Man Utd Transfers: 5 January Alternatives To Cristiano Ronaldo

5. Ross Barkley

Ross Barkley has been something of a revelation for Everton since the Premier League season kicked off. The 19-year-old has just returned to Goodison Park following two successive seasons out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United, but upon returning to Merseyside has hit the ground running. A goal (and some goal, at that) against Aston Villa on the opening day of the campaign saw him fly out of the traps, while the attacking midfielder has put in some electric performances against West Brom, Cardiff and particularly Chelsea last weekend. Against Chelsea, Barkley was at the centre of everything positive for the Toffee's and he looks quite the player, a player who could certainly make the grade at Manchester United in the years to come. Despite having signed Barkley's former teammate, Marouane Fellaini, United still need at least one more injection of quality in their midfield, and Barkley would be a superb fit alongside such youngsters as Tom Cleverley and Phil Jones. The only issue is, having angered Everton over the summer by making a "derisory and insulting" joint-bid for defender Leighton Baines and Fellaini, you have to wonder if Roberto Martinez's side would be willing to do business.