January 2014 Transfer Window

[stokeriño]

Because holy shit I just realised it's only two weeks away (but then I still can't quite comprehend how Christmas has got so close so quickly either).

Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport (and the Guardian and so on) claim that Chelsea have reached an 18m euro (£15m) deal for Inter Milan midfileder Fredy Guarin - which to me would be a sort of "Jack of all trades, master of none" utility-type signing. May not be true of course, but YAY TRANSFER THREAD.

Also the rumour mill continues to churn out the idea of Kevin De Bruyne heading to one of various German clubs, possibly even on a permanent deal (just for a change). Rumoured figures tend to be around double the ~£7m Chelsea originally bought him for.

In the meantime, we await great swathes of Manchester United panic buys and the new Spurs boss being handed precisely £0 with which to put his stamp on his new team.

[Matt]

Apparently we've got agreements in place for Nakhi Wells, Tommy Rowe and Callum Wilson. Meanwhile we've apparently approached St Ettienne able bringing back Max Gradel. I'm taking all those stories with various amounts of salt, though.

[King Ellis]

Ah, Freddy Guarin, Gretna legend. Dan knows.

Does he still produce 35 yard piledrivers?

[stokeriño]

35 yard piledrivers

This signing is reminding me more and more of Raul Meireles as time goes on.

[Jimmy]

I expect we'll be linked to every striker under in the sun in this window, too.

[Nerf]

35 yard piledrivers

This signing is reminding me more and more of Raul Meireles as time goes on.

You didn't deserve Raul Meireles :@

[METALMAN]

KdB isn't good enough right now, but I thought a loan deal would have been more suitable rather than just getting rid of him.

I read a report saying he might be a makeweight in a deal for Julian Draxler, whoever he is.

[Nerf]

Whoever...he...is...

[stokeriño]

I will always remember Meireles fondly for his wonderful trolling of Benfica fans in our Champions League clashes, complete with mocking applause after smashing a goal in against them.

I think if KDB goes somewhere permanently it will be because he requested it - otherwise we'd likely just loan until the end of time.

The Draxler link is hilariously unrealistic in a January window, if ever.

[METALMAN]

Whoever...he...is...

What?

[Starvinho]

I can't see United going mad in the window, even though we could do with a few good signings. I see us signing Baines and maybe one other, our big business will probably happen in the Summer though.

[Matt]

Why would Baines want to leave a side challenging the top 4 to join a midtable team?

[brenchill]

Freddy Guarin, Football Manager 2005 legend and Icon?

I didn't even know he was a real player.

The only CDM capable of 20 goals a season.

[GoN_]

Meireles and Guarin are not similar players at all in my opinion. I haven't seen much of Guarin since he went to Italy (I don't enjoy Serie A matches), but he had an amazing year with AVB and in the last three months of the previous season.

[9 to 5]

Not sure, Sunday Oliseh used to smash in 20+ a season in my Dortmund line up. But we are going back a long time there.

[brenchill]

David Prutton, CM01/02 was a monster, too.

[Monkey D. Lars]

Not sure, Sunday Oliseh used to smash in 20+ a season in my Dortmund line up. But we are going back a long time there.

I remember him one of the few Ajax players I like

[stokeriño]

Meireles and Guarin are not similar players at all in my opinion. I haven't seen much of Guarin since he went to Italy (I don't enjoy Serie A matches), but he had an amazing year with AVB and in the last three months of the previous season.

TBH my only avenues of comparison were "hmm, utility midfielder signings who may be solid if not spectacular" and then "...35 yard piledrivers? OH GOD NOT AGAIN [/FM13 aggravation]".

[Rafael]

RUMOURS TIME~!

Mitroglou being chased by Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle. Rumoured price is £7.5M.

Although Kyle Walker just signed a new contract, Monaco want to sign the overrated right-back.

If Chelsea do sell David Luiz, the team is lining up for Inter's Andrea Ranocchia.

Edited December 17, 2013 by RafaelFms

[9 to 5]

Rafael is like a bear, only wakes for transfer windows.