With the European Championships around the corner, this is the last chance for many players not guaranteed first team football to gain the move they think could make the difference between playing in the tournament and not.
To start with there is the slave at Old Trafford Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak who cannot be first choice for the international team given the form of Arsenal’s Wojciech Szcz?sny. I have previously stated that QPR need a Premier League standard keeper so maybe there is a deal to be done there.
Also at United is the Republic of Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson. Suddenly he seems to have fallen out of favour and was close to a move away during the summer. Whether Fergie has seen something in his attitude nobody knows but there a host of clubs that will be trying some kind of deal whether it be permanent or only on loan. Sunderland and Steve Bruce could be an option.
Away from Old Trafford down in North London and another club set to sell more than sell are Tottenham Hotspurs. Jermaine Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko have both been linked with moves away from White Hart Lane with QPR and Everton possible destinations.
Bolton’s Gary Cahill is expected to complete a £7m move away from the Reebok with Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham monitoring the situation.
Man City’s Adam Johnson is expected to make some kind of move during January which is surprising because you wonder who they would allow him to join. Which clubs would be beneficial to him. As it stands he isn’t going to be going to Poland and Ukraine in June.
Robbie Keane may be a consideration for one of the smaller Premier League teams as the MLS season has finished and as captain of Ireland he will want to keep his form and fitness levels up. Liverpool might not be a bad piece of business for both but West Brom, Norwich even Swansea is more likely.
Everton’s Jack Rodwell impressed on his international debut but hasn’t done enough to merit inclusion over anyone else in the pecking order. However should Manchester United come calling it will be hard for but club and player to resist. This might be a window to soon for Rodwell but that could also deaden his Euro 2012 chances.
There are sections of the online community that seem to think that clubs will be spending £40m-£50m but the reality wont be like that. If the total is even £200m come 1st February I’ll be surprised. The gamble is to great for the top teams. Luis Suarez is a rare exception but look at Fernando Torres and his unhappy time. David Luiz has his critics and you see that the panic new year buys don’t necessarily get results quicker.
Like I say we are sure to see lots of loan action but the fact is most teams can’t complain about where they find themselves at the moment. The league is evolving into a race between the Manchester clubs with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham fighting for the Champions League spots while Liverpool, Newcastle and Stoke and Everton look interested in the Europa League spots.
Blackburn will probably spend in this window as they struggle to fight relegation but changing their manager before the window opens may be a better alternative. Money is tight elsewhere down the bottom of the league and with clubs having to face up to the reality of UEFA’s financial regulations the talk of £50m signings is crazy.
There may be some panic signings at Chelsea but you have to question those. Villas-Boas is a good young manager with a bright future and the right approach to the game. Considering the money paid to get him and his age the talk of him going is crazy. Fair enough it hasn’t been as successful yet as Jose Mourinho but it takes time to learn new ways and the manager should be applauded for having the courage to put Lampard and Terry in their places.
It will be interesting all the speculation I’m sure but don’t believe everything you read online. Some people seem content to throw a random name and a club together and suggest a story could lay there. I’d rather speculate which positions clubs need filling and look at sensible targets.
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