Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Top 10 January Gossip Leads

Manchester United recently celebrated 25 years under manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

If they want to celebrate a 20th league title next May, they'll probably need reinforcements in January.

When the world football transfer window reopens in January, Manchester United figure to be busy. After staying silent at the last deadline (admittedly because they had already signed players during the summer) United could be one of England's busiest teams this time.

Why?

Remember the 6-1 loss to Manchester City?

You can bet Ferguson and his players do, and you can bet he'll be looking for ways to strengthen his squad before the two teams play again April 28.

Who will he buy? It's tough to say. But here are 10 players that have been linked to United in recent months.

Yes, we included Wesley Sneijder, but there are others on the list, too.

1. Christian Eriksen

Who: Christian Eriksen

Club: Ajax

Country: Denmark

Age: 19

Position: Attacking midfielder

The Skinny: ESPNSoccernet reckons that Ferguson is still looking to replace Paul Scholes and that Eriksen would be a good fit. They quote The Daily Star, who quote an unnamed Scandinavian source apparently close to Eriksen.

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"United are hot on him. Trust me, they want him and £20 million is the price being bandied around," a source in Scandinavia told the newspaper. "Yet ironically both Chelsea and Spurs turned him down several years ago because they thought he was too small. He has since turned into a world-class player."

"

That source sure talks like a newspaper writer. We guess we can overlook that for now, though.

2. Mateo Kovacic

Who: Mateo Kovacic

Club: Dinamo Zagreb

Country: Croatia

Age: 17

Position: Attacking midfielder

The Skinny: "The new Luka Modric" (didn't know we needed another) favours a transfer to Manchester United over Arsenal, or so Metro have reported.

An unnamed source says a January move is unlikely because of Kovacic's price tag of around £10 million.

3. Lucas Ocampos

Who: Lucas Ocampos

Club: River Plate (Argentina)

Country: Argentina

Age: 17

Position: Winger

The Skinny: "The new Cristiano Ronaldo" (we definitely don't need another) is being tracked by several top European clubs, according to the Mail Online.

The Mail think Chelsea lead the pack, but United are also in with a shout.

Ocampos is an intriguing prospect because of his age (17) and size (6-foot-2). He made his first-team breakthrough at River Plate earlier this season.

4. Javi Garcia

Who: Javi Garcia

Club: Benfica

Country: Spain

Age: 24

Position: Defensive midfield

The Skinny: Metro reported a while back that United were interested in signing defensive midfielder Javi Garcia away from Benfica.

The 24-year-old arrived from Real Madrid for £6 million in 2009 and has impressed with the Portuguese club.

United face competition from AC Milan for Garcia's signature.

5. Javi Martinez

Who: Javi Martinez

Club: Athetlic Bilbao

Country: Spain

Age: 23

Position: Midfield

The Skinny: The Mail Online are reporting that United are chasing Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez.

There are two problems: first, his price tag is reportedly £34 million (that's a lot of money, even for United) and second, Manchester City are in the race.

That's not a lot of money for City to spend.

6. Jordi Alba

Who: Jordi Alba

Club: Valencia

Country: Spain

Age: 22

Position: Defender/Midfielder

The Skinny: Alba says he doesn't know anything about any Manchester United rumours. Honest!

The fullback has been touted as a long-term replacement for Patrice Evra at Old Trafford, even if he doesn't know about it.

7. Nico Gaitan

Sir Alex Ferguson must have been impressed with someone when Benfica drew 1-1 with Manchester United in the Champions League.

According to this report, United are interested in Benfica's "wing wizard" Nico Gaitan:

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Argentine winger Gaitan has been in exceptional form so far this season in his side's unbeaten start to the campaign—and caught the eye in Benfica's 1-1 Champions League draw with United in September.

And now, according to reports in Portugal, Sir Alex Ferguson is considering a move for the 23-year-old but he will face competition from a number of top clubs across Europe.

But Jose Iribarren, who is Gaitan's agent, insists his client is happy at Benfica.

"Gaitan still has much more to give at Benfica," he told O Jogo. "He is doing a great job and it is normal that foreign clubs are following him but he is currently happy where he is."

"

United previously signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani from Portugal, so this might be something to watch in January.

8. Ricky Van Wolfswinkel

Who: Ricky Van Wolfswinkel

Club: Sporting

Country: Netherlands

Age: 22

Position: Forward

The Skinny: Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (we really, really like writing out that name) is a Dutch international striker who plays for Sporting in Portugal. The Guardian have a report linking him to Manchester United.

If nothing else, United would have a leg-up in the best-name squad if they sign Van Wolfenwhatever.

9. Mario Götze

Who: Mario Götze

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Country: Germany

Age: 19

Position: Attacking midfielder

The Skinny: Götze is one of the hottest prospects in Europe, and while his club keeps saying he's not going anywhere, we all know better than that.

United have been mentioned among potential suitors, but this report says Juventus lead the pack.

10. Wesley Sneijder

You've read the rumours.

You know who he is.

Yep, we're keeping this rumour alive. It didn't happen in August, but Wesley Sneijder and Manchester United are about to have another chance to play their game of cat and mouse.

We can't wait.