Top 10 January Transfer Targets

The January transfer window is now open – and while this month frequently proves underwhelming in terms of big-name moves, it could be more exciting this time around.

With such a tight Premier League title race, and the battle for the Champions League places extremely open, one intelligent signing could make a huge difference. Here are ten exciting attackers currently linked with top Premier League clubs…

Ivan Rakitic, Sevilla

Croatia generally produces highly talented playmakers, and Rakitic is yet another from the conveyor belt. A well-mannered, intelligent man with a good grasp of English, there appears to be no risk in signing Rakitic – he has both the personality and the skillset to success in the Premier League.

An intelligent, versatile playmaker currently excelling in La Liga following some promising years in the Bundesliga with Schalke, Rakitic has recently become more efficient in the final third. So far this season he’s recorded six goals and eight assists – only Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have contributed to more goals. Liverpool have been strongly linked, though aside from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, all currently overloaded with playmakers, any side would love to have him.

Gaston Ramirez, Southampton

In Southampton’s last three matches, Ramirez scored his first goal of the campaign as a substitute against Everton, and was subsequently handed his first two starts of the season against Chelsea and Burnley. But these rare outings are due to Southampton’s injury list, Dani Osvaldo’s suspension and the post-Christmas need for rotation – he’s not really in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans.

A languid, creative number ten not suited to a pressing game, but potentially brilliant in the right system, Ramirez could improve the majority of Premier League clubs – but following his mixed experience with Southampton, a move to Spain or back to Italy seems more likely.

Mohamed Salah, Basel

A player whose reputation has steadily grown over the last 18 months, the current attention surrounding the Egyptian international stems from his goals in Basel’s surprises victories against Chelsea in the Champions League, both home and away.

Like many wingers, Salah can play on either flank but prefers the right because he’s left-footed – he loves storming inside onto his favoured foot, and is primarily a goalscorer rather than an assister. Linked heavily with Liverpool, he’d suit Brendan Rodgers’ side technically, and fits into their pattern of recruiting young attackers a few years from their peak.

Juan Mata, Chelsea

One of the Premier League’s outstanding footballers in his first two years with Chelsea, Jose Mourinho’s apparent disregard for the Spanish playmaker has been frustrating. Mata has actually started the majority of Chelsea’s Premier League fixtures, many from his favoured number ten position, but doesn’t seem to suit Mourinho’s system either offensively or defensively, with Oscar and Willian both preferred.

Mourinho insists he wants Mata to stay, but the Spanish international deserves to be a first-team regular at a top club – in fact, he deserves to have a side built around him. But it seems unlikely Chelsea would sell him to a Premier League rival, the two obvious Spanish options don’t need a player in his mould, while a move to link up with his former coach Rafael Benitez at Napoli has been suggested, but Spanish players rarely thrive in Serie A. The latest link, a loan move to Atletico Madrid, could be perfect.

Falcao, Monaco

Arguably the world’s best pure number nine, the Colombian started his Ligue 1 spell with nine goals in eleven matches but his form has declined sharply. He was annoyed at being replaced against Nantes, was out for a month through injury, and then made his return as a substitute against Valenciennes and missed a penalty.

Monaco would be extremely reluctant to part with Falcao after half a season, and a move to the Premier League is unlikely because of Falcao’s complex third-party ownership situation, which is banned in English football. He’ll probably stay in the principality until the summer.

Cristian Tello, Barcelona

In theory, the Barcelona wide forward would be a perfect loanee – he’s not a regular under Gerardo Martino, but is plainly good enough to play for a side chasing European football. He’s yet another linked to Liverpool, and would fit nicely into Brendan Rodgers’ possession-based system.

However, recent reports suggest Barca want to keep Tello – they have a relatively small squad, are still fighting in three competitions, and Lionel Messi’s fitness problems means they need cover in the forward positions. A loan move isn’t unreasonable, however, particularly if Barcelona were to acquire another centre-forward this month.

Fredy Guarin, Inter

A peculiar player, the Colombian is generally considered a number ten or an attacking midfielder, despite the fact his main qualities are his strength and energy, rather than his creativity. Capable of excellent long-range screamers yet not a particularly regular goalscorer, he’d suit a side who need physical qualities rather than guile.

He’s been strongly linked with Chelsea – although he hasn’t previously worked with Jose Mourinho, both have represented Porto and Inter. Relatively similar to Frank Lampard and Ramires, he wouldn’t bring much variety to the Chelsea midfield.

Julian Draxler, Schalke

Yet another direct, creative, versatile and highly intelligent young German attacking midfielder, Draxler has recently expressed his dissatisfaction at being played on the left flank, rather than in his favoured number ten position. Constantly linked with a Premier League move, this unhappiness could hasten his departure.

It would be a brave move to leave Germany six months before the World Cup, however – he’s sure to be part of the squad, and could prove a crucial supersub. Any top club would take him if they had the money, although it’s difficult to imagine he could currently take a step up from Schalke, and still be guaranteed first-team football.

Jackson Martinez, Porto

Who needs a striker? Well, Chelsea and Arsenal for a start, while the woes of Roberto Soldado and the rumoured departure of Jermain Defoe suggests Tottenham could do with a new centre-forward, too.

Martinez is an old-school number nine – his link-up play is decent, he works the channels reasonably well when forced to, but he basically positions himself in the penalty box and gets on the end of crosses. 38 goals in 44 Portuguese Liga games underlines how prolific he is, although many clubs would find his asking price difficult to justify before he’s proven in a top league.

Yevhen Konoplyanka, Dnipro

Consistently named as one of Europe’s most promising youngsters in recent years, the time has surely come for Konoplyanka to make the move to a top European club.

A three-time Ukrainian footballer of the year, a regular at international level and a regular goalscorer from his favoured left-sided midfield position, Konoplyanka is treading water at Dnipro – who have finished fourth in the last four seasons, and at the midway point of 2013/14, are yet again in fourth position.

He’s not yet a top-class player and may find himself challenging for fourth again with the likes of Liverpool or Spurs, but his talent means he should be playing in a top-class division.