January Transfer Rumours: 8 English-Based Goalkeepers on the Move

Football fans are already thinking about the next transfer window and who might be on the move. In this slideshow the focus is on goalkeepers.

Originally the focus was going to be on goalkeepers in general in world football. However, the range of players is too vast, so it was better to focus on players that are based in England.

The players mentioned are currently playing either in the English Premier League or the nPower Championship. These players might be on the move in the January transfer window.

One player that hasn't made the list is Danish goalkeeper Kasper Scheichel. The reason being is he has only just moved to Leicester and the club have ambitions of being in the Premier League by the end of the season.

Casper Ankergen (Brighton)

Casper Ankergren is now a fairly experienced goalkeeper at 31 years of age. However, he will be disappointed to have never played a full international game for Denmark. Although, he has represented his country at under 17 and under 21 levels.

Ankergren started off his career in his native Denmark, but is surely best known for his spell at Leeds United from 2007-2010. However, in 2010 he signed for Brighton and if a bid arrives in January it will test Brighton's ambition.

Ankergren will also feel that a move to the Premier League would strengthen his claims of getting involved in the Danish national team. 

Adam Federici (Reading)

Adam Federici is a real top quality goalkeeper. He certainly has the quality to grace the Premier League and it would be interesting to see if top flight makes a bid.

The Australian is 26, the perfect age for a goalkeeper. Certainly not too young, but clubs can be confident he still has multiple seasons left in the top flight.

Federici has featured in the full Australian side, but up to now his chances have been few and far between. Therefore, he may seek a move purely for his own personal ambitions.

The player will want to test himself at the highest level domestically and increase his chances at international level. He may also feel that the chances of Reading playing Premier League football in 12 months time is relatively slim.

Robert Green (West Ham)

Robert Green is one of a handful of players that were expected to leave the club following West Ham's relegation at the end of last season. But while other players left, Green remained.

However, there will be plenty of media speculation linking him with a move away from Upton Park in this January window.

Green himself may welcome the move if it gives him a chance of playing at Euro 2012 for England. The player may be confident that West Ham will make an instant return to the Premier League. Would Capello be brave enough to pick him knowing that he has spent the full season playing Championship football?

Craig Gordon (Sunderland)

Criag Gordon has been a regular fixture on the Sunderland team since he moved to Sunderland in 2007 for a fee in the region of £9 million.

It would be true to say that Gordon has had his fair share of recent injury problems. However, the grim reality for the player is that he is no longer an automatic choice when fit and may have to consider a move away from the Stadium of Light to play regularly in the Premier League.

Sunderland have also recently acquired new goalkeepers that they clearly have a lot of faith in.

Like a lot of the goalkeepers on this list, Gordon also has an international career to consider. But unlike other keepers on the list, he is a fairly experienced international with 40 caps to his name.

However, he can't expect to be the Scotland No. 1 if he isn't the No. 1 for his own club. If it becomes clear that Gordon isn't going get his fair share of first-team football this season, a move away from the club may suit both parties. 

Chris Kirkland (Wigan)

Most football fans recognize the talent that lies within Chris Kirkland. The problem for the shot-stopper is his career has been a story of one injury after another. Wigan have now taken the view that Kirkland is too big of a gamble and he has clearly been replaced as their No. 1 choice.

Kirkland has made one appearance for England and he may feel that if he can play regularly in the Premier League then he has a shot of being on the England squad for Euro 2012.

He will also feel that if he can put his injury problems behind him that he is good enough to be a first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League. Therefore, a move in January is a distinct possibility.  

Steve Harper (Newcastle)

Steve Harper played for years as a backup keeper for Shay Given. The player would probably have expected to remain Newcastle's first choice man between the sticks until he retires.

However, this season Tim Krul has been preferred. Harper may also be concerned that with Fraser Forster also at the club, he could eventually be pushed down to No. 3. This, however, is not an immediate threat, because Forster is out on loan at Celtic.

Nevertheless, at 36, Harper will feel he needs to be a No. 1. He will certainly feel that he is good enough to do that in the Premier League.

Even if it means dropping down to the Championship, it may well be more beneficial to his career at the moment than being second or third choice for Newcastle with only the occasional league game. 

Heurelho Gomes (Spurs)

It's a shame that Heurelho Gomes is probably best know to fans of the English Premier League for the errors that he has made, rather than the saves that he has made. However, it is clear there is a quality goalkeeper in there somewhere.

Spurs decided this summer that he was too much of a liability and he was replaced as the No. 1 selection. A move away from the club looks likely and that will also probably mean a move away from the Premier League. It will be interesting to see if his former club PSV would be interested in re-signing him.

Manuel Almunia (Arsenal)

It didn't seem long ago that Manuel Almunia was the undisputed No. 1 at Arsenal. There was speculation about the possibility of Almunia being able to play for England due to the amount of time he has been living in England.

How the mighty has fallen. Almunia is no longer anywhere near the Arsenal first-team because Arsene Wenger put his faith in younger options. Almunia has been sent out on loan to West Ham for a month while Robert Green is injured.

The player is now 34 and will feel he needs to be playing regular first-team football. If Robert Green does end up moving back to the Premier League in January, maybe Almunia could move to West Ham to be their permanent No. 1.

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