While
the January sales may have started on Boxing Day on high streets up and
down the country, football clubs have had to wait patiently until the
first of the month to begin their spending spree.
But
finally the 31-day transfer window is officially open for business and
clubs all over the country look set to ‘splash the cash’, ‘open their
chequebooks’ and ‘break open their war chests’ (as well as other
outdated methods of payment) in a bid to challenge for the Premier
League, grab a European spot or avoid relegation.
The
names most likely to attract the most interest are Arsenal’s hat-trick
hero from the weekend, Theo Walcott who is out of contract in the
summer, just like Chelsea’s match-winner from Sunday’s game against
Everton, Frank Lampard.
Will he stay or will he go? Theo Walcott could leave Arsenal this month
Franks for the memories: Chelsea are prepared to let Lampard leave at the end of his contract and he could leave this month
Liverpool
have long been admirers of Walcott while a move abroad looks to be the
most likely option for Lampard, unless of course he fancies helping his
uncle Harry (Redknapp) out down the road at QPR.
One
transfer that should be concluded early on, is Daniel Sturridge’s move
from Chelsea to Liverpool after Rafa Benitez revealed the striker had a
medical on Merseyside last weekend.
Where will he go? Demba Ba can leave Newcastle for £7m this month
Demba
Ba’s imminent departure from Newcastle looked to be one of the most
straight forward moves of the window when it was revealed that his
advisors were in talks with Chelsea on Sunday. Those talks broke down,
however, and now it seems those people charged with helping him look
like making the Senegal striker’s move anything but straight forward.
The
Football League has been the breeding ground for many Premier League
stars in the past, and clubs could look to boost their squads with
another star of the future.
Young stars: Palace winger Wilfried Zaha and Derby midfielder Will Hughes could be on the move
Crystal
Palace winger Wilfried Zaha and Derby’s England Under 21 midfielder
Will Hughes could be two names looking to make the step up. Manchester
United are among Zaha's admirers while Fulham and Tottenham are just two
of the clubs keen on Hughes.
Clubs
will also look overseas to try and snap up a bargain, and two of the
biggest names in European football could be heading to the Premier
League, with Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder and Barcelona
striker David Villa both available for moves.
Heading to England? Wesley Sneijder could be on his way out of Inter Milan
London calling: David Villa is attracting interest from Chelsea and Arsenal
Spurs
and Liverpool are believed to be keen on Sneijder while London duo
Arsenal and Chelsea are keeping tabs on Villa, who could be in line to
link up with Spain strike partner Fernando Torres at Stamford Bridge.
Money
will be spent and players will come and go, but anyone hoping for a
repeat of the January window of two years ago will be left
disappointed.
Be warned: Not all January moves go to plan, as Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll found out in 2011
In
January 2011, a record £225m was spent with moves that included Torres
swapping Liverpool for Chelsea at a cost of £50m, Aston Villa signing
Darren Bent for £18m, Edin Dzeko making a £27m switch to Manchester City
and, perhaps most remarkably, Liverpool replacing Torres with Andy
Carroll for £35m.
There
are bound to be some surprises in 2013 winter window, but it is
unlikely there will be any as big and as costly as Carroll.
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