January Transfer Window: 10 Best Teams Already Looking Forward to Next Year

Despite all the optimism and hope surrounding transfer deadline day, there are quite a few sorry teams who can only watch the festivities with regret.

These squads have already conceded any grandiose title hopes or anything of the sort, and are just looking to accomplish whatever smaller goals they have left to cling to in cup competitions or, even worse, just play for personal pride.

While the present may seem bleak, there is hope for the future, and these clubs can legitimately believe that they have a shot to "get 'em next year," as the famous American sports cliche goes.

Here are 10 teams who cannot wait for August to start once again.

Chelsea

Even though Chelsea are one of only two English teams in the Champions League (and Roman Abromavich's pipe dream of winning it is still alive), their grip on a spot in next year's competition is quite tenuous.

The Blues currently sit in fourth position in the Barclays Premier League, but Arsenal are right on their heels (or at least I would like to believe they are). Perhaps no team would like the season to end tomorrow more than Chelsea.

And the Champions League is really all that Chelsea have to hold on to at this point, as there is no realistic possibility that they could make a run at the Premier League.

When some of their younger talent like Romelu Lukaku, Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge matures, they should have a much better shot at the title.

Napoli

Napoli, the team that Chelsea are playing in the Champions League Round of 16, are another side that has only the European Cup to cling to.

Despite the fact that the Italians boast a wealth of attacking talent in the forms of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik, Goran Pandev and Gokhan Inler, Napoli are currently in just seventh place in Serie A.

However, with the outstanding core of players that they have, Napoli would seem to be in a good position to make a run at the Scudetto next year, or at least at one of the coveted Champions League spots in the top three.

Newcastle

Though Newcastle started the season extremely brightly, going unbeaten for several weeks, the Magpies have come back to earth a bit, and now sit in a more appropriate sixth place.

There is nothing at all for Newcastle to win this season, as they just crashed out of their last remaining opportunity for a trophy in the FA Cup against Brighton, and there is obviously no hope of the Premier League trophy having black-and-white ribbons at the end of the year.

With a powerful core of players in Tim Krul, Hatem Ben Arfa, the outstanding Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye, their leader Fabricio Coloccini and now Papiss Cisse, there is hope for the Toon to make a run at European football next season.

QPR

QPR are another side that have nothing to play for this year except avoiding the drop, but their promising group of players will give them something to look forward to next season.

It appears that new owner Tony Fernandes is ready to invest in his team, as he has brought in a host of new players this year, and if he can lock up some of those currently on loan, London will have another quality team next season.

The loan signings of Taye Taiwo and Federico Macheda have signaled definite ambition, and more promising players like Nedum Onuoha and Djibril CIsse have arrived recently, as well.

Added to the quality group that QPR already have, the 2012-13 season could be a good one for the Londoners, even though this year is all but a lost cause.

Bayer Leverkusen

Currently nine points adrift of Borussia Monchengladbach, who occupy the final Champions League spot in the Bundesliga, there is little hope for Bayer Leverkusen of getting back to the world's most prestigious club competition.

And, with regards to this year's competition, Leverkusen are very unlikely to make it past the Round of 16, as the Germans were bestowed the death sentence that is Barcelona in the first knockout round.

It seems as though the proud Leverkusen fanbase will be looking forward to the start of the next Bundesliga campaign more than most.

Manchester United

United are a bit of a special case, in that they certainly have something to play for in the domestic league this year, as Manchester City are only three points above the defending champions.

However, mighty FC Basel have knocked the Red Devils out of the Champions League, and thus Sir Alex Ferguson's men must toil in the cold, dark abyss of the Europa League.

Certainly, AC Milan are a more prestigious opponent than Trabzonspor, who Manchester United may be forced to face should they overcome Ajax in their next matchup.

So, while United may want to relish every moment of their domestic season, the club and their fans are certainly anxious to return to the Champions League next year.

Inter Milan

Inter are certainly disappointed that they currently sit outside the top three in Serie A, meaning that they are not, as present, in line for a Champions League berth next year.

From the Italians' perspective, their league position merely epitomizes what has been quite a disappointing season for the Nerazzuri.

Star man Wesley Sneijder's contributions have been quite limited and below his usual standard, and it has just emerged that senior midfielder Thiago Motta is on his way to Paris Saint-Germain.

For Inter, this has been a season to forget, and the team will be happy and eager to turn the page to a new campaign.

Villarreal

Looking at Villarreal's league position and their Champions League record this season, it is hard to believe that there were actually legitimate expectations for the Yellow Submarine at the start of the season.

Amazingly, Villarreal are in the relegation zone of La Liga, and were positively whipped and humbled in the Champions League "Group of Death."

Much of their strife this season has resulted from the prolonged absence of star striker Giuseppe Rossi due to injury, but with players like Borja Valero and Nilmar still in the side, there is little excuse for Villarreal's abject performance in all competitions this year.

Perhaps the Spanish side won't be looking forward to next season as much as the others on this list because there is a real chance that they may spend it in the Spanish Second Division.

Liverpool

Liverpool are probably second only to Villarreal on this list in a ranking of teams who have failed to live up to expectations.

Despite spending in excess of £100 million on Andy Carroll and a myriad of midfielders, the Reds are currently languishing in seventh place in the Barclays Premier League, and have no hope of reaching the Champions League this year, a goal which seemed quite attainable at the start of the season.

Carroll has been a massive flop, almost but quite on the scale of Fernando Torres, the man he replaced. And as Luis Suarez continues to serve his eight-match ban for using racist slurs against Patrice Evra, owner John Henry's statistical approach to building his team has been severely questioned.

Henry himself as admitted to overspending since he bought the club, and this year certainly looks like a lost cause for the Reds at this point, despite their passage to the Carling Cup final.

Captain Steven Gerrard will have to wait at least one more year to end his endless quest for Premier League glory.

Arsenal

Despite their recent thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Aston Villa, Arsenal are still in a very precarious position in the league, and are on the brink of going seven years without a trophy.

The Gunners' recent league form has been hideous, and they have not won a league game since 2011. Though Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for 14 consecutive seasons, making the CL this year will be harder than in all the others.

It will be quite difficult for Arsenal to make up their five-point gap on Chelsea, who currently occupy the coveted fourth and final Champions League spot in the table based on their current form. Unfortunately, the only way the Gunners might be able to qualify for the competition next year will be to win it this year.

Arsenal will love be able to turn over a new leaf next season, and with young talents like Francis Coquelin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the recently acquired Thomas Eisfeld, the Gunners are poised for future success, as they always are.

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