A look at 20 high-profile transfers that look likely to happen this January.
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Demba Ba (Chelsea to Galatasaray)
A disappointing signing from last January's transfer window, Demba Ba could be heading for the Chelsea exit just a year later as he continues to struggle to make the step up at a bigger club after leaving Newcastle. Arsenal were known to be interested in taking Ba on loan on deadline day in the summer, but with the Blues not keen on strengthening their title rivals, it seems more likely that the 28-year-old could be set for a move abroad when the transfer window re-opens.
The Senegalese international has been linked with Galatasaray as part of a potential swap deal involving Burak Yilmaz, and whether or not Chelsea land the Turkish international, who is also wanted by a host of other top clubs, Ba seems like he would be a good replacement for Roberto Mancini's side upfront.
Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid to Tottenham)
A target for Tottenham during the summer as they searched for a new left-back, Real Madrid's Fabio Coentrao ended up staying put this season, though an exit still seems likely in January after a move to join Manchester United fell through late on on transfer deadline day.
The talented Portuguese international is currently a backup player to Brazilian left-back Marcelo at the Bernabeu, but could certainly do a job of improving Spurs' back four as an upgrade on current first-choice Danny Rose. Andre Villas-Boas remains unconvinced by the English youngster as a regular starter for the club and it seems likely that Coentrao will be high on his list again this January as he seeks a new player in that position.
Leighton Baines (Everton to Manchester United)
After spending so much of the summer chasing Everton star Leighton Baines, it has been suggested that Manchester United manager David Moyes has not given up on raiding his old club for the influential left-back. The England international has continued his fine form for Everton this season and shown his quality as an attacking outlet with his superb delivery from crosses and deadly accuracy as a free-kick taker, scoring two superb efforts to secure a win for the Toffees away to West Ham.
Having also tried to sign Coentrao, Moyes is obviously keen to replace Patrice Evra at left-back, and Baines seems the ideal player to fill that role for United, given that he would be allowed even more attacking freedom at Old Trafford and have the potential to link up with a higher class of attacking players upfront. The 28-year-old will certainly not come cheap as Everton are determined not to lose another of their star players to United after Marouane Fellaini was eventually prised away on deadline day.
Ashley Young (Manchester United to West Ham)
After a couple of disappointing years at Manchester United since his keenly-anticipated move from Aston Villa, Ashley Young's time at Old Trafford seems to be up, as it has emerged that the Red Devils are open to selling him this January.
The 28-year-old winger has come under much criticism from fans and pundits alike for his diving, and manager David Moyes has made it clear it's not something he will be tolerating either, in a hint that he is not willing to keep Young as part of his squad. West Ham have been mentioned as one of the teams interested in signing Young if he becomes available, and that could make sense for Hammers boss Sam Allardyce given his lack of options in attack at the moment due to Andy Carroll's lengthy spell out through injury in particular.
From his time with Villa, Young does look like a player who could bring a lot to a mid-table side, so he could be a good signing for someone like West Ham, but it isn't surprising that a top side like United are not willing to keep him any longer.
Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United to Newcastle)
Another winger who could be on their way out of Manchester United this January is youngster Wilfried Zaha, who has not managed to establish himself as part of the first team since his move from Crystal Palace in the summer.
Although highly rated after his impressive displays in the Championship, David Moyes is seemingly not willing to give him his chance in the Premier League just yet and seems to be planning on sending the 20-year-old out on loan to another top flight side for the remainder of the season, with several options looking possible at the moment.
Newcastle, however, seem to be Zaha's preferred destination, and the England Under-21 international would certainly be a welcome addition for Alan Pardew's side as they seek extra quality on the flanks. With Liverpool target Hatem Ben Arfa still to sign a new contract with the club, a replacement may be necessary and Zaha on loan would make a good short-term signing on the cheap.
Tom Ince (Blackpool to Tottenham)
Tom Ince is certainly one of the most sought after young talents in England at the moment, and after setting the Championship alight with Blackpool, he could be ready to make the step up to the Premier League this January, and he will certainly not be short of suitors when that time comes.
Several clubs, including Cardiff, Newcastle and Everton, were in for the talented winger during the summer before he eventually opted to remain at Bloomfield Road, but it now seems that Tottenham are stepping up their interest in the former Liverpool youngster as they look to continue where they left off with their big spending in the summer transfer window.
There'd be plenty of competition for a place at Spurs with so much attacking talent brought into White Hart Lane by Andre Villas-Boas, but Ince has the potential to be a top player for club and country for many years to come, and could force his way into the starting lineup in north London this season.
Koke (Atletico Madrid to Barcelona)
Possibly the next big thing in Spanish football is highly impressive Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke, with the 21-year-old looking like attracting some bids from top clubs when the transfer window re-opens in January.
A skillful and intelligent playmaker in the Xavi and Iniesta mould, Koke could be set to make the move to Barcelona with the view of being one of the long-term replacements for the club's legendary midfield pair. Although Manchester United are also interested, it is thought that Barcelona's sale of David Villa to Atletico in the summer could give them first refusal on Koke or other team-mates of his that are to Barca's liking.
While United are in desperate need of a playmaker of Koke's quality, it seems probable that the young Spaniard would find the chance to join Barcelona hard to turn down.
Kurt Zouma (Saint-Etienne to Arsenal)
A highly promising defender emerging in French football at the moment is Saint-Etienne starlet Kurt Zouma. This 18-year-old centre-back is showing some tremendous ability as well as maturity beyond his years and it is no surprise to see a host of Europe's top clubs being linked with him ahead of the January transfer window.
With Arsenal needing a little bit more in the way of depth at the back, it seems likely that the Gunners will target Zouma this season, in a bid to beat off competition for his much sought-after signature. The Frenchman would surely welcome the chance to work under Arsene Wenger, who is still so highly regarded by young players in his native France, and who would be one of the managers most likely to give Zouma a chance to shine at the top level.
Manchester United could be the most fierce competition for this top talent, but Wenger's record with young players could give Arsenal the edge in this particular transfer saga.
Lewis Holtby (Tottenham to Schalke)
Despite looking a highly promising signing when he joined in the last January transfer window, Tottenham's Lewis Holtby could already be on his way out of White Hart Lane after struggling to impose himself on the club's first team. After a difficult settling-in period in the second half of last season, the young German midfielder now faces a great deal of competition for places in Andre Villas-Boas' side after Spurs' flurry of new summer signings.
His old side Schalke now seem the favourites to sign him back again, as the Bundesliga are rumoured to have insisted on a buy-back clause in his contract when selling him to Tottenham last year, which could see him move back to Germany on the cheap. Inter Milan and Roma have also been linked with the 22-year-old, but it seems to make sense that Holtby would want to return to the team where he first found the best form of his career.
Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United to Borussia Dortmund)
Another player who could be set for a quick return to their old club after a difficult time in the Premier League is Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa, who looks likely to re-join his old side Borussia Dortmund.
The Japanese playmaker was a key player for Jurgen Klopp's side in his two years there, helping them to consecutive Bundesliga titles and looking like one of the most exciting young players in the country, though things have not gone so smoothly for him at Old Trafford after some bad luck with injuries last year, and seemingly falling out of favour with David Moyes this term.
With Moyes and United seemingly looking for similar players in the next transfer window, it looks almost certain that Kagawa simply doesn't feature in the club's plans, but there's no doubt Dortmund will be delighted to welcome him back.
Andrea Pirlo (Juventus to Real Madrid)
A surprise move perhaps, but as Juventus star Andrea Pirlo stalls on signing a new contract with the Serie A champions, a number of clubs have been looking to pounce for the Italian interntional on a cut-price deal this January.
There has been plenty of interest from the Premier League, with Tottenham in particular said to be keen on snapping up the veteran playmaker and even willing to offer him a three-year deal at the age of 34. However, with Spanish giants Real Madrid likely to spend some money this January after a somewhat uncertain start to the season, their interest in Pirlo could see the midfield maestro make his way to La Liga and reunite with his former manager Carlo Ancelotti, for whom he enjoyed great success during their time together at AC Milan.
With Xabi Alonso looking like leaving and currently out with injury anyway, and the likes of Sami Khedira, Luka Modric and Asier Illarramendi unconvincing so far, Pirlo would be the perfect short-term solution to Real's midfield problems, and the man himself would surely jump at the chance for one last big move in his career.
Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray to Chelsea)
Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal has recently suggested that Wesley Sneijder is a January transfer target for Chelsea, and believes the midfielder should make the move from Turkish giants Galatasaray to Stamford Bridge in order to revive his career under Jose Mourinho.
Sneijder previously became known as one of the best midfield playmakers in the world under the guidance of Mourinho during their time together at Inter Milan, where the skillful Dutchman was highly influential in the team's treble-winning season of 2009/10. His form has not been quite the same since and he has found himself at Galatasaray, though van Gaal feels his form for the national team is suffering due to a lack of proper motivation.
With Chelsea possibly facing the departure of Ramires in January, Sneijder could be an excellent addition to add some depth to a midfield still largely reliant on an ageing Frank Lampard.
Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao to Manchester United)
After making Ander Herrera such a prime target during the summer, Manchester United are being strongly tipped to revive their interest in the Athletic Bilbao midfielder when they get the chance again in January. The deep-lying playmaker still looks like exactly the kind of player United are missing at the moment, and the Red Devils will be hoping negotiations go better at the second attempt.
Herrera has previously impressed at Old Trafford during a shock win there for Athletic Bilbao in a Europa League match in 2012, and certainly looks a player capable of making the step up to a bigger club and trying his luck among the best players in the world in the Premier League.
Of course, Herrera was one of many similar midfield targets that United missed out on during the summer, but given how close they were to signing him on deadline day, it seems likely that he will remain a priority for Moyes, who will be keen to put the embarrassing nature of their failure to capture him the first time behind him.
Jeremy Menez (PSG to Liverpool)
One of Liverpool's main targets this January is said to be out-of-favour PSG winger Jeremy Menez, who may be available on a cut-price deal from the French champions as he stalls on signing a new contract.
Brendan Rodgers is still somewhat short of options on the wings at the moment and would like to make up for missing out on the likes of Willian and Christian Atsu during the summer by trying for another wide-player when the transfer window re-opens in January. Menez certainly looks ideal for Liverpool's highly technical style of play, and could provide the ammunition that the club's front players are looking for.
Juventus and Monaco are also monitoring his situation, but PSG will certainly want to avoid selling a key player to one of their rivals, which makes a move to England a distinct possibility this season.
Javier Pastore (PSG to Liverpool)
A second raid on PSG from Liverpool could come in the form of Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore - another player who looks to no longer be first choice at the Parc des Princes and who would fill a gap in Liverpool's squad at the moment.
Having chased the likes of Christian Eriksen and Henrikh Mkhitaryan during the summer, it is clear that Brendan Rodgers is still keen on bringing in a creative midfield playmaker as an alternative to youngster Coutinho. Although the Brazilian starlet has been in magnificent form for the Reds since his move from Inter Milan last year, the team are certainly in danger of becoming a little over-reliant on him, as is evidenced by their slight dip in form during his absence with injury.
Pastore is undoubtedly a top talent and was one of the first big-name players brought in by the mega-rich Ligue 1 club following their Qatari takeover in 2011, though the continued purchases of world class stars since then has meant he's fallen down the pecking order somewhat and could be made available this winter.
Fernando Llorente (Juventus to Tottenham)
Despite only moving to Juventus this summer, Spanish striker Fernando Llorente is already being linked with a move away from the club after struggling to become first choice against the likes of Carlos Tevez and Mirko Vucinic.
A supremely talented forward on his day, as he showed with his former side Athletic Bilbao, it's no surprise to see that his potential availability has attracted big interest from the Premier League, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham all said to be considering making a move for him this January.
Spurs could well make the most sense though, as they seek additions upfront, having missed out on a number of targets in that position during the summer. Although Andre Villas-Boas managed to bring in Roberto Soldado, he had hoped for another striker to replace the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe. With Arsenal and Chelsea seemingly targeting several other players as well, it seems like Spurs may just edge their London rivals for this particular signing.
Eliaquim Mangala (Porto to Manchester City)
One of the most sought-after defenders in the game at the moment, Eliaquim Mangala looks increasingly likely to become a big-money departure from Portuguese giants Porto this January, after coming so close to leaving the club in the summer transfer window.
While Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona will no doubt have some say in this transfer saga, Manchester City's need for a new top class centre-back could see them win this chase, as they certainly have the financial power to meet Porto's demands for one of their most prized assets.
With a release clause believed to be in the region of £37m, Mangala may seem like something of a risky purchase, but those who have seen him play regularly know he has the makings of a world class defender who could go on to play for almost any top club. City chased him towards the end of the summer and are strongly tipped to try for him again in the winter.
Jackson Martinez (Porto to Chelsea)
Another in-demand Porto star, Jackson Martinez's highly impressive tally of 34 goals in 43 games last season saw him emerge as a top target for a number of top clubs during the summer, with Tottenham, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund among the interested parties as they sought new additions upfront.
Chelsea also showed some interest in him late on, and though they instead signed Samuel Eto'o from Anzhi Makhachkala, Jose Mourinho remains unconvinced with his options upfront, and is a fan of the prolific Colombian front-man.
Arsenal are also interested in Martinez now as they seek a new striker, but Chelsea seem better-placed financially to meet Porto's demands for the talented 26-year-old, who looks an ideal player to suit Mourinho's style of play.
Luis Suarez (Liverpool to Real Madrid)
After dealing with transfer speculation for a whole summer, the rumours surrounding Luis Suarez's future at Liverpool don't seem to be dying down, with Real Madrid widely expected to come back in for him this January.
With the Spanish giants prioritising the signing of Gareth Bale during the summer, they failed to bring in Suarez as well, but as they seek a replacement for the out-of-favour Karim Benzema, the talented Uruguayan seems to be their top target for when the transfer window re-opens in the winter, and they may be willing to pay as much as £50m to bring him to the Bernabeu.
Arsenal were also strongly in for Suarez during the summer, though Liverpool may be tempted to allow him to move abroad at the first opportunity to avoid seeing their star player leave for a Premier League rival. Suarez's move to Madrid could also have significant ramifications for the Gunners as well.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid to Arsenal)
With Suarez seemingly heading to Real Madrid, Karim Benzema looks increasingly likely to become surplus to requirements at the club, and could be gratefully snapped up by Premier League leaders Arsenal as they chase a top class striker.
The Gunners already sent shock-waves around Europe on transfer deadline day in the summer as they smashed their club transfer record to sign Mesut Ozil from the Spanish giants, and they were known to be keen on signing Benzema as well as they seek more options upfront.
Although Benzema has not been at his best of late, the former Lyon striker is still one of the best strikers in the world on his day and could just be in need of a new challenge, and Arsene Wenger will fancy his chances of revitalising his career if he manages to bring him to the Emirates Stadium, which according to differing rumours could be for anywhere between £20m and £43m. More will become clear later, inevitably, but Benzema to Arsenal seems to have a good chance of happening this season.