10 January Transfer Targets Who Could Thrive in Premier League
The January transfer period may be just under two months off, but already a handful of Premier League clubs have targeted the players they’d like to see in their colours by the end of it.
With the 2013-14 campaign having passed its quarter-pole, most managers have pinpointed both the strengths in their sides and the areas that could use bolstering ahead of a title challenge, push for Europe or relegation battle.
Following are 10 players linked to clubs in the English top flight who would likely thrive should they make the move.
(All statistics in this article courtesy Squawka.com)
Hernanes, Lazio
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Hernanes still has a year-and-a-half left on his contract with Lazio, but already the Brazil international has hinted he won’t be inking a new pact when the current one expires.
The Daily Star has reported North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are tracking the 28-year-old, who can operate both as a deep-lying playmaker or a more traditional No. 10.
Since moving to the Italian capital from Sao Paulo in 2010, Hernanes has established himself as one of Serie A’s better playmakers and last season scored 11 goals and created 57 goalscoring opportunities while completing 85 percent of his passes.
Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid
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Xabi Alonso was part of the Liverpool midfield that helped the Reds to Champions League glory in 2005 and a second-place finish in the Premier League in 2009, so there’s no doubting his credentials in the English top flight.
Jose Mourinho is no doubt aware of that, and given his history with the Spain international—the two worked together at Real Madrid for three seasons—he’d be comfortable bringing him on board at Stamford Bridge.
The Daily Mail has reported exactly that in recent days, and with the 31-year-old out of contract in the summertime, he’d be available at a cut-rate price, or even a free transfer.
Eliaquim Mangala, Porto
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Just 22, Eliaquim Mangala has already won titles in Belgium and Portugal and, with only seven months to go before the World Cup, has established himself as a reliable defender for Didier Deschamps’ France outfit.
Manchester United have been linked with Mangala for some time, and on Friday the Express revealed the Red Devils would be willing to offer midfielder Anderson in an exchange deal for the centre-back.
Robert Lewandowski, Borussia Dortmund
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It’s hard to see Borussia Dortmund selling Robert Lewandowski in January, but the Mirror has reported both Arsenal and Manchester City are on alert should the Poland international force a move from the Westfalenstadion.
Lewandowski, who has denied a deal is already in place with Bayern Munich, has scored at least 30 goals in each of his last two seasons at Dortmund and so far this campaign has tallied 13 times in 17 matches in all competitions.
Iker Casillas, Real Madrid
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Iker Casillas has yet to start a single Primera Division match this season, and with Diego Lopez performing so well, it’s unlikely he’ll assert himself in Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti’s first-team plans anytime soon.
This could represent a problem for the 32-year-old considering the World Cup is only seven months off.
Casillas, who has backstopped Spain to a World Cup triumph and pair of European championships, may need to play more often to retain his place in Vicente Del Bosque’s setup, and as a result a January move is hardly out of the question.
Arsenal have been keeping tabs on the Madrid icon for some time, and late last month the Mirror reported the Gunners were still considering a January swoop for him.
Sami Khedira, Real Madrid
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Sami Khedira is another Real Madrid player who could be making a January exit, and on Sunday Football-Espana reported Manchester City were readying a €35 million bid for the Germany international.
Should Los Blancos opt to keep and even re-sign Xabi Alonso, and with Asier Illarramendi having joined form Real Sociedad in the summer, Khedira could suddenly find himself surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu.
But the 26-year-old is a more-than-capable midfielder, and his box-to-box mentality and eagerness for physical play would only make him an asset in the Premier League.
Andre Ayew, Marseille
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With Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas and Victor Moses all struggling to make an impression at Liverpool, manager Brendan Rodgers could be tempted to acquire another attacker during the January transfer window.
According to a Saturday report in the Mirror, the Reds are keeping tabs on Marseille’s Andre Ayew, whom they feel could be pried from the Ligue 1 giants for £10 million.
Ayew, 23, can play either out wide or up top in a central position and would seem to offer the sort of versatility Rodgers is trying to instil at Anfield.
Fraser Forster, Celtic
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Fraser Forster is likely to be available for £6 million in January, and after Celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted it would be nigh impossible to keep the goalkeeper at the Glasgow giants, the Metro revealed Manchester United were keen to bring the 25-year-old to Old Trafford.
Forster, who was on Newcastle’s books from 2008-2010, has won back-to-back league and cup doubles for Celtic and is among England manager Roy Hodgson’s goalkeeping options should Joe Hart be dropped from the international setup, as he has been from Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City squad.
Ilkay Gundogan, Borussia Dortmund
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Ilkay Gundogan hasn’t played since suffering an injury in Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga opener against Augsburg in August, but that hasn’t stopped Arsenal from keeping him on their radar.
According to the Daily Star, the Gunners have targeted the 23-year-old as their long-term replacement for Mikel Arteta, who will be 32 in March.
Gundogan impressed as Dortmund progressed all the way to the Champions League final last season and can both dictate play in the centre of the park and contribute defensively.
Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid
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Diego Costa scores goals. Lots of them. And he’d score them wherever he went: for any team in any division.
Liverpool were linked with the striker back in the summer, but on Saturday the Daily Star revealed both Chelsea and Arsenal were also keen on the 25-year-old’s signature, with £30 million thought to be Atletico Madrid’s asking price.
Costa has already scored 12 La Liga goals this term and has tallied 15 times in 15 outings in all competitions.
Who wouldn’t want that sort of production?
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