Manchester United: 7 Players Sir Alex Could Go After in January

Things were surprisingly quiet around Old Trafford on the 31st of August.

With Manchester United only being connected to two major transfer moves—the long-rumored acquisition of Dutch international Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan, which didn't happen and bringing on Borussia Dortmund up-and-comer Mario Goetze, which also didn't happen—questions are already being raised about what Sir Alex Ferguson will do come January.

With his regulars in top form, new acquisitions starting to gel with the team and a glut of young players already rising in the ranks, transfers are likely the last thing on Fergie's mind. But the January buzz has begun and although much is speculation at this point, the club could make a few key acquisitions in early 2012 and revisit some unfinished business from August. 

Mario Goetze

Borussia Dortmund's 19-year-old wünderkind midfielder has been on the Devils' radar before, eclipsing Wesley Sneijder as their primary transfer target late into the August deadline. Mario Goetze, a playmaker who helped BVB reach their first Bundesliga title in nearly a decade, has been praised for his creativity on the pitch with the German press referring to him as a 'magician.'

Goetze's skill and influence on the pitch make him the sort of player Sir Alex is looking for to replace another key United playmaker, the recently retired Paul Scholes. Finding the new Scholes seems to have been Fergie's priority in the August transfer window, hence the long battle over Wesley Sneijder. But with the Sneijder deal fizzling and Goetze still with far more of his career left, the young German is likely the better candidate.

With hype around Goetze at a high following a spectacular performance for Germany against Brazil, where he scored the match-winning goal, Borussia Dortmund boss Hanz-Joachim Watzke has stepped up measures to protect the club's rising star and declared him unavailable for transfer. However, January is a long way away and decisions get made at the eleventh hour all the time. 

Sir Alex may to compete with heavy-hitters all around Europe to acquire Goetze—Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have expressed interest and Arsenal put in a whopping £35 million for the midfielder—but to have that kind of creative, forward-thinking presence in the midfield would be worth it for United.

Yoann Gourcuff

The Olympique Lyonnais midfielder was a rumored target of Fergie's during the last August transfer window, but his ankle surgery over the summer took him out of the running. Before that, the 25-year-old playmaker was having a rough season at Lyon, but perhaps his redemption lies in a trip to Old Trafford.   

Gourcuff's recent inconsistency and injury troubles would definitely make him a gamble for United. But when playing at his best, he has vision and precision and his goals are fun to watch. If he can recover, return to his old self and deliver on those 'next Zidane' projections, he could be an entertaining and valuable addition to United's offense. 

Ross Barkley

The Red Devils are hardly short on young talent with the likes of Welbeck, Jones, Cleverley and Smalling, but Sir Alex is keeping an eye on an addition who isn't even old enough for a post-match pint yet.

17-year-old Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, who made his debut with the club in their Week Two defeat to Queens Park Rangers, has already been hailed as one to watch and was named man of the match against QPR by readers of the Liverpool Echo. Fabio Capello is also pondering tapping Barkley, a fixture on England's youth teams for years now, to join his England squad later this fall.    

With the recent losses of Mikel Arteta and Yakubu, don't expect David Moyes to give up one of the Toffees' rising stars without a fight.

Christian Eriksen

Another young playmaker on the radar to become the next Paul Scholes—eventually. The 19-year-old Ajax attacker was named Dutch Footballer of the Year back in May, won a gushing review from Johan Cruyff and already has some big Premiership clubs salivating.

Like Mario Goetze, he's already got a league championship and some key appearances on the international circuit under his belt—15 caps for Denmark—as well as a combination of experience and star potential that could lead to a stellar career at Old Trafford.  

We know Eriksen already has one big fan at Man United—Rio Ferdinand. He took to Twitter to praise the Danish international after his man-of-the-match earning performance in the friendly against England back in February saying, "Eriksen has been the pick of the players on show so far looks sharp, nice movement, imagination and good delivery(assist for the goal) #scout."

Nikica Jelavić

The Rangers striker was all over United's radar for this past deadline day back in May, after he went on an impressive scoring streak and eventually helped Rangers to their third consecutive Scottish Premier League title. The Ibrox crowd are protective of the Croatian international, however, rejecting deadline day bids from Leicester City and from an unnamed club for £9 million. 

This arrangement is the least likely of United's moves. The interest has faded, the Rangers won't give him up and United has strong offensive leaders in Rooney, Welbeck and Javier Hernández, who had a successful inaugural season with the club last year. But with rumors surfacing of Real Madrid making a move for Chicharito in January, the club may benefit from having a strong extra striker on hand.

Luka Modrić

After Chelsea's failed attempt to sign the Spurs midfielder on deadline day, reports surfaced that United would join the Blues as another potential January bidder for the Croatian international. 

Although Chelsea will be the more likely winner of the two, Modrić could be seen as an asset at Old Trafford as yet another possible replacement for Paul Scholes. With United's amassing of very young players, bringing in a more experienced playmaker alongside the likes of Cleverley and Welbeck may add a nice dynamic to the offense. 

Wesley Sneijder (again)

The Sneijder saga is quickly becoming the football equivalent of Michael Bay's Transformers movie franchise. It's long, very expensive and just won't go away.

The Dutch international admitted after deadline day that he was 'close' to joining Man United, but after fellow Nerazzurri star Samuel Eto'o left to join Anzhi Makhachkala, he felt more compelled to stay. 

Although Sneijder's stay at Inter is a done deal for now, things may be different in January. The midfielder has expressed his love and respect for the club and has made it clear in the past that he wants to play in England. If he were to make a move to the EPL, the only club that he would likely choose is United.  

But with Sneijder turning 28 later this season and a candidate field for January which includes plenty of young midfielders with lots of skill and potential—Goetze, Eriksen, etc.—Sneijder donning the red kit is looking like less and less of a possibility.