richwilks

I didn't know how to go further than "highly unlikely" without swearing.

I've heard a couple of different sources over the past 2 weeks mentioning that Rafa is persuing David Villa and is willing to offer upto 25m in the January transfer window. Rafa sees Villa as the perfect partner for Torres and believes it'll form an unstoppable strikeforce. Valencia are in need of some money and Rafa is hoping to raise the cash through the sales of Carson, Crouch and Sissoko and include John Arne Riise in the deal. Apparently Valencia are keen to recruit Mikel Arteta from Everton and need some money to push the deal through. Villa is keen on any deal and although Chelsea would enter the bidding Villa would prefer to link up with Torres and Benitez. Chelsea will then persue a deal for Anelka. All sounds highly unlikely to me but thought I'd pass it on, £25 million in the January transfer window seems unlikely especially given the rumours of our lack of cash. Would also mean us needing to invest in a new left back.

I think a lot depends on the attitude of the player you sign. Gary Mac and Babbel did well for us.

With various rumours of us having no money, having to sell players to raise money, having money and generally just constant talk of us and transfers in the media what do you think is going to happen in January? For what it's worth (which isn't a lot) here's my opinions. Any deal for Scott Carson is probably going to be put on ice until the summer now. Villa seem interested in strengthening their squad and Rafa is unlikely to force the issue and see his valuation plumet. Unless there is serious interest from another Premier League club I think this deal won't go ahead just yet. Momo Sissoko will certainly leave. He's not getting the game time he wants, when he's on the pitch he's not the same player he was last season. With genuine interest from Inter Milan and Juventus I think the player will leave for around the 8 million mark. Depending on Rafa's thinking and the potential players he has coming in Peter Crouch will probably leave for Villa, Man City or Portsmouth. A fee of around 10 million should give us a little profit and also help to push through any deals Rafa has lined up. Valencia seem keen to take Riise and if a deal had been completed for Heinze in August I believe Rafa would have let him go. As it is you don't let a first team regular leave in January without sufficient cover so no deal should go through. The Mascherano deal seems to have been put to one side for now. Hopefully this means Rafa is confident of pushing the deal through in the summer, MSI are sure to be sounding other clubs out which is a worry. Coming in seems to be the biggest confusion. Rafa seems to be keen on a center back and Kaladze seems to be his number one choice as a player that can cover at left back as well. Personally Garay seems the better option given his potential and age although at 10 million it is a risk. We're sure to move for a winger, if Crouch does move on I expect Babel to become the 4th striker and a left winger to be brought in. Carvelho looked like it was nailed on althought I've heard reports that he's signed a new contract now. Rafa is set to bring in 2 young South Americans according to reports although no names have been mentioned. The reports I've read seem to believe that the transfers are just a formality. Also mentioned is that Rafa is working to close to bosman signings. These could be the two South Americans although if we are after 2 South American youngsters you have to doubt the quality if they are available as free transfers.

So really all we know is that Wes Brown is going to be available, Mattieu Flamini and Tommachi. Presuambly working on Bosmans means he'll be lining up players to come in for next season.

Apparently Rafa is working hard to secure two bosmans in January. Anybody have any idea who they could be? Is there a list anywhere of players running out of contract? I know Flamini is one but doubt we'd move for him.