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.