English Premier League: 10 Players with January Transfer Potential

October has only just begun, but enough time has passed to gauge each Premier League team and make informed suggestions about who will feature and who will play bit parts this season.

January represents a window of opportunity for both managers and players to get what they desire. Let's take a look at 10 players in the Premier League who could switch clubs.

I have given each player a likeliness rating out of 10 to move, and a potential destination or two for them. The destinations are, of course, completely unknown for the time being, but I have hazarded a guess at where they could end up.

Feel free to comment with additions to the list and possible alternative destinations you believe each player could target.

I hope you enjoy the slideshow!

Andrei Arshavin

Come January, Andrei Arshavin will have just six months left on his deal with Arsenal and will be eligible to hold talks with foreign clubs.

While Arsenal have tried several times to extend his contract, no terms have been agreed on, and it appears he is not only slipping down the pecking order but also away from the club.

He was heavily linked over the summer with a move to Russia, and rumors to a €16 million move to Anzhi Makhachkala have yet to stop.

Arsenal aren't particularly stacked on the wings, but Theo Walcott and Gervinho seem to be Arsene Wenger's first-choice pairing this season, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain progressing fast in reserve.

Likelihood of a transfer: 4/10

Potential destination(s): Anzhi Makhachkala

Emile Heskey

After securing a starting role for Aston Villa under Alex McLeish this season, Emile Heskey's usual injury problems have cropped up, and he now has a tough task getting back into the team.

The likes of Stephen Ireland and Barry Bannan have come into the Aston Villa team and are showing signs of worth. Darren Bent is both reliable and undroppable. Gabriel Agbonlahor is simply on fire.

There isn't a place for Emile Heskey in the side at the moment, and he faces competition in the wings from the likes of Marc Albrighton, too.

Leicester tried to grab him in June, but he said no. There's nothing stopping them trying again in January when Heskey has six months left on his contract.

There are also Premier League clubs out there who need a striker, and Emile has both a reputation and an undying manager's love.

He reportedly eats up over £50,000 per week on the bill, which is something Alex McLeish will be keen to remove considering the current financial prudence Aston Villa are showing.

Likelihood of a transfer: 5/10

Potential destination(s): Leicester, QPR

Christopher Samba

Samba is Blackburn's captain and signed a five-year deal as recently as February 2011.

But I still have no doubts that there will be bids flying in for Christopher Samba when the transfer window reopens, and Blackburn will have a tough time convincing him to stay.

He is a quality central defender, no question. He is dominant in the air, strong in the tackle, quick in recovery and causes absolute havoc in the penalty area.

Arsenal and Tottenham are two clubs almost certain to be monitoring his situation, and I wouldn't bet against a few others cropping up. He'd be expensive, but he'd be worth it!

Likelihood of a transfer: 6/10

Potential destination(s): Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City 

Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill won't be a Bolton player much longer.

Bolton is yet another player whose contract expires at the end of the current season, and the Wanderers will have to cash in on him in January to avoid losing him on a free in the summer.

They may well keep him and let him leave for nothing, but the owners are not likely to support that when he could still fetch at least £7 million this January.

He is a very capable centre-back who looked at ease alongside John Terry on England duty. Bolton's woeful start to the season will not have persuaded him to stick with the Trotters, and he will be a fantastic signing for someone soon enough

Likelihood of a transfer: 8/10

Potential destination(s): Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City

Carlos Tevez

Talk-of-the-nation Tevez has genuine potential for a January move. The reasons why are very well documented, but he is not a nailed-on transfer.

Manchester City will be very, very reluctant to let him leave despite his actions. He is a top-quality striker who could slot into any team in the world. 

His fee will have been reduced during the recent mishaps in Munich, but City will still hold out for at least £30 million. That's still a steep sum, and you can't guarantee someone will pay it.

Picking his possible destination is incredibly difficult. Below are the teams who might be able to afford him, but really, who knows where he'll end up?

Likelihood of a transfer: 6/10

Potential destination(s): PSG, Malaga, Anzhi Makhachkala, Corinthians, Real Madrid, Internazionale

Darron Gibson

Darron Gibson's days at Manchester United may be at an end now. He was a bit of a late bloomer and played in a few crucial fixtures for the Red Devils over the past few seasons, but besides his long-range cannon shot, there are no other world class attributes to his game.

Manchester United have played the season so far using Tom Cleverley, Anderson and Darren Fletcher. Beyond these three, they have Michael Carrick, Park Ji-Sung and Ryan Giggs as capable central midfielders.

He nearly secured a move to Sunderland in the summer alongside Wes Brown and John O'Shea, but it fell through. Sunderland may not come back in for him now they've secured Craig Gardner, though.

Likelihood of a transfer: 8/10

Potential destination(s): QPR, Norwich, Wigan

Giovani Dos Santos

This Mexican prodigy has been around for a long time now but is still aged just 22. Despite this, he's accrued over 50 caps for his country and has played in Spain, England and Turkey, and in one World Cup.

But he can't settle in at White Hart Lane. The competition for places in midfield is very tough, with the likes of Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart really holding onto those expansive and attacking midfield berths ahead of him.

It would be a shame to see him go, as he still has the potential to be a world-class player, but his number is up at the Lane. He said he refuses to be a bit-part player this season, but unfortunately he's barely had a look in again.

A January move beckons for dos Santos.

Likelihood of a transfer: 9/10

Potential destination(s): Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas, any Spanish team

Steven Pienaar

In a similar sort of vein to Giovani dos Santos, the midfield is so packed at White Hart Lane that Steven Pienaar can't get a game either.

Even for an established international who can play through the middle or on either flank, the Spurs first team is studded with so many stars that this South African utility man is currently on the bench.

He was signed for a low fee from Everton, and it is believed that his wages are in excess of £50,000. If push comes to shove near January, Harry Redknapp may well wish to rid himself of him, and Pienaar could elect to seek first-team football.

Despite being very close to 30, he'd have a number of suitors.

Likelihood of a transfer: 5/10

Potential destination(s): Every Premier League club that's not a "Power 5"

Vedran Corluka

Another Tottenham player, yes, but their squad really is packed.

The emergence of Kyle Walker this season must mean Gerard Houllier is firmly entrenched onto the "Harry Redknapp Christmas card list," as the loan spell at Villa Park last season provided Walker with the experience and confidence needed to nail a starting berth in the Tottenham team.

Walker has impressed, too, showing pace, power and work rate second to none. The goal he scored against Arsenal means he's already endeared himself into the hearts of the Tottenham faithful and left the usual customer at right-back without a slot.

Corluka is a good performer but significantly less explosive than Walker on the flanks. The competition at centre-back is fierce, and he won't slot in there either.

Likelihood of a transfer: 3/10

Potential destination(s): A European team? Transfer unlikely despite decreased playing time.

Gonzalo Jara

Gonzalo Jara has played just six minutes in the league this season. He is clearly not in Roy Hodgson's first-team plans, but the truth is he is a capable defender.

With 49 international caps for the rising stars Chile, Jara says he is a skilled player, and he could slot in nicely at a Premier League club needing defensive reinforcements.

He was signed for a small fee of £1.4 million a few seasons ago, and thus his transfer fee would be cheap and wages lower in scale compared to some.

Likelihood of a transfer: 7/10

Potential destination(s): Any Premier League club leaking goals—he would fit in especially well at QPR!