Players to Watch During January Transfer Window
The January transfer window is upon us again and there'll be plenty of movement as clubs strengthen for the business end of the season. With players like Marco Reus and Edinson Cavani subject to intense speculation, January 2015 could be the most fascinating winter window in years.
Whether it's adding a creative spark or defensive solidity, January can breathe new life into a club's campaign. As always, the rumour mill is in full swing and there are plenty worth paying attention to.
Here are 12 players to watch in January.
Who should your club sign? Let us know in the comments below.
Honourable Mentions
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Petr Cech, Chelsea
After losing his place in the starting XI to Thibaut Courtois, Petr Cech has been restricted to 156 minutes of Premier League football this season, per WhoScored. Still only 32, Cech remains one of the best 'keepers in the world and would command a starting position at almost any club.
Despite speculation linking Cech with a move to Arsenal or Liverpool, per Czech newspaper Sport (h/t Goal) Jose Mourinho has confirmed there is "no chance" of the Czech international departing in January, according to the BBC. Expect a war for his services in the summer.
Dani Alves, Barcelona
Brazil international Dani Alves is out of contract with Barcelona in the summer and plenty of clubs—including Manchester United, who were linked with his services in October per Dave Kidd at the Mirror—will be monitoring his situation closely, in case the Blaugrana decide to cash in on the right-back rather than let him go for free at the end of the season.
However, according to Ed Malyon of the Mirror, Alves is not interested in securing a move in January. Further, thanks to the transfer ban preventing Barca from signing any players in 2015, per The Telegraph, Luis Enrique will be reluctant to allow anyone to depart so early in the year.
Karim Benzema, Real Madrid
Karim Benzema is one of the top strikers in Europe and would be a phenomenal coup for any club. According to Jamie Anderson of the Express, Carlo Ancelotti will look to sell several players as Madrid seek to abide by the rules of Financial Fair Play.
However, the Frenchman recently signed a new five-year deal and his huge price tag will make many clubs reluctant to sign him. With Madrid looking to build on a successful 2014, it's extremely unlikely that Benzema will be shown the exit in January.
Marcelo Brozovic, Dinamo Zagreb
2 of 13Jamie Sanderson of Metro.co.uk reports Marcelo Brozovic is close to a move to Arsenal, but may also be a target for a number of other clubs.
The 22-year-old midfielder, dubbed the Croatian Xavi, broke into his national side in 2014 and featured in the World Cup.
As the video above shows, Brozovic is a playmaker with an eye for a pass (1:52 onward) and a good shot from distance (0:39).
Though he is a hot prospect with a very promising future in European football, Brozovic is not the strong defensive midfielder Arsenal sorely need.
At a Europa League-challenger, the youngster would be a regular starter and far more important to his team's play.
Jack Wilshere is due to return in February or March. At Arsenal, Brozovic would need to hit the ground running and impress early to avoid being relegated to the bench for the remainder of the season.
Yohan Cabaye, Paris Saint-Germain
3 of 13Former Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye departed Tyneside a year ago for Paris Saint-Germain but has failed to establish himself as a regular at the Parc des Princes.
According to Alan Oliver and Neil Moxley of the Mirror, Cabaye could be in line to return to his old club, while Manchester United and Arsenal remain interested.
The 28-year-old is an experienced Premier League campaigner and would offer creativity and bite in midfield.
The Frenchman's threat from long shots and set pieces is well known. His goal against Man United (1:38, above) is truly something to behold.
Cabaye would be a strong signing for just about any club. If he returns to Newcastle, a top-half finish would be a serious possibility. At Arsenal or Man United, Cabaye would make securing Champions League football a far easier task.
The midfielder may not have cut it at PSG, but he remains an exceptional talent and still has much to offer. After so few minutes on the pitch, Cabaye would likely cost less than the £20 million PSG paid, which makes the Frenchman an enticing prospect indeed.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, Anderlecht
4 of 13Aleksandar Mitrovic is an in-demand forward in January, with Milan, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle reportedly interested, per Rhys Turrell of the Daily Star.
The 20-year-old has impressed this season, scoring 14 goals.
The young Serb is gifted in the air, as he demonstrated against Arsenal in the Champions League in November with his dramatic equaliser (5:19 above).
With Chelsea pursuing Andrej Kramaric and Milan receiving Alessio Cerci as part of the Fernando Torres deal, Newcastle or Liverpool seem more likely destinations.
Both clubs are in desperate need of more firepower up front, and Mitrovic could be the man to provide it.
If the youngster can adapt to the rigours of English football, he could be a real find. He won't be enough to cancel out the two clubs' weak defences, but he'd certainly improve their final league positions.
Xherdan Shaqiri, Bayern Munich
5 of 13According to David Maddock of the Mirror, Bayern Munich's versatile midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is the subject of a £10 million bid from Liverpool.
Shaqiri has something of a bit-part role at Bayern, but is a key player for Switzerland and could be the same for the Reds.
Despite only playing more than 30 minutes in three of his nine Bundesliga appearances, per WhoScored, Shaqiri has managed a goal and two assists this season.
The stocky midfielder would inject some much-needed star quality into Liverpool's starting XI. The prospect of him lining up with Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho behind a fit Daniel Sturridge would go some way to recreating the threat Liverpool carried last season.
His creativity (0:42 above), skill (1:34) and pace (1:01) would make him a brilliant outlet for the Reds' forward play. His signing would prove a huge boost to team-mates and fans alike, and transform the atmosphere around Anfield now and for years to come.
A brilliant coup for any side.
Victor Valdes, Free Agent
6 of 13Former Barcelona 'keeper Victor Valdes has not played since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in March 2014 and is currently a free agent after failing to find a new club during his recovery.
Per Tony Mogan of the International Business Times, Valdes has trained with Manchester United since October and could be offered a deal in January. Likewise, Liverpool will surely be monitoring Valdes' recovery as they search for a replacement for the unreliable Simon Mignolet.
The 32-year-old is hugely experienced thanks to his time at Barcelona and boasts great reflexes and penalty-stopping (0:33, 2:47 respectively).
With David de Gea in fine form, Valdes would be largely restricted to the bench at United.
At Liverpool, however, he would be the answer to their goalkeeping problems. The Spaniard is a huge upgrade on Mignolet, and his experience would give his defenders much-needed confidence.
However, the Reds' problems at the back are far more extensive than who's between the posts. Much better coaching and investment is needed across the back four if Liverpool ever want to qualify for the Champions League again.
Moussa Sissoko, Newcastle United
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Per Alan Oliver and Neil Moxley of the Mirror, PSG could try and trade Yohan Cabaye for Moussa Sissoko of Newcastle United. Meanwhile, L'Equipe, via Arunava Ray of the International Business Times, reports Sissoko as the answer to Arsenal's problems in defensive midfield.
Sissoko is a good, strong player and one of the best currently at Newcastle. Selling him would fit in with Mike Ashley's strategy of buying players at bargain prices and then moving them on for huge profit.
Further, with Alan Pardew now at Crystal Palace and his replacement yet to be decided, players might be tempted to leave the club in this time of uncertainty.
However, Sissoko is not the answer to Arsenal's defensive needs. The Frenchman is a box-to-box player with drive and a good dribbling ability, and it's in a more advanced position rather than as a holding player that he has shone in the north-east.
The above graphic from Squawka shows Sissoko's four successful take ons in the 3-2 victory over Everton. In the same game, the 25-year-old attempted just one tackle, which was unsuccessful.
When compared with the kind of player Arsenal actually need, such as Chelsea's Nemanja Matic, the Frenchman comes off poorly. Matic has made 55 tackles to Sissoko's 14. Even accounting for Sissoko's more advanced role, there's little reason to suspect he can transform into a Claude Makelele-type with the Gunners.
Sissoko could make a strong squad player for a Champions League club like Arsenal, but he's no substitute for a real defensive midfielder.
Paco Alcacer, Valencia
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Liverpool are considering a £14.1 million bid for Valencia's Paco Alcacer, according to Dario Puig of Marca (h/t The Telegraph).
The 21-year-old is a hot prospect in Spain, registering 10 goals and four assists this season and breaking into the national side.
The Reds are in desperate need of a striker, and Alcacer has shown flashes of brilliance that hint the youngster can become a star in the future.
One of his best performances of the season is shown above, courtesy of FourFourTwo's Stats Zone. In Valencia's 3-0 victory against Malaga, Alcacer not only scored but also created three chances for his team-mates, including one assist.
However, the Spaniard is relatively inexperienced and unproven at the top level, so he must surely be considered a gamble for Brendan Rodgers.
What will also be a concern is that Alcacer has contributed just one league goal since September, and his passing accuracy is a meagre 67 percent, well below Liverpool's average of 83.
A future star perhaps, but he's unlikely to be the answer to Liverpool's prayers this season.
Kevin Strootman, Roma
9 of 13Kevin Strootman, a long-term target for Louis van Gaal, will be subject to fresh enquiries from Man United in January, per Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News.
According to Eurosport, Van Gaal shaped his midfield around Strootman in the Dutch national team and is keen to do the same at United.
If the Red Devils can acquire the 24-year-old, he will be an extremely good addition to the team.
As you can see above, Strootman adds strength to the spine of the team with his tackling and interceptions (2:17-2:50) and can make key passes with ease (1:30-2:15).
With Daley Blind soon to return from injury, per ESPN, the pair can operate together as an effective and solid unit at the base of midfield. Or, if needed, Strootman's presence would free up the versatile Blind to play in defence.
This will significantly improve United's balance and protect their vulnerable defence. Strootman is still recovering from a knee injury that saw him miss out on the World Cup. His transition to their starting XI would be a slow one, but very worthwhile indeed.
Jackson Martinez, Porto
10 of 13Prolific Colombian Jackson Martinez has been in fine form yet again this season. In 20 appearances for Porto he has scored 17, with five netted in the Champions League.
Understandably, he is set to spark a bidding war in January. Bruce Archer of the Daily Star reports him as a target for Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Roma, while according to Tancredi Palmeri of Calciomercato.it (h/t Forza Italian Football) Juventus are close to a deal.
The striker would be a strong signing for any of them, bringing skill, power and a clinical edge. The 28-year-old demonstrated these attributes in his recent goal against Gil Vicente (above). The stunning strike took Martinez above Hulk's 78 goals in 170 games for Porto, and in 53 fewer appearances.
As good as Martinez is, Arsenal's money would certainly be better spent on a defensive player. For Liverpool or Spurs however, Martinez is just what they need.
Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor have been big disappointments, as has Mario Balotelli. Martinez would be a huge boost in firepower, and his cutting edge could turn their seasons around.
Wilfried Bony, Swansea
11 of 13A stellar 2014 for Wilfried Bony ended with the Ivorian being named as the Premier League's top goalscorer over the calendar year with 20.
Nine of those have come this season, as well as two assists, so it's understandable Bony is inviting interest from the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid, per Matt Law of The Telegraph.
The 26-year-old is the most precious commodity in football—a proven goalscorer at the top level.
The striker is powerful in the air (2:09 onwards, above), scores even against top opposition (1:25) and uses his strength to hold the ball well (2:52, 3:10).
Bony signed a new contract in November that eradicated a £19 million release clause, so the forward would be a pricey but superb signing, particularly for City rather than Madrid.
Madrid already boast a wealth of attacking talent, but with Sergio Aguero's injuries a frequent issue, Bony would be a more prolific option than Edin Dzeko or Stevan Jovetic.
Bony is entering the peak years of his career. If he remains in England, where he ends up will have a big effect on the title race this season and in seasons to come.
Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund
12 of 13Reus is a target for a host of top European and Premier League clubs, according to Eurosport.
The German international is widely expected to follow the likes of Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski out the door at the Westfalenstadion in the near future. With Dortmund struggling in the Bundesliga, Reus could be tempted to jump ship in January.
The 25-year-old has struggled with injury of late and is currently recovering from a ruptured ankle ligament, but his world-class talent will overcome any concerns of potential suitors.
The attacking midfielder has managed six goals and three assists in 11 appearances for a seriously sub-par Dortmund side.
As the above video shows, Reus has impressed with a range of passing (1:56, 2:28), some cool finishing (1:08, 2:56) and some spectacular strikes (4:38).
Reus would be a true marquee signing and perhaps only Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have first XIs he could not significantly improve with his presence.
With a reported release clause of around £20 million, the German is a bargain in today's market and can be a superstar at whichever club he chooses.
His signature will be a powerful statement to the rest of Europe.
Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint-Germain
13 of 13Samuel Petrequin of the Daily Mail reports that Cavani is a target for Arsenal in January. Cavani will sit out PSG's next two games after missing a training camp in Morocco, encouraging further speculation as to his future.
Over the last five seasons, the Uruguayan has proved himself as one of the deadliest hitmen in Europe. The forward has scored 13 goals this campaign, but has often been deployed on the left rather than in his favoured central role.
Also, if the game against Marseille is anything to go by, his rivalry with Zlatan Ibrahimovic is less than good-natured. As shown above, the Swede was unwilling to pass to Cavani on several occasions (2:16, 2:48) despite him being the best option. It seems that Cavani's days in Paris are numbered.
Bleacher Report's Matt Jones argues that Arsenal have more pressing needs than a new centre-forward, and therefore they shouldn't sign one in January.
A new centre-back and a holding player should be their main focus, but the 27-year-old is an improvement on their other out-and-out striking options and more proven than Jackson Martinez. As with Man United signing Angel Di Maria, when a player of this quality becomes available, it is an opportunity that an ambitious club has to take.
Cavani won't come cheap, but Arsene Wenger has shown more willingness of late to splash the cash on the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
The striker isn't what Arsenal need in the short term. However, if they are ever to truly challenge for league and European honours again, players of Cavani's quality are exactly what they need and they can't afford to miss out.
