January Transfer Window - rumours, chinese whispers, and FACTS

[TightEnd]

chelsea

CHELSEA

Budget: Will be determined by whether they sell. If the right player comes along money could be made available.

January previous: Chelsea tend not to be overly active in January, although they bucked that trend last season by signing Nicolas Anelka, Branislav Ivanovic and Franco di Santo for a combined £27m.

What they need: The club want to keep activity to a minimum but if manager Luiz Felipe Scolari gets his way, he is likely to sign a forward and a defender. "Chelsea need a striker because their reliance on Anelka is becoming painful," says BBC London commentator Nick Godwin. "Michael Essien has a long-term injury but I can't imagine them signing a midfield replacement as they would have done in the past."

Who they might buy: On the striker front, Tuncay (Middlesbrough) and Amr Zaki (Wigan) could be pursued, while rumours surrounding a move for Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg) persist. Wagner Love (CSKA Moscow) and Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) are also realistic options, while the Blues have reportedly agreed a £4m deal for 21-year-old SC Braga striker Orlando Sa. "Michael Owen would give Chelsea something different," adds BBC London sports editor Pete Stevens. "And they may be the only club who can afford his wage demands."

Who they might sell: Alex reportedly demanded a move away from Stamford Bridge but Scolari insists the centre-back is staying. Ivanovic has been linked with Inter Milan, Manchester City are said to be tracking Wayne Bridge, Ben Sahar could join Utrecht and Scott Sinclair is set for another loan move. BBC London commentator Phil Parry also believes Paulo Ferreira could be on his way out and goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini might well go out on loan to Tottenham.

What the fans say: "Wagner Love or Luis Fabiano, if Abramovich opens up the bank. Wouldn't mind seeing off Malouda either."

[TightEnd]

LIVERPOOL

Budget: Probably sell to buy. Owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are struggling to find the money to build a new stadium and they may feel they have pushed the boat out far enough.

January previous: Manager Rafael Benitez prefers to do his business in the summer but he has spent in January before. He splashed out £6.3m on Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes in 2005 and brought in Javier Mascherano on loan two years later.

What they need: Two quality full-backs would be beneficial. Alvaro Arbeloa is unconvincing, while Andrea Dossena and Phillip Degan have failed to get to grips with the Premier League. A striker in the target-man mould would appear to be a priority. Liverpool might also like to add quality on the right side.

Who they might buy: Wigan's Emile Heskey has been strongly linked to the club but he was hardly Anfield's most popular figure in his first spell at the club and this may be regarded as a retrograde step. Portsmouth's Glen Johnson might be an outside bet for the right-back slot. BBC Radio Merseyside's Mike Hughes says: "Spurs' Aaron Lennon could prove to be an astute buy, given his pace. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp could be willing to do business, with Jermaine Pennant and Yossi Benayoun as potential swap candidates, plus a cash adjustment. Maybe even more exciting for the Reds would be Standard Liege's Axel Witsel. He's quick, powerful, can score goals and can play in a variety of roles."

Who they might sell: Liverpool would love to cash in on Jermaine Pennant - a poor purchase by Benitez and who has never fulfilled his potential. Yossi Benayoun might also be in the market if Benitez can strike the right deal, either cash or exchange. There are a variety of peripheral figures in the squad but there is hardly a queue of potential purchasers.

What the fans say: "I'd like to see Michael Owen and Ashley Young join the Reds. Owen's a goal poacher, which we badly need, and Young is a player with pace who actually knows how to use it, and can score goals."

[TightEnd]

SPURS

Budget: £15-20m

January previous: Despite consistently maintaining January is not the best time to pick up bargains, chairman Daniel Levy has always put his hand in his pocket post-Christmas. Pascal Chimbonda and Mido have all arrived in Januarys past, while last year Gilberto, Chris Gunter, Alan Hutton and Jonathan Woodgate were signed at a cost of about £20m.

What they need: Striker, central defender, full-back, left winger, keeper.

Who they might buy: Take your pick… Portsmouth quartet Jermain Defoe, Glen Johnson, Niko Kranjcar and Sylvain Distin may fancy a reunion with Harry Redknapp, while Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Emile Heskey (Wigan), Brede Hangeland, Jimmy Bullard (both Fulham), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea) and Fernando Cavenaghi (Bordeaux) join a list as long as your arm.

Who they might sell: Former Tottenham boss Juande Ramos, now at Real Madrid, is said to be keen on Didier Zokora, Aaron Lennon and David Bentley - although only the former, if any of those three, is likely to go. Otherwise, fringe players Ricardo Rocha, Adel Taarabt and Kevin Prince-Boateng could all seek transfers.

What the fans say: "Harry always springs surprises, transfers are his stock in trade."

[TightEnd]

MORE HERE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7785570.stm


p.s I'd like to keep our best players, notably Tunchev. Sign Mark Davies permanently. Then go for it in the summer if we go up. Just in case you're interested. Which you are not.

[turny]

alex from chelsea! arsenal can have him he is double shit!!!!!

[turny]

i dont think chelsea will do to much business to be honest. without injuries there arent to many gaps in the squad.
essien and carvalho back in january so like 2 new signings anyway.

would like to see them buy michael owen from newcastle and pair him up front with drogba in a 442 and maybe buy matt taylor from bolton to play left side midfield in this system.

[kinboshi]

LIVERPOOL

What the fans say: "I'd like to see Michael Owen and Ashley Young join the Reds. Owen's a goal poacher, which we badly need, and Young is a player with pace who actually knows how to use it, and can score goals."

Which Liverpool fans said that?  Young would be a great signing (not going to happen), but Owen?  Far too expensive for someone who spends more time on the physio's table than on the pitch.  Rafa doesn't play with a 'goal poacher' either, so not sure where he'd fit in the set up.  Rafa would prefer Heskey to Owen - much more suited to Rafa's style.

[Teacake]

My wish list for Celtic.

Decent left back
Proper Right mid-field power house
Decent Striker

And please no more promising "youth projects"

Any left back would do, that position has been a joke for us for years!

A midfielder who can actually pass the ball would be nice, Crosas looks promising but needs time to settle.

I think our transfer activity will be minimal as I'm convinced the board want to stay just ahead of Rangers and no more. If McGeady is sold, which is likely, they will be forced to spend.

[rossfourfive]

My wish list for Celtic.

Decent left back
Proper Right mid-field power house
Decent Striker

And please no more promising "youth projects"

Any left back would do, that position has been a joke for us for years!

A midfielder who can actually pass the ball would be nice, Crosas looks promising but needs time to settle.

I think our transfer activity will be minimal as I'm convinced the board want to stay just ahead of Rangers and no more. If McGeady is sold, which is likely, they will be forced to spend.

What do the Celtic fans think of the spoilt little brat that is McGeady? On his side or Strachan's?

[TightEnd]

can Scottish fans tell me how good Stephen Fletcher (Hibs) and Christope Berra (spelling?) (Hearts) are please?

Premiership players, in your opinion?

[Teacake]

My wish list for Celtic.

Decent left back
Proper Right mid-field power house
Decent Striker

And please no more promising "youth projects"

Any left back would do, that position has been a joke for us for years!

A midfielder who can actually pass the ball would be nice, Crosas looks promising but needs time to settle.

I think our transfer activity will be minimal as I'm convinced the board want to stay just ahead of Rangers and no more. If McGeady is sold, which is likely, they will be forced to spend.

What do the Celtic fans think of the spoilt little brat that is McGeady? On his side or Strachan's?

Its split.

Most accept McGeady had to be punished but that suspending him for the game at Ibrox was cutting off your nose to spite your face. Strachan gambled and won, if he had lost then who knows what would happen.

[Teacake]

can Scottish fans tell me how good Stephen Fletcher (Hibs) and Christope Berra (spelling?) (Hearts) are please?

Premiership players, in your opinion?

I think they are both decent players in the SPHell and have potential, particularly Fletcher. Both would be starters at the likes of Stoke & WBA at the moment. Fletcher is often linked with Celtic ( and bizarrely Real Madrid!!!), I would take him.

[Scottish Dave]

My wish list for Celtic.

Decent left back
Proper Right mid-field power house
Decent Striker

And please no more promising "youth projects"

Any left back would do, that position has been a joke for us for years!

A midfielder who can actually pass the ball would be nice, Crosas looks promising but needs time to settle.

I think our transfer activity will be minimal as I'm convinced the board want to stay just ahead of Rangers and no more. If McGeady is sold, which is likely, they will be forced to spend.

What do the Celtic fans think of the spoilt little brat that is McGeady? On his side or Strachan's?

Strachan is a spoilt little Twat!

Get him to Fekk!

McGeady best player in Scotland by far!

Mcgeady falls out with Manager, spits dummy out and is slaughtered for it
Boyd falls out with Burley, spits dummy out and walks out on his country, all is forgiven within a week!

When will people wake up!

If Mcgeady is bullied into leaving celtic by strachan, ill never forgive that ginger tosser!

[rossfourfive]

Strachan is a spoilt little Twat!

Get him to Fekk!

McGeady best player in Scotland by far!

Mcgeady falls out with Manager, spits dummy out and is slaughtered for it
Boyd falls out with Burley, spits dummy out and walks out on his country, all is forgiven within a week!

When will people wake up!

If Mcgeady is bullied into leaving celtic by strachan, ill never forgive that ginger tosser!

How is Strachan a spoilt little twat?

McGeady is a good player but no player is above the team. If he fights with the manager and makes a scene in front of the team he has to get punished, Strachan did the right thing imo.

FWIW I despise Boyd for walking out on Scotland and can assure you i will be booing him off the park when they come up to Pittodrie in January.

can Scottish fans tell me how good Stephen Fletcher (Hibs) and Christope Berra (spelling?) (Hearts) are please?

Premiership players, in your opinion?

I think they are both decent players in the SPHell and have potential, particularly Fletcher. Both would be starters at the likes of Stoke & WBA at the moment. Fletcher is often linked with Celtic ( and bizarrely Real Madrid!!!), I would take him.

Agreed about Fletcher but Berra looked very average against Aberdeen last weekend, not sure he could cut in the Prem. Russell Anderson was miles better than him and he never got a chance at Sunderland.

[Rooky9]

If Newcastle sign Paddy Kenny for 5m I'm going to through myself off level 7.  I dont think anyone would hold anyhting against Given if he looked for a move to Arsenal (even though I dont think even if a bid being accepted would make a move a forgone conclusion), but we need at least 4 other areas covering before a replacement keeper. We have two outstanding youngsters and I'd be happy for Harper to have 18 months with the shirt before that too.

The three names seeming to be flying about for Newcastle are three Championship players... must be stocking for next season at that rate.