January Transfer Rumours: 16 Best Midfielders Likely to Be on the Move

It may only be October, but it is never to early to speculate on who will be on the move in the January transfer window.

With clubs pretty much knowing what part of the table they will be in for the rest of the season, it is time for them to start lining up improvements. That work can start as early as October.

For the big clubs in England, these moves may not be improvements so much as additions to a club's depth.

For example, big spending Manchester City has already been linked to players that they do not necessarily need, but want.

For other clubs, like Arsenal, improvements will be needed, especially in the midfield.

Here are 16 midfielders that have already been linked to other clubs and could be on the move in January.

David Beckham

It would not be a transfer window without a David Beckham returning to England rumour.

Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers are after the services of Beckham, and the English international is looking to get back into the England squad one more time for the Euro 2012 tournament. Beckham will most likely make the move either on loan or permanently.

Christian Eriksen

Eriksen is the latest phenom to be developed at Ajax and, at only nineteen, is in line for a move to a big club.

The Danish international has already scored two goals for his country and is being rumored with big clubs like Liverpool for a move in the near future.

Daniel Parejo

The 22-year-old Spaniard just signed for Valencia in the summer from Getafe and is already garnering interest from Arsenal.

The former Real Madrid product made nineteen appearances for the Spanish U21 team and should be in line for a call up to the Spanish national team in the near future.

Alessio Cerci

The Italian winger moved from Roma to Fiorentina last season and is now on the radar of Manchester City and the Old Lady of Italy, Juventus.

Cerci has scored ten goals for the Florence club since his arrival last season and he could be an explosive winger whether he moves up to a bigger club in Italy or to a giant like City.

Riccardo Montolivo

Montolivo's name has been mentioned in rumours for the past year or two, and January could finally see his exit from the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

At 26, the former Atalanta man has made close to 200 appearances at Fiorentina and has earned 27 caps for the Italian national team.

Ross Barkley

After making his first start of the season for Everton in August, Barkley began to attract interest from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Barkley is only 17-years-old and should be given time to develop at his current club, Everton, but may not get a chance to if the big clubs come calling with money that Everton greatly needs.

Adam Johnson

Johnson has fallen behind the depth of midfielders that Manchester City has and could be looking for a move away from the Etihad Stadium.

The 24-year-old Englishman has been linked with Liverpool, Aston Villa and his hometown club Sunderland since his name was first linked with the word surplus at Manchester City.

Barry Bannan

Bannan has been on the first team for Aston Villa for most of the 2011-12 season and is beginning to catch the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Sir Alex is still looking for a replacement for Paul Scholes, and the Scot could be the answer to the United midfield situation.

Adel Taarabt

Taarabt stayed at Queens Park Rangers during the summer transfer window but may still be looking for a move away from Loftus Road.

Taarabt's move away from the club could provide the funds for David Beckham's arrival at QPR.

The Moroccan has been linked with Lazio, Arsenal and Paris St. Germain.

Stuart Holden

Although he is injured at the moment, a move for the American could come cheaper, as Bolton looks bound for the Championship at this point in the season.

In the time where he has been healthy, Holden has been a force in the Bolton and USA midfields, and could be part of a January exodus from the Reebok Stadium.

Clint Dempsey

With Fulham, Dempsey has been one of the best players for the midtable clubs in England for a while, and has been rumored with a move to a bigger club for a year or so now.

Sevilla, Paris St. Germain and Arsenal have been rumored to be chasing the signature of Dempsey. All could fulfill Dempsey's goal of playing in the Champions League very soon.

Andrei Arshavin

Since making his move from Zenit St. Petersburg in 2009, Arshavin has slowly dropped down the depth chart at Arsenal and, even with the departure of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri at the Emirates Stadium, the Russian has failed to find playing time.

Now with Russian club Anzhi going after big superstars with big money, having already landed Samuel Eto'o in the summer, a move for a Russian star like Arshavin makes sense and he could play alongside another Russian who left England over the summer in Yuri Zhirkov.

Eden Hazard

Hazard has been one the most highly sought after players in the transfer window for the past two years and the Belgian is still playing at Lille in Ligue 1, for now.

Not only has Arsenal been hot on the chase for Hazard, but now it looks like Real Madrid may play a part in the Hazard transfer as well.

Milos Krasic

Krasic has been a stalwart in midfield for Juventus since his 2010 move from CSKA Moscow, and is now getting some interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Serbian international has earned 42 caps for his country and has scored three international goals.

Sami Khedira

Manchester City is making an ambitious effort for the German midfielder.

Khedira just joined Real Madrid after the 2010 World Cup from Stuttgart, but if City throws out enough money for the German, he could make the move.

Hulk

Hulk may possibly be the biggest superstar on the transfer market.

The Brazilian made a huge mark on the world football scene last season at Porto, and has been highly sought after by the big clubs throughout the summer, though he decided to stay in Portugal.

Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City have been linked with Hulk as well as many other big clubs.