ROBERTO AYALA

Club: Valencia

Age: 30
Asking price: £10.5m

Possible destination: Chelsea

Valencia, currently lying second in La Liga, would be extremely reluctant to let go of their captain and defensive lynchpin mid-season, and as a result, have already twice rejected overtures from Chelsea.

However, it maybe a case of third time lucky for the Blues, who are thought to be lining up a £10.2m bid for the Argentina international centre-back when the transfer window reopens on Thursday following a poor recent run of three defeats in four games. And, with the Spaniards said to be approaching £90m in debt, do not be surprised to see yet another new nationality joining the Russian Revolution on the Fulham Road.

One turn-off though is the fact that Ayala has represented Valencia in this season’s UEFA Cup, making him cup-tied from the West Londoner’s Champions League challenge should the two clubs agree terms.

JOSE ANTONIO REYES
Club: Sevilla

Age: 20
Asking price: £15m +

Possible destination: Arsenal or Barcelona

The Seville-born striker put pen to paper on a new seven-year contract in July, which contains a buy-out clause of £70m, following attempts in the summer by both Arsenal and Valencia to sign the youngster. The former’s £10m bid was rejected out of hand, as was the latter’s £12m offer, so the player won’t come cheap.

Now a full Spain international having shone on the Under-21 stage, both he and his club have admitted that although signed up until 2010, there is little chance of him remaining with Sevilla for that period of time and that if an acceptable offer were to be received in the near future, he would be allowed to leave. However, what an acceptable fee is is not yet known.

MATEJA KEZMAN
Club: PSV Eindhoven

Age: 24
Asking price: £12.5m

Possible destination: Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur or Barcelona

The striker signed from Partizan Belgrade as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s replacement has enjoyed four years of unrivalled success at the Philips stadium, yet again finishing as top scorer in Eredivisie last season.
Like Van Nistelrooy, the Serbia & Montenegro international is a penalty box predator, a “fox in the box” as Arsène Wenger would say, and allied with extreme pace, is rated as one of Europe’s most coveted front men.

PSV have already informed him that they are willing to let him depart when the transfer window reopens on New Year’s Day, for the right price, as a reward for the years of service he has given to them, although both Liverpool and United should be warned that his agent has already begun negotiations with Barcelona over a possible January transfer.

PATRICK KLUIVERT
Club: Barcelona

Age: 27
Asking price: £5m

Possible destination: Arsenal

It is no secret that both the player himself, and his club, are desperate to part company with one another and having renegotiated his last contract to enable himself to leave the Camp Nou for a knock-down price, there are a whole host of suitors across Europe after this seasoned striker’s signature.

But, the Dutch international has a high opinion of both himself and his worth and would demand not only a hefty signing-on fee, but also a substantial weekly wage packet, which may rule out many clubs in the Premiership.

And his poor early-season form for both club and country has done little to increase the interest of those chasing the once golden boy of European football, although in recent weeks he has returned to something approaching the real Patrick Kluivert.

Strong in the air and with an excellent first touch, most teams would surely benefit from having the rejuvenated Dutchman, who has clearly outgrown his stay in Catalonia, among their ranks. And with Arsène Wenger looking for a replacement for the soon-to-be departed Sylvain Wiltord, as well as being a known admirer of the forward, he could very well be Highbury-bound come the start of the year.

RIVALDO
Club: AC Milan

Age: 31
Asking price: free agent

Possible destination: Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool, Espanyol or Al-Ittihad

The 1999 FIFA World Player of the Year has been released from his contract by European champions AC Milan and so would cost nothing to buy. But, his wage demands would be astronomical, a definite stumbling-block for a club such as Wolves.

Needing first-team action to remain part of the Brazil national team, the playmaker would probably be willing to drop those demands for one last shot at the big time, although Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier has already ruled out a possible swoop for the player.

And, if no clubs in Europe come forward for the World Cup-winner, then Qatar may well be the final port of call for a man who turns 32 in April.