The case for Ronaldinho

ADELAIDE UNITED: The Reds are poised to take on out-of-favour Melbourne City forward David Williams in a straight swap for centre-back Osama Malik. Adelaide are also said to be pursuing hotly-sought Adelaide-born Socceroo James Troisi, who is four months into a two-year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad.

BRISBANE ROAR: With his side top of the table and perhaps the deepest in the competition, John Aloisi won't want to tinker too much with his squad. The coach has dismissed speculation linking second-choice left-back Corey Brown with a move to Newcastle, though there may be overseas interest in Olyroos striker Jamie Maclaren, who has been outstanding with seven goals this season. Rumours that defender Jerome Polenz is on the outer persist, so watch that space.

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS: Greece and former Manchester City and Celtic striker Georgios Samaras was the big guest player target for coach Tony Walmsley, especially as he has an Australian passport. But it has not come to fruition. They could let Anthony Caceres go, having just announced the signing of former Melbourne Victory attacking midfielder Francesco Stella. Fellow Victorian Premier League player Alastair Bray has also joined to replenish goalkeeping stocks.

MELBOURNE CITY: City will likely lose David Williams and gain Adelaide's Osama Malik. James Troisi is also in City's sights, but the big focus will be staving off overseas demand for Aaron Mooy. Van `t Schip has already promised his star Socceroos midfielder isn't going anywhere until at least the end of the season, and the club reportedly rejected a record $2 million bid from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr last month. Strong European interest will no doubt still come.

MELBOURNE VICTORY: Hume City winger Jai Ingham is set to become the club's first signing. The main targets are apparently Troisi and fellow Socceroo Alex Wilkinson, who is off contract with South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Kevin Muscat would likely have to move a well-paid player out if he is to sign either. The coach says he has "one or two things bubbling away", but nothing serious to potentially fill the void of Gui Finkler (calf), indefinitely ill captain Carl Valeri and his Olyroos quintet who are unavailable for the remainder of January.

NEWCASTLE JETS: The Jets need a replacement for left-back Lee Ki-je, who is pending a move home to K-League side Ulsan Hyundai. Young Brisbane defender Corey Brown's hat is speculatively in the ring, but Roar coach John Aloisi is against him leaving. Coach Scott Miller is vague on the club's plans. Brazilian playmaker Leonardo's fitness is questionable at best, and Serbian striker Milos Trifunovic inconsistent. The main concern is keeping revitalised winger David Carney, off contract at season's end and already having reportedly been in the sights of an unnamed Qatari club.

PERTH GLORY: Irish striker Andy Keogh has re-signed but is deemed by FFA as not high profile enough for a guest spot, so coach Kenny Lowe must let go of one of his five foreign players in order for him to be registered this season. The Glory are also targeting Fulham forward Adam Taggart, who has finished his loan stint with Dundee United. Regardless, the Perth-born 22-year-old remains unavailable until late January when he has finished Olympic qualifiers with the Olyroos.

SYDNEY FC: Graham Arnold already has a full quota of visa players in marquee Filip Holosko, Serbians Milos Ninkovic and Milos Dimitrijevic and Senegalese cousins Mickael Tavares and Jacques Faty. But he's said the club is exploring the guest player option. Former England international Peter Crouch was reportedly on the menu, having hardly played for Stoke City this EPL season. But Stoke manager Mark Hughes indicated he's not willing to sell the striker. Attacking midfielder Anthony Caceres could move down from Central Coast, but a quality finisher is what the Sky Blues really need.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX: Ernie Merrick has already bowed out of the transfer market, opting instead to focus on the injury rehabilitation of key striker Roy Krishna, underperforming import Jeffrey Sarpong, and defenders Ben Sigmund and Louis Fenton. Merrick conceded the Phoenix need to be more clinical up front, but said he wasn't after a short-term fix.

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS: Like Brisbane, Tony Popovic will be largely content with his high-flying roster, having already strengthened their goalkeeping stocks with the acquisition of dismissed Mariner Liam Reddy in December. The only potential weakness is marquee Federico Piovaccari, but the coach has given no indication he won't persist with the Italian striker.