The January transfer window has always been known for infuriating managers, driving up suspiciously high transfer fees, and producing deals that are largely brought about by widespread last minute panic.
Whilst in the last few season we haven’t seen quite as much activity as we have come to expect of the January transfer window, no winter period passes without at least a few raised eyebrows.
As January approaches and the transfer drama begins to start up again for another consecutive season, just what are the most ridiculous transfer rumours already doing the rounds this winter?
EMILE HESKEY to LEICESTER CITY
Whilst Foxes boss Nigel Pearson has already seemingly put an end to this one, claiming that we are “reading too much into it to suggest he would improve what we’ve got here at the minute”, Emile Heskey’s potential return to the Premier League would certainly not pass without notice.
The bulky forward, who has since developed cult hero status in the A-League with Newcastle Jets, scored over 40 goals for Leicester City in his previous stint at the club. Heskey is therefore a likeable figure with Foxes fans and his possible return will have undoubtedly caused a few smiles to develop around the King Power stadium recently.
That said, at the grand old age of 36-years-old, Emile Heskey really doesn’t have a great deal to offer, and his proposed transfer back to Leicester would surely do no favours for the confidence of Leonardo Ulloa, Jamie Vardy and David Nugent, in their attempts to bang in the goals for Nigel Pearson’s side.
GARETH BALE to MANCHESTER UNITED
Although this proposed transfer looked no more than a non-starter at the beginning of its conception, dreams of seeing Gareth Bale back in the Premier League seem to be growing in momentum with every passing day.
Whilst Manchester United are undoubtedly back on the rise under the guidance of Louis van Gaal, the fact that Bale has the chance to win back-to-back Champions League titles with Real Madrid makes it hard to believe that he would want to make the switch to Old Trafford just yet.
As the Red Devils have been clearly displaying of late however, money certainly talks for United. They managed to lure Angel Di Maria away from the Bernabeu in the summer, and as their ‘Galacticos’ inspired spending has alluded to, no target is considered too big for the Premier League giants.
FERNANDO TORRES to LIVERPOOL
Despite Brendan Rodgers signing two strikers in the summer to compensate for the loss of Luis Suarez, this transfer may not be as ridiculous as it initially sounds.
Yes, Fernando Torres has hardly been the same since leaving Anfield in 2011, as he has unceremoniously failed at both Chelsea and now AC Milan, but El Nino could just be the hero Liverpool need right now.
Balotelli and Lambert have looked nowhere near the kind of finishers Rodgers requires, and in the prolonged absence of Daniel Sturridge, perhaps a return to Anfield is the best possible option for both Fernando Torres and Liverpool football club. The deal would nevertheless shock football fans across Europe if it were to actually happen.
KARIM BENZEMA to LIVERPOOL
Another high profile striker to see his name linked with the Reds comes in the form of France’s main man up-front, Karim Benzema.
Whilst Rodgers would certainly love to see the clinical ex-Lyon man down at Anfield to appease his side’s struggles in front of goal, Karim Benzema is simply too much of an asset for Real Madrid to just throw out. Yes, the La Liga giants now have a combination of Gareth Bale – Ronaldo – James Rodriguez to lead their front-line, but Benzema’s traditional centre-forward qualities make him an important player for Ancelotti’s nonetheless.
Only a very sizeable transfer fee, something that Liverpool haven’t been too worried about producing recently, or ludicrously inflated wages would likely tempt Benzema to join a team who currently don’t look like they will qualify for the Champions League next season.
AARON LENNON to INTER MILAN
Even Spurs fans may have forgotten all about Aaron Lennon in recent years. When the English winger first signed for Tottenham in 2005, great things were expected of the pacy midfielder who had the impressive ability to beat his man.
But with every passing season it becomes more and more apparent that Aaron Lennon has not reached the potential many Spurs fans had hoped for. For that reason it makes it increasingly surprising to see that the 27-year-old midfielder is being linked with a move to Serie A with Inter Milan.
Inter are certainly not the same side they used to be, but this deal still sounds pretty unlikely. The ‘story’ seemed like a non-starter from the beginning, and in-line with that notion, Inter boss Roberto Mancini has since poured cold water on any move linking Aaron Lennon to his side.