January Transfers: 11 Big Names Who Desperately Want a Move

The January transfer window is an important period in the season because it is the time when clubs analyze and evaluate their position in the league and make new signings accordingly. In a lot of cases, there are some players who cannot complete their move away from the club in the summer and sign for another club in the January window.

It is important that clubs make the right decisions in the January transfer window because it could determine how their season goes.

There are always some big players who look for a move in January but the only problem with big players moving in the middle of the season is that there is a good chance they might be Cup-tied. Last season, there were many clubs who splashed the cash in January like Chelsea, who signed David Luiz and Fernando Torres. Luiz was ineligible to play in the Champions League.

In this January transfer window, it is expected that there will be movement of big players and here are some of those who could move in the month of January. 

1. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

Didier Drogba is a player who has scored plenty of goals for the Blues in the past decade but with Roman Abrahamovic spending huge money on Spanish striker Fernando Torres, Drogba's Chelsea future has certainly come into question.

Though former manager Carlo Ancelotti tried playing Torres and Drogba together, they have not developed a good partnership and both look better when they play as a single striker flanked by wide men.

With the Ivory Coast international over 33 years of age, he has less than a year to go on his contract which means he could leave the club at a bargain price this January.

Drogba still has some football left at the top level and if he does not get regular playing time when Torres is fit, he might have to move to another club. If he decides to leave, there will certainly be top clubs who will be interested in him.

2. Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)

Carlos Tevez was Manchester City's most important player the last couple of seasons, but as the current situation would suggest, City can cope without his presence in the squad.

The signing of the talented Sergio Aguero coupled with the form of Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko has meant that City do have enough depth in their ranks to be successful without Tevez, which is an advantage of having a large squad.

With Tevez and manager Roberto Mancini involved in plenty of controversy following their loss to Bayern Munich, it seems that Tevez has no role to play for City under Mancini and is probably going to spend more time without playing regular football. Tevez clearly still has at least a few more years at the top and will be desperate to move to another club in the January transfer window.

3. Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)

Riccardo Montolivo is one of the most experienced and talented Fiorentina players and the midfielder has attracted the attention of several top European clubs.

Though Fiorentina would prefer to hold on to the midfielder, it would make sense for the club to sell Montolivo if he does not sign a new contract because he will have only six months left on his current deal in January and could leave as a free transfer in the summer.

Montolivo does respect the club and its supporters but with Fiorentina currently not having a great chance of finishing in the Champions League places, he might have to leave for a top club in order to play in the Champions League.

The Italian international has been linked with both Arsenal and AC Milan and could have a decision to make in January, though there always exists the possibility of him signing a new contract and staying with Fiorentina.

4. Joan Capdevila (Benfica)

Spanish defender Joan Capdevila joined Benfica from Villareal in the summer and has not had a good time with the club since his signing.

Manager Jorge Jesus does not favor Capdevila for left back and has also left him out of the 25-player squad for the group stages of the Champions League, a big disappointment for the defender. 

The defender is likely to move on in January because he is not a regular member of the team and at the age of 33, and he still has a few years of quality football left in him. Capdevila has represented Spain on around 60 occasions and not playing at Benfica would mean that he might not be considered for selection by Vicente Del Bosque. 

5. Luka Modric (Tottenham)

Though Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy refused to back down and held on to Luka Modric despite interest from Chelsea, the transfer saga could resume when the January window opens.

Modric is a player of immense potential and Chelsea do want to add fluidity to the midfield and though they did add Raul Meireles in the summer, Modric would be a fine addition to the squad. With technically good and creative players like Juan Mata and Fernando Torres in the squad, Modric could add more creativity to the Blues.

Chelsea are surprisingly not among the top two favorites at present to win the Premiership mainly due to the impressive form of Manchester City and Manchester United, leaving Chelsea in third place.

Modric has been good for the Spurs this season, but with the 26-year-old harboring ambitions of joining a top club in the future, he would probably push through a move if Chelsea do bid again in January.

6. Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal)

Moroccan captain Marouane Chamakh could leave the Gunners in January after Arsene Wenger apparently lost faith in the former Bordeaux striker.

Chamakh started his Arsenal career on a bright note in the previous season in place of the injured  Robin van Persie, but since Van Persie returned from injury to recapture his form, Chamakh has faded drastically and does seem like he lacks confidence.

Though Chamakh has shown that he can score important goals, he also misses opportunities because he is not a clinical finisher with his feet and needs to work on it.

The 27-year-old has not received many opportunities this season mainly due to the brilliant form of Van Persie and Chamakh could be on his way in January.

7. Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid)

Angel Di Maria was signed by Real Madrid in the summer of 2010 and had a pretty good season for Madrid under Jose Mourinho. The manager would not have been happy with the club only winning the Copa Del Rey and will expect more from his players this season.

Despite Di Maria joining just last summer and having a contract till 2016, he wanted to be awarded a new contract by Real Madrid following his good performances in the previous season.

According to Goal.com, Di Maria said

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"I am very pleased and happy after my season. I am now eager for a contract renewal because I was promised that if things went well, I would receive a new deal," he told Radio La Red. "I am very happy in Madrid and eager to renew before the Copa America if possible."

"

In 2011, Brazilian star Kaka has returned to form following a long break after his injuries and Madrid have signed Portugal international Fabio Coentrao, who is also comfortable on the left wing.

Kaka's form has meant that Di Maria could be benched for more games than he would have expected and with the addition of Nuri Sahin, Hamit Altintop and Jose Callejon, who can all play on the wing if necessary, Madrid do have enough depth in the position.

8. Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United)

It is quite hard to figure out why Sir Alex Ferguson has kept Dimitar Berbatov out of the team for quite a long time, even though Berbatov finished last season as the top goalscorer for Manchester United and the Premiership.

The emergence of Javier Hernandez meant that Berbatov needed to be dropped last season, though he is likely even more frustrated with his exclusion from the Champions League final squad in favor of Michael Owen.

When Hernandez was injured before the start of the season, it was expected that Berbatov would be given a chance alongside Wayne Rooney. However, it was Danny Welbeck who got to start for United and he has been in excellent form since the start of the season, with Chicharito close behind him in the pecking order and Berbatov probably leaving Old Trafford in January.

9. Florent Malouda (Chelsea)

Florent Malouda has had many good moments with Chelsea, but under Andre Villas-Boas, he has not established himself as a starter for the Blues.

It will be very difficult to start regularly for Chelsea considering the signing of Juan Mata, who plays on the left and has been superb since his arrival, contributing immensely to Chelsea's recent success. Malouda favors the left wing where his crossing can be utilized but with Mata in such good form, it will be very difficult for him to displace the Spaniard.

The Frenchman is still a part of French manager Laurent Blanc's plans for the Euro Championships but if he does not play regularly, that situation could change considering that France have many good young players.

With Daniel Sturridge also on the verge of establishing himself, it will be difficult for Malouda to find a regular place in Chelsea's lineup, which is why he might want to leave. However, it is likely that Chelsea will not let him leave unless they sign a player in his position because the Blues could thin in January due to their contract situations.

10. Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham)

Roman Pavlyuchenko has shown on many occasions that he is a quality striker who has the talent to excel in the Premiership.

However, he has been far too inconsistent and manager Harry Redknapp has not selected him on many occasions because of that inconsistency. Pavlyuchenko could score a brilliant goal and miss two or three very easy chances in the same game, which is why Redknapp is looking to add a striker in the transfer window following the departure of Peter Crouch to Stoke City.

Emmanuel Adebayor was signed on loan from Manchester City in the summer and the former Arsenal striker has been in excellent form for Spurs since he signed for them. Jermain Defoe has also regained his form and is now scoring goals again for Tottenham after not scoring very often last season

Pavlyuchenko cannot get enough games for Spurs and is most likely to want to move to another club when the January transfer window opens.

11. Yann M'Vila (Rennes)

Yann M'Vila has emerged as one of France's best talents in recent years and the central midfielder could be targeted by clubs for a move in January.

The midfielder is a player of immense potential and needs to move to a club where he can develop and become even better. French manager Laurent Blanc has also called him up for the French side and he is a player who could be considered world class in the future.

According to Goal.com, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is apparently preparing a big money move for the Rennes midfielder because the Gunners do not have enough quality depth in central midfield, mainly due to the injuries to Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere and the departure of Cesc Fabregas.

M'Vila could be a huge addition to the side and could make a difference if he is signed by the Gunners.