A successful January transfer window can make all the difference to a teams season. It can be the difference between wining the silverware and coming second, it can be the difference between scraping out of the bottom three and being sucked into the lower leagues of football. Managers know this, players know this and fans know this. But making that master-stroke signing is easier said than done, with a plethora of players available. Below we'll look at the top 5 potential Premier League transfers that could give ones of these teams a hand on the trophy.
Diego Costa – Chelsea
The Atletico Madrid front-man has been in scintillating form this season scoring 23 goals in 23 matches in all competitions, that's as many goals as he scored last season in almost half the amount of matches. A fact Chelsea's strikers will be very jealous of considering Schurrle, Torres, Ba and Eto'o have only scored 18 between them. The Brazilian would of course though be cup tied for the Champions League but with the damage he could do in the Premier League it would be more than worth Chelsea's while to attempt to bring in Costa.
Alvaro Morata – Arsenal
With injuries to strikers Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner Arsene Wenger may be forced into the January transfer window to sure up his depleeted front-line. The Gunners have been linked with former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov but Wenger has stated Arsenal are not interested in the Bulgarian. A player who is more likely to end up at the Emirates, be in long term or short term, is Alvaro Morata. The 21-year-old has made 14 appearances for Real Madrid so far this season, scoring 2 goals in the process but with first team action on his mind a loan move to Arsenal may suit all parties. Morata would get the football he needs and Arsenal would have another dependable striker to take the burden off French international Giroud.
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool
The Basel youngster dubbed the 'Egyptian Messi' has been linked with a move to Premier League contenders Liverpool since the summer and has been tracked by a number of German clubs for well over a year. Brought in two years ago to replace Bayern Munich bound Xherdan Shaqiri, Salah has grown in confidence at Basel scoring goals against Chelsea and Spurs in last years UEFA Europa League. The 21-year-old has also impressed in this years Champions League and is thought to be keen on joining a club that will feature in next seasons premier European club competition. Meaning if Liverpool are serious about bringing Salah to Anfield they'll have to convince the player that their current tittle challenge isn't a temporary thing.
Marco Reus – Manchester United
24-year-old Marco Reus has been linked with a number of elite European clubs since starring in Borussia Dortmund's Champions League campaign last season, which ended with the German club facing compatriots Bayern Munich in the final at Wembley. Manchester United are in desperate need of a player with the German internationals ability and would love to bring the player to Old Trafford during the winter transfer window but the player has gone on record to say he is happy at BVB.
"I have a contract with Borussia Dortmund and I am happy to be here," he told BILD.
"All I can say about is that I am not thinking about a transfer. I am focused on BVB and anything else is something for the future."
Reus also stated that he is hoping for World Cup and Champions League success this year.
He said: "These are two very big goals and both are not entirely unrealistic.
"Who knows what we can achieve in the Champions League. Nobody thought we could make it to the final last season either.
"We finally want to win the World Cup again with Germany and will have to show our ambition right from the start of the competition. We will prepare meticulously for this amazing tournament."
United's chances of signing Reus in January look slim but with only two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract a deal in the summer could be more realistic.
Diego Alves – Manchester City
After City manager Manuel Pellegrini failed to bring his former star keeper Willy Caballero with him to the Etihad he has set his sights on Valencia shot-stopper Diego Alves, who works in a dual goalkeeper role with academy product Vicente Guaita. But Valencia's new manager Juan Anotonio Pizzi is looking to scrap the dual keeper system and name Guaita as his number 1, meaning Alves would have to go elsewhere to secure first team football ahead of the World Cup in his homeland Brazil. And whilst Pellegrini has shown faith in Joe Hart in recent weeks he is still yet to be convinced by the England international keeper, meaning Alves would more than likely get a fair crack of the whip at Manchester City.
Source: DSG
