When Liverpool played Southampton on Wednesday night, it was difficult not to have some sympathy with those Saints fans who had committed themselves to booing every player that used to wear their colours. They were, after all, in for quite a busy night, as they are when most of the Premier League’s monied fancypants clubs come to visit. However, some altruistic foreign monied fancypants clubs might be about to step up and lighten their boo-load.

Transfer window January 2017: every deal in Europe's top five leagues Read more

For according to the Times, Juventus and Barcelona have joined PSG in taking a serious sniff around Adam Lallana, a man whose form this season has been as impressive as his commitment to fashionably ripped jeans. Apparently Barca consider Lallana, with two years left on his current contract, an alternative to fellow Liverpool jinker Philippe Coutinho, who has three years remaining so would be pricier. Plus, y’know, he’s better. Doesn’t sound like they would turn their nose up at ol’ Phil, mind. And if Juventus don’t get Lallana – or even if they do and they just want more, more, more – the Old Lady will make a move for Emre Can, too.

Across Stanley Park, it could be a busy month for Everton. As well as having a bid accepted for Standard Liège striker Ishak Belfodil, plus their £22m move for Morgan Schneiderlin that should be sorted soon, there could be a few shipping out too. Tom Cleverley is supposedly wanted by Sunderland and Watford, while some reckon Ross Barkley will be on his bike too, with Tottenham keeping their beady ones on things there. January is the busiest month for other clubs who find themselves drowning not waving too, not least Crystal Palace, who are in for Carl Jenkinson and Patrick van Aanholt, but – and here’s a weird one – could punt Christian Benteke off to West Brom, if they raise some funds by finally selling Saido Berahino to anyone really, but specifically Stoke.

West Ham are pumping cash all over the shop too, in a bid to fix the calamity that was their summer transfer window. Scott Hogan should arrive from Brentford, even if it costs the Hammers… bloody hell, £15m? Crumbs. They’re also looking at Colombia defender Yerry Mina, whose name sort of sounds like it should be a gag designed to fool credulous media outlets, but we’ll take it at face value for now. They are set to up their bid for Robert Snodgrass too, plus they’re also keen on Southampton’s José Fonte, Milan’s M’Baye Niang and basically just about anyone who is an upgrade on Simone Zaza. Which is just about anyone.

Some business going on at Chelsea too, where Ben Gibson is once again mentioned as a potential beef-up option for their defence, particularly if John Terry does actually go on loan to Bournemouth, something the transfers snouts of the land seem to be split on. Michy Batshuayi won’t be leaving on loan though, despite some truly tempting offers from Swansea and West Ham. They’re also kicking the tyres of Monaco midfielder Tiemoué Bakayoko, but José Mourinho could deliver another boot to the chops after last season’s shambles, and usurp them by bringing the Frenchman to Manchester United for £40m. Speaking of United, they have found a willing sucker happy to take Memphis Depay and Adnan Januzaj off their hands, in the shape of Lyon, while they’ve warded off the hundreds of breathless suitors banging down their door, by taking up the one-year extension option on Marouane Fellaini’s contract.