Jefferson -- Botafogo
One of Brazil's best goalkeepers of recent years, 30-year-old
Jefferson has spent time in European football previously with Turkish
sides Trabzonspor and Konyaspor. However, there is a genuine sense
that he has improved with age and the Botafogo captain could now be
ready to try his hand at a club toward the upper end of European
competition. Given Bota's ongoing financial concerns, any player who
pulls on the famous black-and-white shirt has to be considered
available, and the dependable club captain will be among the most
sought after. Besides being an excellent organiser, Jefferson is also
famed for his shot-stopping ability, with penalty saves a particular
strong point of his game.
Bruno Ecuele Manga -- Lorient
Gabonese defender Ecuele Manga has been one of the leading
centre-backs in French football for a few years now, and it is
somewhat surprising that he has not yet moved on to a club challenging
for European football on a regular basis. Now 25, only one player has
made more interceptions than the rangy defender this season, while
similarly only one player has made more clearances, according to
Whoscoredstatistics. While he is physically and technically strong, it
is in reading the development of play that Ecuele Manga excels,
leading to his excellent statistics. Ecuele Manga was linked with
Everton in the summer in the Daily Mail, and is a name likely to crop
up once more this January.
Kenneth Omeruo -- Chelsea
Given that he is already contracted to West London giants Chelsea,
Nigeria international Omeruo is highly unlikely to make a permanent
transfer in the near future. However, with little prospect of a
regular starting berth at Chelsea, he should be available for a loan
move in January and would be an important capture for any side across
Europe suffering from defensive frailties at the current time. Already
an important figure for his country, the tall and powerful defender
has shown his ability while on loan with ADO Den Haag and at
international level and was recently described by BBC Sport's John
Bennettas Chelsea's best-kept secret.
Yuya Osako -- Kashima Antlers
Japan has proved adept at producing technically gifted second strikers
and wide forwards in recent years, with Kashima's Osako just another
name off what is proving a rich talent line. Osako had a brilliant
year in 2013, scoring 19 goals in the J.League, opening his account
for his national side and scoring a hat trick against Brazilian side
Sao Paulo in the final of the Suruga Bank trophy in August. Links with
the Bundesliga are obvious, given the number of Japanese talents now
plying their trade in Germany, and there is no doubt that he will be
Europe-bound within the next 12 months.
Alex Sandro -- Porto
Sandro would only fall within the budget of one of Europe's elite
clubs but is regarded as one of the next generation of leading
full-backs in world football. A bundle of energy, he is a typical
modern full-back whose primary emphasis is on attacking and
overlapping down the left flank. With a number of leading sides
currently looking for a high-end option in the left-back position, the
Porto star is undoubtedly a name that will regularly crop up in
conversations. However, the Portuguese side are notorious for driving
a hard bargain, and the Brazilian will not arrive cheap.
GettyImagesAlex Teixeira is now showing his potential for Shakhtar Donetsk.
Alex Teixeira -- Shakhtar Donetsk
One of the few of Shakhtar's older generation of Brazilians still left
at the club, the 23-year-old Teixeira has over the past 12 months made
good on the early promise he showed when first breaking through at
Vasco. Teixeira would be costly but has performed strongly in the
Champions League over the past two years and is one of the most
versatile midfielders around, playing in the No. 10 role, wide
positions and central midfield on a regular basis. With searing pace
off the mark and strong technique, Teixeira adds impetus to attacks
with his surging runs from midfield and has improved greatly on the
timing of his bursts into the box over the past two seasons.
Jefferson Montero -- Morelia
Now 24 years old, Ecuadorian winger Montero came close to returning to
European football with Cardiff during the summer and, with his good
form having continued in Liga MX, speculation is set to resume in
earnest in January. Lightning fast off the mark, two-footed and an
excellent dribbler, the qualities that took Montero to Villarreal as a
teenager have been clear for several years, but his inability to
consistently produce saw his first crack at Europe come to an early
end. In Mexico, though, he has improved his output with regular
first-team football and has become a regular contributor of both goals
and assists for his side.
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