Football Transfer Rumours: 50 Players Who Could Move in January Transfer Window

The transfer window closed less than three weeks ago with a flurry of activity in the final hours of August 31. But ever since the day passed, the rumour mill has been running non-stop.

That's because in world football, the rumour mill never really shuts down. Like it or not, transfer gossip is part of the modern game—and unlike each league across the world, there's never really an offseason.

If there is something of a slow time in the world football transfer league, it would be now. Clubs across the world are evaluating the players they bought and trying to figure out how to fill the holes they created by selling others.

By rule, no transfers can be completed until January, but now is the time clubs start to identify targets. And once January gets here, most clubs will be as eager to buy and sell as they were in August.

That means that for now, we have a bunch of potential transfers to talk about and plenty of transfers to contemplate.

It seems almost inevitable that some players will move to a new club in January. Santos forward Neymar is perhaps the hottest name in the transfer league this month, with Real Madrid reportedly trying to work out a deal.

And in Europe, talented young players like Mario Götze, Eden Hazard and others seem to be on the watch list of every big-money team on the continent.

They might find a new club in January. They might not. But it's going to be fun to speculate.

1. Neymar, Santos

Linked to: Real Madrid

Neymar is perhaps the most sought-after young player in world football today. The 19-year-old Brazilian is widely expected to become his country's next big star, and one of world football's biggest clubs is acting accordingly.

The latest reports have Neymar denying that a move to Real Madrid is already in place. Neymar apparently visited a Brazilian hospital last week, setting off rumours that he was having a medical before his move to Real Madrid.

Not so, said Neymar.

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"I have been sold like 30 times," Neymar is quoted as saying by Lancenet. "There is no truth to that, I am a player of Santos and I will stay here to play at the club's centenary.

That is all speculation, there is no deal."

Neymar confirmed he was at Hospital Sao Luiz on Friday, but guaranteed it had nothing to do with a potential move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I went to the hospital to solve a personal problem," he explained.

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No word yet on that personal problem but with this situation, nothing seems definite. Some stories have him signing immediately, while others say he'll move next summer.

What seems certain is this: Neymar will sign with a big club sooner than later. And January seems like as good a time as any.

2. Mario Götze, Borussia Dortmund

Linked to: Manchester United, Arsenal

Hailed at the age of 18 as one of the best talents Germany has ever had, Mario Götze appears to be one of Europe's up-and-coming stars.

He currently plays for Borussia Dortmund, but Manchester United were reportedly interested in signing him during the previous transfer window. Other reports linked Arsenal to Götze, and it seems likely that he'll be on the move sometime soon.

3. Eden Hazard, Lille

Linked to: Arsenal, Liverpool

Arsenal was reportedly interested in Eden Hazard, the 20-year-old Belgian midfielder, during the previous transfer window.

Other reports from around this time last year had him moving to Liverpool in January 2011.

It didn't happen then, but who's to say it won't this time around?

4. Marek Hamsik, Napoli

Linked to: Manchester United, AC Milan, PSG

Slovakian Marek Hamsik was linked last spring to a move to Manchester United.

During the summer, it was AC Milan.

This month, it's Paris Saint-Germain.

Which one will it be? Stay tuned until January.

5. Gary Cahill, Bolton Wanderers

Linked to: Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly both tried to sign the English defender during the transfer window but fell short of Bolton's monetary evaluation of the player.

Now, new reports link him to Barcelona.

The Barcelona reports seem a bit out there, but a move to either Spurs or Arsenal would make a lot of sense for a player with ambitions of establishing himself permanently with the English national team.

6. David Beckham, LA Galaxy

Linked to: QPR, PSG

David Beckham's mega-contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy runs out at the end of the current MLS season, and Beckham apparently wants to play top-flight football again.

Queens Park Rangers seem to be the front-runners, with reports saying he'll move in January.

And here's a report linking him to Paris Saint-Germain.

It's very likely that Beckham will go somewhere, since his contract runs out at the end of the season. A return to England seems most likely to us.

7. Fernando Torres, Chelsea

Linked to: AC Milan

Let's be honest here: Fernando Torres has been a disaster at Chelsea.

Sure, he scored in Chelsea's 3-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday, but in a move more in line with his overall form with the club, he also shot wide on an open goal late in the second half.

And that came after he already alienated his teammates by calling them old and slow.

Anyway, reports are now linking him to a move to AC Milan.

Despite his goal this past weekend, it's looking like Torres is pretty much done at Chelsea.

8. Robinho, AC Milan

Linked to: Chelsea

That same report that linked Fernando Torres to Milan had Manchester City outcast Robinho heading back to England as part of an exchange deal.

That seems like a bit of stretch, but an England return for Robinho probably isn't out of the question. And as they always say in world football, never say never.

9. Christian Eriksen, Ajax

Linked to: Liverpool, AC Milan

Christian Eriksen is another of Europe's exciting young talents. Still just 19 years old, he earned the Dutch league's player-of-the-year award last term while playing for Ajax.

Now he's being linked to Liverpool and AC Milan. Apparently the two are battling for his signature, which makes us think a move will happen soon.

Maybe even in January.

10. Carlos Tevez, Manchester City

Linked to: Everyone

At the end of the previous transfer window, Carlos Tevez admitted he'd have to stay with Manchester City for a while longer.

We're not convinced that means past January. Tevez is clearly unhappy at Manchester City and wants a move elsewhere.

Arsenal reportedly wanted to swap him for Samir Nasri but a move never materialized.

Italy has also been mentioned as a potential destination.

Who knows? All we really know is that Tevez will probably leave Manchester City sooner than later.

11. Luka Modric, Tottenham Hotspur

Linked to: Chelsea, Chelsea and Chelsea. And, oh yeah, Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspur managed to hold onto Luka Modric during the previous transfer window, but speculation has already started up again on his rumoured move to Chelsea.

And the speculation has been stoked by one of his own teammates.

Tottenham's Jermain Defoe told TalkSport he expects to hear the rumours again in January. Well, that's got to be comforting to nervous Spurs' fans.

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"There’s always speculation, it’s part and parcel of the game, and it will start again in January" Defoe told TalkSport. "We just wanted the window to close, and he’s here now and that’s that. He’s just got to be professional. You can’t go into games sulking because you’ll get found out and let the team down.

"But Luka’s a good professional and, if you didn’t know there was speculation about him going and you saw him about the place, you’d never know.

"He’s been good. In pre-season, maybe other players would have said, ‘I’ve got an injury and I don’t want to play’, but he didn‘t do that and I don’t think there’s many players who would have done that.

"Chelsea’s a massive club and there was an opportunity for him but it didn’t happen and now he’s got to get on with playing football because he’s a big player for us."

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The verdict? This one has legs. Spurs held onto Modric this time, but if they don't let him go soon, they'll risk losing him for nothing when his contract expires.

12. Wesley Sneijder, Inter Milan

Linked to: Manchester United

Wesley Sneijder and Manchester United played their game of cat-and-mouse all summer. At one point, several media outlets were reporting that Sneijder had actually signed with the Red Devils, but the transfer never happened.

Look for the speculation to start back up throughout the autumn and into January.

13. Ganso, Santos

Linked to: Manchester United

Paulo Henrique Ganso is another young Brazilian who's being linked to a big move to a big European club.

Manchester United was interested in signing the 21-year-old during the previous transfer window, and you can bet they'll still be interested in January.

14. Damiao, Internacional

Linked to: Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona

Damiao is yet another young Brazilian talent who's been linked to a European club.

This time the club is Tottenham Hotspur, which has been told by his club to raise its offer for the 22-year-old. Spurs reportedly offered £15 million but Santos wants the full £44 million from the buyout clause in Damiao's contract.

That report also mentions interest from Barcelona, so it looks like the competition for Damiao's signature is heating up.

15. Wayne Bridge, Manchester City

Linked to: The entire Championship table

Wayne Bridge has enjoyed spells at big-money clubs like Manchester City (his current club) and Chelsea, but now the 31-year-old appears on the way out of City.

Bridge failed to secure a move away from City during the transfer window, but recent reports have manager Roberto Mancini urging Bridge to find a loan deal to further his career.

It's bad enough to be frozen out by your club, but now Bridge is being told by his manager that he's only good enough for the Championship. That's got to hurt.

And that's got to mean a January move is coming.

16. Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea

Linked to: PSG

Nicolas Anelka earned the nickname "Le Sulk" for his antics in engineering a move from Arsenal back at the beginning of his career.

Now he's apparently at it again.

Anelka was linked during the summer to a move back to France. And this past weekend he told Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas he expects to quit the club in the summer.

Don't expect Chelsea to let him go for free in the summer when they could sell him in January.

17. Dimitar Berbatov, Manchester United

Linked to: Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, Sevilla, Tottenham Hotspur

Dimitar Berbatov hasn't had many opportunities to play for Manchester United this season, and he's apparently trying to secure a move away from Old Trafford.

Metro.co.uk reports that the Bulgarian will demand a transfer in January despite manager Sir Alex Ferguson's claims that Berbatov is still in his plans. Metro lists Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich as possible destinations.

Berbatov has also been linked to Newcastle, Sevilla and Spurs.

18. Yann MVila, Rennes

Linked to: Arsenal

Arsenal was reportedly willing to offer a club-record £25 million to Rennes for midfielder Yann M'Vila.

The deal didn't work out, but after its disastrous start to the season Arsenal will almost surely be looking to make more signings in January.

19. Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur

Linked to: Manchester United, Barcelona

Gareth Bale was strongly linked to a move away from Tottenham during the previous window.

Now, though, reports suggest he's satisfied with Spurs' signings and is ready to commit his future to the club. In fact, says SkySports, he never actually wanted to move.

Color us unconvinced.

If a bigger club offers bigger money in January, expect Bale to take it.

20. Lassana Diarra, Real Madrid

Linked to: Tottenham Hotspur

Diarra was linked with a move to Spurs during the summer but he denied the reports and more recently committed himself to Real Madrid.

But that's not really the issue. The problem is that Diarra has a lot of competition for playing time at Real Madrid. A move to another club might be the only solution.

21. Yoann Gourcuff, Lyon

Linked to: Manchester United, Arsenal

French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff made a name for himself at Rennes before moving to Serie A. Now back in France with Lyon, Gourcuff has been recovering from an ankle injury that kept him off transfer radars for much of the summer.

But he's a potential target of Manchester United and Arsenal, both of which could be active in January.

22. Ross Barkley, Everton

Linked to: Manchester United

Ross Barkley is Everton's latest phenom, and Manchester United has taken notice. United, which notably signed a young Wayne Rooney away from Everton, reportedly offered Everton £11 million during the summer.

Everton apparently wants £15 million for the 17-year-old.

23. Nikica Jelavic, Rangers

Linked to: Mystery club

This one is the stuff of spy novels.

Apparently on deadline day, Scottish club Rangers received an offer of £8 million for Croation striker Nikica Jelavic. No one knows which club it was, but it was supposedly an English club.

We do know that Leicester City and manager Sven-Goran Eriksson made a £6.5 million offer.

24. Danilo Pereira, Parma

Linked to: Liverpool, Arsenal

Liverpool and Arsenal were both reportedly interested in signing Parma's Danilo Pereira during the summer.

It didn't happen then, but the Portuguese midfielder could be on the move in January.

25. Roman Pavlyuchenko, Tottenham Hotspur

Linked to: Sporting Lisbon

According to reports, Pavlyuchenko demanded a move away from Spurs during the last transfer window, with Sporting Lisbon a potential destination.

The Russian was reportedly unhappy with Spurs' signing of Emmanuel Adebayor. It looks like he'll be gone in January.

26. Liam Ridgewell, Birmingham City

Linked to: Everton, Celtic

Birmingham City defender Liam Ridgewell reportedly had his transfer request rejected at the end of the previous transfer window.

But with the Blues playing outside the Premiership, look for Ridgewell to secure a move back to the top flight soon.

27. Salomon Kalou, Chelsea

Linked to: Lille

Salomon Kalou has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea thanks to a bunch of new signings.

The Ivory Coast midfielder been linked with a move to Lille, and a January transfer could be possible

28. Chris Samba, Blackburn

Linked to: Arsenal

Blackburn's Chris Samba showed Arsenal what kind of defender it needs during Rovers' thrilling 4-3 victory Saturday.

And that's strangely appropriate, because Samba was linked to the Gunners during the summer.

29. Adam Johnson, Manchester City

Linked to: Everton

Johnson is another player who's had to deal with the competition for playing time at Manchester City.

After being mostly frozen out, it's likely he'll move to a new club soon. Everton has reportedly shown interest in the midfielder, who looks frighteningly similar to Jason Street from Friday Night Lights.

Hey, you never see them in the same room!

30. Ibrahim Afellay, Barcelona

Linked to: Juventus, others

Playing time has been hard to come by for Barcelona's Ibrahim Afellay. And with all the competition for places in the squad, a move to a new club might be best.

Juventus reportedly offered €8 million during the transfer window but was rejected. If Afellay keeps missing out on playing time, expect a move soon.

31. Giuseppe Rossi, Villareal

Linked to: Napoli

One of the biggest cliches in world football is "never say never."

That's exactly what Giuseppe Rossi's agent is saying about his client and a possible return to Serie A.

Rossi, who was born in America and holds dual American and Italian citizenship, currently plays for Villareal. He might not be there much longer if his agent is right.

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Napoli have already expressed their desire to sign Rossi in future with president Aurelio De Laurentiis recently admitting a future move is possible.

And Pastorello is not totally against the idea.

"It is nice to hear that Napoli want Rossi, but for the moment there are no chances that any deal can take place," the agent told Radio Kiss Kiss.

"However, like we always say in football, never say never."

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Never say never indeed.

32. Gaston Ramirez, Bologna

Linked to: Liverpool

Bologna boss Pierpaolo Bisoli denied reports linking Ramirez to Liverpool. But then he said this:

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“The transfer market is closed and I don’t see what I’m supposed to say about this right now,” said Bisoli.

“The issue just doesn’t exist. It was the first game I could’ve fielded the lad, as he was suspended last week. He played for 35 minutes and is regularly at the disposal of the squad. As for anything else, that will wait until January.”

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Sounds like something could happen for the Uruguayan in January.

33. Horacio Benincasa

Linked to: Tottenham Hotspur

Buried in this report about David Beckham and PSG, there's an item about Spurs' interest in 17-year-old Peruvian Horacio Benincasa.

Benincasa apparently impressed Spurs in a recent trial. He currently plays for Esther Grande de Bentin, and Werder Bremen have also shown interest. The Guardian suggests a January move might happen for a nominal fee.

34. Florent Malouda, Chelsea

Linked to: Bayern Munich

Chelsea is undergoing changes, with the squad expecting a major overhaul over the next season or two.

One player likely to be on the way out is winger Florent Malouda. FoxSports says Bayern Munich is lining up a January bid.

35. Milos Krasic, Juventus

Linked to: Manchester United, Chelsea

The Guardian, via Italian website Tuttosport, reports that Manchester United and Chelsea will fight for the signature of Serbian winger Milos Krasic when the transfer window reopens in January.

We don't know what to make of that. We just think he looks a lot like Pavel Nedved.

36. Giovani Dos Santos, Tottenham Hotspur

Linked to: No one in particular

Mexican striker Giovani dos Santos wants to leave Spurs. He just doesn't know where he wants to go.

This report says he snubbed a move to Udinese in the summer and preferred a move to Sevilla.

Okie dokie, Gio. Beggars can't be choosers.

37. Esteban Granero, Real Madrid

Linked to: Arsenal, Malaga

That report on dos Santos also linked Real Madrid outcast Esteban Granero with Arsenal. As soon as the transfer window reopens, the report says Granero will join Arsenal.

And here's another report to the same effect, only it's Malaga who's interested in this one.

38. Luis Suarez, Liverpool

Linked to: Real Madrid

Luis Suarez has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. Not every rumour makes sense, and this is one of them.

Suarez has been successful and Liverpool and doesn't seem unsettled at all.

But we all know that Real Madrid usually gets what it wants in the transfer market.

39. Sergio Busquets, Barcelona

Linked to: Manchester City

This report says Manchester City is set to offer Barcelona £35 million for the services of Sergio Busquets.

It remains to be seen why Busquets would want to trade Barcelona for Manchester.

40. Heurelho Gomes, Tottenham Hotspur

Linked to: No one in particular

According to this report, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes wants out of White Hart Lane after losing his starting place to America Brad Friedel.

Friedel is old (41 next May), so Gomes might be smart to stick around. But then again, a move might be a good thing if he's unsettled.

41. Alessio Cerci, Fiorentina

Linked to: Manchester City

First, Cerci snubbed a move to Manchester City.

Then, the Italian winger found himself linked to the same club.

We'll surely learn more with each passing day.

43. Raul Albiol, Real Madrid

Linked to: Malaga

Malaga is apparently the new chic destination for unwanted players at big clubs in Spain.

Real Madrid's Esteban Granero has been linked with the club (see No. 37 above) and now his teammate Raul Albiol is being linked with them too.

44. Riccardo Montolivo, Fiorentina

Linked to: AC Milan

Italian international midfielder Riccardo Montolivo is in the final year of his Fiorentina contract, and negotiations on a new contract have reportedly broken down.

AC Milan has long been interested, and Fiorentina might try to sell Montolivo in January instead of letting him go for free next summer.

45. Paco Alcacer, Valencia

Linked to: Barcelona

Paco Alcacer, a Spanish under-19 international, made headlines last month for his goal in Valencia's 3-0 win over Roma.

He has drawn the attention of Barca, which is reportedly planning a summer move.

But they could always act in January if the situation demands it.

46. Amauri, Juventus

Linked to: Fiorentina, AC Milan

This report says Fiorentina has its sights set on Juventus striker Amauri, who is out of favor at the Turin club.

The Brazil-born forward snubbed summer moves to Fenerbahce and Marseille but a January move is looking likely.

47. Joan Capdevila, Benfica

Linked to: Juventus

Spanish World Cup winner Joan Capdevila has become a bit-part player at Benfica, and this report suggests that Juventus is readying a January bid.

And here's a report that confirms Juventus' interest through Capdevila's agent.

48. Aleksandar Kolarov, Manchester City

Linked to: Juventus

Juventus could be busy in January.

In addition to Capdevila, Juventus is reportedly interested in out-of-favor Manchester City defender Aleksandar Kolarov.

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Manchester City completed the purchase of left-back Gael Clichy in the summer for €8 million and the former Arsenal man has featured in all but one of Roberto Mancini's side's fixtures this season.

Juve were previously linked with Kolarov before City completed a deal believed to be around €17m for the 25-year-old.

Kolarov made 24 Premier League appearances for the Citizens last season, scoring one goal in the process.

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49. Stevan Jovetic, Fiorentina

Linked to: Chelsea, Arsenal

This report says Fiorentina is worried about losing Jovetic during the January transfer window.

Chelsea and Arsenal have both been linked to the Montenegro international forward, with Arsenal apparently having a bid turned down in August.

50. Marvin Martin, Sochaux

Linked to: Arsenal

Martin was one of several Arsenal targets over the summer. He recently signed a new deal with Sochaux, cooling speculation over a move to Arsenal.

But as we've heard many times already, never say never.