25. Lacina Traore (Anzhi Makhachkala)
A highly promising striker, Lacina Traore looks set to become the latest big name to leave struggling Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, following the likes of Willian and Samuel Eto’o, who both joined Chelsea in the summer. Liverpool are supposedly Traore’s biggest admirers in England, though they look set to face big competition from the likes of Juventus and Galatasaray for the tall and powerful Ivory Coast striker. With Anzhi unable to afford to keep one of their highest earners, there are unlikely to be few better players so readily available in the next transfer window.
24. Javier Pastore (PSG)
PSG look unlikely to hold on to Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore this January, with the former Palermo star falling behind in the pecking order under new manager Laurent Blanc this season. Pastore is unquestionably a top talent though, having become one of the first big-name purchases by the French giants under their Qatari ownership, though the continued high-profile arrivals since then have inevitably meant there is less room for the 24-year-old. Still, plenty of top clubs will hope to take this opportunity to snap him up, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all thought to be looking at bringing him in this winter.
23. Lewis Holtby (Tottenham)
Although Lewis Holtby’s improved form of late has seen him look somewhat closer to becoming a regular for Tottenham, he still looks set to attract a great deal of interest in the January transfer window due to his bit-part role in Andre Villas-Boas’ side. The German international looked a great prospect before moving to Spurs from Bundesliga side Schalke last January, and is still an in-demand talent, with Schalke possibly looking to bring him back to the club, and Serie A duo Inter Milan and Roma also keen on signing him this season.
22. Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea)
Although an outstanding prospect, Kevin De Bruyne just doesn’t look set to break past the vast competition ahead of him at Chelsea, and looks likely to be on the market again this January having spent last season out on loan. The Belgian starlet was highly impressive in his temporary spell in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, and they have admitted they would welcome him back if he became available again. Bayer Leverkusen and Wolsburg are also interested, and with De Bruyne being demoted to the club’s Under-21 team by Jose Mourinho, a move away looks like the best thing for him at the moment.
21. Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund)
One of many exciting young talents coming through in German football at the moment, Ilkay Gundogan is attracting a great deal of interest at the moment as we head towards January. The 22-year-old was linked with several moves during the summer, and that will likely continue in the next transfer window as the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United see him as an ideal candidate to solve their current problems in midfield. Primarily a defensive midfielder, Gundogan is also great on the ball and has the all-round ability to play for any top side in Europe.