January Transfer Rumours: 5 Goalkeepers Most Likely to Move

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Goalkeepers are easily noticed either for their heroics or their mistakes. Lev Yashin was immortalised because he was such a dominant keeper. Massimo Taibi will be forever associated with goalkeeping ineptitude. Here are five goalkeepers who are most likely to move during the January transfer window.  

Heurelho Gomes, Tottenham Hotspur, Age: 31

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Former AC Milan French midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo once said of being a squad player: "I'm not a supporter, I'm not a spectator, I'm a football player and I'm not playing football."

Heurelho Gomes, even though he's made high profile blunders, is probably thinking along the same lines as Dhorasoo.  

As maligned as Gomes has become, he is a great shot-stopper—too bad his concentration levels are David James-esque. 

If Hugo Lloris can't even get a game (alienating elite footballers 101 taught by Andre Villas-Boas), Gomes has no hope in the world, unless half the squad goes down with food poisoning. 

Mathew Ryan, Central Coast Mariners, Age: 20

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There is no dispute that Mathew Ryan is the A-League's best keeper.

A few years ago, he was playing for local club Blacktown City and now he has a realistic chance of landing a lucrative European professional contract. 

Mitchell Langerak has a better physique but Ryan's keeping instincts and knack of putting opposing players off when they're about to shoot is noteworthy. 

Langerak is still waiting and hoping that Roman Weidenfeller retires soon. Whereas Ryan has produced two elite seasons for the Central Coast Mariners. 

He's the first ever player to claim the A-League Young Player of the Year award twice.

Lukasz Fabianski, Arsenal, Age: 27

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Unhappy Gunners FC are a five-a-side team based in Ashburton Grove consisting of Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou, Andre Santos, Andrey Arshavin (c) and Marouane Chamakh. Where's Sebastien Squillaci? He's the kit man. 

What is Fabianski's claim to fame? That horrifically bad game against Porto? Or going viral because his digital self hooked up with Andy Carroll on FIFA 12?

Andrea Consigli, Atalanta, Age: 25

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If you were to draw up an early list of the in-form players in Europe, Andrea Consigli would be in the top five. 

When he saved two penalties in the space of nine minutes against Cagliari, he wasn't embellishing the fact that he spends hours studying the way players take penalties. 

Last season, he had a stand-out game against Inter Milan, where he denied Diego Milito from 12 yards out. 

What Consigli did to AC Milan was the equivalent of Massimiliano Benassi's heroics against Inter last season. 

Diego Alves, Valencia, Age: 27

If I was working at a tabloid magazine and I had to make up a transfer rumour, I'd say Liverpool will sign Diego Alves in January as Pepe Reina's replacement. 

Why would Valencia let go of Alves? They have Vicente Guaita, who is a more well-rounded keeper, sitting on the bench. 

Alves stands out because he's a penalty-saving expert and he makes flashy saves. 

Reina has been a liability in recent seasons and the majority of Liverpool supporters have finally seen the light.

As I stated in March, he is one of Liverpool's underperforming players.  

Take a look at the six players I mentioned on that list. 

Jordan Henderson's career at Anfield is in  limbo. Dirk Kuyt was sold to Fenerbahce. Jamie Carragher is counting down the days to his retirement. Andy Carroll was loaned out to West Ham United. Stewart Downing has been replaced by Raheem Sterling.

 

Why is CR7 sad?

Statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com

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