Transfer Talk: Joleon Lescott to Aston Villa; Danny Graham to Reading; Loic Remy to Newcastle
The Independent's Martin Hardy analyses today's January transfer window stories and separates the reality from the rumour
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Your support makes all the difference.Player: Danny Graham
Club: Swansea
Possible move to: Norwich or Reading
Time left on deal: Two-and-a-half years
The story: Everyone has been impressed with the form of Michu at Swansea this season. Everyone except Danny Graham. Graham scored 14 goals last season for the Swans and was Brendan Rodgers' first choice but that has changed under Michael Laudrup and the 27-year-old wants first team football. Chris Hughton (who watched Gary Hooper) and Brian McDermott both want an experienced goalscorer in and Graham would not cost the earth.
Chance of moving: Four stars
Player: Tim Cahill
Club: New York Red Bulls
Possible move to: Sunderland
Time left on deal: Three years but deal would be a loan switch
The story: Cahill was a tenacious, goal-scoring midfielder and Martin O'Neill doesn't have many of them in his struggling side. Cahill is up for grabs after the MLS season finished and would welcome a return to the Premier League, where he made his name with Everton.
Chance of moving: Three stars
Player: Loic Remy
Club: Marseille
Possible move to: Newcastle
Time left on deal: Two-and-a-half years
The story: Newcastle have not been flustering and flapping like they were two years ago when Liverpool signed Andy Carroll at the end of the January transfer window. This time Demba Ba has gone and they want Remy, who they identified a month ago to come over from France, where they know the league well, to fill his boots.
Chance of moving: Four stars
Player: Fraizer Campbell
Club: Sunderland
Possible move to: Hull City
Time left on deal: Six months
The story: Steve Bruce took the England forward to Sunderland and now he fancies taking the player to his new club at the KC Stadium. "I like Fraizer," said Bruce. "If anything was possible, we'd certainly look at it." Bruce sees a player in Campbell that Martin O'Neill doesn't but the fee won't be massive with the four-year deal he signed when he went to the Stadium of Light set to run down.
Chance of moving: Four stars
Player: Joleon Lescott
Club: Manchester City
Possible move to: Aston Villa
The story: Lescott wants to get playing again and Aston Villa clearly need to add some quality defenders to a squad who cannot stop leaking goals. Paul Lambert confirmed his interest today. "He's a top player," he said. "I will sit down with the staff and see what we can do." The chief problem is Lescott's salary but he was a Villa fan as a kid and that may help.
Chance of moving: Three stars
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