Squawka’s January Transfer sale: Uncovering the bargains across Europe

While thousands of enthusiastic shoppers scurry down their local high street like a crazed ant colony, darting from shop to shop in the hope of snapping up the latest bargains from the January sale, football managers are acting in a not too dissimilar fashion.

David Moyes isn’t eyeing up the latest designer coat, and Tony Pulis isn’t looking for a glitzy new hat (perhaps he is), but now that the transfer window is once again open for business, Premier League managers are scrutinising their comprehensive scouting list in the hope of clinching a January deal that could help reach end of season targets, thus remaining in a job until the summer, at least.

With that in mind I’ve decided to give them a helping hand and list some potential steals from Europe’s top five leagues.

Note: a player has been added based solely on their impressive statistics from this season and the possibility of low market value (depending on club budget).

Productive Strikers

England

Jay Rodriguez (Southampton): 8 goals in 20 appearances.

Of the Premier League’s top ten goalscorers, only Jay Rodirguez’s availability appeared the most flexible. And by flexible, I mean rigid. The versatile striker has become a permanent feature of Mauricio Pochettino’s plans, so the opportunity of taking him from Southampton during this brief transfer window seems unlikely.

France

Filip ?or?evi? (Nantes): 8 goals in 19 appearances.

After seven years at Nantes, it would appear that Filip ?or?evi? will depart the club this summer on a free transfer. The 26-year-old Serbian fired the French side into the top flight last season and has continued his rich vein of form throughout the current campaign.

Spain

Javi Guerra (Real Valladolid): 11 goals in 18 appearances.

Javi Guerra is currently sixth in La Liga’s scoring charts, positioned alongside Pedroand Alexis Sánchez of Barcelona. With the former Valencia striker’s contract due to expire in six months, would Real Valladolid be willing to let him leave for nothing?

Germany

Adrián Ramos (Hertha Berlin): 11 goals in 17 appearances.

Hertha Berlin’s Colombian international has lit up the Bundesliga, scoring 11 goals in 17 appearances from a total of 41 shots. Adrián Ramos currently tops the scoring charts, alongside a certain Robert Lewandowski.

Italy

Alberto Gilardino (Genoa): 8 goals in 18 appearances.

Genoa’s 31-year-old striker has nestled eight goals into the back of the net in 18 appearances (14 full games) this season, and although the experienced and much-travelled striker seems fairly content, according to Football Italia he’d be more than willing to jump ship once again this year.

Midfield Steel

England

Claudio Yacob (West Bromwich Albion): 57 tackles (50% success).

Only Crystal Palace’s Joel Ward (64) has made more successful tackles than Claudio Yacob throughout the 2013-14 Premier League season, so if it’s a midfield enforcer you’re after, the Argentinian could be safe bet.

France

Benjamin André (AC Ajaccio): 50 tackles (66% success).

Benjamin André has attempted to control Ajaccio’s midfield with 50 tackles (66% success) in Ligue 1 – only three players have won more. Ajaccio are bottom of the table however, which will undoubtedly have played a part in allowing the former France under-21 international to attain such a notable statistic.

Spain

Víctor Sánchez (Espanyol): 56 tackles (73% success).

Víctor Sánchez has helped guide Espanyol to a relatively safe mid-table position via six wins, four draws and eight losses. The 26-year-old has previously worked under Pep Guardiola as part of Barcelona’s B team.

Germany

Daniel Baier (Augsburg): 60 tackles (59% success).

Augsburg currently sit eighth in the German Bundesliga, 10 points above the relegation places and 20 points behind the league leaders. A position made far more comfortable thanks to the tireless midfield work of Daniel Baier. The ex-1860 München player has achieved the greatest number of successful tackles this season in the Bundesliga.

Italy

Allan (Udinese): 56 tackles (58% success).

Udinese’s Brazilian midfielder has protected his team’s defence with 56 tackles – second-highest total behind Juventus’ Arturo Vidal – in addition to driving past his opposite man 35 times. A player who’s comfortable throughout both transitions would be a welcome addition to any side.

Aerial Dominance

England

Peter Crouch (Stoke City): 135 headers (65% success).

Standing at 6ft 7in tall, Stoke City’s target man has won the greatest number of headers (135) throughout Europe’s top five leagues, and while he remains a key figure in Mark Hughes’ first team plans, a decent fee could prise an ageing Peter Crouch away.

France

Bruno Ecuele Manga (Lorient): 93 headers (68% success).

The 25-year-old Gabon international has won 93 headers for Lorient this season – the greatest amount in Ligue 1 – and according to Sky Sports, Ecuele Manga has spoken of his desire to play in the Premier League under Roberto Martínez. Could he therefore be set for a January move?

Spain

Christian Stuani (Espanyol): 85 headers (59% success).

Last year talkSPORT announced that Christian Stuani was attracting a great deal of attention from across Europe, and on closer inspection of the Uruguayan’s statistics it’s clear to see why. Espanyol’s powerful striker has won the greatest number of headers (85) in the current La Liga campaign.

Germany

Adrián Ramos (Hertha Berlin): 105 headers (40% success).

Another entry for Adrián Ramos here, who has netted four headed goals so far this season. He may have only won 40% of attempted aerial duels, however the total number of successful headers (105) is rivalled only by Peter Crouch.

Italy

Germán Denis (Atalanta): 71 headers (42% success).

Germán Denis has reportedly attracted interest from Lazio coach Edoardo Reja in recent months, following the dismissal of Vladimir Petkovi? after disciplinary proceedings.

Luca Toni (73) is the only player to have won more headers than Denis in Serie A this season, highlighting a striker who is more than capable of spearheading attacking moves as well as supplying ammunition to others.

Tricky Midfielders

England

Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle): 47 take-ons (58% success).

Hatem Ben Arfa’s natural talent and ability is clear for all to see, although his decision-making often leaves a lot to be desired. The tricky midfielder has surged past 47 opposition players this season, but with fellow Frenchman Rémy Cabella rumoured as a possible transfer target for Newcastle, along with Alan Pardew’s challenge for Ben Arfa to regain a first team place, could the former Marseille player end his three-and-a-half year stay in England this year?

France

Roy Contout (Sochaux): 41 take-ons (51% success).

Roy Contout has won more take-ons (41) than any other player in Ligue 1, even though Sochaux have won a miserable two matches all season. The 28-year-old forward also happens to be the club’s second most imaginative player, having created a total of 15 chances for others.

Spain

Alhassane Bangoura (Rayo Vallecano): 51 take-ons (52% success).

Alhassane Bangoura, or “Lass” as he prefers to be known, has surged past more opposition players than Neymar (50), however his overall contribution has been mediocre, picking up a Performance Score of -58.

Germany

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Mainz 05): 66 take-ons (66%) success.

Mainz Ninth in the Bundesliga with one of the league’s most ingenious dribblers at their disposal. If Maxim Choupo-Moting continues to deliver exceptional performances for Mainz following his 2011 transfer from Hamburger SV, the rest of Europe will soon be adding the 24-year-old to their shopping list – especially considering his contract expires this summer.

Italy

Alessio Cerci (Torino): 44 take-ons (47% success).

With Alessio Cerci expressing his desire to play in the Champions League, it’s seems only a matter of time until the Italy international departs Torino. Whether that be in Italy, or elsewhere in Europe, potential suitors can expect to sign an exciting player who has successfully dribbled past 44 opposition players.

Creative Hub

England

Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City): 36 key passes.

Mesut Özil may be dazzling crowds in his debut Premier League season, creating chances left, right and centre, but Norwich City’s Robert Snodgrass has created two fewer key passes than Arsenal’s playmaker.

The Scotland international is currently the sixth most creative player in the English top flight.

France

Rémy Cabella (Montpellier HSC): 37 key passes.

Fifteen Squawka Best Player Awards, six goals, and 37 key passes. It’s no wonder that Rémy Cabella is being touted with a move elsewhere. Newcastle United will have done incredibly well to clinch Cabella’s signature if reported interested from the Magpies is true.

Spain

Roberto Trashorras (Rayo Vallecano): 43 key passes.

Rayo Vallecano’s Roberto Trashorras should be added to your list of La Liga’s most gifted playmakers, because since the start of the 2012-13 league campaign the 32-year-old has fashioned 126 key passes for his team-mates.

Germany

Hiroshi Kiyotake (FC Nürnberg): 38 key passes.

Following Hiroshi Kiyotake’s move to Europe in 2012, the Japanese international’s impressive performances have been met with widespread critical acclaim. The attacking midfielder currently has the fourth-highest total (38) of key passes this season, three behind the talented Marco Reus.

Italy

Miralem Pjani? (Roma): 33 key passes.

Miralem Pjani? has been continuously linked with Manchester United for the last three months amid conflicting reports throughout various media outlets. The 23-year-old won’t leave on the on the cheap, however the gifted midfielder’s talents shouldn’t be ignored if he seeks a move from Rome.