January transfers usually hold more significance than those settled during the summer months. As is often the case a team is either in desperate need of reinforcements, missing the last piece of the jigsaw or has a brand new owner with money begging to be used. Yet Robert Lewandowski's pre-agreement earlier in the month to leave Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich this summer has far wider ramifications.
Bayern are not in desperate need of the striker's services and this makes the deal much more ominous. Bayern are buying the competition around them and this cannot be healthy for the well received Bundesliga, which is in danger of becoming a one horse race. Potential transfers elsewhere this January will speak volumes about clubs and individuals if they go ahead, not least Juventus's Paul Pogba.
Pogba has been the subject of intense speculation since the beginning of January and should the Frenchman leave it will undoubtedly signal the continued decline of Italian football. Since the all Italian 2003 Champions League Final when a star studded Milan beat an equally talented Juventus on penalties, Italian football has been on a slow, downward spiral with a few notable successes papering up the cracks. Inter are still picking up the pieces post-Mourinho, Juventus's marquee summer signing was a player deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester City and Kaka sloped back to Milan last September a shadow of his former self.
One of the Italy's shining lights, Pogba is now being linked to the majority of Europe's finest clubs and this is cause for concern. What's more it's been insinuated by the media that Juventus, Serie A champions and supposed European giants will have little say on the matter if the price is right. Pogba will be a fine player in time, the sort France built their next generation of superstars around. But if the dominant force in Serie A cannot hold on to him or satisfy his aspirations then Italian football has fallen more seriously then perhaps first realised.
Any Pogba deal could also set off a chain of events leading to the dismantling of Roma's exciting young squad too. Skillful Bosnian Miralem Pjanic may be bought to replace Pogba and if not he'll be next on the rest of Europe's lists if and when Pogba comes off the market. Put simply, if Juventus can be forced into selling Pogba Roma stand little chance of keeping their best performers.
Times are even tougher at the San Siro. Sulley Muntari is apparently mulling over a move from Milan to Hull, so things must be pretty bad. Unsurprisingly Mario Balotelli is starting to get restless too. Still, the choice to install Clarence Seedorf at the Milan helm could be both Milan and Serie A's most important signing. Seedorf's winning mentality coupled with a tactical astuteness well beyond his years could get Milan back where they need to be whilst giving Juventus the challenge they need. The Old Lady's alarming exit from the Champions League at the group stages is likely a consequence of a drop in competitiveness back home.
Juventus selling what has probably become their most valuable asset in Pogba would send out a particularly defeatist message. It can lead to a situation like Arsenal's where it became acceptable for the rest of Europe to drop by the Emirates every summer and take their pick. In truth the North Londoners are only now just reversing that trend and should Wenger decide to seriously dip into his pockets once more, especially in January, it will symbolise the return of Arsenal as a serious force.
Arsenal really should have brought Gonzalo Higuain last summer but it's never that simple with the Frenchman in charge. That the Argentine is in the gossip column every weekend having only signed for Napoli in the summer further suggests the rest of Europe are increasingly viewing Italy as a bidding ground where they can get what they want, whenever they want. Arsenal's options are now limited to three or four main targets. Alvaro Morata would be a shrewd bit of business on loan or Jackson Martinez of Porto to add strength and speed to Arsenal's attacking force. Diego Costa would be the real catch if Arsenal can pull it off. A diamond in the rough he is the sort of player Wenger relishes the task of improving.
Wenger's reservations about signing players in January is backed up by past deals but Arsenal may not get a better chance than this to push for the title. At once stage it looked like they might need another defender but Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker have improved hugely so all the focus should rightly be on securing a forward. Where David Moyes buying now suggests panic it will be a real show of confidence if Wenger spends big. Why? Because if Wenger didn't think Arsenal can go all the way this year he is the sort to leave off and buy another time.
Meanwhile Juan Mata's transfer to Manchester United is imminent. Whether he is worth the amount of money Man United are offering is debatable. Whether he would be a success is beyond doubt. A player that good can adapt to any system regardless of what Mourinho says. Mata will be itching to play and even more desperate to be on the plane to Brazil with Spain. United should get the playmaker now and with the returning Rooney and Van Persie crying out for some intelligent link up play Mata can inspire United to a top four finish.
It would be a momentous transfer for the club as a whole. Breaking their record signing under a manager who has been in the job barely six months would be a huge show of faith. That United are even considering to play ball with a rival side and cough up around £40 million pounds shows how desperate their situation has become. Spending that kind of money in January is a risk Alex Ferguson would never have taken, or needed to take for that matter.
