Five marquee footballers likely on the move when the transfer window opens

Football fans across the globe were let down this weekend during the international break. But there are still plenty of matches on the horizon, and the (January) transfer window is set to open in just six weeks’ time.

And the rumor mill is already heating up.

Traditionally, the in-season window is known as being the stepchild of its offseason brethren. This year, however, it has the makings of being anything but dull, as clubs attempt to shore up holes on rosters or “sell high” on players that may not be in their future plans.

Let’s take a look at five players that are on the market that could be on the move when the transfer window opens.

Guillermo Ochoa

After a near-flawless showing in the World Cup in Brazil, the Mexican goalkeeper was sought after by several teams. He ended up in Spain, signing for first division Malaga, yet as of the publishing of this article has yet to play a Primera Division match. Having financial problems of their own, Malaga is rumored to have set a transfer price tag of 5 million pounds, making him a virtual steal for any team needing a quality keeper.

It is heavily rumored that Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool have struck up a serious dialogue with Malaga already. And while Liverpool already has a permanent goalkeeper that they are comfortable with (Simon Mignolet), they have lofty expectations that the Belgian international keeper has yet to meet. At a bargain basement price, Ochoa would prove a steal as either a quality back-up keeper or as competition for the No. 1 spot between the posts. Whether Liverpool or elsewhere, look for Guillermo Ochoa to reinvigorate his career in another venue come February.


Petr Cech

A fixture at Chelsea since he arrived in 2004, Cech was originally brought in as an understudy to the great Carlo Cudicini for what was a record Chelsea transfer fee of 7 million pounds at the time. An injury to Cudicini in early 2005 saw the former Czech international permanently secure the position. That is, until Chelsea obtained Thibaut Courtois from Belgium club Genk in July 2011. Immediately loaned out to Atletico Madrid, he had been their starting keeper until manager Jose Mourinho brought him back to North London permanently at the end of Atletico’s 2014 spring campaign.

A decade younger than Cech, he has been the starting keeper for Chelsea since their fall campaign began this year, and judging by his flawless season, he will remain as a part of the starting eleven. Having Cech as a back-up to Courtois is a luxury that a team with a payroll as high as Chelsea’s can ill afford, and Cech will command a high transfer fee on the open market. While his overall skill set may have diminished slightly with age, Cech is still one of the premier keepers in Europe, and no one would be surprised to see him plying his trade with another Premier League team, perhaps in a starting role.

And even though Chelsea management is largely silent on the matter, there have been some strong hints emanating from some of his teammates. Earlier this week, Courtois himself said that if he were in Cech’s situation, he’d want to be traded as well, since the goal of all players is to be in the starting eleven. Cech himself, while maintaining an aura of dignity and professionalism, has said that he wouldn’t mind a fresh start with another quality team. When the transfer window opens in 2015, expect multiple offers to arrive at Stamford Bridge for this talented keeper. And if all else fails, Cech might have a future in music.

Pedro Rodriguez and Dani Alves

These are two stalwarts for Barcelona, yet there is a real possibility that both will be gone in the transfer period this winter. Pedro has been shopped around before, and Dani Alves currently has a contract that expires at the end of the season. That should lower his transfer fee to a level that is affordable, at least relative to today’s marketplace.

So which European team would be audacious enough to make a bid for not one, but both players? Arsene Wenger and his Gunners could be in the mix. Arsenal has lacked a quality right-back since Mathieu Debuchys’ injury, and the possibility of reuniting Pedro with his former strike partner Alexis Sanchez might just reignite a Gunners squad in need of some firepower up front.

The cost of both players in the transfer window is estimated to be in the 20-30 million pound range, but Wenger has been given the green light to obtain both players if the price is within an acceptable range. While rumors persist of a possible play by Arsenal to secure the services of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Paris Saint-Germain, most consider it a long shot at best, given his age (33 years old) and what many estimate would be an unrealistic transfer fee.

Once the window opens in 2015, look for this tandem to be courted elsewhere in Europe, but notably in North London by Arsenal. Could this reuniting take place in London next season?

Gerard Pique

One of the premier center-backs in La Liga, this Barca mainstay has let it be known that he is unhappy with the current reign of new manager Luis Enrique. Their relationship has deteriorated to the point that recent games have seen Pique riding the bench.

In a recent game against Almeria, with time winding down and all three Barcelona substitutes used, Enrique had Pique warm up on the sideline with no chance of being able to enter the game to troll him.

With Barca’s defense needing all the help it can get, having the 27-year-old on the bench seems like the wrong move. The Catalan management has taken notice, letting Enrique know that this awkwardness cannot be allowed to continue and that a face-to-face meeting between the two must transpire. That has yet to happen. But other teams in Europe have taken notice, most notably, (former club) Manchester United.

With center-backs in high demand in Europe, Pique would command a transfer price high enough that Barcelona might not be able to turn it down. Until now, Pique has denied the possibility of a return to the Premier League. But given his unhappiness and the Red Devils’ need for a center-back, it might just be a match made in heaven.

Mario Balotelli

Normally, a player of Balotelli’s caliber would command exorbitant amounts of money. He has all the attributes of a quality world-class strikersize, speed and athleticism. Unfortunately, he also carries some “baggage” that has affected his trade value. This has led Italian national team manager, Antonio Conte, to publically state that Super Mario will be treated the same as the other players on the squad.

At 24 years of age, his professional career has been centered around him moving back and forth between Italy and England. While his stats and production have been good enough to warrant numerous appearances with the Italian national team, his work ethic has been called into question.  

He has yet to score a goal in league play for Liverpool. And he’s proven to be a horrible investment for the club thus far following the 20-million-pound transfer fee they shelled out to get him .

With striker Daniel Sturridge expected back from injury shortly, expect Super Mario to be packing his bags for new digs during the winter. He will still command a fairly high transfer fee, given his age and skill set. But expectations were high for manager Brendan Rodgers and his squad at Anfield this season, and his team has underperformed.

Look for Liverpool to be active in the transfer window when it opens in 2015, and expect Super Mario to be leaving the Anfield faithful during the winter. His former manager, Roberto Mancini, has recently taken the helm at Inter Milan. Soccer makes strange bedfellows, and if Mancini’s fortunes don’t turn around in the Serie A, this might be a reuniting in the making.

But first, Balotelli needs to show the world he can still finish. Otherwise, he’ll continue to look like the player he once was on this particular play as a member of Mancini’s former club.

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