Liverpool has had few problems creating chances this season but finishing them off has been a different story altogether. The Reds' dismal fortunes in front of goal have led to reports that Dalglish is looking for another striker to solve their goalscoring woes, with Darren Bent the most commonly-linked frontman.
Bent, like Andy Carroll, only joined his current employer in a big-money move from a North East club last January, but talk is rife that the England forward is not happy with life under Alex McLeish. Theoretically, Bent and Liverpool would be a good fit, but the sticking point here would be Villa – would they really be willing to sell their top goalscorer?
Randy Lerner sanctioned the purchase of Bent last season in an effort to stop Villa sliding into the Championship. Take the £18million man out of Alex McLeish’s side and relegation would once again become a very real possibility. Bent, it would seem, is sticking around. For now…
 

"The natural cycles of the championship teams are five years." These are words Pep Guardiola has been repeated more than once while at Barcelona. The coach agreed to the first team in the summer of 2008 and if his forecasts are fulfilled, the cycle would therefore end in June 2013.

Although the margin of maneuver is still quite broad, the board has decided to cover Barca back and design a plan that, according to many pundits, includes the hiring of Marcelo Bielsa as a future replacement coach for Guardiola.

Though we expect Pep to re-sign with Barcelona at season's end, 'El Loco' would be a welcomed addition to the blaugrana; as his coaching style (full-court pressure and dominance of touch and short combination) would give continuity to the model that's so successful that the Camp Nou organization has provided.

Rumor: To Milan

Likelihood: Good

Milan seems committed to getting something worked out, and if their interest doesn't wane, Manchester City would be crazy not to make sure Tevez gets off their books. If that happens, Milan will be absolutely loaded with attackers, creating the late-match possibility of having Tevez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Pato on the pitch together, a quartet reminiscent of Tevez's last year at Manchester United (Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Tevez).

No surprise here, as Eden Hazard makes another appearance in the our weekly Rumor Redux edition. The suitors have been named in great length, as Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have all been rumored to bid for the talented Belgian in 2012.

Fascinated by his elegance, ball skills and scoring ability, the 20-year-old is certainly a hot commodity for the aforementioned football giants. Nonetheless, with Lille having a strong run in Ligue 1, one has to wonder if the French defending champions will be willing to let the young starlet leave before booking a European place next season.

Our best guess is that Lille will remain in France for the remainder of the season. If the big guns in Europe are willing to open their wallets in January (hint, hint Real Madrid), then all bets are off.

However many excuses Kenny Dalglish comes up with to defend the return from his £35million investment, only the most blinkered Liverpool fan will argue that Carroll has been anything other than a huge disappointment.
Less than a year after his arrival, there has been talk of a return to his hometown club, with Newcastle linked with a loan move for the native Geordie. The North East giant, however, has quietly dismissed such talk, despite the imminent departure of Demba Ba to the African Cup of Nations.
With Luis Suarez now missing for the next seven games and Steve Gerrard finally around to drop some crosses onto his ponytailed head, perhaps this might be the time for Carroll to show why Dalglish was prepared to part with such a ridiculous fee 11 months ago.
 

Lopez waved goodbye to the Catania public on his last home appearance before the winter break, thoroughly expecting to join AC Milan.
However, his dream move to the San Siro is off, according to Catania sporting director Pietro Lo Monaco, who also used Fulham’s supposed interest to try and smoke out Lopez’s other suitors.
The 27-year-old, though, may be advised to sit tight on this one. Milan and Manchester City cannot agree on how a loan for Carlos Tevez would conclude in the summer and if neither party is willing to cave, then the Rossoneri may well be back for Lopez.
 

Without even looking at the initial options for Jose Mourinho, the Spanish international  could use the winter market to find an accommodation away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Contrary to major belief, we here at the Rumor Redux do not expect Real Madrid to tiptoe through the winter market. With the team offering a good level in all competitions, it seems necessary that the La Liga giant will add reinforcements for a La Liga push and Champions League run.

As reported in the daily AS, Manchester City looks ready to offer a 'significant' bid for Albiol and could land the 26-year-old to Etihad Stadium come January. Will the 'Special One' go back on his word and let one of his players sneak away in the next few weeks? If the €20 million is legitimate, he might.

For his international experience, qualities and contract situation, Jefferson Farfan has become one of the most sought after players on the European continent. Newly hired Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has not lose sight on the Peruvian international and is primed to attract the former PSV striker to the Vincente Calderon in 2012.

Since the turn of the new year, Farfan is free to negotiate with any club. The striker's  contract with FC Schalke 04 ends next summer and looks set to embark on a new adventure away from Gelsenkirchen.

Atletico's in need of some offensive firepower to partner up with Colombian Radamel Falcao in attack. Whether or not 'Los Colchoneros' are willing to offer a competitive offer to the Bundesliga side in January remains to be seen.

The Nigerian footballer's name has been run through the ringer yet again, as Arsene Wenger's side is looking to add depth to his defensive line.

The concern in the Arsenal camp is worth mentioning. Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos and Thomas Vermaelen are out with injuries without concrete return dates during a pivotal Premier League and Champions League run. Always an opportunist during the transfer window, Wenger has set his eyes on the underutilized Milan defender for a possible January move.

Although the winter market has just opened, Wenger expects the club directors to act quickly and offer solution 'guarantees.' According to multiple reports, the 26-year-old could land with relative ease at the Emirates Stadium if the Gunners decide to pull the trigger.

The Germany hitman is enjoying a productive season having scored 14 goals for Cologne, with Arsene Wenger’s long-time interest having being sparked once more by the fact that Podolski is stalling on a new contract with just 18 months left on his current deal.
If Podolski decides he wants to move on, Cologne will want to sell quickly in order to get anything other than a derisory fee. Wenger has brought Thierry Henry back to Arsenal, but the Gunners boss knows he still needs some back-up for the prolific Robin van Persie, especially from March when Henry returns to the Big Apple and the Red Bulls.
The temptation to wait, however, and pick up Podolski on the cheap might be too hard for Wenger to resist.