Transfer Window time is upon us again. Arsenal are quickest out of the blocks having signed Wellington Silva from Brazil, but what other rumours persist? Where will van Nistelrooy end up? Who will Rafa sign? Will Fergie or Ancellotti strengthen the league's best squads?
Arsenal
Arsène Wenger has plenty of money to spend in January, and could launch bids for West Ham's Carlton Cole, France striker Andre Gignac, or Maroune Chamakh. The Gunners are also looking for a 'keeper and could fight it out with rivals Tottenham for 21-year-old Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach.
Arsenal have also become linked with Ruud van Nistelrooy, but his age and high wage could put Wenger off. But if push comes to shove, expect Liverpool and Spurs to look for his services, too.
The Gunners have also pulled off the first coup of the transfer window by snapping up 16-year-old Brazilian prodigy Wellington Silva. The youngster impressed during a recent trial where he scored four in a specially arranged match with Norwich. The fee is believed to be around £3.5m.
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Aston Villa
Villa are rumoured to be in the hunt for West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans, while a move for Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones or Stoke's James Beattie is a possibility after Liverpool's raised interest in signing Emile Heskey.
Earlier this year, Villa were linked with David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas from Spurs, and those rumors could raise again.
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Birmingham City
New chairman Carson Yeung is looking to bring in two or three new players in January. Rumoured to be among the targets are Wigan midfielder Charles Nzogbia and Peterborough striker Aaron MacLean, who could be available for £4m. Ryan Babel is also a diatant outside bet.
However, Alex McLeish will be warned against damaging the equilibrium of his team and may not want to bring in too many players in one transfer window, despite the £40m kitty. Kris Boyd of Rangers will undoubtedly be a target as McLeish looks to his old club.
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Blackburn
Blackburn have been linked with a swap deal for James Beattie that could see Jason Roberts moving in the other direction. Sam Allardyce is also rumoured to be chasing Marseilles' Hatem Ben-Arfa and Portsmouth's Nadir Belhadj and Kevin Prince-Boateng.
Big Sam is a known lover of the Carling Opta-Stat system so he really could sign anyone from anywhere. Midfield and attack are his biggest priorities, so cut-price Scandinavians could be the order of the day.
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Bolton Wanderers
It's very hard to see who Bolton will go for, but they will be keen to tie up a permanent £1.4m deal for Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic, who has been very impressive since November.
Bolton could also have trouble holding onto Kevin Davies (Fulham) and Gary Cahill (Spurs, Everton, and Liverpool).
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Burnley
Burnley will have very little to spend but could join the chase for Stoke striker James Beattie. However, their biggest task will be holding on to manager Owen Coyle.
The Irish international's stock has risen exponentially this year, and he is the favourite to take over after Gary Megson's departure from Bolton.
Sheffield United's Matt Kilgallon is a target but the defender will have many suitors this window.
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Chelsea
Chelsea have been linked with a huge January spree as they try to beat their impending transfer ban, even though Carlo Ancellotti has said they will sign no one this winter.
Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero, Ajax's Luis Suarez, and Steven Gerrard are rumoured to top Carlo Ancelotti's shopping list. The club could also move for Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery.
Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev could also come in as the Italian loses patience with Petr Cech.
Chelsea are also one of the few clubs who can afford David Villa...
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Everton
David Moyes is interested in Atlètico Madrid's Argentine international midfielder Maxi Rodriguez, but so are Liverpool, having securing a loan deal for LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan.
Phillipe Senderos is available on the cheap could join from Arsenal, while the club are also rumoured to be considering a loan move for Jose Antonio Reyes. They have also been linked with a return swoop for Manuel Fernandes.
Jo's days look numbered after absconding back to Brazil over Christmas so expect David Moyes to take advantage of Manchester City's vast forward line again, Benjani being the most likely target.
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Fulham
Roy Hodgson could try and sign Tottenham defender Alan Hutton to boost his defensive options. The club have also been linked with Wigan's Paul Scharner.
Hodgson is also exploring the possibility of signing Roma striker Stefano Okaka, and don't be surprised if Hodgson makes a loan offer for Spurs misfits Roman Pavlyuchenko and David Bentley.
Fulham are on the lookout for a strong striker to hold up the line and James Beattie fits that bill perfectly, as does Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Their biggest task will be trying to hold onto Brede Hangeland. Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Spurs are all hovering menacingly over Craven Cottage.
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Hull City
Hull are one of a number of clubs interested in the services of Sol Campbell. Kris Boyd of Rangers fame is believed to be available at a knock-down price after Lloyd's Bank made it known they would accept bids for any Gers player as they look to cut the club's crippling debts.
The highest SPL scorer of all time could be available for £1m.
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Liverpool
Former Lazio striker Goran Pandev has been linked with Liverpool and Spurs after refusing to sign a contract extension at the Rome-based club. Ruud van Nistelrooy has long been favoured to join the Reds, but his exorbitant wages of £150k per week could yet prove a stumbling block.
Liverpool are also tracking Scott Parker to bolster their midfield, but surely a signing of a midfielder in January would be a nail in the coffin of Rafa's career after spending £20m on the crocked Alberto Aquilani in the summer.
One other player who has also been linked is Tottenham's Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Russian international is currently fourth-choice striker at Spurs behind Defoe, Keane, and Crouch, two of which used to play for Liverpool.
Moving for Parker and Pavlyuchenko or Emile Heskey would be a damning indictment of Rafa's transfer policy.
Liverpool will also try to offload Ryan Babel and Andrei Voronin, while Lucas could be a surprise player to leave after Rafa talked his price up over recent months to £14m.
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Manchester City
Roberto Mancini's arrival at Eastlands has seen City made favourites to out-spend every other team in the Premier League, again. The Italian has been linked with Giorgio Chiellini and Maicon, while Portsmouth have invited him to bid £8m for Younnes Kaboul, and Ivan Cordoba.
The fact that Mancin is linked with so many defenders tells its own story of Mark Hughes' poor dealings in the transfer market. City are also battling it out with Bayern Munich and Manchester United for the signature of Moussa Sissoko.
City have also been linked with making another bid for Fernando Torres, last summer Liverpool turned down an £80m bid and City are expected to return with a better offer over the coming month, this could be spurred by an initial move for Valencia's David Villa.
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Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson could try and hijack Manchester City's move for Juventus defender Giogio Chielini, the player who ended Robin van Persie's season. Ferguson could be forced to act now to bed in a replacement for Nemanja Vidic, who may join either Real Madrid or Barcelona in the summer.
Young French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris could also be on his way to Old Trafford as a replacement for Edwin van der Sar, but the reported £20m fee could put Ferguson off. Nani will most likely leave; United have already offered the player plus £14m for Benfica winger Angel De Maria.
United have also been tracking Moussa Sissoko at Toulouse but would have to pay around £20m for the prodigy.
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Portsmouth
The precarious state of Portsmouth's finances make a January spending spree highly unlikely. Rumour has it that every Portsmouth player is for sale as the club looks to repay some of its debts. Expect players to leave but very few to come in.
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Stoke City
Stoke will seek a replacement for James Beattie, who is likely to leave after his bust-up with manager Tony Pulis.
Jason Roberts at Blackburn is a potential replacement, as is Kenwyne Jones but expect Pulis to take someone from the Championship like Johnathan Walters from Ipswich.
There should be interest in Ryan Shawcross from some of the EPL's leading teams.
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Sunderland
The Black Cats may battle it out with Tottenham for Wigan's Maynor Figueroa, while a move for Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood is also on the cards after some impressive displays.
The club has also reportedly made a £7m bid for Spurs defender Michael Dawson and a £4m bid for Alan Hutton. So expect Sunderland to pull out of the Figueroa deal...
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Spurs
Alan Hutton, David Bentley, Garteth Bale, and Roman Pavlyuchenko could all be sold as Redknapp tries to fund moves for Wigan's left back Maynor Figueroa, West Ham's Matthew Upson, and Lazio's Goran Pandev.
Internacional's Brazilian U-20 captain Sandro has already agreed to terms and it is unlikely that Spurs will continue their pursuit of Moussa Sissoko at Toulouse.
Spurs have also been linked with another West Ham player, Scott Parker, and could yet battle Arsenal for Watford's promising 'keeper, Scott Loach, despite the current David James links.
Robbie Keane continues to be linked with a £7m move to Celtic. The Spurs captain's loss of form has coincided with Luka Modric's injury and now that the Croatian is back in contention, the Irishman may get a new lease of life, for the rest of this season anyway.
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West Ham
Signing a striker is the name of the game at Upton Park this winter as West Ham prepare themselves for the possible departure of Carlton Cole.
Gianfranco Zola is rumoured to be considering bids for former Chelsea strikers Adrian Mutu and Mateja Kezman, as well as trying to take advantage of the dispute between Stoke's James Beattie and manager Tony Pulis. The striker would be available for around £3m.
Expect the young Irishman Terry Dixon to make his debut after recovering from an injury that forced him to retire two years ago.
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Wigan Athletic
Roberto Martinez may need to find replacements for Paul Scharner and Maynor Figueroa if, as reported, the pair leave the DW stadium for Sunderland and Steve Bruce.
Chilean defender Waldo Ponce could be one possibility, the club are well represented in South America and have signed brilliantly from the region over the last couple of seasons as the club sign from low priced unfashionable countries.
Johnny Palacios, Roger Rojas, and Jackson Martinez are some South American players who have strong rumors linking them with a move to Wigan.
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Wolves
England under-21 star Craig Gardner could make the short move to Molineux from Aston Villa, and Mick McCarthy is also rumoured to be looking at West Brom midfielder Robert Koren, who impressed in the Premier League last season.
Birmingham's Lee Carsley has also been tracked throughout the year as McCarthy looks to add experience to his midfield.
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