The month of January is a manic one in the football calender: packed with fixtures, managers under more pressure than in previous ones and of course, the transfer window. It's when players heads are turned, squads turnover at a ridiculous pace and deals are often done at ridiculous rates. We've already seen Edin Dzeko join the Premier League in a £27million deal, while the story of the window so far has to be Darren Bent's controversial move from Sunderland to Aston Villa. But who else will be on the move this month? Here's my top eleven who are either seeking transfers or who are openly available:
Makes mistakes? Yes. Questionnable handling? Yes. But Arsene Wenger has stuck with Almunia for the past few seasons and Wenger rarely misjudges a player. With Lukas Fabianski and even young Wojciech Szczesny now in front of him in the pecking order, the former Celta Vigo stopper could look elsewhere for first-team football. A decent shot-stopper and experienced, he would make a good goalkeeper when he's not under the limelight so much. And don't mention him playing for England.
POSSIBLE DESTINATION: Abroad back to Spain
RIGHT-BACK: Glen Johnson
Still England's first choice right-back, but by virtue of little competition, Glen has endured a tough season up at troubled Liverpool. Whereas most players underperformed under Roy Hodgson, Johnson's form and confidence plummeted at Anfield with the former Portsmouth and West Ham defender's game returned to the mistake-littered performances of his later Chelsea days. The return of King Kenny may have put a smile back on his face for now, but Glen may still be tempted with a move away from Merseyside.
POSSIBLE DESTINATION: Tottenham, Aston Villa, abroad
CENTRE-BACKS: Curtis Davies + Chris Samba
Two centre-backs with differing stories. Curtis Davies joined Aston Villa in 2007 with a massive reputation, but poor performances and injuries have limited him to just 37 appearances at Villa Park and he recently joined Leicester on loan. Gerard Houllier doesn't appear to have much faith in him either, but with games and confidence is a very decent defender and would be available relatively cheaply. On the other hand, Chris Samba has been one of Blackburn's stand-out performers in his 131 appearances for Rovers. A rock in the centre of defence, his strength and power have won him many admirers over the years; admirers who were alerted when Samba handed in a transfer request soon after Sam Allardyce was sacked. He appears to be more commited now Steve Kean is in permanent charge, but his head would be turned in mooted moves to Arsenal, Tottenham or Liverpool materialised.
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: Wolves, Bolton, Leicester + Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool
LEFT-BACK: Stephen Warnock
A loan move to Liverpool is in the pipeline for Warnock, who has fallen out of favour with Gerard Houllier. The former Blackburn man made England's World Cup squad and appeared to be Villa's first-choice left-back at the start of the season, but has fallen behind Ciaran Clark in the team and doesn't appear to have the best of relationships with Gerard Houllier. And now he is set to re-join the team he began his career with in a fine move for him and for Liverpool, but until that deal is sealed, he is a player that will turn people's heads.
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: Liverpool, Sunderland, Blackburn
RIGHT MIDFIELD: Shaun Wright-Phillips
One of many who can claim to have been pushed out of the first-team at Manchester City, but Wright-Phillips is an exciting player on his day. It seems years ago now that he was terrorising the wing with City in his early days, and the move to Chelsea in hindsight only to stunt his growth as England's pacy wing outlet. But even now he has shown in glimpses at Eastlands that he can still do a great job, and at a mid-table Premier League club he can inspire a move up in the table.POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: Fulham, West Ham, Sunderland
CENTRE MIDFIELD: Jamie O'Hara + Michael Johnson
A young English midfield partnership and one which is struggling to get a game behind more established stars. Jamie O'Hara has the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Luka Modric and Wilson Palacios ahead of him in the Tottenham pecking order, and added to the back injury he is recovering from, his first-team prospects are not looking great. But, as a Pompey fan, I can vouch for his commitment, quality and class on the football field and he can do a job in the Premier League without a doubt. Michael Johnson is much the same; two long-lasting injuries have seen him drop behind Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure, Nigel De Jong and the rest at Manchester City. He drew comparisons to Colin Bell in his early City days with his skill in midfield and his goalscoring prowess, and re-finding that form will almost definitely not happen at City.
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS (for both): West Ham, Wolves, Bolton
LEFT MIDFIELD: Niko Kranjcar
Another who has felt the force of Tottenham's improvement, Niko Kranjcar has been the victim of Gareth Bale's rise to prominence. Niko made a fine start to his Spurs career and made 32 appearances last season, but has started just three games this term. Meanwhile, Welsh starlet Bale has hit the headlines with starring roles, in particular in the games against Inter Milan, and has made the left midfield position his own. Niko has spoken to Harry Redknapp about leaving and would have no shortage of suitors if he did demand a move.
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: Everton, Aston Villa, Roma
STRIKERS: Robbie Keane + Jay Bothroyd
Again, another case of differing instances. Robbie Keane is one of the Premier League's great strikers, but has struggled at Tottenham since he returned from the ill-fated spell at Liverpool. Almost 200 games and 80 goals in his previous stint at White Hart Lane, but this time around he has 10 in 40, and not much prospect of a starting role with Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko ahead of him. He has already asked to leave and if he can lower his wage demands, he can get back in the goals for a team lower in the Premier League. In contrast, Jay Bothroyd is starring for Cardiff ahead of Craig Bellamy and Michael Chopra and made his England debut last year - not bad for a Championship player. His contract runs out at the end of the season and so far, Cardiff have resisted selling the striker - but the right offer could tempt the Welsh club to let their top scorer leave.
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: West Ham, Everton, Wolves + Newcastle, West Ham, Wolves
So if your club is looking for a player, here's a selection of the best available. Although it is quite disheartening that there are seven English players on here, but at least you know it's all value for money! Let the bidding commence.
NWR
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