sport

The Champions League-Bound XI...

With so many plaudits afforded to players from the Sky-appointed Big Four, the media would have you believe there's not much of interest outside the top clubs - until they dip into their pockets and skim off the talent from the rest of the Premier League, that is.

So, with January only three months away, who will be next to take the lucrative bait of a Champions League offer?

Shay Given (Newcastle United)
At 32, the Newcastle goalkeeper is at the perfect juncture in his career for the step up to a top side - bags of experience, yet still to reach his peak. At 6'1" he's not the most imposing of 'keepers, but he's been among the top Premier League stoppers for the better part of a decade and, with Edwin Van Der Sar winding down his career at Old Trafford and Manuel Almunia still yet to truly convince Arsenal of his worth, a big move for the Irishman beckons. Lord knows he's earned it.

Micah Richards (Manchester City)
Allying strength and pace with a competent reading of the game, any of the top four would love the chance to get Richards if he became available. His inexperience gets the better of him at times, but those creases will be ironed out as he matures. While it must not be underestimated just how important Richard Dunne is alongside him at the heart of Manchester City's defence, Richards seems destined for the very top - the only question is, is he already at a club that can reach those heights?

Martin Laursen (Aston Villa)
The £3m Aston Villa paid for the imposing centre back in 2004 was seen as a risk - Laursen played only 32 times in three years for Milan due to injury - but having hit his stride at Villa, O'Neill's (Actually, that's David O'Leary - Ed) move for the Dane looks a masterstroke. An experienced head in a youthful side, Laursen's composed displays have drawn compliments from all quarters, while his knack of scoring important goals is a welcome bonus. Laursen is hardly in the flushes of youth at 31, but having rid himself of injury, his lack of consistent football in his younger years may enable him to prolong his career further than he might otherwise have managed. Arsenal are in desperate need of a cool head at the back, and Laursen could be just the ticket.

Joleon Lescott (Everton)
The versatile Everton defender has endured a difficult start to the current campaign, but his efforts last season cannot be ignored. As with Laursen, he has regularly popped up with important goals for his club, scoring an incredible ten goals from the back for Everton last season. Lescott is only 26, so there's no need for him to be knocking on David Moyes' door just yet but if he recaptures his form, then his versatility and attacking nous may make him an ideal purchase for Scolari at Chelsea.

Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur)
An exciting start to his debut Premier League season was cut short by injury, but Bale has re-entered the fray and looked the part so far this season - a rare beacon in a dark, dark season at White Hart Lane. There are doubts about Bale defensively, but going forward he is a legitimate threat, and he will continue to improve with experience. Liverpool have gone through a string of unconvincing full-backs during Benitez's reign, but a bid for Bale could see them right for years to come.

Mikel Arteta (Everton)
Another David Moyes bargain, Arteta has been one of the most creative midfielders in the Premier League. His set-piece delivery is among the best in the country, his range of passing exquisite - it seems certain that Arteta will eventually get a move to a Champions' League side. Arteta would unarguably deserve it - he has yet to earn a single cap for Spain, and it seems unlikely the Basque man ever will unless he's playing on a stage that puts him firmly in coach Vicente Del Bosque's sights.

Tim Cahill (Everton)
A steal at £1.5m from Millwall, Tim Cahill has blossomed into Everton's most important player - you only have to look at how they struggle in his absence to see his influence on the side. While not the most technically gifted footballer, Cahill's work ethic and intelligent movement are reminiscent of a young Paul Scholes, particularly in his ability to arrive late in the box to grab goals. Capable of playing in midfield or off a main striker, another consistent season could see Sir Alex Ferguson make a move as he looks to ease Scholes and Giggs into retirement.

Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)
Get past the ridiculous East 17 appearance and hypothetical granny culling, and Stephen Ireland has developed into a real talent. His tenacity belies his lack of strength, and Ireland has begun to add goals to a growing resume. With City's billions ready to be spent in January, the Irishman has done more than most to convince manager Mark Hughes that his is not a position that needs strengthening. He may be better served spending another year at City convincing the locals that they don't need Fabregas or Gerrard, but his neat passing style and questionable temperament would make him an ideal purchase for Arsenal.

Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
Arguably the top performer in the Premier League on current form, Young's development over the past two years has been stunning. Two-footed and with lightning pace, Young has hit a run of devastating form that makes Capello's decision to exclude him from the latest England squad look a major oversight. Young has improved his delivery immeasurably in recent times, as evidenced by his record of eight goals and 17 assists in the 2007/08 campaign. With Ryan Giggs no longer a viable left-sided option and Nani fluffing his lines, Young would seem an ideal candidate for a ManYoo move.

Michael Owen (Newcastle United)
Quite simply, the man scores goals. No matter how many injuries he endures, no matter how bad Newcastle play, his goalscoring record remains unreasonably good. Detractors point to the lack of that yard of pace that made him such an explosive threat as a teenager, but Owen has matured with age, preferring short bursts and excellent movement to find the yard of space he needs in the box. His injury record is offset by a low value due to his diminishing contract. United are suffocated with attacking options at the moment, but Chelsea are in urgent need of a goalscorer with Drogba permanently injured and Anelka unconvincing, Arsenal could do with a poacher - and wouldn't Liverpool fans love to see him back at Anfield?

Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth)
Defoe's move from Tottenham to Portsmouth was always likely to be a case of one step backwards and two steps forward, and on current form few would be surprised if he ended up at the successful end of the Seven Sisters road under Arsene Wenger. Harry Redknapp has consistently bemoaned Portsmouth's status as feeder farm to the top clubs whenever a player makes the step up - and Jermain Defoe could well follow in the footsteps of Sulley Muntari in finding his way to the top table. One of the best finishers in the Premier League, another 20-goal haul to match his exploits at Spurs will garner interest from the elite.

Simon O'Brien

To anyone leaving 'have you never heard of players being cup-tied?' style cleverness: There is a transfer window in January when clubs can register up to three new players for the European club competitions. One of those three players is allowed to have represented another team in Europe, earlier in the season, but not if that team has appeared in the same competition. Thanks.