Liverpool are looking to manufacture a loan move for former United hitman Ruud van Nistelrooy. United on the other hand are looking for goalkeeping reinforcements. They are readying a £20m bid for Lyon custodian Hugo Lloris. United are also keeping tabs on Everton’s Jack Rodwell and centre defender Bruno Alves, after it has emerged that Nemanja Vidic could jump ship and move to Real Madrid when the window opens.

Roberto Mancini’s arrival at Manchester City will surely spark a round of transfer deals. Mancini is reportedly interested in Palermo’s Danish centre half Simon Kjaer. Also on his list are Inter defender Ivan Cordoba, Juventus hard man Giorgio Chiellini, striker Antonio Cassano and veteran midfielder Dejan Stankovic. Mancini will also be forced to take a call on the Joe Hart situation, with Birmingham pushing to make his deal permanent. Arsene Wenger is thought to be interested in Craig Bellamy, but the Welsh international has expressed his desire to continue for City.

Owen Coyle’s Burnley are close to signing Algeria captain Yazid Mansouri for £1m from Lorient in the French League while Blackburn may lose Benni Mccarthy who is a surprise target for Birmingham City. Wolves are eyeing a move for Derby County winger Kris Commons.

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is set to raid his former club Celtic. He is readying a £6mn bid for the services of Stephen McManus, Barry Robson and Scott McDonald. And finally, it comes as no surprise that Wenger has his eyes on yet another young talent as he steps up his bid to sign 15-year-old QPR striker Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool are also targeting Sampdoria midfielder Konan Vladimir, who is currently on loan at Bari while Arsene Wenger is very keen on Mexican teenager Martin Luis Galvan. Manchester City have proclaimed that they won’t be spending big in January. But they are fiercely pursuing the signature of Yaya Toure. With Kolo already captaining City, it would be enticing for Yaya to join his elder brother. City are also keeping tabs on the Brazilian pair of Ramirez and Maicon. On the other hand, Juventus are keen on taking Pablo Zabaleta to Turin, but it would be unlikely for City to sell their priced asset.

Turning attention to lower leagues in England now, Watford are pushing hard to extend the loan deals of Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury, who are on loan from Manchester United and Arsenal respectively. But Ipswich boss Roy Keane has seen his bid to sign Danny Higginbotham and Leon Court on loan till January rejected by Stoke City.

And finally in some international news, Argentina coach Diego Maradona has tipped Benfica striker Angel di Maria to be the next worldwide superstar. Needless to say, Chelsea are tracking his progress with the Portugese outfit.

Inter Milan manager, Jose Mourinho’s advances towards Salomon Kalou have forced Chelsea to open new contract talks with the forward. Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson is also keen on tying up his centre back Brede Hangelaand to a new contract after he successfully fended off interest from Arsenal and Everton during the transfer window. Tommy Spurr rejected a move to Everton during the summer and is set to sign a new contract with Sheffield Wednesday

Roy Keane has made bids for four of his former Sunderland players – Carlos Edwards, Grant Leadbitter, Nyron Nosworthy and Daryl Murphy. Edwards and Leadbitter have been given permission to talk with Sunderland and are close to agreeing personal terms. Meanwhile, Birmingham City are keen on Middlesbrough’s Sanli Tuncay. Birmingham hope to tie up a £ 5 million deal for the Turkish star but they face stiff competition from Villa, Cologne, Stuttgart and Fenerbache. Al-Sadd, the Qatari club, have made an increased offer for Afonso Alves, the forward who cost Middlesbrough a club-record £12 million last year while Bolton Wanderers’ £6.5 million offer for Achille Emana has been turned down by Real Betis. The Cameroon midfield player cost £5.5 million when he moved from French side Toulouse last summer.