Doing business in the January transfers window can be risky however this season the league is as close as it has been in its history; at the top and the bottom of the table.
If clubs play their cards right and bring in a key signing it could propel them out of the relegation zone, into a European spot and even clinch the title.
Here is a list of 20 potential signings that could change the scenario at the club.
20. Shane Long to Hull City
The West Brom striker who has three goals this season is keen to gain a starting position at Premier League level. Steve Bruce’s Hull are poised to put in a $3 million bid in for the Irish international in an effort to stay clear of the drop.
19. Dimitar Berbatov to Arsenal
Arsenal have been linked with a number of top strikers however a move for the Fulham captain could be a crude bit of business at only $4 million for a player with experience at top European clubs and nearly 100 Premier League goals.
18. Peter Crouch to Crystal Palace
The lanky Stoke attacker is a favourite of Palace manager, Tony Pulis having signed him at Stoke three seasons ago. At $5 million, Crouch has the experience and scoring pedigree to help Palace avoid relegation.
17. Rickie Lambert to West Ham
West Ham have found goals hard to come by this season with the absence of Andy Carroll who was signed to play an integral part of Sam Allardyce game plan. Southampton’s Rickie Lambert is of the Andy Carroll mould and he could force the $8 million move to Upton Park to secure first team football and a ticket to Brazil.
16. Julio Cesar to Southampton
Cesar remains Brazil’s starting keeper despite not featuring for a large part of Championship side QPR’s current campaign. Cesar would see this as an ideal move to ready himself for a home World Cup. Southampton have suffered since losing Artur Boruc to a broken hand ruling him out indefinitely.
$7 million could be a steal for one of the best goalkeepers to come out of Brazil in recent decades.
15. Thomas Ince to Swansea City
Ince has thrived at Blackpool since leaving Liverpool in 2012. Under the coaching of his father, Paul, Thomas has scored over 31 goals in just over a season from the right and left wing. Swansea are weighing up a $24 million bid for the England under 21 who could fill the void of injured speedster, Nathan Dyer.
14. Martin Montoya to Liverpool
One weak spot for Liverpool is a lack of quality depth, especially in defence. Martin Montoya has featured fairly regularly for Barcelona in the last two season however would be keen to secure a starting role at a top Premier League club. Liverpool will need to spend up to $30 million to secure the Catalonia defender’s services.
13. Jordan Rhodes to Cardiff City
In a league where goals are a precious commodity it is a surprise that no club, especially in the lower rungs of the league have looked to buy the 23 year old Blackburn Rover. In his one and a half seasons at Ewood Park he has 42 goals making him one of the most prolific in the football leagues. Cardiff have only managed 15 goals this season so an $18 million purchase of the Scot could be a season saver.
12. Angel Di Maria to Manchester United
With the purchase of Bale and Isco, the 25 year old Argentine has slowly become a bit player at the Santiago Bernabeu. Manchester United could opt to capitalise on this with a $35 million bid for a player who brings goals and assist by the bag. Di Maria has a unique skill set that could see him be a hit at Old Trafford.
11. Claudio Marchisio to Manchester City
The Italian has only recently come onto Manchester City’s radar as they see him as a possible option to replace long time target Daniele De Rossi. Marchisio is not the most high profile player at Juventus but has over 200 appearances for the club.
He is most often deployed as a holding midfielder which could offer as a more the credible rotation for either Fernandinho or Yaya Toure. Manchester City will have no issue covering the $40 million price tag.
What is your thoughts on the list so far? Be sure to keep an eye out for part two and be sure to comment who you think should be in the top ten.
Mapache Ellis
Guest
Gordon Seymour, calm down. Good article Dylan.
apaway
Roar Guru
Bravo, sir. Well said. West Ham treated one of the most famous cup competitions in the world with disdain.
Mike Tan
Guest
Dylan, despite the various comments, I appreciate your passion and effort in putting all these thoughts into writing. Well done. It's also interesting to read the other comments as well. I am an Arsenal fan and wouldn't mind Berbatov coming in to help especially after what happened to Walcott.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Yes which was basically my point, Southampton are a breath of fresh air this season and good luck to them, but it won't last. Pound for pound they are not a better club than West Ham and thus for Lambert it would not be a step down. Hammers are awful crap right now but they can bounce back. That's all I'm saying.
ciudadmarron
Guest
Recent times? Well, both teams have had a cup final appearance in recent times, that's true. However Southampton have spent the majority of the last 10 years in the championship or lower; West Ham have had 3 seasons in the championship and always been in the playoff spots or above. It's a horror season for the 'ammers but club for club, it's not a massive step down, and given the longterm ambitions of the club could just as easily be considered a step up. don't see lambert going though.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
I watched the Forest game and was naturally disappointed both with the performance and the inexperienced team Allardyce put out. Having said that, the 3 experienced players out there did nothing either. It is a sad indictment of the modern game that teams like West Ham consider EPL survival more financially viable than actually winning a trophy. For teams like us the cups are the only things we can realistically win. Basically, the sooner Allardyce goes the better.
apaway
Roar Guru
Anthony It seems you are a Hammers fan, so what are your thoughts on the team Sam Allerdyce put out for the FA Cup match with Nottingham Forest? We all expect the odd cup upset but to be beaten 5-0 by a side from the division below seems extreme. Was Big Sam happy to lose the match?
Norfolk
Roar Rookie
Have to agree with the sentiments above about the research in this piece. The Roar is my second football website, after the Guardian who treat transfer rumours with humour as well contempt and they are constantly winning awards. Basically leave Premier League transfer speculation to the English pros. I understand that this is a amateur opinion site, writing articles that analyse something more substantial than 'who should buy who' could be a better exercise. I don't know, why do Manchester United have a rubbish midfield? Can you name five players from Crystal Palace? Is 7th better than the FA Cup?
bill boomer
Guest
Anthony, Westhams performance in recent times as well as as their position on the table relative to SthHampton suggests they are.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Bill you're going off topic there. We know the English national team are underachievers. I'm saying West 'am won them them that World Cup - Hurst and Peters scored all 4 goals and Bobby Moore picked up the cup. I was merely having a dig at the people on here implying that Southampton are somehow better than West Ham.
Henriato
Guest
I would like liverpool fc to sign more players
bill boomer
Guest
Yes you won a home world cup nearly 50 years ago but for the country that invented the game you have massively underachieved ever since. Also as possessors of the self proclaimed "best league in the world" you should have done a lot better. Hubris, just like your cricket team.
Samuel Thaura
Guest
It ll be so good if Di maria ll be on man utd shirt this time round coz he can assit and score too.
Anthony Ferguson
Guest
Scuse me, can I just point out to those people dissing the Hammers and saying Lambert would be lowering himself that the Saints are only punching above their weight at the moment and are traditionally just as shite as the Hammers. Moreover, we've won more trophies than you have, and we won the1966 World Cup, so pull ya heads in.
prince Udu
Guest
Yes Di Maria will really be good buy for Man United.It will help the club to soar in the top four on the EPL table.Good luck Dave
Dylan Arvela
Roar Guru
- Arsenal are on the look out for a quality striker and if the money is right, Berba might feel he still has something to offer to a bigger club. - I addressed the Lambert issue in an earlier comment. - Many football commentators rate Tom Ince higher the Will Zaha, a player of a similar skill set and United paid $20 million for him (potentially rising to $28 million). I am not saying it is a wise move to spend that money on an unproven player but I am saying it could be an exciting prospect. - Montoya is of a higher standard then all Liverpool defenders barring Agger, Skrtel and Sakho. He was the first choice replacement for Barcalona's best centre back of the last decade. Yes $30 million is a lot of money however that is the price tag that Barca have put on him. - Jordan Rhodes has been the most prolific scorer in the football leagues for a few seasons now and when goal scorers are what clubs need to win silverware and escape the drop they are willing to pay big money. If Cardiff signed Rhodes he would be their equal third highest transfer fee behind Medel and Caulker (equal with Cornelius). With Vincent Tan in charge it is well within the realms of possibility that they could bring him in. - With Marchisio I am aware that Juve is his boyhood club however that doesnt mean he won't consider a transfer to a bigger club in Manchester City (don't tell me Juve are bigger then City at the moment because the simply are not). In regards to whether or not he is a holding midfielder or a "playmaking central midfielder" it seems fairly similar. eg Yaya Toure could fall into both as could Carrick as could Xavi as could Xabi Alonso. I dismissed Kyle's opinion because he asserted that the whole article was rubbish and he only criticised me by the inclusion of Rickie Lambert. I write these articles because I like writing them. I read through heaps of footballing websites and I enjoy putting that info together, yes it isnt the best article ever written however what to you expect from a sports website that lets anyone and everyone write for them. In the very least I wish the people who most often complain about what I write would write their own articles but I see as in your case Gordon, they don't. So if you don't like how I write or what I write, don't read them and you will be happier for it.
Dylan Arvela
Roar Guru
The DailyMail is one a many articles about Lambert to West Ham. Simply Google search "Lambert to West Ham"..
Dylan Arvela
Roar Guru
Perhaps but this is an Australian website. If you want to see it in Euro or Pounds then go to Goal.com
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
but aussie roarers are worldly and cultured and know the exchange rate with either pounds or euro no?!
ian
Guest
Dylan be a bit careful using the Daily mail for anything except toilet paper they have a terrible strike rate with transfer rumours mate.