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Premiership Football News: January 2010 Transfer Window

Andy Greeves

Liverpool

Financial difficulties at Liverpool will make it hard for Rafa Benitez to get his hands on the adequate funds needed for squad rejuvenation this January. Having been knocked out of the Champions League and trailing a number of clubs in race for the top four, the Reds need to make a number of quality acquisitions to turn their season around.

Emile Heskey had been linked with a return to Anfield and he could prove to be a shrewd investment. Liverpool are in desperate need of a proven front man to complement Fernando Torres in attack.

Valencia pair David Silva and David Villa, who had long been mounted as Liverpool transfer targets, would represent the ideal calibre of signing. Their price tags are likely to prove far too prohibitive for Liverpool at the present time however.

Manchester City

It's a question of where do you start when trying to outline Manchester City's potential moves this January. The club, who have arguable the greatest disposable transfer budget in world football, have already completed a deal to bring former Arsenal favourite Patrick Vieira to Eastlands and are hungry for more new signings.

The main area of weakness in City's side presently, as they push for a top four finish this season, is in defence. Palermo centre-half Simon Kjaer could bring much needed steel to the Blues' backline, though the Dane is also a target for Chelsea and Manchester United this January.

Fellow Serie A based defenders Leonardo Boncucci, Ivan Cordoba and Giorgio Chiellini have also been linked with moves to City.

Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson insists that United's vast debts will not affect his plans in the transfer market and the legendary manager will no doubt hope for one or two signings to shore up his side as they push for a record 19th title success.

Having been blighted with injuries, especially in defensive areas this season, Gary Cahill of Bolton Wanderers and Palermo's Simon Kjaer could prove sound investments. Benfica winger Angel di Maria has also been linked with United in a move that could close the door on Nani's future at Old Trafford.

With Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszack failing to fill the gloves of Edwin van der Sar in his absence this campaign, it might be interesting to see if Fergie also moves to bring a new goalkeeper to the club.

Portsmouth

With a Premier League transfer embargo hanging over Fratton Park, the best Pompey can hope for this January is to keep a number of their best players in Hampshire and get good prices for the others.

Goalkeepers David James and Asmir Begovic have both been linked with moves to join their old manager Harry Redknapp at Tottenham. Younes Kaboul seems the most likely player to move on this January, with Manchester City and Lyon preparing bids. Portsmouth are reported to want as much as £14million for Kaboul as they look to avoid being the first ever Premier League club to go into administration.

Stoke City

Having bid £15million for then-Tottenham striker Darren Bent back in the summer, Stoke City have proven they have the financial clout to compete for major players in the transfer window, should they become available.

Stoke have enquired about the availability of former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy while Aston Villa's Marlon Harewood and Newcastle United's Andy Carroll are other reported forward targets.

Sunderland

Kenwyne Jones has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs as the January transfer window, though boss Steve Bruce insists the big forward is going nowhere.

If the summer transfer window is anything to go by, Sunderland could be highly active again this month and strikers Marouane Chamakh and Kevin Kuranyi, of Bordeaux and Schalke respectively, are amongst those linked with the Stadium of Light club.

The Black Cats' full-back areas could do with shoring up and Tottenham's Alan Hutton and Wigan's Maynor Figueroa would be good signings in this position.

Tottenham Hotspur

Harry Redknapp insists he's highly unlikely to make a signing this January, though it seems unlikely one of the Premier League's ultimate wheeler dealers could go a whole transfer window without making a purchase.

Tottenham's squad looks in pretty good shape as they gear up towards a final season battle for a fourth placed spot. Getting cover in defensive areas would be Harry Redknapp's priority if he was to buy someone, given the on-going problems with Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King. Sunderland's Anton Ferdinand and Manchester City's Micah Richards are reportedly on the Spurs radar.

Roman Pavlyuchenko and David Bentley have both become surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane and are likely to move on this month.

West Ham United

West Ham are yet another club in a dire financial state, but with relegation a genuine threat, the Hammers may be forced into buying new players to increase their chances of staying in the division.

Italian-based strikers Adriano and Adrian Mutu have been touted as possible forward signings for West Ham while an approach to bring Stoke's James Beattie to Upton Park on loan is reported to have been made.

A host of top Hammers stars are on the wanted lists of other clubs, including Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Carlton Cole, Jack Collison and Scott Parker. The sale of any of those players could prove catastrophic for West Ham's survival hopes.

Wigan Athletic

The Latics have been on the end of some heavy defeats in the first half of the 2009-10 season and boss Roberto Martinez will been keen to bring some new recruits to the DW Stadium to ease Wigan's relegation fears.

Wigan are keen to wrap up a deal for Celtic defender Gary Caldwell, despite Middlesbrough already having a bid accepted for the Scottish player. Other targets include Velez Sarsfield Waldo Ponce and Independiente's Jackson Martinez.

Forgotten midfield man Olivier Kapo has moved from Wigan to French Ligue 1 side Boulogne on loan until the end of the season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Despite a solid first half to the season, Wolves lack strength in depth and Mick McCarthy is likely to want to bolster certain areas of the park this January.

Wolves are thought to be close to a deal to bring Hull City midfielder Stephen Hunt to Molineux for a fee in the region £3million. Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson, Celtic's Niall McGinn and Aston Villa's Craig Gardner could also be moving to the Black Country club.

Greg Halford could be sold to help generate funds for new players.

January Transfer 2010 Window Part One

Andy Greeves

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