The Premier League's January Sales
Who Could be Moving During the January Transfer Window?
With more money in the Premier League than ever before, this could be the most hectic transfer window yet.
They go into the new year top of the table but Arsenal are not set to splash the cash in a bid to consolidate their peak position. Adebayor's Togo have not qualified for the African Cup of Nations, so striking reinforcements are not needed. With Touré and Eboué away with the Ivory Coast, Johan Djourou may be recalled from his loan at Birmingham City to provide cover.
Manchester Utd manager Alex Ferguson has stated he is after some cover at full-back, particularly Rangers right back Alan Hutton, though many supporters would rather he chase a striker such as Nicolas Anelka or Dimitar Berbatov.
Both of whom interest Chelsea, who urgently need to fatten up their squad in the face of departing Africans and a lengthy injury list. Anelka and Berbatov are favourites to join, with other possibilities including Valencia's David Villa and David Albelda, Hamburg's Rafael van der Vaart and Lokomotiv Moscow's versatile defender Branislav Ivanovic.
Liverpool are linked with Argentine striker Germán Denis from Independiente but are most in need of central defensive cover. Moves for Milan's Kakha Kaladze and Fiorentina's Tomás Ujfalusi appear to have broken down, so Rafa Benítez may have to look a little closer to home. Javier Mascherano's loan move could be made permanent with Liverpool worried about continental clubs sniffing around the Argentina holding midfielder.
Chasing European places, Everton are set to sign Plymouth defender Dan Gosling while Manchester City have already snapped up mercurial Mexican forward Nery Castillo with Peter Crouch and Vágner Love also linked.
Further down the table, Newcastle's billionaire owner Mike Ashley needs to sure up the side's interminably faltering defense, Birmingham are chasing Manchester Utd's Darren Fletcher while Sunderland have taken the champions' defender Jonny Evans on a five month loan.
Any number of clubs are after West Ham's spasmodically-used striker Dean Ashton, whilst Blackburn's Robbie Savage could join Sunderland or Derby.
Reading manager Steve Coppell has repeatedly stated his opposition to the artificial transfer window but could be about to acquire another striker with Leroy Lita interesting Sunderland.
Fulham's new manager Roy Hodgson knows he needs to improve the quality of his squad, who seem incapable of holding on to leads after half time. Sami Hyypiä of Liverpool and Watford striker Marlon King are both linked.
Wigan have sold defender Fitz Hall to QPR - now the richest club in the world - while Derby County look doomed and so Paul Jewell may save their Premier League TV money for a rainy day chasing a promotion spot in next season's Championship campaign.
Some players who could move from the continent who will appeal to any number of Premier League clubs include Lyon's classy striker Karim Benzema, Barcelona star Ronaldinho, Ajax midfielder Hedwiges Maduro, Marseille's playmaker Samir Nasri or Real Madrid's out-of-favour striker Javier Saviola. Whoever moves during the next four weeks it is the Premier League clubs who hold the loosest purse strings.
