20 Players Who Could Be on the Move in the January Transfer Window

As is only natural in the stages following a spectacle as all-encompassing as the summer transfer window, we’re now left wondering what could have been.

Who could have moved where for how much and why are just some of the questions that inevitably pop up at this point of the season.

However, one may not be left wondering too long as January’s winter transfer period offers club and player alike another opportunity to see a change of surroundings.

Having said that, there is a bounty of players looking more likely than most to be on the move in three months’ time.

1. Demba Ba

As became evident in the closing hours of the summer transfer window, Demba Ba may have been one of those deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge after a fairly uneventful first six months with Chelsea.

The Senegalese striker was being linked with a move to Arsenal, either on loan or as part of a permanent deal.

However, as the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel alleges, Jose Mourinho stepped in to stop the deal after learning of Mesut Ozil's switch to West London that set up the Gunners as potential title contenders.

Depending on how Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres fare over the next four months, the Blues may yet opt to cash in on Ba a year after purchasing him.

2. Martin Skrtel

While his word is far from final, Jamie Carragher is one who knows when it comes to Liverpool FC. The retired centre-back only just ended his long and illustrious stay on Merseyside, so one would say his word is to be fairly trusted on matters concerning the dressing room.

So, for the Sky Sports commentator to allege on live television that Martin Skrtel and Brendan Rodgers perhaps don't have the best working relationship is a big deal.

At the end of July, the Mirror's Ed Malyon commented that the Slovakian could be close to following Pepe Reina on loan to Napoli, although a move never came to pass.

With Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori now serving as even more competition at centre-back, January could yet bring about a move for the tough-tackling Skrtel should the Azzurri or another European side come in for his signature.

3. Isaac Cuenca

As was announced by Barcelona's official website late in the transfer window, Isaac Cuenca would be handed the No. 23 for the season instead of being loaned out again.

Of course, the fact that the player is currently out with an injury is bound to have played a hand in that decision.

Instead, as long as Cuenca can maintain some level of health in the months following his recovery, another temporary spell being farmed out or even sold could beckon for the 22-year-old.

4. Julio Cesar

A case seemingly riddled with discrepancies in transfer sum and the size of the player's salary, Julio Cesar was unable to complete a move away from Queens Park Rangers this summer.

The Brazilian No. 1 will instead spend at least the first few months of his 2013/14 campaign with the West Londoners, although it's all too possible that he may not finish it there.

Fiorentina were one of several clubs supposedly close to sewing up a deal for Cesar late in the summer window, but a transfer could not be agreed on time, per Kris Voakes of Goal.com.

In four months' time, the world-class stopper will be that much further into his Loftus Road tenure and may have grown fond enough of the idea of a switch in order to take a pay cut.

5. Fabio Coentrao

As the attached video suggests, Manchester United came incredibly close to tying up a deal for Real Madrid wing-back Fabio Coentrao on transfer deadline day.

Seemingly stopped only as a result of time constrictions, the Red Devils may seek to resurrect their bid for the Portuguese international in the winter period.

With the arrival of Gareth Bale at the Bernabeu, Los Merengues have another very talented left-sided utility and may not be able to give Coentrao the football he desires for much longer.

6. Clint Dempsey

As part of his move to Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders, Clint Dempsey has a clause inserted in his contract stating that he'd be available to head back to the Premier League on loan in the American offseason.

That's according to the Metro's Danny Griffiths, who says that the United States international could move back to the English top flight just as Thierry Henry, David Beckham and Landon Donovan have in the past.

Former club Tottenham and Everton are two of the clubs supposedly interested in bringing the attacker back on a temporary basis.

7. Bafetimbi Gomis

For much of this summer, Bafetimbi Gomis was purported as the latest in a long line of Ligue 1 talents to have made the move to Newcastle United.

However, it seems the financial side of things got in the way of a deal and Sky Tyne and Wear reported that a deadline day deal would not be completed.

That being said, after the Magpies were able to make just two transfers this summer and scoring just one goal in their opening three fixtures, it's possible the Premier League side or Marseille could come back in for the forward later this season.

8. Eliaquim Mangala

Although it's not always Porto policy to conduct business in the middle of their season, Eliaquim Mangala is a talent set to keep on attracting a vast amount of European interest.

The player himself was quoted as dissuading any talk of a move away from the Estadio do Dragao by Portuguese paper O Jogo (h/t Goal.com), saying: "I will not leave FC Porto. On September 11 [after international duty with France] I'm back."

However, Manchester City and Barcelona are bound to keep tabs on one of France's most promising talents in the coming months and, depending on their respective defensive frailties, could look to beef up their ranks this January.

9. Lewis Holtby

A well-publicised aspect of this summer's transfer window is of course Tottenham's world-record sale of Gareth Bale and just how the club reinvested those £86 million funds into their squad.

A large portion of that money went toward the team's midfield ranks, with Christian Eriksen, Etienne Capoue and Paulinho effectively adding an entirely new first tier to Spurs' central divisions.

Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail recently noted that Holby, the German playmaker, was set to move away from White Hart Lane on loan, although no move was agreed in the end.

Despite arriving in North London just eight months ago, competition is rife for Holtby and the former Schalke star may be more open to the thought of gaining minutes elsewhere come the winter transfer window.

10. Yohan Cabaye

Unfortunately for the sanctity of the sport, one of the most popular methods a player can use in getting his way with a transfer is to refuse to train or play for his club.

According to the Daily Mail's Colin Young, Yohan Cabaye was one such rebel this summer after hearing of Arsenal's supposed interest in his services.

The Frenchman's chances of a move to Arsenal might have been dealt a blow by the Gunners' signing of Mesut Ozil and the Magpies' unwillingness to sell, but a January deal can't be ruled out at this stage.

11. Camilo Zuniga

With less than a year remaining on his contract, it looked as if Camilo Zuniga would become a part of the Juventus movement this summer.

However, the plug was pulled on a move due to the Turin giants not wanting to spoil their relationship with the Azzurri, according to Goal.com's Mark Doyle.

Now that Rafa Benitez is more aware of the situation, however, the Spaniard may have the time to find a replacement for the Colombian whilst being able to cash in on Zuniga's services rather than letting him go on a free transfer next summer.

12. Keisuke Honda

Unfortunate not to have booked himself a one-way trip to Milan over the summer, Keisuke Honda will presumably look to complete a San Siro switch in the winter.

Eurosport reported the Serie A outfit had seen a late Rossoneri offer for the CSKA Moscow playmaker rejected around the same time that Kaka's return to the club was confirmed.

However, it certainly won't be the last that we hear of this story as the executive team at the San Siro are bound to revive their interest in the Japanese international.

13. John Obi Mikel

Having slipped down the pecking order slightly at Stamford Bridge, question marks were raised over John Obi Mikel's long-term future with Chelsea this summer.

For now, the Nigerian international remains a Blue. According to the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson, the player wants to remain with the West London club for the rest of his life.

While that kind of commitment is all well and good, the biggest question is whether or not Jose Mourinho's side will be looking to keep him around for that long.

14. Alexander Buttner

Despite seeing his Manchester United career get off to an extremely promising start with a goal and assist in his debut against Wigan Athletic last season, Alexander Buttner may not have too much of a future at Old Trafford.

With Patrice Evra still deputising at left-back and the Red Devils linked with moves for Leighton Baines and Fabio Coentrao over the summer, it would appear the Dutchman isn't the long-term solution they're looking for in the position.

According to the Express' Ben Jefferson, the defender's agent was disappointed that the club had failed to orchestrate a loan move for Coentrao in order to see his client open for a move to Besiktas. 

Presuming United continue their hunt for a new left-back in the winter, Buttner is bound to once again appear as surplus to requirements.

15. Shinji Kagawa

While the move may have been ultimately fruitless, it's quite telling of Shinji Kagawa's current predicament at Manchester United that only a year after his departure, Borussia Dortmund are reported by the Telegraph as being back in for their former star.

The Japanese playmaker has fallen victim to an extreme change in strategy at Old Trafford and is yet to really gain any prominence in the Premier League despite being an extremely gifted midfielder.

According to Goal.com, Kagawa has sought to clear the air with his club over just what role he'll play for United under Moyes, and the winter transfer window could lead to a transfer if the answer isn't what he's hoping to hear.

16. Fabio Quagliarella

Thanks to the arrivals of Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez, attacking places at Juventus are certainly as hard to come by as ever, with Fabio Quagliarella one of those likely to miss out.

For much of the transfer window, the forward was linked with a move to the Premier League, culminating with the Telegraph's talk of a potential loan move to West Ham.

With Sebastian Giovinco and Mirko Vucinic also accounting for some of the space up top in Turin, there's a good chance Quagliarella may decide to finally move on in January.

17. Ander Herrera

Up until very late on transfer deadline day, it looked like Manchester United's €36 million move for Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera may have been possible.

However, in the dying minutes of the window, it was revealed that the Spanish midfielder wouldn't be completing a move to the Premier League champions.

David Moyes' apparent need for more central assets may yet lead the Red Devils back to Herrera's doorstep in the January period.

18. Luis Suarez

Despite the striker alleging that he is committed to the Liverpool cause, there lies the slightest suspicion that Luis Suarez's transfer controversy is far from over.

The Liverpool forward is set to once again make speculation headlines in the winter transfer window after a tumultuous summer, after which he'll certainly have some repairing to do regarding the relationship between him and the Reds' fans.

Real Madrid and other big spenders are bound to arise as suitable candidates for the Uruguayan's signature once again this January.

19. Angel Di Maria

As well as tying up the deal for club record signing Mesut Ozil, Arsene Wenger was apparently close to completing a deal for another Real Madrid star, Angel Di Maria, this summer.

That's according to the Daily Mail, who added that Real Madrid saw letting go of Mesut Ozil as enough for one window.

The Argentine international now remains at the Bernabeu, but could find playing time all the more difficult to come by with Gareth Bale and Isco now at the club.

Depending on how the next few months go, Di Maria may find that his chances of a place at the 2014 World Cup are best served elsewhere.

20. Ezequiel Garay

One of the stranger deals of the summer window was Ezequiel Garay being tipped on several occasions as having completed a move to Old Trafford.

Ultimately, however, the Argentine defender remains a Benfica player and, according to Sky Sports, is more than happy in his current environment.

That being said, the Red Devils or any other team in need of a centre-back nearing his playing prime may again raise interest in the defender's services this January, again relying largely on how the first half of the campaign pans out.

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