12 Sensational January Transfers That Really Could Happen
The January transfer window is approaching and speculation involving sensational moves by big-name players is increasing by the day. But could any of these transfers really happen?
Most gossip needs to be taken with a pinch of salt—some stories ring true, while others appear to be complete fabrication. Sometimes, it's hard not to get excited.
In this slideshow, we take a look at 12 players who have been linked with a winter switch that, potentially, might just happen.
Of course, we don't know for sure whether these moves really will occur—we're taking our cues from rumours reported in the press and the players' current club and contract situations.
Arranged in an order of how likely we deem these moves to be, you'll find the most convincing rumour coming in at No. 1.
All performance data and market values come from Transfermarkt.com, unless otherwise indicated.
12. Juan Cuadrado
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Despite recently signing a new Fiorentina contract that will run until 2019, Juan Cuadrado is such a regular in the rumour mill we think he's got his own chair, parking space and name etched on the door.
The Colombian—said to be "unsettled" at Stadio Artemio Franchi by Jamie Anderson of the Express—has been linked with a number of European clubs, including Chelsea, per Ben Jefferson in the Express, and Manchester United and Manchester City, according to Rhys Turrell at the Daily Star.
Spanish newspaper Sport (h/t Inside Spanish Football) has also claimed that Cuadrado is a target for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Another indication that the winger may be considering parting ways with La Viola comes in a report from Reuters, following Cuadrado's substitution against Dynamo Minsk in the Europa League on December 12.
The Reuters article reveals Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella withdrew his player in the 24th minute, "because his mind was elsewhere."
Currently eighth in Serie A, Fiorentina may face a battle to keep Cuadrado beyond January.
11. Raheem Sterling
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Rumours linking Raheem Sterling with a move away from Liverpool have been heightened by recent claims that the winger has turned down a new contract at Anfield.
As reported by Sam Wallace in The Independent, "Sterling, who signed his existing five-year deal at the club in December 2012, has turned down Liverpool’s latest offer of £70,000 a week and is keeping his options open."
Despite a current deal that runs until 2017, there has been interest in the 20-year-old from some of Europe's biggest hitters. As seen in Bild (h/t Aaron Flanagan in the Mirror), Bayern Munich will target Sterling if they miss out on signing Marco Reus.
Elsewhere, in the Daily Mail, Sami Mokbel claims the England international is "weighing up his future at Liverpool" amid interest from Real Madrid.
Liverpool's poor form this season will continue to fan the flames that surround Sterling's rumoured departure from Merseyside.
10. Diego Godin
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According to Mark Ogden in The Telegraph, Manchester United are considering a January bid for Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin.
The 28-year-old has been at Vicente Calderon since 2010, and his current deal runs until 2018. But as Ogden writes, "It is understood that he has a €36m (£28.5m) release clause in his deal at the Vicente Calderon - a fee which would not prove prohibitive to United."
United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward told Ogden: "We're not looking to enter the market for short-term fixes. However, we have targets that we are looking at for next summer and should any of those become available in January, which is rare, we will consider acting."
Elsewhere, Luke Augustus reported in the Daily Mail that Atleti manager Diego Simeone was laughing off suggestions that the centre-back would be leaving in January. The Argentinian coach said: "Let's talk about something else. How much? Twenty (million euros)? For Godin? It must be a mistake."
9. Marco Reus
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Marco Reus has a long list of admirers across Europe. Between now and January 31, expect wave after wave of speculation linking the winger with a move away from Borussia Dortmund.
In the Premier League, Reus is currently being linked with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, according to Tom Sheen in The Independent (h/t the Daily Star). In La Liga, Marca is reporting the 25-year-old is a summer target for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Whereas, closer to home, Bayern Munich are also tipped to be planning to bring Reus to the Allianz Arena over the summer, with chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's comments to Sport1 about a potential move seen on SkySports.com.
Reus is contracted with BVB until 2017, yet has a release clause in his Dortmund contract of just £20 million, which will be activated next summer—as reported by Anthony Chapman in the Express.
In order to avoid letting Reus go for much less than his current market value of €50 million/£44 million (per Transfermarkt), there's a very good chance Dortmund will let the Germany international go to January's highest bidder.
Currently out of action with torn ankle ligaments, Reus is expected to be back in action in the new year, per BVB.de.
Dortmund's current league position of 16th will do little to stem this particular flow of rumours.
8. Petr Cech
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After losing his No. 1 spot to Thibaut Courtois this season, Chelsea's Petr Cech has been linked with a string of clubs.
As reported by Dean Jones in the Sunday People (h/t Mirror), Cech has been contemplating a loan move to Paris Saint-Germain, with AC Milan, Monaco and Real Madrid also said to be monitoring his situation.
Elsewhere, the Mirror's David Maddock claims that Cech has been linked with a move to Liverpool, following Simon Mignolet's poor performances for the Reds this term.
We may well see the Czech Republic international opting to stay in SW1 until the end of the current campaign, but with only two top-flight appearances so far in 2014/15, it would not come as a surprise to see Cech moving on in January.
7. Marek Hamsik
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According to rumours, Marek Hamsik is unhappy at Napoli after falling out of favour with manager Rafa Benitez.
In October, the 27-year-old was linked to Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal by Jamie Anderson in the Express.
Despite being fielded as Napoli's captain in 12 of the 13 Serie A games he has featured in this season, Hamsik has played a full 90 minutes on just two occasions in the Italian league in 2014/15.
It's been a similar story in the Europa League, where Hamsik has completed 90 minutes just twice in Group I. In his last outing, the midfielder bagged both a goal and an assist against Slovan Bratislava.
According to Calciomercato (h/t Footballitalia.com), Hamsik could be pushed towards San Paulo exits if Manolo Gabbiadini's expected move from Sampdoria goes ahead, with the Slovakia international also said to have been jeered by Napoli's home support of late.
6. Lucas Silva
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It appears Real Madrid are genuinely interested in bringing Cruzeiro's Lucas Silva to La Liga. Normally, Madrid get their man.
The Brazilian under-21 international is a product of Cruzeiro's youth system, and reports linking the midfielder with a move to the Bernabeu have intensified in recent weeks, following injuries to Madrid's James Rodriguez, Luka Modric and Sami Khedira.
In a recent article from Reuters (h/t the Guardian), Los Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti was quoted as saying:
"We'll have to wait for the Christmas period when everything will be clearer in terms of the recovery periods for Modric and Khedira. After that, during that period, we will take a decision. It's true that we are interested in Lucas Silva but he's not the only player.
If we need to, after the Club World Cup, we'll take the decision depending on an evaluation of our midfielders who are injured at the moment.
"
5. Mattia Destro
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In late October, Roma's Mattia Destro hinted at leaving Stadio Olimpico, following what was only his fifth start in nine Serie A games.
As quoted on Sky Sport Italia (h/t ESPNFC.com), the 23-year-old said: "The coach makes these decisions, but bit by bit I start to piece things together in my own mind and I will make my own decisions."
On as a second-half substitute in two fixtures since then, Destro has started just two more league games and has watched from the bench for a further two. In the Champions League, the striker was involved in just two of Roma's Group E games.
Naturally, this has led to a number of rumours linking Destro with a move away from Rudi Garcia's side in January.
Linked with a move to Premier League outfits Chelsea and Arsenal by Jamie Anderson in the Express, the former Genoa and Siena player said:
"I can only do my talking on the pitch. Some people speak with their voice, I speak on the field.
I try to score goals when I have the opportunity. [Should I be given] more opportunities by the coach? That’s up to the coach.
I think with my head, I make decisions with my head. So we'll see.
"
4. Yevhen Konoplyanka
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Last winter, we got to know Yevhen Konoplyanka's name well, when it looked like the Ukraine international was on his way to Liverpool, as reported by Andy Hunter in the Guardian.
It came close, but the Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger's move to Anfield fell through on deadline day, as seen on BBC Sport.
In January, Konoplyanka will already be into the final six months of his contract at the Dnipro-Arena and should be available for much less than the £12 million release clause the Express' Alex Harris reported on in August.
A regular fixture on the left wing for Dnipro, Konoplyanka has scored four goals and registered four assists in 21 games (in all competitions) so far this term.
Available on a pre-contract agreement in a matter of weeks, there should be a long line of clubs eager to sign the 25-year-old in January.
3. Fabian Schar
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Basel's Fabian Schar has given hope to all his admirers for the coming transfer window after admitting that it would be hard to say no should a top club come calling.
In November, the 22-year-old told Zurich-based newspaper Blick (h/t Ben Jefferson in the Express):
"Basel are open to negotiations, but at this moment I have decided that I want to concentrate on my performances. I went through a difficult period and it wasn't the right time to discuss my renewal. I don't want to be worrying about that now.
My dream remains to have an experience abroad. I've always said that if the opportunity presented itself, I would take it, obviously in agreement with Basel.
I need a team with important prospects. I'd like the Bundesliga, Premier League or top Italian clubs like Inter, Milan and Juventus. I couldn't say no.
I want to hear all my options and consider them carefully. There was some contact in the summer, but nothing serious.
"
According to Tuttosport (h/t Liam Prenderville in the Mirror), Arsenal are keen on signing Schar but Juventus are being tipped as a favourite to sign the defender.
Schar signed for Basel in summer 2012 and has made 96 appearances (in all competitions) for the Swiss side—winning the Super League twice in consecutive seasons. His performances for the RotBlau have seen him called up to Ottmar Hitzfeld's Switzerland, and he represented his country over the summer at the 2014 World Cup.
Experienced in the Champions League and internationally, Schar's current Basel contract will run out in the summer.
2. Ezequiel Lavezzi
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Ezequiel Lavezzi could be on his way out of Paris Saint-Germain this January.
The 29-year-old, whose current deal at Parc des Princes runs until summer 2016, is being linked with Inter Milan, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, according to Jamie Anderson in the Express.
Anderson writes (from rumours originating from "Italian sources"): "Lavezzi is valued at a sizable £17 million, however PSG may be forced to accept a reduced transfer fee to prevent the Argentine from leaving for free in the summer of 2016."
Italian sports broadcaster Sport Mediaset (h/t Aaron Flanagan in the Mirror) also recently linked Lavezzi with a move away from the French champions, crediting Inter, Napoli and Atletico Madrid with interest.
The Argentina international has been in Laurent Blanc's starting XI on eight occasions in Ligue 1 so far this season, where he has scored twice and set up a further two.
In the Champions League, Lavezzi has been involved in four of his side's six Group F ties as a substitute, clocking up a total of 170 minutes. In all competitions he has completed a full 90 minutes just twice this term.
Formerly of Genoa, San Lorenzo and Napoli, Lavezzi put pen to paper with PSG in July 2012.
1. Xherdan Shaqiri
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It looks like Bayern Munich will consider letting Xherdan Shaqiri exit the Allianz Arena in January, if quotes from club president Franz Beckenbauer are to be believed.
Beckenbauer told German channel Sport1 (h/t Nicholas Godden in the Daily Mail): "Bayern have already sent out a signal and indicated to him that he can probably go in the winter break, when he wants. I think it's a shame because he is a great talent."
Elsewhere, Bild (h/t Chisanga Malata in the Daily Star) claims Shaqiri will be allowed to leave Pep Guardiola's side for just £15 million.
The Switzerland international signed for the German champions in 2012 from FC Basel. In that time, he has won a host of trophies, including the 2012/13 Champions League and two Bundesliga titles, among others.
However, the fact remains that the 23-year-old has started just three league games this season—last term it was 10, and in his first campaign with the club it was 13.
Contracted with Bayern until 2016, Shaqiri told Swiss daily Neue Zuricher Zeitung (h/t Skysports.com) in October:
"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.
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