Picking a 2015 January Transfer Window Rumours Best XI
The January 2015 transfer window may still be months away but there is already plenty of gossip and speculation gathering across Europe.
In this slideshow, we pick a best XI from players who are currently the subjects of transfer rumours in the mainstream press.
There's a mountain of rumours out there, so as well as the players involved—who line up in a 3-5-2 formation—we also give you one substitute per slide.
Feel free to add your own suggestions below.
GK: Petr Cech
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Petr Cech remains one of the best goalkeepers in world football, yet the 32-year-old finds himself on the fringes of the Chelsea squad this term, due to Thibaut Courtois' return from three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid.
Cech's future at Stamford Bridge is unclear, and as January approaches, there will be a wealth of rumours linking him with a move away from Jose Mourinho's side.
In July, the Blues 'keeper was already being touted to leave Chelsea, with the Mirror's Darren Lewis writing: "Cech's agent claims the Chelsea 'keeper is ready to quit for the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona if he is not wanted by Jose Mourinho."
More recently, Matt Law reported in The Telegraph that Real Madrid could make a January move for the Czech Republic international, with Paris Saint-Germain also credited with interest.
On the Bench
Former Barcelona stopper Victor Valdes, now a free agent, is being linked with Manchester United, where he is training as part of his rehabilitation from a knee injury. As Luke Edwards claims in The Telegraph, a deal with the 32-year-old could be confirmed in January.
DF: Mats Hummels
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In September, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels insisted that he was not interested in a move to Manchester United.
In fact, as reported in Bundesliga Magazin International (h/t Marcus Christenson in The Guardian), the 25-year-old hinted that he might stay with BVB for the rest of his career.
However, with Jurgen Klopp's side currently stuttering in the Bundesliga—despite their strong form in Europe—there will be a raft of rumours linking Hummels with a move away from the Westfalenstadion as January approaches.
In the Daily Star, Chisanga Malata claims that the Germany international could be on his way to Arsenal, with the Daily Mail's Rob Shepherd suggesting that Hummels is the Gunners' No. 1 transfer target.
On the Bench
Celtic's Virgil van Dijk continues to be linked with a move away from Parkhead, with Arsenal said to be interested in acquiring the 23-year-old's services, as seen on Sky Sports (h/t Jamie Sanderson in Metro).
DF: Matteo Darmian
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According to Dave Kidd in the Mirror, Manchester United are tracking Torino's Matteo Darmian.
The 24-year-old right-back has made over 100 appearances for the Serie A side and, as Kidd writes, "Louis van Gaal has had the versatile Darmian extensively scouted and is considering making a January offer."
Last season, the former AC Milan defender helped his side qualify for the 2014/15 Europa League and also got the chance to shine for Italy at the World Cup, most notably in the Azzurri's 2-1 Group D win against England.
Damian could be seen as a viable alternative to Barcelona's Dani Alves, who has also been linked with the Old Trafford side, as reported in Kidd's Mirror article.
On the Bench
With four assists in Serie A, Ignazio Abate has started the 2014/15 season in good form for AC Milan, which has seen him linked with a move to Liverpool, as reported by Ed Malyon in the Mirror.
DF: Neven Subotic
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It looks like Manchester United might not have Mats Hummels on their radar anymore. Perhaps this is because their sights have shifted to Borussia Dortmund team-mate Neven Subotic.
According to Charles Perrin in the Express, this is exactly what has happened, with Louis van Gaal now said to be keen on signing the 25-year-old Serbian.
Subotic has racked up over 200 appearances for Dortmund since signing from Mainz in 2008.
On the Bench
Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar will find his name in the gossip columns again this January. The 29-year-old centre-back is being linked with Manchester United at present, as reported by John Richardson in the Express.
MID: Sami Khedira
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It looks like Sami Khedira's time at Real Madrid will come to an end in 2015. The 27-year-old could be available for next to nothing in January or move as a free agent at the end of the season.
Over the summer, it was reported in The Guardian that Khedira had turned down a contract extension at the Bernabeu and that the World Cup winner will not find himself short of offers come January.
We have already seen him linked with a number of clubs, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City all said to be interested in the midfielder, according to Alex Harris in the Daily Star.
On the Bench
Contracted to Manchester City until 2017, Yaya Toure's name is cropping up in the pre-January transfer talk. According to Paul Smith in The Independent, there are fears at the Etihad that the 31-year-old wants to leave the club.
MID: Kevin Strootman
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AS Roma are insisting that Kevin Strootman is going nowhere in January, as seen on BBC Sport. However, this will do little to stem the flow of rumours that suggest otherwise.
The 24-year-old has been sidelined through injury since March, but he is expected to be ready for a return to action on November 19, according to Transfermarkt.
Former Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal is said to be a big fan of the Dutch midfielder, who has been strongly linked with Manchester United for some time. As reported recently by Jamie Anderson in the Express and before the World Cup by Jamie Jackson in The Guardian.
On the Bench
Paris Saint-Germain's Adrien Rabiot is not short of admirers—the 19-year-old will be out of contract at the end of the season and appears likely to be on the move in January. It's already been suggested that the young Frenchman is on his way to Roma, per Neil Moxley of the Sunday People (h/t Mirror), with Manchester City and Chelsea also credited with interest.
MID: Julian Draxler
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Rumours linking Julian Draxler with Arsenal have been a common feature of recent transfer windows. Be it summer or January, they will be there.
In 2013, the versatile Schalke winger was being tipped to join the Gunners, as reported by Ben Jefferson in the Express.
In January and summer 2014, Draxler was linked with Arsenal again, as seen in the Mirror (per Darren Lewis) and on BBC Sport respectively.
Now with another transfer period approaching, the 21-year-old's name has come up again in gossip linking him with the Premier League team, as seen on talkSPORT and in a Daily Mail report by Rob Shepherd.
According to Anthony Chapman in the Express, the Germany international has a £37 million release clause in his contract with Schalke, which is set to expire in 2018.
Over the next two months, these rumours will start gathering steam once again.
On the Bench
Xherdan Shaqiri's future is uncertain. The Bayern Munich winger wants more time on the pitch, yet Pep Guardiola's side seem reluctant to consider letting him go. As the 23-year-old recently told Neue Zuricher Zeitung (h/t Sky Sports):
"I was looking for more first team action this season, everyone knows that. We had a sit down and discussed things with Bayern Munich. I received a clear message: I have to stay. I accepted that.
We will have a look at things again in the winter. We will have to figure things out. I have a long-term deal at Bayern Munich so it is the club that will decide. If the club does not want to sell me or let me go, then that is positive news for me.
"
MID: Marco Reus
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As Ed Malyon reported in the Mirror, Marco Reus has told Borussia Dortmund that he is unwilling to sign an extension to his current deal, which is set to expire in June 2017.
Cue the sound of the rumour mill bursting into life.
The 25-year-old has already been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City, according to Jamie Anderson in the Express. Elsewhere, Metro claim that "Liverpool are set to offer Marco Reus a contract worth £200,000 a week in order to complete a move to Anfield in the January transfer window."
The BVB midfielder recently returned to action for Jurgen Klopp's side after missing out on five Bundesliga games through injury. Last season, the Dortmund-born player notched 23 goals and 23 assists over the course of 44 games in all competitions.
On the Bench
Liverpool's Raheem Sterling has been linked with both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks, as reported by Jamie Anderson in the Express. Meanwhile The Telegraph's Chris Bascombe writes that the 19-year-old is on the verge of activating a new contract at Anfield.
MID: Juan Mata
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If reports are to be believed, Juan Mata could be on his way out of Old Trafford this winter.
Over the summer, the Manchester United midfielder was being linked with a move to Barcelona, who were lining up a "big-money move" for Mata, according to Anthony Chapman in the Express.
Recent gossip from the Express' Jamie Anderson indicates that a January exit beckons for the Spaniard, who has started all but two of United's Premier League games this term.
Mata joined the Manchester club from Chelsea for a fee of £37.1 million in January 2014 after making 135 appearances for the west London club.
Bought by former Red Devils boss David Moyes, rumours suggest that the 26-year-old will be sold by current manager Louis van Gaal to "accommodate a second wave of rebuilding," as reported by Rob Shepherd of the Daily Mail.
On the Bench:
Currently sidelined through injury, Mesut Ozil is the subject of speculation linking him with a move away from Arsenal in the new year. The Mirror's Aaron Flanagan believes that Bayern Munich could be a potential destination for the World Cup winner, despite Ozil addressing the rumour and committing to the Gunners via Twitter.
STR: Pedro
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Everyone, it seems, is a target for Arsenal these days—including Barcelona forward Pedro.
Charles Perrin reported in the Express that the 27-year-old has handed in a transfer request at Camp Nou in order to force through a January move.
Involved in eight La Liga games out of a possible nine so far this season, Pedro has completed 90 minutes just once on the domestic front—a 5-0 win against Levante, during which he scored his only goal of the season so far.
The two-time Champions League winner, who came up through the ranks at Barca, will see his first-team opportunities limited by Luis Suarez, who is now eligible for selection after serving his four-month ban from football.
Pedro is valued at £25 million, according to Perrin's report.
On the Bench
In Metro, Jamie McLaughlin suggests that West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino could be a January target for Liverpool, with Tottenham Hotspur also credited with interest in the England U21 international.
STR: Edinson Cavani
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When reading most reports pertaining to Edinson Cavani's current situation at Paris Saint-Germain, you get the feeling that the striker is unhappy at the Parc des Princes, as seen in this example on ESPN FC.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic out injured, Cavani has recently had the opportunity to be his side's focal point in attack. He has bagged two goals and an assist in his last two games (in all competitions) after going three Ligue 1 games without scoring. And despite the red card he received against Lens, Cavani's form does seem to be on the up.
However, the 27-year-old has been linked with a move away from Laurent Blanc's side. As Alex Harris suggested in the Daily Star, Arsenal (who else!) are leading the race to sign Cavani, with Liverpool and Manchester United also said to be keen.
The striker was recently said to be "ready to listen to offers from Arsenal and Liverpool in the January transfer window," according to Ben Jefferson in the Express.
On the Bench
With six goals in 12 matches (in all competitions) and a contract that is set to end at the end of the 2014/15 season, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's name will regularly crop up in transfer talk this term. The 31-year-old striker has already been tipped to join Tottenham Hotspur by John Cross in the Mirror.
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