January Transfer Window: 10 Players Targeted by Anzhi Makhachkala

The year 2011 has been the year for Anzhi Makhachkala" target="_blank">Anzhi Makhachkala in World Football. Anzhi was founded in 1991 and recently began to extend itself in the hope of becoming a big player in World Football.

Anzhi Makhachkala has been signing players like Roberto Carlos, Samuel Eto'o, Diego Tardelli, Yuri Zhivkov, and Jucilei Da Silva. Anzhi underwent a transformation by replacing its coach Gadzhi Gadzhiev with Roberto Carlos and Andrei Gordeyev in a caretaker position.

The reasons for Anzhi signing established players are related to Russia hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The other reason is the need to train future generations of World Football players using the established players as inspiration and instructors.

The last reason is the need to create a window of opportunity for players from other parts of the world. The January Transfer Window is expected to be a great event for Anzhi Makhachkala.

Neymar has been in the center of a tug of war between Chelsea, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Anzhi Makhachkala. Neymar currently plays for Santos, which is a Brazilian World Football team.

Neymar and his manager were deciding last summer whether or not to sign with Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. Santos put an end to the speculation by stating that any club will have to pay the release clause of Neymar's contract.

Chelsea appears to be unable to pay the release clause for Neymar. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are still deciding whether or not to sign Neymar.

Roberto Carlos has expressed his desire to sign Neymar for Anzhi Makhachkala. The reason is to give Neymar an opportunity to extend his horizons in a European club.

Anzhi Makhachkala would be more than willing to pay Santos, including the exit clause, to sign Neymar. 

Carlos Tevez has been mentioned as a possible addition to the Anzhi Makhachkala roster. German Tkachenko (an agent) has mentioned Tevez as a possible candidate for the team.

Tevez is currently in trouble with Manchester City and its manager Roberto Mancini. The reason is the behavior of Tevez during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

Tevez refused to leave the bench when called by Mancini to play in the match between Manchester City and Bayern Munich. The result left Manchester City losing to Bayern Munich 2-0 and may have jeopardized the team's chances in the UEFA Champions League.

Consequently, Manchester City does not want him near the field. Corinthians (a Brazilian World Football team) and Al Wasl (United Arab Emirate team managed by Diego Armando Maradona) decided that Tevez was not worth the trouble.

Manchester City does not want to part with Tevez but would release him to Anzhi if the club spends plenty of money. Whether Tevez will be on his good behavior is another question.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Anzhi Makhachkala. Ronaldo himself has admitted that he wants to play in Russia.

Anzhi Makhachkala may want to toy with the idea of signing Ronaldo but he is staying with Real Madrid. Ronaldo (at the present time) is the star player of Real Madrid and has a few years left with the team.

Anzhi once considered signing Jose Mourinho as coach but Mourinho will remain with Real Madrid for the same reasons as Ronaldo.

Nicolas Anelka is one of the principal players for Chelsea. Anzhi Makhachkala and Terek Grozny are two Russian clubs who want to sign Anelka to their ranks.

Chelsea eventually will release Anelka in favor of younger players and are willing to make a deal with Anzhi. Anzhi would pay most of the money for Chelsea and gain a player who can prepare the younger generation in Russian clubs.

Robin Van Persie is another possible candidate to be added to Anzhi Makhachkala. The reason is the need for experienced players whose goals are considered "wonders".

Roberto Carlos has mentioned Van Persie as a candidate for Anzhi. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal is willing to strike a deal with Anzhi.

Maicon is the next candidate who could sign with Anzhi Makhachkala during the January Transfer Window. While Maicon has a contract with Inter Milan until the 2012-2013 season, Anzhi is willing to pay the exit fee of over $20 million, and him in their sights after signing Samuel Eto'o.

Anzhi will not take no for an answer when it comes to signing Maicon.

Gennaro Gattuso has been on the radar of Anzhi Makhachkala during the year 2011. The reason is that Gattuso's contract with AC Milan will expire after the current Serie A World Football Season.

Gattuso was famous for headbutting Joe Jordan during the 2010-2011 UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and the Tottenham Hotspur. Gattuso and Jordan were subsequently punished by UEFA for their actions.

Anzhi has wanted to sign Gattuso since Roberto Carlos and Samuel Eto'o joined the ranks of the Russian team. I am willing to predict that Suleyman Kerimov (Anzhi) and Silvio Berlusconi (AC Milan) will have a meeting of the billionaires in Italy or Russia.

The result of the meeting will be Kerimov showing Berlusconi a suitcase full of money to cement the deal. Gattuso will be wearing the uniform of Anzhi Makhachkala after the January Transfer Window.

Frank Lampard has been linked with a move from Chelsea to Anzhi Makhachkala. Lampard appears to be a perfect candidate for the January Transfer WIndow.

Lampard is at an age when Anzhi needs older players and Chelsea needs young ones. He is another candidate for Anzhi although it is doubtful he wants his family to undergo such a drastic change from England to Russia.

Steven Gerrard is another player from the Premier League (Liverpool FC) who is under the Anzhi Makhachkala radar. The reasons are self explanatory as Liverpool wants younger players with Anzhi accepting the established ones.

It remains to be seen whether Gerrard will sign with Anzhi Makhachkala but he is seen as a possible candidate.

Ashley Cole has become the latest candidate for Anzhi Makhachkala. According to the International Business Tribune Sports & Stars,  Anzhi has decided to add Cole to its roster and the possibility is great.

Cole's contract with Chelsea is set to expire soon and Anzhi has the money to pay. Cole signing with Anzhi will fit in with the intentions of the experienced players training the future ones.

Whether Cole will go to Anzhi Makhachkala is another issue.

Conclusion

The following world football candidates for Anzhi Makhachkala appear to be those from the past. The reasons of a new generation learning from them is big.

The concept of preparing Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup is another big reason. It remains to be seen whether the January wish list for Anzhi will become a reality.

Only time will tell.