January Transfer Window: Gary Cahill and Best Defenders on Market

The curtain has been raised as clubs throughout Europe and the world scurry to fill holes in their roster, send out youngsters for development or cut dead weight from the balance sheet.

Several top clubs in England and Europe are in dire straights for support in their back line. As teams prepare for the second half of the season, they will be eyeballing different moves to help plug the leaks.

Gary Cahill and several other defenders in England and throughout Europe could be on the move in January.

What are the rumors? Who are the targets? How much are clubs willing to pay?

New York Red Bulls: Tim Ream

Tim Ream has just completed a training stint with West Brom in the previous month and is currently training in England with the Bolton Wanderers. Ream's presence on the different English training grounds has attracted the attention of a few clubs in England for the 24-year-old's services.

Bolton seems to be lining up a bid for the New York Red Bulls' defender for the January transfer window. According to the Daily Mirror, Bolton is preparing a £3 million bid.

Bolton expects their English international, Gary Cahill, to be lured away by the bigger clubs in England by the end of January. Ream is their hopeful replacement as they look to cash in on Cahill's current price tag.

Ajax Amsterdam: Jan Vertonghen

The Ajax defender has attracted the big boys in England with his play in Amsterdam. Jan Vertonghen's experience is one of the main appeals.

Vertonghen has played in the Champions League and has 35 caps under his belt for Belgium. He's also won a Dutch league championship as the 24-year-old eyes a move to the Premier League.

Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester City and Tottenham are all rumored to be in the hunt for the Ajax utility defenseman. City should be the favorite if they're truly in it. The other three cannot compete with the deep pockets of City.

Although, according to The People, "Tottenham will make a January bid for £10 million-rated Ajax skipper Jan Vertonghen."

Manchester City: Wayne Bridge

Wayne Bridge has fallen out of favor with Roberto Mancini. Bridge has his bags packed but will be anxiously waiting to see which club wants the 31-year-old left-back.

Bridge's contempt has boiled over this past week after playing only one game this season.

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"When I was at Chelsea I was playing for a team where Ashley Cole was the best in the world and I still got games...Mancini doesn't really speak to me, he doesn't really speak to any of the players. The only time I've known a player isolated like this was Winston Bogarde at Chelsea. Usually you still train with the first team, even when they want you out."

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According to SkySports, Arsenal have been rumored with a move for the ex-Chelsea man as they try to patch up their injury-riddled back line. Arsene Wenger may opt to work out a loan deal rather than a permanent one, which could give the rumors some validity.

Tottenham Spurs: Vedran Corluka

Vedran Corluka's regular spot in Tottenham's first team has been taken over by the budding young starlet in Kyle Walker. The Croatian full back is looking to receiver more consistent playing time to avoid being excluded from this summer's Euro 2012.

According to the Daily Mirror, Roma's interest has been piqued with Corluka's availability. The Italian side are reportedly prepared to make a £5 million bid for the 25-year-old defender.

Harry Redknapp could use Corluka's sale to compete for a couple other players on this list as they look to stay on Manchester City's heels at the top of the table.

Udinese: Mehdi Benatia

The 24-year-old Moroccan central defender has attracted some big names throughout Europe for his services. The Udinese defender has been tracked by several clubs and could be on the move in January.

Mehdi Benatia's experience in Italy and in the Europa League will help him in his transition to a bigger club. According to footballgossip.org, Benatia has attracted the likes of Juventus, Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain in recent months.

The latter have reportedly tabled a £13 million deal for the Udinese defender but has already been rejected by the player. Benatia stated, "I've turned the page, I will return to France just to play with the shirt of Udinese. Now its part of my past, I'm happy here."

It could be a tough task for any of the big European clubs to pry the defender loose from his Italian club.

PSV Eindhoven: Jetro Willems

The Netherlands has produced another defensive starlet for this list. PSV's youngster Jetro Willems has dazzled during his time with the Dutch side.

Willems has drawn the attention of several scouts throughout Europe as he continues to impress in the Netherland's top flight at the tender age of 17. According to the Daily Mirror, Sir Alex Ferguson has had his scouts track the young Dutch international as they search for an understudy for Patrice Evra.

Grabbing Willems early before his value wildly inflates would allow United or another club to develop the teenager in their system. Gaining experience in England is unequivocal to any other league in Europe for a defender due to the physical nature of the Premier League.

Olympique Lyon: Aly Cissokho

Lyon could be losing one of their star players in defender Aly Cissokho by the end of the January transfer window. Once the curtain raises, there could be several clubs lined up try to lure away the 24-year-old left-back.

Cissokho was on the verge of a move to Anfield during the summer and could request that a move be made by the end of January. According to Sporsvibe and the Daily Mirror, Arsenal and Newcastle United will challenge Liverpool for the signing of Lyon's star left-back.

If Liverpool procrastinate on Cissokho's signature, Arsene Wenger could swoop in for the left-back due to his strong ties throughout France.

PSV Eindhoven: Erik Pieters

PSV Eindhoven could possibly lose not one, but two star defenders to bigger clubs throughout Europe. The raid for Dutch defenders seems to be a developing storyline for the January transfer window.

Erik Pieters is another defender being tracked by Europe's footballing muscle. The PSV left-back has been targeted by the recently cash-rich Newcastle United, according to Goal.com.

Pieters has been out of action since October with a broken foot and is expected to return to regular play in February. Whether that benefits Newcastle's bargaining or not will soon be determined at the turn of the new year.

Bolton Wanderers: Gary Cahill

The biggest name to circulate through the rumor mill will be Gary Cahill, as far as defenders go. Cahill was a big target during the summer months but Bolton's stalwart-like stance to keep the England international silenced any deal from fully materializing.

At 26 years old, Cahill has recently been called up for England's senior squad and has several years of top flight football experience. According to The Sun, Chelsea have already put in place a £7 million deal for the Bolton central defender, which is a far cry from Bolton's asking price during the summer.

The Sun also stated that Tottenham will be looking to sign Cahill as they try to bolster their back line for a run at the league title in the second half of the season.

Justin Sparks is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report @JustinSparks22