenal)
Arsenal have recently been linked with a move for talented young Danish international Patrick Olsen, currently of Inter Milan. The 19-year-old is not yet part of the first-team setup at the San Siro, and may be tempted by Arsene Wenger’s record of giving youngsters a chance to develop at the Emirates Stadium.
Still, this midfield prospect is rated highly by the Italian giants, and they have supposedly rejected Arsenal’s recent enquiries for the starlet, meaning it won’t be easy for the Gunners to force through a move in January. 4/10.
Will Hughes (Derby County to Liverpool)
A whole host of clubs are thought to be keen on exciting Derby County youngster Will Hughes, whose skillful and intelligent play from midfield has seen him earn flattering comparisons with Barcelona pair Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Although still only 18 and unproven at the top level, Hughes could command a fee of around £10m or more, with Liverpool thought to be stepping up their interest.
Still, with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle also all interested, it is hard to predict Hughes’ next destination, though with the style of play employed by Brendan Rodgers at Anfield at the moment, perhaps a move to Liverpool would make the most sense as the next step in his career. 5/10.
Lacina Traore (Anzhi Makhachkala to Liverpool)
Liverpool are also being linked with highly-promising Anzhi Makhachkala striker Lacina Traore. The 23-year-old looked likely to be part of the fire-sale that took place at the Russian club this summer after their sudden financial problems, though he ended up sticking around for the time being. At 6 ft 8, this tall target man would offer the Reds something a little different upfront, and he could be a very useful addition to a side that could still do with more attacking options, particularly with Luis Suarez’s future still somewhat up in the air.
Traore seems unlikely to stay at Anzhi, but with Juventus also interested, Liverpool will still face some firm competition for his signature. 5/10.
Piotr Zielinski (Udinese to Manchester City)
Still only 19 years of age, promising midfielder Piotr Zielinski has made great strides with Udinese and the Polish national team over the last year or so, and is now thought to be attracting strong interest from Manchester City as they plan for their January shopping. This skillful playmaker would be one for the future at the Etihad Stadium, but could also provide some depth to their squad as soon as this season, with David Silva struggling for fitness and form. Udinese will be keen not to sell such a promising young talent, but City have the money to tempt them if their interest is serious. 6/10.