Five players linked

Roy Hodgson has today again stressed he will be looking to improve his defence and attack during the January transfer window.  

- Where we are badly off is if something goes badly wrong at the back, where we don't have a lot of players to cover. Up front if Fernando or David Ngog are not able to play we don't have options in terms of out-and-out centre-forwards, he says to Sky Sports.

And maybe Damien Comolli can help Hodgson fulfill his needs...?

Todays round in the transfer rumour mill starts with earlier linked winger Dimitri Payet.

Comolli is impressed and suggest he is better than Modric. He had plenty of time to observe Payet in his former role as director of sport at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, and is also familiar with Spurs midfielder Modric, having spent three years as director of football at White Hart Lane.

- On a natural class level, Dimitri is stronger than a player like Modric, (who) I saw very closely at Tottenham," Comolli told France Football, Sky Sports reports.

The in-demand England defender has been tracked by Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham over the last 12 months and Bolton chairman Phil Gartside admits he can no longer resist an offer.

The Daily Mail today links Liverpool with Bolton defender Gary Cahill.

Wanderers are ready to cash in on their star defender after revealing their debts had risen to £93million. 

Bolton also admited they may also have to sell in-form Swedish striker Johan Elmander when the transfer window reopens in January.

The Sweden striker, who was signed for £8.2m from Toulouse in 2008, is out of contract in the summer and at risk of walking out for nothing. Both Spartak Moscow and Fenerbahce are interested in the 29-year-old.

- If a Champions League team knocks on our door in January that’s the best time to sell an asset because Champions League teams will pay the money, a spokesman at the club said to Bloomberg, rating Cahill at about £15m.

  - He’s out of contract at the end of this season and again if someone knocks on the door in January then that’s obviously a consideration we have to make.

Another striker is on the radar as well. Liverpool has made an offer for Zenit St Petersburg striker Alexandr Kerzhakov The Daily Mail claims.

The Russia international, however, is unsure about moving to Anfield.

- The talk about Liverpool is not baseless. The British club came to my agent with a proposal. I answered… I didn't answer at all, the player told the Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

- I have other things to think about and in all respects I am happy in Russia. My team is in first place in the national championship and I have always said that I wanted to play for Zenit.

- In the case of Liverpool I will not take the initiative, but I can count the fingers on one hand for the amount of clubs I could theoretically go to. This is because Zenit is playing beautiful, modern football and the club is growing rapidly. And I am here, at home.

Another striker being linked, is the Brazilian born striker Givanildo Vieira de Souza, otherwise known as “Hulk”.

He has become highly desired by many clubs all over Europe. He has made a stunning start to the season, hitting ten goals in nine league starts including two in the 5-0 demolition of title rivals Benfica on Sunday.

Manchester City scouts have been watching the 24 year-old and rumours suggest they will be making a bid when the transfer window opens in January. His strength, pace and powerful shots will definitely suit the physical style of the premier league and according to FootballTransferTavern clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham are also keeping tabs on him.