20. Jackson Martinez (Porto)
Another player who was highly talked about during much of the summer transfer window is prolific Porto striker Jackson Martinez. The Colombian enjoyed a highly successful first season in Portugal last year, scoring 34 goals in 43 games, and has started this season in similarly fine form as well. A long list of clubs chased Martinez over the summer, including Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, though it now seems likely that Arsenal, Monaco and Chelsea will step up their interests in the 26-year-old when the transfer window re-opens for business in January. Martinez is certainly a player with tremendous potential who looks ready to make a move to a bigger team and more competitive league, and his time could come this season.
19. Eliaquim Mangala (Porto)
Another highly-rated and in-demand Porto star, Eliaquim Mangala could finally be on his way to a top European club this January as interest in him continues to build. The talented young French defender looks to have world class potential and attracted serious interest from Chelsea over the summer. The Blues could return for him in January, though they will likely be joined now by the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona for the centre-back rated at over £30m by his current employers. A superb defensive talent, Mangala’s future is likely to be the source of many headlines until he eventually makes his keenly-anticipated move.
18. Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)
A fine midfielder, Bayer Leverkusen star Lars Bender is already generating a great deal of talk in the months building up to the January transfer window. The German international has been at Leverkusen since 2009 and could now be set for the next stage in his career as the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United target him as one of their several midfield targets. Bender certainly looks the part, as an all-action defensive midfielder with a great engine and eye for a pass. The 24-year-old could cost around £20m or more and has the ability to prove a crucial piece of business by whoever manages to land him.
17. Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao)
Manchester United supposedly came close to signing Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao on transfer deadline day, though much confusion still surrounds why that transfer fell through. Still, the Spaniard is undoubtedly a fine midfield playmaker, and United look set to continue their pursuit of the 24-year-old in the January transfer window. Athletic Bilbao insist Herrera is not for sale, but rumour has it he has a minimum release clause of just over £30m, which United may be tempted to activate if they fail to land their other targets.
16. Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan)
One of the best young players in the world, Stephan El Shaarawy is unsurprisingly the subject to much transfer talk as the January window approaches, with Tottenham said to be stepping up their interest in the highly-rated 20-year-old. El Shaarawy has previously been linked with a whole host of clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Napoli, and it is anyone’s guess where he will end up, though it would be surprising if Milan accepted anything less than seriously big money for this top talent. A versatile attacker, El Shaarawy is already a full Italian international and scored 19 goals from the flanks last season.