Monday, November 22, 2010

On The Move: Potential January Transfers


With the January transfer window approaching and the weaknesses in starting XI of YOUR squad, let's find out who the likely movers and replacements available are. 

Antonio Cassano


Current Team: Sampdoria

After the Italian badboy's recent bust-up with the Sampdoria club president Riccardo Garrone and duly warming the bench for the Genoan side, a January move seems to be in the cards. The main deterrent for purchasing this allegedly reformed man, is his temperament and attitude towards authority. It is quite a shame that Italy's most creative talent is continually cutting his feet out from underneath him. The unsetteled star has put Juve and Inter on high alert, but one gets the feeling that Sampdoria will sell to the highest bidder, regardless of Cassano's wishes.

Likely Destinations: Juventus and Inter Milan


After the jump- Adebayor, Ashley Young, and Nicklas Bendtner all wantaway


Niko Kranjcar



Current Team: Tottenham Hotspur

With Kranjcar's long-term injury and the success of summer transfer bargin Rafael Van Der Vaart, the Croatian's playing time seems bleak playing behind countrymen Modric. He is a player of great creative ability and will be able to add the extra thrust going forward for many clubs.

Likely Destinations: Liverpool and Hamburg SV

Ashley Young


Current Team: Aston Villa


The Aston Villa winger and English international has recently muted potential moves. Young has the pace and EPL pedigree to succeed at top club. With the recent Villa clear-out of James Milner and Gareth Barry, it is doubtful that Young will want to stick it out alone.

Likely Destinations: Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Manchester United

Shay Given
Current Team:  Manchester City

Given the meteoric rise and match-winning form of Joe Hart, Shay Given has been unseated between the sticks in the blue side of Manchester. During the summer transfer window, the Irishman was continually linked with many keepers to Arsenal to replace the hapless group of keepers at the Emirates. Recently Given has been speaking out regarding his dissatisfaction at his playing situation. Expect a move come January.

Likely Destinations: Arsenal, Manchester United, and abroad

Shaun Wright Phillips
Current Team: Manchester City

Another want-away winger (seems to be a bit of a theme) is eager to leave the Eastlands outfit. As a member of the Citizens pre-takeover, he is unfortunate to not be in the plans of the club's lofty ambition. Decent skill set and great pace will find this midfielder a home.

Likely Destinations: Arsenal, Tottenham, and Blackburn

Steven Defour


Current Team:  Standard Liege


The highly-rated captain of the Standard Liege will likely be pegged to join up with United or Liverpool- both in need of a quality holding midfielder. Do not expect the Belgian side to be willing to let their talisman go, but money is king in global football.

Likely Destinations: Manchester United and Liverpool

Landon Donovan
Current Team: LA Galaxy

I would imagine tired would be the only word to describe the American's current state. After a grueling EPL campaign with Everton last term, followed by reaching the last sixteen in the World Cup with USMNT, and the subsequent MLS campaign and Cup, which would make 12 months of nonstop footballing for Donovan. The question is, how much does he have left in the tank? With Everton rumored to be interested in ownership and another loan deal, Donovan could likely be headed to Merseyside once again.

Likely Destinations: Everton

Karim Benzema


Current Team: Real Madrid


With a 35 million dollar price tag sitting around the neck of the former Lyon man, anything other than spectacular play was going to be regarded as failure at the Bernabeu. Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long-time of admirer of the Frenchman and even tabled a bid for Benzema before he made the journey to Madrid. The Scotsman will be looking to add to his attacking forces and disapproval from Wayne Rooney makes a big-time January buy even more likely. The sale is not United's to lose, expect competition from Italian giants Juventus and from Chelsea as well.

Likely Destinations: Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Juventus

Mamadou Sakho
Current Team: Paris Saint Germain

Oh Arsenal? You seem to only purchase offensive midfielders of the same role, despite having countless in the reserves and on the bench. Will they finally act on the defensive frailties of the past few years and lay down the funds for quality defenders. Sakho has been in stellar form for the Parisian club this term and will surely be on the Gunners shopping list.

Likely Destinations: Arsenal

Emmanuel Adebayor


Current Team: Manchester City


The Togolese target man has been lacking first team  starting time since the arrival of Carlos Tevez, which was before he even hit the pitch. The often offsides striker will surely be looking for an Italian getaway with his long admirers of Juve and AC Milan leading the pack. With rumored locker room bust-ups with manager Mancini, it seems even more likely that Adebayor will leave Eastlands.

Likely Destinations: Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter

Dani Alves
Current Team: Barcelona

I would doubt that Alves will move despite being linked, but with mounds of cash can you ever tell city no.

Likely Destinations: If any, Manchester City

Neven Subotic



Current Team: Borussia Dortmund

The American turned Serbian international will surely be the interest of numerous EPL clubs. Chelsea are fragile in the back with Alex and John Terry as frequent visitors to the treatment table. Manchester United have blown numerous leads and Arsenal always have problems in the back.

Likely Destinations: Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United

Lass Diarra
Current Team: Real Madrid

Having switched five clubs by the age of 25, Lass Diarra has become a bit of a journeyman in world football. Despite being a consistent holding midfielder for Real Madrid, Diarra seems to have been replaced by the spectacular performances of Sami Khedira. Surely Jose Mourinho will view Diarra as surplus to the requirements, much like he did at Chelsea.

Likely Destinations: Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Everton

Scott Parker
Current Team: West Ham

Scott Parker is easily one of the most under-rated and most consistent performers in the Premier League. With West Ham still languishing in the relegation zone, Parker may wish to leave despite the powers that be for the Hammers suggesting he is not on the market.

Likely Destinations: Tottenham, Liverpool, and Aston Villa

Michael Owen
Current Team: Manchester United

The perma-crocked legend, often rumored to be on the move, may well be headed out the Old Trafford door and into the wanting arms of Gerard Houllier. Not exactly the best mental image, but the man who arguably put Michael Owen on the map may still be interested in his services.

Likely Destinations: Aston Villa

Gervinho


Current Team: Lille


Having been on the EPL radar from a number of years while playing with Le Mans in Ligue 1, it seems possible that the Ivorian could be gracing the Anfield or Villa Park pitches. With a solid World Cup performance and great wing play, he may very well be the answer to the sputtering offenses of the Birmingham and Liverpool clubs. Why is he linked with Arsenal? Well he is Ivorian, speaks French, plays in Ligue 1, and would be superfluous to the needs of the Gunners, therefore Arsene Wenger is interested.

Likely Destinations: Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Arsenal

Nicklas Bendtner
Current Team: Arsenal

Arsenal's arrogant Danish striker has once again expressed his dissatisfaction with his time on the pitch, playing behind Robin van Persie and Marouane Chamakh and with competition from Mexican Carlos Vela, it seems unlikely that he will be anything other than a sub for the foreseeable future. I do doubt that Arsenal will be willing to offload the pink-booted striker, but if the right price comes along Wenger will pounce.

Likely Destinations: Aston Villa and Bayern Munich

Carlton Cole
Current Team: West Ham

Despite being heavily linked with the Gunners last January due to a Bendtner and RvP injury crisis (shocker), he will most likely not be linked with Arsenal during this term. With West Ham's struggling form and the need for new blood, Liverpool seem most likely to land the Hammers' target man, after over a year of speculation. Liverpool clearly need more strikers than N'Gog and Torres, so the speculation makes a decent amount of success.

Likely Destinations: Liverpool

Cesc Fabregas


Current Team: Arsenal


Despite being the least likely transfer of the bunch, you can never rule out Barcelona's unrequited love affair with their star that got away. This is the kind of transfer that could really only take place during the summer. I would not expect the Gunners' talisman to depart the Ashburton Grove outfit during the January window, but Arsenal fans will surely be biting their nails for another summer of drama.

Likely Destinations: Barcelona

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