January Targets: Who should be targeting who next month?

Petr Cech will be heavily linked with a move in January

January is a time for a bargain but not when it comes to footballers in the main but who could be out there?

Christmas may be the most wonderful time of year, but for the Premier League clubs the sooner the festivities are done the better.

A barrage of fixtures while the rest of us are enjoying good tidings means Premier League players and managers don't really get to indulge in the spirit of the season of goodwill.

A new year brings with it the opening of the January Transfer Window and a chance to chase down much needed reinforcements to right the wrongs of the early season or keep the dreams alive.

We take a look at some potential January transfer match-ups.

Wilfried Bony - Swansea City

Suitors: Liverpool, Man City, Spurs

The Ivory Coast international has scored more Premier League goals in 2014 than anyone else.

That feat is more remarkable when factoring in that Bony did not hit the net in any of Swansea's first six games this season. Since then it has been raining goals, with eight in his last ten games.

Garry Monk will be wary of offers for his prolific 26-year-old but as he enters the peak years of his career, Bony will we on many wanted lists - both in England and further afield.

If he is to make a move within the Premier League, goal-shy Liverpool could be first in line. Brendan Rodgers needs a prolific striker to replace Luis Suarez and Mario Balotelli is not the answer.

Mauricio Pochettino is already talking of protecting Harry Kane from an unwanted burden of leading the line at Spurs while injuries to their three main strikers could tempt champions Man City into a bid for Bony.

Petr Cech - Chelsea

Suitors: Liverpool, Real Madrid

Cech is simply too good and too young to warm the bench at Stamford Bridge.

The trouble for Jose Mourinho is that in Thibaut Courtois he has one of the most talented, young keepers in the world on his books.

The Belgian has been given the gloves this season and January could see 32-year-old Cech agitating for a move.

Liverpool do not have their problems to seek, but with Simon Mignolet dropped at Old Trafford, the Reds appear to have lost patience in their goalkeeper.

Whether they can afford Cech's wages is less clear.

Iker Casillas' World Cup performances seemed to confirm that the Spanish legend is on the wane and with just about everything at the Bernabeu in perfect order, Guus Hiddink may choose to recruit someone of Cech's proven quality.

Marco Reus - Borussia Dortmund

Suitors: Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Real Madrid

His recent injury record notwithstanding, the 25-year-old German winger looks set to become one of the hottest transfer properties available.

Dortmund are once more consigned to losing their star turn, whether that be in January or next summer.

Reus missed the World Cup with injury and was sidelined again in November with an ankle problem. He is due to return early in the New Year by which point he could be the subject of some hefty advances.

As wingers go, Reus has the lot. Pace, trickery, two-footed and he scores goals.

At Chelsea he could enjoy the sort of success Arjen Robben did in his early 20's. Ironically, Bayern may step up their pursuit of Reus should the Dutchman leave. Madrid don't technically need Reus, but that usually doesn't stop them and they have been linked with the player.

Morgan Schneiderlin - Southampton

Suitors: Tottenham, Arsenal

Schneiderlin did his utmost to engineer a move away from St Marys in the summer. The 25-year-old Frenchman clearly believes he has outgrown the south coast club during his six years.

Ronald Koeman blocked his move to Spurs in the summer and, to the player's credit, he has knuckled down to the job at hand this season.

His performances during Southampton's rise to second place in the table have arguably strengthened his hand in terms of the clubs that will look to lure him away.

Either of the north London clubs could use a player of his ilk.

Mauricio Pochettino knows the player which could count for something but with Mikael Arteta's contribution at the Emirates ever diminishing Arsene Wenger will be monitoring his compatriot's situation closely.

Schneiderlin wants Champions League football and the lure of Arsenal would be hard to resist for both he and Southampton.

Jackson Martinez - Porto

Suitors: Tottenham, Liverpool

The Columbian international was one of many players in his national side to impress at the Word Cup in Brazil and the Porto striker is now being heavily linked with a move to the Premier League.

The 28-year-old has a terrific scoring record since moving to Europe, hitting the net 56 times in 72 appearances for the Primeira Liga outfit.

Porto's qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League should have poured cold water on any suggestion Martinez would leave the Estadio do Dragao but reports in Portugal are suggesting Tottenham are going to make a major play for Martinez in January.

Liverpool have also been widely linked with the player as Brendan Rodgers looks likely to cut his losses on misfit striker Mario Balotelli.

The same press reports suggest Mauricio Pochettino will attempt to offload Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado to make his move for Martinez.

Diego Godin - Atletico Madrid

Suitors: Manchester United, Arsenal

Having lost Thibaut Courtois and Diego Costa from his La Liga winning team already, the last thing Diego Simeone wants is another raid on his Vincente Calderon squad.

That is exactly what he could face in January and Uruguayan international centre-back Diego Godin is first in line.

The 28-year-old made his name in Spain at Villarreal before switching to Atletico four years ago and he became a crucial part of the side that won the title and reached the Champions League final last season.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal have failed to convince at the back this season.

Despite a huge summer outlay, Louis van Gaal is set to have cash to spend once again in January although whether he will meet the 28m release clause for Godin remains to be seen.

Arsene Wenger is under pressure. He has the attacking quality but defensively Arsenal have been a shambles at times.

A no-nonsense, rock solid central defender is on the wish list and Godin fits the bill.