Rumour Mill: Chelsea acting as January spoilers while lining up big-money striker move Some big name strikers could make their moves in January. IT'S desperation time. The transfer window will be shut in just 96 hours. There's no time to dilly dally (hey, Brendan Rodgers). The Liverpool boss should be particularly wary as behind almost every Anfield rumour at the moment lurks a familiar adversary - Jose Mourinho. After playing the spoiler in its pursuit of Mohamed Salah, Chelsea is now hovering around Liverpool's interest in Atletico Madrid starlet Saul Niguez. Niguez is currently on loan at Rayo Vallecano but is reportedly desperate for a move. And with Rodgers looking to strengthen his midfield stocks with the worries over Lucas Leiva's fitness growing every day, the 19-year-old Niguez, who plays in practically the same role, looks an ideal fit. But Chelsea have a way of ...... Well, you know. David Moyes better watch over his shoulder as well. St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma may be a target of the Manchester United boss but Mourinho is also known to be an admirer. It could all come to a head before Saturday morning (EDT). Where would a rumour mill be without Chelsea and the Portuguese manager? Even when he insists they have finished spending, the statement seems so far-fetched and you instead brace for the next big hit. And that could come in the form of .......Diego Costa. After bringing in Salah, Bertrand Traore and Nemanja Matic, a striker seemed the logical next step. After scouring Europe for the best of the best - and the most available - they seemed to have settled on the Atletico Madrid marksman, with several publications even saying there has been a verbal agreement. Whether that acknowledgment will be officially consummated is to be seen. The proviso for the deal to go through looks to be the sale of much-loaned out striker Romelu Lukaku, who is currently plying his trade with Everton. But then again, could Chelsea be waiting for the summer to make its big move and bring in Edinson Cavani? The Mirror certainly thinks so. Away from west London and up the M1 to Teeside, star French midfielder Yohan Cabaye continues to attract big-name attention. PSG have reportedly come in with a $A27 million bid, which was rejected by manager Alan Pardew, but how long can he hold out the big guns? Manchester United are also interested - of course they are - but will have to act fast if they want their man. Also out of St James' Park, remember when Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba were one of the most feared striking tandems in the EPL. Less than two years later Ba is wallowing among the reserves at Chelsea while Cisse is about to be shipped to Turkey. Dutch striker Luke de Jong is being lined up as his replacement. While all the talk at Old Trafford is about potential big-name arrivals, it's pertinent to point out two departures. Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær looks set to land United pair Wilfried Zaha (on loan) and defender Fabio (for a fee) as well as Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones.