Premier League clubs already active in the transfer market

Former-England international Jermain Defoe looks set for a return to the Premier League

The transfer window officially opened on Thursday and the Premier League rumour mill has kicked into action.

A number of players have been linked with, or have already made moves to and from the Premier League. Here are a few interesting names being linked with moves:

Lukas Podolski (Arsenal to Inter)

The German World Cup winner has been linked with a move away from the Premier League for awhile.

The 29-year-old has failed to start a league game this season and has made just seven substitute appearances for the Gunners in the top-flight this season.

On his day he is a clinical finisher and does score goals. However, he is not the most consistent of performers. The forward now looks set to complete a loan move to Serie A with Roberto Mancini’s Inter.

Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC to Leicester)

According to Sky, the former-England striker could be set for a move to the Premier League with bottom of the table Leicester. The 32-year has been prolific in the MLS since his move to America last year, scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances.

However, certain people connected with Toronto have questioned the striker’s commitment to the franchises cause, which has upset the striker. It seems Defoe will be back in England very soon. The veteran striker is currently odds of 1/ 2 to join the Foxes in January.

Mark Schwarzer (Chelsea to Leicester)

Leicester are currently without first choice keeper Kasper Schmeichel, but back-up Ben Hamer has done a decent job as the Dane’s stand-in. However, the struggling Foxes now look to have secured the signature of 42-year-old Mark Schwarzer from Chelsea on a free transfer.

The veteran Australian keeper has been at Stamford Bridge for 18 months, but is behind highly-rated pair Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech in the pecking order at the Blues.

Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle to Nice)

The French international playmaker has struggled to find consistency at Newcastle and more recently at Hull in a loan spell. Ben Arfa is undoubtedly talented, but his attitude and motivation have been questioned.

The midfielder struggled to get into the Hull team during his loan spell and was told recently that he would not play for the club again. He now looks set to make another temporarily move, this time back home with Nice.

Wilfried Bony (Swansea to Manchester City)

The Ivorian striker has enjoyed a very productive season in the Premier League and is now being linked with a big money move to the reigning champions. Bony has found the net nine times in the Premier League this season, after scoring 16 times for the Swans in his debut campaign in England.

City are currently without strikers Sergio Aguero  and Edin Dzeko through injury and a move for Bony would improve their attacking options, with Stevan Jovetic and youngster Jose Pozo the only current senior striking options.

Saido Berahino (West Brom linked with Tottenham and Liverpool)

West Brom’s England under-21 international has impressed this season, after breaking into the Baggies first team in the last campaign. The 21-year-old has found the net eight times in the Premier League and has also been prolific for England under-21’s.

His form this season has led to reported interested from the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham who are both looking to bolster their striking options in January. A fee in the region of £20million has been mooted, but it remains to be seen if the youngster will move on in January.

The West Brom hierarchy have admitted that they may sell the youngster in January if the right offer comes along in order to allow new boss Tony Pulis money to spend to strengthen his squad.

Mauro Zarate (West Ham to QPR)

The Argentinian forward only arrived at West Ham in the summer, but his path to the West Ham first team has been blocked by fellow summer arrivals Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho and the return to fitness of England international Andy Carroll.

Zarate now finds himself very much down the striking pecking order at the Boleyn Ground and looks set to join the Irons London rivals QPR on a six-month loan deal.

Start

This is just the start of what promises to be another busy January transfer window for Premier League clubs. Stay with Soccernews throughout January as we bring you all the latest transfer moves and speculation.

Which Premier League club will be the busiest in January?