Ranking the Top 10 January Transfer Window Rumors of the Week (Nov. 28-Dec. 3)
With the January 2011 international transfer window looming fast, the race to the Premier League Championship cannot be any more intense. While the Big Four of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have set their sights on big names, other clubs are looking to keep or bring in top talent from around the world.
Here are the top ten January Transfer Window Rumors of the Week for Nov. 28 to Dec. 3.
10. Arsenal After America Mexico Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa
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Arsenal are interested in signing goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from CF America Mexico, according to Italian reports.
The Tutto Mercato Web site says the Mexican outfit are asking for €8 million for the highly rated stopper.
The 25-year-old is a "keeper of undeniable quality". A brave stopper with a strong character, Ochoa has excellent handling, reactions and anticipation. He also has amazing flexibility, great positional sense and is superb in one-on-one situations.
9. Lille Slap €15m Price-Tag on Liverpool Target Adil Rami
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OSC Lille have slapped a €15m pricetag on their defensive stalwart Adil Rami , who is in Liverpool's sights.
Lille have made a solid start to the Ligue 1 season and Rami has started in all 15 matches to date and made a major contribution.
Liverpool are known to have expressed interest in the Moroccan-born defender, who has been capped six times for France since the start of the year and is establishing himself as a permanent fixture under national team boss Laurent Blanc.
Rami has accumulated experience playing for his club on the European stage and his new status as a French international has upped interest in him.
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson was impressed with what he saw of the towering defender when Rami played for France against England at Wembley, and is said to be keeping tabs on the potential recruit.
The 1.90m-tall centre-back is held in high regard by Lille, who would certainly prefer to keep him.
8. Chelsea Prepared to Pay €17m for Lazio Midfielder Cristian Ledesma
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Chelsea are said to have made enquiries about signing Lazio Roma midfielder Cristian Ledesma.
Lazio manager Edoardo Reja was quoted by the German 4-4-2 Web site as saying that the Blues would be willing to splash out €17 million to bring the 28-year-old to Stamford Bridge in January.
Ledesma is a creative player with excellent vision and great technical ability. He also has a powerful shot, and occasionally scores from long range.
He is contracted to Lazio until 2015.
7. Getafe Put Manchester City Striker Roque Santa Cruz Top of Shopping List
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Getafe have put Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz top of their winter shopping list, according to the Spanish Marca newspaper.
The Paraguayan World Cup striker endured a difficult first season at City following his £17.5million move from Blackburn last summer. A calf injury did little to help Santa Cruz, who scored three goals in 19 appearances for Manchester City last season.
A move to Lazio appeared to be on the cards in the summer, but it fell through in the end.
And with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor , Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli ahead of him in the Manchester City pecking order, Santa Cruz is desperate for first-team football again.
It was reported last week that Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce was interested in bringing the 29-year-old back to Ewood Park.
6. Manchester United to Step Up Move for Bastian Schweinsteiger
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Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly preparing to make a January bid to bring Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger to Manchester United.
The influential midfielder has been at Bayern Munich his entire career, winning a clutch of trophies along the way. Last season, the 26-year-old helped the German giants to the Champions League final before then enjoying an excellent World Cup.
With his contract expiring in 2012, speculation has increased over Schweinsteiger’s future, with Chelsea and Manchester United thought to be heading the queue for his signature. The player himself has indicated that he would like a move abroad.
The Sunday Mirror claims that Ferguson will make a move for Schweinsteiger in January, in order to get there ahead of Chelsea who will likely be able to outbid Manchester United should they wait until the summer.
With the long-term future of Owen Hargreaves seemingly in doubt and Paul Scholes coming towards the end of his career, there could be room for a midfielder such as Schweinsteiger at Old Trafford.
5. Tottenham and Chelsea Vying for Shakhtar Donetsk Full-Back Darijo Srna
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Tottenham and Chelsea have set their sights in Shakhtar Donetsk and Croatia skipper Darijo Srna, according to Soccer Magazine.
But the two London clubs will reportedly have to battle Real Madrid , FC Barcelona and Juventus FC Torino for his services.
Srna is contracted to Shakhtar Donetsk until the end of the season, but he has failed to agree to a new deal, attracting the interest of top European clubs.
The 28-year-old is one of the best attacking right-backs around. He is creative, fast and hard-working, and is a wonderful crosser of the ball.
He has scored twice and provided five assists for the Ukrainian table toppers this season.
4. Liverpool Set to Bid for Roma Star Mirko Vucinic in January
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Liverpool are reportedly ready to shell out €25m in order to bring in AS Roma hit-man Mirko Vucinic to Anfield as Roy Hodgson is said to rate the striker very highly.
Despite penning a new four-year deal in 2009, Vucinic has recently fallen out with Roma curator Claudio Ranieri and will apparently be allowed a move away should the right offer come in.
The 27-year-old forward boasts 11 goals in 21 appearances for his national team and an impressive return of 68 Serie A goals in 200 showings to date.
His physical approach, commitment and explosive ability appear to make him the perfect fit for the Premier League and could well endear him to the fans.
The Roma man has also been heavily linked with Premier League champions Chelsea and German giants Bayern Munchen, and is said to favour a move to England, despite rejecting the possibility of a Tottenham Hotspur switch last year.
3. Landon Donovan Says Chances of Everton Return '50-50'
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Landon Donovan has described the chances of an Everton return as being 50-50.
The Los Angeles Galaxy forward has had very little time out since the 2009 MLS season. He enjoyed a successful loan spell at Everton in the second half of the last Premier League campaign, before starring for the USA at the Word Cup.
The 28-year-old then led the LA Galaxy to the 2010 MLS final, being the most efficient attacking player in the North American league with a goal or assist every 103.2 minutes.
"I want to go back—how could I not after last time?" Donovan said. "But I have to be responsible to my body. It is 50-50 at the moment."
2. Manchester United Join Arsenal and Tottenham in Race for Marko Marin
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Manchester United have set their sights on Werder Bremen play-maker Marko Marin, according to German reports.
The 4-4-2 Web site says Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has made inquiries about the 21-year-old with a view to a €20 million bid.
Arsenal and Tottenham have also been monitoring the player, dubbed the 'German Lionel Messi.’
Marin, who scored for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga outfit's 2-2 UEFA Champions League draw with Tottenham in September, is contracted to his club until 2013.
Marin has scored three goals and set up two for struggling Bremen this season - an efficiency ratio of a goal or assist every 291.5 minutes.
1. David Luiz Fuels Speculation over Manchester City or Chelsea Move
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Benfica defender David Luiz has admitted that he doesn’t know where he will be playing in January, increasing speculation of a move to long-term admirers Manchester City or Chelsea.
Manchester City reportedly already bid €32 million for the 23-year-old in the summer, but Benifica chairman Luis Filipe Vieira rejected the offer, saying he would not take any less than the €50 million stipulated in Luiz's termination clause.
Chelsea also expressed an interest in buying the player in the summer, but weren't even prepared to pay in the region of what City were offering.
But with the departure of Ricardo Carvalho and injuries to John Terry and Alex, Chelsea are now said to be willing to splash out on Luiz, who is contracted to Benfica until 2014/2015, and along with Manchester City will be hoping Vieira backs down from his demand.
Luiz has refused to sign a new deal at Benfica, who have been knocked out of the Champions League already this season. According to the Daily Mirror, he admitted that his immediate future is unsure.
Luiz said, “My future, only God knows. I do not know where I will be in January, in the summer or in 2015. “The rumours from England? I know that and I follow them, but this does not depend on me.
“I refused another renewal because I have a contract until June 2015 and am happy here. I have a clear conscience. If it were only a matter of money, I would not be at Benfica. Criticism hurts me but my mission is to work every day.”
Luiz is one of the most promising central defenders in the world. He is strong, fast, intelligent, good in the air and graceful in possession. He has three Brazil caps to his name and has been at Benfica his entire career.
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