
Dream January Transfer for All 20 Premier League Clubs
Bleacher Report presents the dream January transfer for all 20 English Premier League clubs.
While the dream transfers are intended to be implausibleโthink transfers you'd do on FIFA 14โthe slideshow also includes potential January transfer suggestions which are a little bit more realistic.ย
Please comment below with your thoughts.ย
Arsenal
1 of 20
Dream January Transfer:ย Max Kruseย (Borussia Monchengladbach)
After a frustrating first season,ย Olivier Giroud is replicating his 2011-12ย Montpellier form, having scored four times and created two goals in the current Premier League season.ย
If he suffers a long-term injury, his replacement is the injury-plaguedย Yaya Sanogo.ย
That's a problem.ย
What aboutย Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski?
Both areย wide attacking midfielders in the eyes ofย Arsene Wenger.ย
Kruse, a deep-lying forward with superlative vision and nimble feet, would be a great impact sub and a high-quality backup toย Giroud.
| LEAGUE ONLY | Giroud | Kruse |
| Goals | 4 | 5 |
| Shots Per Goal | 6.8 | 3.8 |
| Assists | 2 | 3 |
| Key Passes Per Game | 1.7 | 2.3 |
Signingย Kruse, however, is a dream as he's on track to make the German squad for next year's FIFA World Cup.ย
He's unlikely to endanger his prospects by making a risky move to the Gunners.ย
In the past,ย Monchengladbach have failed to hold on to excellent players such asย Marco Reus,ย Marko Marin andย Heiko Herrlich, so the club will make a concerted effort to ensureย Kruse stays.
Suggested January Transfer:ย Jeremy Menez (Paris Saint-Germain)
You'd be inclined to give Menez the benefit of the doubt if he was 18 years old, but you can't give him a pass for being a petulant 26-year-old.ย
"He must have been disappointed because he thought he would come on," said PSG managerย Laurent Blanc as he attempted to provide a rationale toย Menez walking out, via ESPN FC. "I chose a different option. Full stop."
Menez has world-class ability and can play any attacking position, but his biggest barrier is himself.ย
He has only started one league game this season and it's clear he has no future at PSG.
With an expiring contract, he's going to be cheap andย Wenger is the ideal manager to calm all that angst inย Menez's personality.
Aston Villa
2 of 20
Dream January Transfer:ย Alexandru Maxim (Stuttgart)
In an email interview withย Bleacher Report lead writerย Sam Tighe, he told me a classy No. 10 was needed atย Aston Villa.ย
"Aston Villaย need a linkup player between the midfield and the forward," saidย Tighe. "The game against Hull was case in point."
Maxim has more assists (four) thanย Gabriel Agbonlahor (two) andย Andreas Weimann (one) combined.
Even thoughย Maxim has scored three times, he's not a volume-shooter and generally spends the match setting up his teammates.ย
His creativity and vision have contributed toย Vedad Ibisevic overachieving.ย
So, why isn'tย Maxim attainable forย Villa?
He hasย enormousย upside and when Europe's major clubs are scouting 17-year-old phenomย Timo Werner, they will noticeย Maxim.ย
Mario Gomez,ย Aleksandr Hleb,ย Sami Khedira,ย Jurgen Klinsmann,ย Elber andย Matthias Sammer are some examples ofย Stuttgart alumni making big career moves.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nuremberg)
Nuremberg are struggling in theย Bundesliga and they may talk a good game, trying to inflateย Kiyotake's transfer stock, but they are infamous for underselling elite prospects.ย
Stefan Kiessling was sold toย Bayer Leverkusen forย โฌ6.5 million.
Eight seasons later, he's one of Europe's most prolific forwards, netting 27 goals last season.ย
Ilkay Gundogan,ย Borussia Dortmund's motor, leftย Nuremberg forย โฌ4 million.ย
Sooner rather than later,ย Nuremberg will cave in.
Kiyotake, a lovely first-touch passer, needs to be more assertive if he is to reach compatriotย Shinji Kagawa's level.ย
Allan Jiang is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations in this article were obtained via email interview.
Cardiff City
3 of 20
Dream January Transfer:ย Roberto Trashorras (Rayo Vallecano)
There are threeย Cardiff City players not pulling their weight for managerย Malky Mackay:ย Fraizer Campbell,ย Kim Bo-Kyung andย Aron Gunnarsson.ย
Campbell had one excellent game againstย Manchester City and hasn't done anything since.
Whenย Andreas Cornelius is fully fit, he should take the place ofย Campbell.
Kim has struggled with the pace of the Premier League, so he needs to make way forย Jordon Mutch.
Gunnarsson doesn't command the midfield andย there isn't a quality replacement inย Mackay's squad.
| LEAGUE ONLY | Gunnarssonย | Trashorrasย |
| Passes Per Gameย | 34.4ย | 85.9ย |
| Key Passes Per Gameย | 1.3ย | 2.9ย |
| Pass Completion Percentageย | 82.2 | 85.7ย |
Trashorras is one of the best passers in Europe, but it's highly unlikely thatย Rayo will let him go.
Even with him,ย Rayo are in the relegation zone.ย
Should the club suffer relegation, targetingย Trashorras in the summer is a must.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla)
Cardiff broke their transfer record three times in the summer and they'll have to break it a fourth to get Rakitic.ย
A former teammate ofย Gary Medel,ย Rakitic is an all-round midfielder who scores, creates and wins back the ball.ย
Sevilla sold players such as Alvaro Negredo,ย Jesus Navas,ย Geoffrey Kondogbia,ย Medel and Luis Alberto in one transfer window, so the club is open to bids.
Chelsea
4 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid)
He isn't an archetypal No. 9 as he prefers to roam, but what he can do is score:ย 10 goals in La Liga.
Yes, more thanย Lionel Messi (eight) andย Cristiano Ronaldo (seven).
Samuel Eto'o is goalless in the Premier League.ย
Demba Ba isn't world-class. ย
Fernando Torres is, well,ย Fernando Torres. Scores a magnificent goal against Bayern Munich but can't score againstย Everton andย Fulham.
There's no footballing reason forย Costa to leave a better team inย Atleti for Chelsea.ย
Then when you factor inย Costa's aspirations to play for Spain, it makes more sense for him to stay in the country.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Leandro Damiao (Internacional)
Prior to scoring againstย Fluminense, he went on a nine-game goalless run in theย Brasileirao.
He has been on a downward spiral since an outstanding 2012 Summer Olympics.ย
It would be a typical Chelsea to signย Damiao regardless ofย Romelu Lukaku returning next season.ย
Crystal Palace
5 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Alfred Finnbogason (Heerenveen)
When centre-backย Daniel Gabbidon has the same amount of Premier League goals asย Marouane Chamakh this season (one), buying a forward who can finish like Finnbogasonย is vital.ย
He's scored 10 goals thus far and is one of two notable Icelandic strikers succeeding in theย Eredivisie, the other being Ajax'sย Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.
Neither are likely to joinย Crystal Palace as they're looking for bigger and better things.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) on loan
Kane has promise, havingย netted a hat-trick against theย Manchester City U-21s, being a formerย Millwall Young Player of the Season recipient and giving a good account of himself during England's terrible FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign.ย
He's failed to break into the Spurs' starting XI, so it makes sense forย Tottenham to loan him out to a team where he's likely to win a starting position.ย
Everton
6 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Lewis Holtbyย (Tottenham Hotspur)
Hisย Liverpudlian father,ย Chris, is anย Evertonian, which is whyย Holtby grew up anย Everton fan.
Holtby can play a multitude of midfield positions, including left wing, a position where managerย Roberto Martinez lacks the cutting edge.
Steven Naismith is a decent player, butย he averages 0.3 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game.ย
Spurs won't let go ofย Holtby because it's a long season and he'll get chances to impress, especially in the No. 10 role.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Mainz)
One match, he's Cristiano Ronaldo.
The next match, Choupo-Moting isย Andy van der Meyde circaย 2005-09.ย
Choupo-Moting is quick, he's tall and for such a gifted footballer, his inconsistency has stopped him from being an elite footballer.ย
Sound familiar?ย
Yep, it'sย Kevin Mirallas-like.ย
Choupo-Moting is worth a gamble.ย
Fulham
7 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Sidney Sam (Bayer Leverkusen)
Once a regular fixture on theย Leverkusen bench,ย Sam is playing the best football of his life.ย
Eight games into the Bundesliga season, he has scored six goals and created four playing as a right-sided forward.ย
He was electrifying in the 4-2 win overย Borussia Monchengladbach.
Sam isn't going to downgrade fromย Leverkusen, a UEFA Champions League team, to a struggling Fulham outfit.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Jarchinio Antoniaย (Go Ahead Eagles)
Fulham managerย Martin Jol has no spark on the right flank.ย
Antonia, one of the fastest players in Holland, will rectify that situation.ย
He does have a tendency to dribble blind, Gervinho-style, butย Antonia can create something out of nothing.
Hull City
8 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Derley (Maritimo)
Derlei impressed with Uniao Leiria before scoring 12 goals asย Jose Mourinho'sย Porto won the 2003 UEFA Cup.
Derley is a late bloomer likeย Derlei and theย Maritimo strikerย was the chief reason whyย Benfica succumbed to a shock 2-1 loss.ย
He is calm from 12 yards out, is a good finisher and has shownย glimpsesย of superlative play.ย
Generally speaking, the best players of non-Porto/Benfica clubs get snapped up by the big two.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg)
A victim of theย Bundesliga's youth policy, Olic's future remains up in the air despite scoring four league goals.
"I know I am an older player and unable to make those big future plans," said Olic, from Munchener Merkur viaย Thomas Zocher at Sky Sports. "I would like to remain in the Bundesliga, maybe I will get the chance to continue at Wolfsburg."
Ifย Hull City give him a significant salary increase, he may be tempted to give England a shot.
He'd easily be an upgrade fromย Danny Graham, who's yet to score in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool
9 of 20
Dream January Transfer:ย Pedro Obiangย (Sampdoria)
Obiang doesn't fly into tackles recklessly likeย Lucas Leiva.
Theย Sampdoria midfielder is calculated in winning back possession, hence why hisย fouls per game is 0.4 which is substantially lower than Lucas (2.0).ย
Wouldย Obiang, a Spaniard, prefer moving back to Spain?
If so, then moving to England may be out of the question.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Allan (Udinese)
Allan is a more prolific ball-winner (6.2 tackes per game) than Lucas (5.0 tackles per game).
Allan is also a box-to-box threat, a better dribbler, can play a through ball and is a more complete midfielder thanย Lucas.
Manchester City
10 of 20
Dream January Transfer:ย Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
A liability in set-piece situations,ย Casillas has failed to win back his starting position post-Jose Mourinho.
In recent memory,ย Diego Lopez has been a better keeper thanย Casillas.
But the likelihood ofย Casillas leaving Real Madrid is slim.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Willy Caballero (Malaga)
Caballero suggested former managerย Manuel Pellegrini's inability to guarantee him the starting position sank a summer move to Manchester City.ย
"I know of his intention to take me with him to Manchester City,"ย Caballero said, viaย Jamie Sanderson at The Metro. "But I was unsure whether he would stick with the same goalkeepers he had already or play me."
With an out-of-formย Joe Hart, surelyย Pellegrini will give his full support in private toย Caballero for a potential January transfer.ย
He could be to City whatย Lopez is for Real.
Manchester United
11 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Dusan Tadic (Twente)
If you've followedย Tadic this season, you'd be shocked to find out he only has five assists because he creates 4.9 goal scoring opportunities for his teammates per league game.ย
For the sake of comparison,ย Wayne Rooney creates 1.5 goal scoring chances per league game.
Tadic is one of the primary reasons why Twente are leading theย Eredivisie on goal difference (tied with PSV for points).
Twente won't sell him in January unless Manchester United submit anย Ander Herrera-type fee.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim)
Antonio Valencia's crossing used to be his best attribute, but this season he has misplaced 17 of 20 crosses, showing he's past it.
Ryan Giggs is there for symbolic reasons.ย
Nani is only at the club because no major club was willing to submit to his terms.
Volland, who can shoot, dribble and create, is an upgrade on all three and plays for aย Hoffenheim that are middle of the pack.
Newcastle United
12 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
If Real were to dealย Benzema, who's on course to lose his starting position toย Alvaro Morata,ย Newcastle United's French-speaking majority squad would be a great fit.
Doesย Benzema want to humble himself?ย
Or maybe it takes another setback at another major club before he's willing to play forย Newcastle.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient)
You're right, you can't make a statistical argument forย Newcastle signingย Aboubakar (three goals in nine league games).
Though, if you watch him, you see a raw footballer with the physical tools to be a special player.
He can hold the ball up, but once he turns a defender, he'll race through on goals.
Norwich City
13 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Felipe Gutierrez (Twente)
One of the most dominantย midfieldersย in the Eredivisie right now,ย Gutierrez andย Leroy Fer would be a dynamic midfield combination.
Gutierrez is a couple of levels aboveย Bradley Johnson andย Jonathan Howson.
| LEAGUE ONLY | Gutierrezย | Fer | Johnsonย | Howson |
| Passes Per Game | 69 | 44.5 | 37.8 | 39.4 |
| Pass Completion Percentage | 88.7 | 84.6 | 75.5 | 83.3 |
| Tackles Per Game | 3.7 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 1.7 |
| Interceptions Per Game | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
Twente won't consider sellingย Gutierrez because he's a main part of the team pushing for theย Eredivisie title.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Yassin Ayoub (Utrecht)
Ayoub makes a lot of tackles, but his positioning is suspect.
Heย bull-rushesย like Lucas Leiva, meaning a missed tackle leaves a gaping hole.
This makesย Ayoub's teammateย Johan Martensson look a worse player than he really is.
He's often trying to clean up Ayoub's mistakes.
That said,ย Ayoub is only young and has high upside.
Southampton
14 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid)
His productivity for Real has declined every season and the management don't see him as aย Galactico.
If they did,ย Gareth Bale wouldn't be at the club.ย
Regardless ofย Di Maria's form, when Bale is fully fit, he'll be inserted into the starting XI to vindicate the absurd transfer fee.ย
Willย Di Maria want to joinย Southampton? No.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Bastian Oczipka (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Moveย Oczipka from left-back to left wing, considering he has the same mindset asย Marcelo.
Oczipka's crossing percentage is 37.5, 17.5 percent higher thanย Leighton Baines, which gives you an idea how goodย Oczipka is in the attacking half.ย
Withย Oczipka andย Adam Lallana,ย Southampton will have two of the most selfless wingers in the Premier League.
This will increase the chances ofย Rickie Lambert andย Pablo Osvaldo scoring.ย
Stoke City
15 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
The awkward moment whenย Steven N'Zonzi becomes the midfield maestro atย Stoke City.
Some ofย N'Zonzi's forward passes have been first-rate.ย
No Stoke player has twoย assistsย or more.ย
For you Stoke fans, you can always buyย Valbuena on FIFA 14.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Nick van der Velden (Groningen)
Surely, his wages are peanuts compared to the average Stoke starter.ย
He's experienced, he is 6'2", great at threading through balls and presses likeย Mario Mandzukic.ย
Van der Velden will ease the burden onย Marko Arnautovic.ย
Sunderland
16 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Martin Caceres (Juventus)
He can play anywhere in the backline and would improve aย Sunderland defence that's conceded the most goals in the Premier League.ย
Currently nursing aย torn meniscus,ย Juve won't rush him back into action and he's a valued squad member.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid) on loan
He showed promise during the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but he's failed to break theย Diego Godin-Miranda partnership atย Atleti.
Ifย Gus Poyet can promiseย Gimenez, a classy centre-back, playing time, thenย Atletico may be inclined to approve the loan deal.ย
Swansea City
17 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Arda Turan (Atletico Madrid)
Wayne Routledge is mediocre and he isn't producing enough on the left for Swansea City.ย
Turan, who can play either flank, doesn't just create goals, but he works tirelessly trying to win the ball back.ย
Is he going to leave a title-contendingย Atleti team inย January? Nope.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Filip Kostic (Groningen)
He isn't performing at the level of teammateย Nick van der Velden, but that's to be expected, given the 11-year age gap.ย
Kostic is a dangerous dribbler who needs to work on releasing the ball quicker.ย
Should he fulfill his potential, he could reach the heights ofย Arjen Robben.
Tottenham Hotspur
18 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid)
Not loved in Madrid,ย Coentrao almost signed for Manchester United on loan in the summer transfer window.
Tottenham Hotspur must address the left-back situation:ย Danny Rose needs competition,ย Zeki Fryers has no experience andย Kyle Naughton is better at right-back.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Oliver Sorg (Freiburg)
One of the most under-rated footballers in Europe.ย
Strong in the tackle, produces near-identical displays on both flanks and handy in the attacking half,ย Sorg is a star in the making.
West Bromwich Albion
19 of 20
Dream January Transfer:ย Alessio Cerci (Torino)
Since moving up front,ย Cerci has been at times unplayable.
He was superb against AC Milan, scoring and setting upย Danilo D'Ambrosio.
Asย Torino's only goalscoring threat, the club won't sell Cerciย in January.ย
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Saber Khalifa (Marseille) on loan
Technically outstanding footballer who scored 13 times forย Evian Thonon Gaillard in Ligue 1 last season.ย
Morgan Amalfitano has been wonderful thus far andย Khalifa could have a similar impact on a West Brom team desperately lacking firepower.
West Ham United
20 of 20
Dream January Transfer: Mame Biram Diouf (Hannover 96)
Excellent in the air, athletic and a striker of pedigree,ย Diouf has excelled post-Manchester United.ย
Withย Robert Lewandowski set to leaveย Borussia Dortmund, it's inย Diouf's best interest to wait.
Suggestedย January Transfer:ย Anthony Modeste (Hoffenheim)
He's has taken advantage of the attention opposing teams pay toย Kevin Volland andย Roberto Firmino.
Modeste isn't as dominant asย Andy Carroll in the air, but as the Englishman recovers,ย Modeste could be a handy addition.ย
Statistics viaย WhoScored,ย FFTย Stats Zone,ย Squawkaย andย Transfermarktย
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