LONDON - When European footballs January transfer window opens for business on Wednesday, the market is expected to have a slow start. In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Chasing their first league title in 10 years, the Gunners are reportedly looking for a forward to add to France international Olivier Giroud, who ended a seven-match scoring drought with the winner at Newcastle on Sunday, ensuring that his club starts 2014 at the top. Although Giroud said Arsenal has sufficient attacking options for the remainder of the season with himself, Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hinted he could be tempted to sign a couple of new players. After failing to lure Luis Suarez, Wenger wont bid again for the Uruguay striker, who signed a new deal with Liverpool this month. "We are, as many clubs, certainly on alert. If something special turns up, we will not turn it down," Wenger said. "But we are not as well desperate because we have a big depth in our squad." Lagging two points behind Arsenal in the standings, Chelsea could also be looking for extra firepower after Samuel Etoo, Demba Ba and Fernando Torres scored only six goals between them in the league so far this season. With Ba, Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne possibly leaving, British media reported that Chelsea and Liverpool have held discussions about the possible arrival of Suarez at Stamford Bridge that could make up for Jose Mourinhos failure to sign Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney in the off-season. While a Suarez move to Chelsea looks highly unlikely, Monaco forward Radamel Falcao is a more realistic target for Mourinho, with the Colombian reportedly unhappy in the French league. Xabi Alonso has also been linked with a move to the Blues. After a shaky start to the season, defending champion Manchester United has managed to limit the damages with four consecutive wins and trails Arsenal by eight points going into the new year. David Moyes has not been able to replace Paul Scholes and is in need of a creative midfielder. The Red Devils manager could make a 50 million pound ($82 million) offer for Everton marvel Ross Barkley. Avoiding the drop to the second-tier League Championship is crucial, with topflight teams boosted by increased revenues. And last-place Sunderland will beef up its defence with Marcos Alonso, who will join from Fiorentina until the end of the season. "Marcos is a player that I have known well for a very long time," Sunderland manager Gus Poyet said. "He was desperate to come and play for Sunderland and he is a player I am excited to work with." Staying among the elite is also vital for West Ham. The London club is languishing in 19th place after scoring only 18 goals in 19 matches and signed 18-year-old striker Jaanai Gordon from Peterborough. Everything looks relatively quiet in Spain, too. Barcelona seems more concerned with getting Lionel Messi healthy again for the second half of the season, and will probably be more than content to have its star forward playing at full speed again. The only possible big move would be Barcelona signing a replacement for goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who has said he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. Atletico Madrid is reportedly reinforcing its title challenge by bringing in midfielder Jose Sosa from Metalist. In Germany, Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski is expected to confirm in the coming days that he will be leaving for Bayern Munich at the end of the season, while AC Milan has already announced the arrivals of Adil Rami and Keisuke Honda. In France, winger Jeremy Menez is lacking playing time at Paris Saint-Germain and has been linked with a move to Juventus to boost his chances of making the trip to the World Cup in Brazil, and Bastia signed former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse on an 18-month deal. Cheap Wholesale Asics . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. 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Winnipegs Sophie Schmidt scored the winner off a Diana Matheson corner kick to seal Canadas third-place spot in the Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino in Brazil on Sunday. MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens hired Dan Lacroix as assistant coach and Rob Ramage as player development coach, and also gave new responsibilities to some management personnel on Wednesday. Lacroix, 45, replaces Gerard Gallant, who left to become head coach of the Florida Panthers. He worked as an assistant coach in the NHL for seven of the past eight seasons, including last season with the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers. He previously worked as assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2010 to 2013 and with the New York Islanders from 2006 to 2009. The Montreal native also worked as assistant coach with the Hamilton Bulldogs, the Canadiens main affiliate team in the AHL during the 2009-10 season. "We are very pleased to welcome Dan Lacroix as part of our coaching staff," Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien said in a statement. "Daniel earned the respect of his peers for his coaching skills and his impressive knowledge of the game. He has worked as a coach for almost 15 years, including seven seasons as assistant coach in the NHL. "He knows the Canadiens organization and his experience at the professional level made him a much coveted candidate. He is an excellent addition to our coaching staff and to the Canadiens organization." "Its a step up. Its an opportunity to work for a great organization and with great people," said Lacroix Lacroix had 11 goals in 188 NHL games for five teams in the 1990s. He also played seven full seasons in the American Hockey League with Binghamton, Providence, Hamilton and Rochester. He recorded 213 points in 352 regular season games (101 goals, 112 assists), and totalled 1,618 penalty minutes. Ramage, 55, wass employed by the St.dddddddddddd. Louis Blues organization as amateur scout for the past two seasons (2012-13 and 2013-14). He also worked as an assistant coach with the OHLs London Knights during the 2011-12 season. He replaced Patrice Brisebois, who left to spend more time with his family. A native of Byron, Ont., Ramage played a total of 1,044 regular season games in the NHL between 1979 and 1994 with Colorado, St. Louis, Calgary, Toronto, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Montreal and Philadelphia. He was drafted first overall by the defunct Rockies in 1979. "Rob is a dedicated and competent hockey person who will contribute to our player development group," said general manager Marc Bergevin. "Our entire organization, and particularly our young defencemen, will benefit from his experience and his knowledge." Ramage registered 564 career points (139 goals, 425 assists), and was assessed 2,224 penalty minutes. He won the Stanley Cup with Calgary (1989) and Montreal (1993). He spent time in prison after being convicted in 2008 of impaired driving causing death. The charge stemmed form a 2003 car accident in Woodbridge, Ont., that claimed the life of one of Ramages passengers, former Chicago Blackhawk Keith Magnuson. Ramages four-year sentence expired this month. The Canadiens also announced that Rick Dudley was promoted from assistant general manager to senior vice president, hockey operations. Scott Mellanby was promoted from director of player personnel to assistant general manager, to work with Larry Carriere. And Trevor Timmins was appointed vice president of player personnel, while retaining his responsibilities as the Clubs director of amateur scouting. ' ' '