The beginning of every year gives teams a chance to replenish their squad and fill in any holes that may have become apparent over the first four months of the season. Here are five potential moves to keep an eye on this January:
Thierry Henry to Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger has hinted that he wants to bring the Frenchman back to London on loan. This move wouldn’t be unprecedented, with David Beckham and Landon Donovan both enjoying loan periods in Europe during recent MLS off-seasons. Wenger is looking for someone to support Robin van Persie, who has almost single-handedly run Arsenal’s attack this season. But what does this mean for the New York Red Bulls? Could this be Henry’s way of getting his foot in the door for a potential permanent move back to Europe?
Gary Cahill to Arsenal or Chelsea.
The Bolton defender has been rumored to be headed to London, to either Arsenal or Chelsea, for a while now. Will he finally make the move this January? Chelsea in particular has looked in need of some support in the center-back area, and we all know Roman Abramovich isn’t afraid of spending money.
Carlos Tevez to anywhere but Manchester.
The Carlos Tevez saga was one of the big stories of 2011. All parties concerned would like a quick resolution this January. Tevez would enjoy seeing the field again, Roberto Mancini and Manchester City would love to be rid of Tevez’s issues, and another team would like to benefit from his skills on the soccer field. But where will Tevez end up? Milan? Madrid? Which team has the financial strength and the coaching personality to take a chance on him?
Jefferson Farfan to Atletico Madrid.
Farfan might not be as famous a name as some of the other players mentioned in this post, but the Peruvian is highly rumored to be on the move. He has had success in two top European leagues, first in the Netherlands with PSV, and now in Germany with Shalke 04. Atletico Madrid could be looking to bring in Farfan to supplement their attack, and since Farfan is nearing the end of his contract with Shalke, a January move may benefit both clubs.
David Beckham to Paris-Saint-Germain.
Beckham ended his five-year contract with MLS in the perfect way: By leading the LA Galaxy to the MLS Cup championship. Now he’s looking for a new challenge, and chances are good his custom Predators will running on French grass in the near future. But will he uproot his family and move them to Paris? If he is willing to go, and can agree to contract terms, he could be making his debut for the ambitious Parisian team within a couple of weeks.