AC Milan: 10 Players Linked with a January Transfer to the San Siro

As the January transfer window approaches, AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri can be content at how the first half of the season has gone.

The Rossoneri sit in second position, just two points behind Juventus, with an encouraging Champions League campaign.

Milan will qualify as runners-up in Group H after losing at home to Barcelona in a tremendously close-fought encounter at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Milan proved in this game, as well as in the first clash at the Camp Nou, that they could be competitive against the red-hot favourites for the Champions League.

After Silvio Berlusconi officially resigned from his role as Prime Minister of Italy two weeks ago, he will not take up a more active role with Milan. It is unclear as to how significant this will be and whether this will free up more funds to invest in the side.

It has not stopped Milan from being linked persistently with some of the most talented players in the world, which bodes well for the rest of the season, knowing they are capable of taking a clean sweep of the trophies available.

Here are 10 of those players who could be on their way to the San Siro.

10. Maxi Lopez, Catania

Maxi López has been linked with Milan ever since Antonio Cassano suffered ischemic-based cerebral damage and underwent heart surgery to cure the problem.

López would arrive on a six-month loan deal with the possibility to make the move permanent in June.

The Argentine has been impressive at Catania, notching 22 goals in 57 games and reestablishing his career in the process.

The 27-year-old has always been regarded as very talented after bursting through at River Plate. It took €16.2 million for Barcelona to prize the striker away.

But despite a crucial goal against Chelsea in the Champions League, the move was a failure for all involved, and López was shipped out to Mallorca on loan. He failed to adjust to La Liga there and was sold to FC Moscow before a move back to South America, with Porto Alegre-giants Gremio taking him on loan.

It was in the Campeonato Brasileiro he rediscovered some form, and this prompted Catania to pounce for his services.

López was an instant hit after his January move last year, scoring 12 times in 17 appearances and providing an undeniable success story for the Sicilians. Catania secured a 12th-place finish and survived relegation.

López is an interesting player with low risk compared to other options due to relatively low wages and the option to cut him if the loan does not work.

The option to buy would in all likelihood be around £7 to 8 million.

9. Nicolas Anelka, Chelsea

Nicolas Anelka has featured sporadically since the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea this summer.

The Frenchman has made just three Premier League starts this campaign and has scored just once in all competitions.

Anelka has undeniable quality though, and his game has in recent years developed away from explosive pace to an elegant playmaker capable of linking with a teammate.

This should help the 32-year-old preserve his career at the very top, and although he has been linked with a swan song in the MLS, it seems apparent that he has the drive to succeed some more at the top level.

Another low-cost option for Milan, but a proven scorer if given the game time, Anelka would seamlessly fit in to the Rossoneri lineup.

His problem of late is he enjoys too long on the ball and refuses to play the quick ball, which would not be a problem in Serie A.

In theory, this could be a bargain move for the Rossoneri, with the player's contract running out at the end of this season. A fee of €5 million would feasibly be enough to tempt Chelsea into a move.

8. Didier Drogba, Chelsea

Didier Drogba's time at Chelsea seems to be edging towards the exit door, again. Since the arrival of Fernando Torres and the form of Daniel Sturridge, Drogba's form has been patchy.

A fresh start could do the trick, and he has always flirted with the Rossoneri in the past due to his love of the city of Milan, where he has regularly been spotted shopping.

Drogba has scored just twice in 10 appearances this season and has looked a shadow of the player he can be.

It appears that the Ivorian has turned down Chelsea's contract offer to renew beyond the end of this season.

Chelsea will be desperate to get something for him if this is true. With their other star striker, Torres, perhaps being able to rejuvenate his career if Drogba was to leave, Chelsea would certainly entertain the possibility of a move this January.

Like with Anelka, due to his contract situation, Milan would only need to pay a small fee in the region of €5 million to seal a deal.

7. Rodrigo Palacio, Genoa

Rodrigo Palacio has recently been linked in the Italian press with a move to Milan.

The move could potentially involve Stephan El Shaarawy moving back to the Rossoblu to play while the Rossoneri maintain their 50 percent stake in the player.

Palacio is proven in Serie A, and his intelligent movement as he drifts to the wings would be perfect for Milan.

With Alberto Malesani opting for an identical formation to that of Massimiliano Allegri, the transition would be very smooth in theory. Palacio would potentially be the perfect replacement for Alexandre Pato when he is rested or injured.

Palacio would be a more expensive investment for Milan, but a player who would repay the fee over several years. He has shown, in a Genoa side with erratic form, that he can score goals, with five in 11 games this season.

A transfer fee of at least €10 million along with a player thrown in to the deal would probably be necessary to secure a deal for the 29-year-old.

6. Alvaro Negredo, Sevilla

The Spanish striker has been consistently excellent over the last few years since his permanent move from Real Madrid materialised.

Negredo has scored 34 times in 79 games in La Liga as he continues to push for a place in the Spain national side.

At 26 years old, he would be an investment that could reap high rewards for many years to come due to his dominating physique that could withstand the rigours of Serie A.

Sevilla would almost certainly require a fee in excess of what they paid the Merengues three seasons ago, in the region of €15 to €20 million.

5. Christian Eriksen, Ajax

Christian Eriksen has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent months and is among the most wanted players in Europe.

The player was rejected by Chelsea as a teenager but has blossomed in the Eredivisie and showcased his skills against the best in Europe in the Champions League, as well as standing-out for Denmark in a recent friendly against England.

Milan do not have the ideal trequartista, as Kevin Prince Boateng is seen to be a carillero long term, and Robinho is closer to being a striker than the fantasista.

The Rossoneri have not replaced Kaká, who occupied that role magnificently and proved that the diamond formation can be devastatingly effective in the Champions League when you have the perfect trequartista.

Eriksen could be this player, at only 19 years old, with his keen eye for a pass and elegant balance on the ball.

He would not come cheap, though, and Milan would have to have the necessary funds to persuade Ajax with a bid in the region of €15 million likely to at least make the Dutch giants think twice.

4. Shinji Kagawa, Borussia Dortmund

Shinji Kagawa is another player Milan have been linked with in recent times, an indication that they do intend to move Kevin Prince Boateng further back when the time is right.

The Japanese star is capable of filling the role, as he has proven with one of Europe's most exciting sides in Borussia Dortmund.

Integral to Dortmund's success last season as they claimed the Bundesliga, Kagawa is more a prolific scorer than Eriksen and, in that respect, closer to Kaká.

Having scored 17 times in 47 games, the 22-year-old is attracting interest from all over Europe and would command a fee in excess of €15 million due to the outstanding commercial opportunities he would bring due to his popularity in Japan.

3. Rafael Van Der Vaart, Tottenham Hotspur

Rafael Van der Vaart has been a massive success since arriving in the Premier League for Spurs.

The Dutchman has relished a role in being a lone striker as he has notched an impressive 19 goals in 38 games for Spurs.

But there has always been a moody side to his personality, and he has made it apparent he is not happy with constantly being substituted before the end of games.

Milan have been consistently linked with him throughout the year, and although Spurs would not entertain bids, the team is so strong lately they could build around Luka Modric in a similar role and reintroduce the impressive Sandro, who has been left on the sidelines of late, next to Scott Parker.

Van der Vaart would instantly add to Milan and give them a better chance in the Champions League, but the caveat is that Spurs would command a fee in all likelihood around £20 million.

With potentially better, younger options available, it would seem unlikely Milan would part with a figure like that.

2. Sandro, Tottenham Hotspur

Sandro was a major success for Spurs last season as they embarked on a highly successful campaign in the Champions League. But the introduction of Scott Parker has pushed him back to the bench this season.

Milan have been linked constantly, and with good reason. As it stands, Mark Van Bommel and Massimo Ambrosini are the options at Massimiliano Allegri's disposal for the defensive midfield role. Their experience is invaluable, but they lack athleticism to really turn a game as Walter Gargano has done so well in Serie A this season, evident in the Rossoneri's 3-1 defeat in Naples earlier this season.

Sandro would certainly provide this, as he is a monster on the pitch, capable of covering an absurd distance, as he showed against AC Milan in the Champions League last season.

The former Internacional player is 22 years old now and needs to be playing regularly.

If he was taken by Milan this season, he would undoubtedly become the occupier of the defensive midfield role at the latest by the start of next season for a club that is bigger and maintains higher ambitions than Spurs do.

Spurs paid the Brazilian side £14 million for his services, so a tidy profit would be needed for them to be persuaded to sell—in the region of £20 million could be feasible if it is apparent that Sandro desires the move.

1. Carlos Tevez, Manchester City

Carlos Tevez's acrimonious situation is well documented, and a move in January is inevitable.

Milan have jumped to the front of the queue as Kia Joorabchian has recently discussed a potential move with affiliates of the Rossoneri.

Talks seem to be positive, as the Argentine is said to have made Milan his "first choice."

Adriano Galliani has been quick to dampen the rumours by saying any move would have to be a loan move initially, which is of course something Manchester City would be loath to sanction.

These are all part of the mind games, and whether Manchester City like it or not, they are in a weak position of bargaining.

Milan have the opportunity to get a world-class striker on the cheap, for perhaps in the region of £20 to £25 million, as Tevez and City will both be desperate to part ways.

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