Availability: Everton would be keen to retain the player but their financial situation may oblige them to consider a large offer
Dynamic and muscular, Rodwell has become a key figure in Everton's midifield – typically in a defensive role, but showing this season that he is capable too of chipping in with the odd goal. Won his first England cap in the friendly win over Spain last month, before starting the game against Sweden three days later Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images
Availability: Gaitán has stated more than once that he is in no rush to leave Portugal, saying: "I want to make history with Benfica and to win titles”
Now in his second season at Benfica – having joined them from Boca Juniors in 2010 – the Argentinian winger impressed during both his team's meetings with Manchester United in the Champions League, and has already won six caps for his national team Photograph: Rafael Marchante/Reuters
Availability: Modric is under contract at Tottenham until 2016 and club chairman Daniel Levy is adamant no leading players will be sold in January.
Considered by many to have been Tottenham's most important performer over the last two seasons, the creative Croatian had a transfer request rejected over the summer but despite any frustration has continued to play at a very high level for the club Photograph: Bogdan Maran/AP
Availability: The player has a reported buy-out clause in his contract worth around £45m
Labelled 'the new Kaká' after bursting onto the scene at Santos, the Brazilian playmaker has endured a frustrating 18 months in which his progress has been significantly hindered by injuries. Nevertheless, United are one of a number of leading European clubs who continue to track his progress Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images
Availability: Inter's wage bill still requires trimming in order to come in line with Financial Fair Play requirements, and Sneijder is by some distance their top earner. But after a difficult start to the season he may be deemed indispensable as the club look to move back up towards the Champions League places.
United's interest in the Dutch No10 is well known, with a mooted transfer thought to have fallen through after Inter sold Samuel Eto'o to Anzhi in the summer. Sneijder has not had the happiest of starts to the new season though, missing more than half of Inter's games through injury Photograph: VI-Images via Getty Images
Availability: The Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has not completely ruled out departures in January, but warned would-be suitors that they would have to pay “a hell of a lot of money” for key starters such as Tioté.
Signed from FC Twente for just £3.5m last summer, Tioté's strength and capacity to break up play has been crucial to Newcastle's fast start to the season Photograph: Clint Hughes/PA Archive
Availability: Martínez has described himself as “proud” to hear of interest from United, though the club might have to trigger a reported release clause of £35m to force a deal through.
A tall and rangy midfielder, Martínez has also shown himself to possess an impressive versatility – performing extremely well at centre-back when required to fill in at the position by Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa this season Photograph: Luis Tejido/EPA
Availability: Rennes would prefer to keep hold of the player until the summer, but the greatest obstacle to a United move might actually be the concurrent interest from Madrid.
Long linked with Arsenal, and more recently also Real Madrid, M'Vila has established himself as arguably France's finest defensive midfielder – becoming a regular fixture in Laurent Blanc's national team Photograph: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images
Availability: Although he joined for a reported fee of less than £5m, Pardew's insistence that Newcastle are under no pressure to sell suggests a fee at least three times the size would be required.
Only joined Newcastle from Lille in the summer, but has already proven himself as a box-to-box midfielder of the highest order, chipping in with a number of assists for his new club Photograph: Ian Horrocks/Newcastle Utd via Getty Images
Availability: With his contract set to expire in the summer of 2012 and negotiations over a replacement having reached an impasse, De Rossi may be more open to a move away from the club he adores than at any other point in his career.
Roma's homegrown vice-captain has been capped 70 times by Italy over the last seven years and seems to have rediscovered his best form of late after a turbulent few years on and off the pitch Photograph: Claudio Villa/Getty Images
Availability: Götze is extremely unlikely to change clubs before the summer, as he is happy at Dortmund and fears any move could disrupt his preparations for Euro 2012.
Perhaps the brightest star of a Borussia Dortmund team who claimed their first Bundesliga title in almost a decade last season, Gotze is an attacking midfielder of the highest order – described by Matthias Sammer as “one of the best talents we've ever had" Photograph: Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images
Availability: A lack of first-team opportunities mean the midfielder could be tempted – though Tottenham will likely expect to at least recoup their outlay on the player.
Despite some impressive performances in the second half of last season – the Brazilian holding midfielder was singled out for praise by Harry Redknapp following the win against Milan at San Siro – Sandro has struggled to find space in the Tottenham team (when fit) this year following the arrival of Scott Parker and may be open to a move away Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty Images
Availability: With the club targeting success at home and in Europe, Munich would be reluctant to sell for anything other than a very large offer indeed.
Capped 90 times by Germany, Schweinsteiger has been a fixture in the Bayern Munich midfield for the best part of a decade – even adapting his game to fit in central midfield having begun his career playing out wide Photograph: Michael Dalder/Reuters
Availability: Juventus would be highly reluctant to sell a player who is both a key member of Conte's first XI but also much loved by the fans, and the club is on a sound financial footing following the completion of their new stadium.
A player of whom much has long been expected, Marchisio has begun to consistently fulfil his potential this season under new Juventus coach Antonio Conte. Often compared to Marco Tardelli, Marchisio is developing something of a ruthless streak in front of goal, finding the next six times already this season Photograph: Reuters
Availability: The possibility of further progress in the Champions League has made Benfica reluctant to part with key players, though some reports suggest García may have a release clause of close to £25m.
Deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid in 2009, Garcia has thrived as a holding midfielder for Benfica and is understood to have impressed many at Old Trafford with his performances during the Portuguese club's two draws with United Photograph: Michael Kooren/Reuters
Availability: Ajax's exit from the Champions League should make the club more open to a move, though United reportedly may face competition from Manchester City.
Named Danish player of the year for 2011 despite being still just a teenager, Eriksen has been in sparkling form for Ajax – with Johan Cruyff comparing his precocious talent to those of Michael and Brian Laudrup Photograph: VI-Images via Getty Images
