Monday, January 1, 2007

With the month-long transfer window opened at midnight Sunday, the outcome of Europe's top leagues could turn on transfer activity.

English champion Chelsea trails Man United by 6 points in the EPL and has key players injured, it isn't clear whether owner Roman Abramovich will be called upon to spend more money.

"If the club ask for my opinion, I say 'yes,' but at the same time, when I see the eyes of some clubs and they ask for incredible money for normal players, I would say 'no,"' Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said.

"I need the best goalkeeper in the world (Petr Cech) back. I need the best central defender in the world (John Terry) back. I don't need millions for replacements. I need them back." Cech could return from a fractured skull in February, while Terry has targeted the League Cup semifinal against League Two side Wycombe on Jan. 10.

Abramovich has spent about 276 million pounds ($540 million) on transfers since taking over at Stamford Bridge in 2003. Against that, Chelsea doesn't have much of a history of bringing in players in January - one of the two periods a year that clubs are allowed to trade players.

A year ago, Chelsea was 11 points clear atop the table and went on to win a second straight title.
However, offseason acquisitions Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko have not impressed and, this time, the Blues have been linked with Manchester City's England defender Micah Richards and Birmingham defender Matthew Upson, who turned down a five-year contract extension with the League Championship leaders.

Despite its place atop the Premier League, Manchester United is seen by many as the most likely club to go shopping, judging by its track record.

The Red Devils, who are seeking their first title in four seasons, bought Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic in January 2006 and paid a British January transfer-record 12.85 million pounds ( $25.2 million) for France striker Louis Saha from Fulham in 2004. Saha has since scored 36 goals in 88 games for United.

Striker Henrik Larsson is already joining on loan from Swedish club Helsingborg until March, while England midfielder Owen Hargreaves has been linked since an offseason move was rebuffed by Bayern Munich.

Bayern sits three points back in the chase of Bundesliga leaders Werder Bremen and Schalke, and reportedly wants 18 million pounds ($35.3 million) to release Hargreaves. Lyon, which has a 15-point lead in France, and Inter Milan, which is seven points ahead in Italy, are well-placed to take their league titles.

Inter tied a league record with its 11th-straight win before the winter break and, aside from losing Portuguese forward Luis Figo to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, is unlikely to tamper with its side.

Sevilla leads defending champion FC Barcelona by two points in the Spanish league, but it is Real Madrid - five points behind Sevilla - which has already signed three new players ahead of the transfer window.

The arrival of Boca Juniors midfielder Gago and River Plate striker Gonzalo Higuain could spell the end of David Beckham and Antonio Cassano at Madrid.

Former England captain Beckham could even move to the US since no firm offers have come from English clubs. Madrid has expressed an interest in Franck Ribery, increasing the pressure on Beckham. Cassano has been linked with former club AS Roma.

Barcelona striker Javier Saviola is out of contract at the end of the year and could move.
Sevilla signed Russia striker Alexander Kerzhakov from Zenit St. Petersburg in a US$6.6 million deal on Thursday to bolster its attack.