Man Utd and Chelsea targets headline Premier League January XI
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Premier League football never really sleeps, even during the numerous fortnight hiatuses from the domestic game due to international breaks, as gossip columns and rumour mills continue to churn out their wares regardless.
In an attempt to keep up, we’ve pulled together the best whispers currently doing the rounds to bring you the definitive top-flight January transfer XI.
With Victor Valdes thought to be on the cusp of a move to Manchester United, where the many-medalled former Barcelona stopper has been working his way back to fitness, his compatriot Kiko Casilla of Espanyol gets our nod.
Liverpool have been strongly linked with the 28-year-old, who has been a regular fixture in Vicente del Bosque’s Spain squad since the World Cup.
Defensively-shorn duo Arsenal and Manchester United continue to be linked with Barcelona’s Dani Alves, while the former are also set to move for Celtic centre-half Virgil van Dijk, according to numerous reports since the end of the last transfer window.
Bruno Martins Indi only moved from Feyenoord to Porto over the summer, but that hasn’t stopped a number of red-top reports stating the Dutch utility back will link up with old gaffer Ronald Koeman’s Southampton side at the earliest available opportunity next year.
We’ve also shoved in one for the top-flight strugglers in Gregor Balazic, the Karpaty Lviv centre-half allegedly wanted by QPR and Crystal Palace.
In midfield, Atletico Madrid playmaker Koke gets in by virtue of a reported £48m bid in the offing from Chelsea, who already house three of the La Seleccion man’s former Los Colchoneros teammates from their La Liga-winning 2013/14 campaign.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Christoph Kramer, currently on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, is best known as the man who got knocked out in the World Cup final. A move to Man Utd would definitely raise his profile.
In attack, we’ve stuck Ghana vice-captain Andre Ayew down the right wing after his impressive displays for Ligue 1 Marseille so far this term.
Everton are thought to be keen on the 24-year-old, while on the left wing reported Tottenham target Memphis Depay gets the nod.
That leaves former Newcastle man Yohan Cabaye to take up the number 10 role, after former Magpies defender Olivier Bernard’s recent assertion that the Paris Saint-Germain star will return to England in January.
Ahead of the 28-year-old stands CSKA Moscow’s Ivory Coast international striker Seydou Doumbia, scorer of nine goals so far this term, including three against Manchester City in the Champions League. Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool are all thought to be interested.
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