Atlanta Soccer News: Art, Music and Culture: January Transfer Rumours

David Bentley to Manchester City? Sportsmail's guide to the moves that will have to wait until the January transfer window
By Tom Bellwood Last updated at 11:32 AM on 03rd September 2009
Comments (0) Add to My Stories It's official: we can now conclude that transfer deadline day was a non-event this year.

It put the 'dead' into deadline. Which is a real shame as these days it has become a highlight for football fans. And don't even get me started on how excited the Sky Sports News presenters become on transfer day.

Wanted: David James
Over the summer some decent moves have come to pass but the big finale fell flat as many deals collapsed and we were left with an emptiness that only Franck Ribery's failure to leave Bayern Munich can bring.

Still, we're only five months away from the next transfer deadline day in January, so here's the players who will be hoping it is a case of 'better luck next time'.

David JamesYou never like to use the word desperate when referring to a professional footballer, so let's say he was very, very keen on a move away from Fratton Park.

James wanted to team up with former manager Harry Redknapp as point-less Pompey's start to the season is hardly the news that earns you a seat on the plane to South Africa next summer.

Matthew UpsonThe £15million price tag attached to Upson proved too great a burden for potential suitors Spurs to shoulder so he remains a Hammer. But West Ham need the money and the defender wants the move so that should hasten his departure come January.
Hammer for now: Matthew Upson (right) was another Tottenham target
Philippe SenderosOne of the moves that remained firmly under the radar but the Swiss defender has been told he can leave the Emirates. Hull City were in the running and, with the departure of Michael Turner confirmed, they may need more strength in defence later in the season.

Nicky ShoreyThe one that got away! This was, at certain stages, confirmed as a done deal but personal terms could not be agreed and Shorey jumped back in the car to the Midlands. Martin O'Neill's capture of James Collins and Richard Dunne means there is a surplus of defenders at Villa Park so Shorey will have to look elsewhere for regular football.

In the cold: Nicky Shorey (left) has limited chances at Aston Villa
Marouane ChamakhThe Morocco striker was linked with Arsenal and West Ham and will be a free agent next summer, so you can be sure that Bordeaux will be keen to cash in on the 25-year-old. He is hoping that appearances in the Champions League will increase his stock before the transfer window opens again.

Swap stop: Martin Petrov
Martin PetrovNow this was a messy move that involved David Bentley (more of him later) and a possible loan/swap/permanent kind of deal with Spurs.
Petrov was keen on a move as, if you haven't already heard, Manchester City have bought one or two players this summer so he may struggle to hold down a place. On the bench.

Amr ZakiThere may have been a little meddling by Zaki's agent over the last couple of days in an attempt to fashion a move for the Zamalek striker.

The dastardly agent claimed that Portsmouth had made three bids for the Egypt international. The club denied this.
Steve Bruce will claim Pompey have dodged a bullet as he reckons Zaki is 'the worst professional he has ever worked with.' Ouch.
Jeremie AliadiereMiddlesbrough are haemorrhaging players at an alarming rate as the reality of life in the Championship starts to hit home. Aliadiere was all set for Fulham but personal terms saw and end to his move down to the Smoke. You can be sure that Southgate will do his best to off-load the striker in January.

Top target: Franck Ribery remains as Bayern Munich - for now
David BentleyHow do you solve a problem like Dave Bentley? Harry Redknapp has described him as a 'triffic' player (doesn't he always) but all Bentley is doing at the moment is sitting on the bench and watch Aaron Lennon play blinder after blinder. A move in January is a certainty and there will be many clubs after him, well, he is the next David Beckham, after all.

Franck RiberyThings aren't all good in the Bayern camp as a last-minute deal almost materialised after the France international claimed he and manager Louis Van Gaal didn't see eye to eye. 'It is important that you have faith in the coach, but with him (Van Gaal) it is complicated,' said Ribery - cue much stroking of chins in Madrid and west London.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1210852/David-Bentley-Manchester-City-Sportsmails-guide-moves-wait-January-transfer-window.html#ixzz0Q4fj3ZRA