Chris Brunskill/Getty ImagesWigan's James McCarthy enhanced his transfer value with a brace against QPR

Villa's pulsating League Cup quarter-final victory over Norwich may have given supporters a real lift heading into Christmas, but only the most positive of fans would deny the team is still coming up short in the Premier League.

With just a couple of weeks to go before the January transfer window officially opens, thoughts are beginning to turn to the prospective business Villa boss Paul Lambert can do. He has a talented yet raw squad at his disposal, and one or two genuine class acts could make all the difference during the second half of the season. Here are some of the players who could - perhaps should - be potential targets for Villa this January:

JAMES McCARTHY, WIGAN
McCarthy is the type of midfielder Villa are crying out for - the kind who can break from the more congested areas and get ahead of his strikers to threaten the opposition goal, which is what Stephen Ireland should be doing, but fails to deliver with any consistency. McCarthy's goal-scoring record for Wigan isn't outstanding - the two he scored against QPR last weekend were his first in the league this season, but both strikes demonstrated his ability perfectly. He can strike a ball sweetly from distance, and he's a dynamic footballer with decent feet. He'd appeal to Lambert because of his work ethic, and his age - he's just turned 22. The downside is that current Premier League players command a premium, and Wigan don't settle cheaply - they pushed Villa to nearly 10 million pounds for Charles N'Zogbia.

CHARLIE AUSTIN, BURNLEY
Lambert has already demonstrated, several times, that he's comfortable looking away from the Premier League and further down the Football League for inspiration - and no one has been more inspirational at that level this season than Austin. The 23-year-old centre-forward became the leading scorer in Europe when he raced to 20 goals in November; a fantastic return from a player who cost Burnley just 1.5 million pounds from Swindon a year ago, and who was combining semi-professional football with working as a bricklayer before that. He's admittedly still a little rough around the edges, but Lambert has no qualms taking players who need work. At 6-foot-2, Austin is a bustling type of striker who'd be ideal as cover for Christian Benteke, and with Darren Bent's future in question, Villa may have a vacancy for a striker soon. Lambert wouldn't have a clear run at him, though. Plenty of other Premier League clubs are reportedly watching Austin.

PONTUS JANSSON, MALMO
Villa have fond memories of towering Scandinavian central defenders following the success of Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen. The next big deal could be the man who quietly made his full international debut for Sweden against England as a substitute during the match in which every other player on the pitch was overshadowed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his four goals. Nevertheless, Janssen's status as a senior member of the Sweden squad has enhanced a growing reputation further. The Malmo defender stands 6-4 and his height makes him formidable in the air defensively and offensively - Janssen brings the added bonus of being able to play as a striker, too. The time to sign him is now - he's 21 and may not be playing his club football in his homeland much longer.

DOUGLAS, FC TWENTE
Villa like shopping in Holland, having tempted Karim El Ahmadi, Ron Vlaar and Brett Holman away from Eredivisie in the summer, and Douglas must have popped up on the scouting radar several times. Douglas - Brazilian-born but now a member of the Netherlands squad after gaining Dutch citizenship - is the centre-piece of Steve McClaren's FC Twente team, an imposing right-sided central defender. But he's out of contract in June 2013, which means he may be one of the most in-demand players of the transfer window. Newcastle were linked with a move for him last summer and competition for his signature will be especially fierce next month - Inter Milan are reportedly keen. Villa would have to move fast for a player who may cost just 2-3 million pounds now.

DEREK BOATENG, DNIPRO
Rumours of Villa's interest in Boateng have been on the table for several weeks. The Ghanaian will almost certainly leave Ukrainian club Dnipro soon, having broadcast his desire to move on at the end of last season, he's barely been picked by coach Juande Ramos, and was close to signing for Fulham on transfer deadline day in August. At 29, the defensive midfielder is hardly a typical Lambert signing, but would add experience to a very young squad, and, considering his situation at Dnipro, would be available for a bargain. A consideration for Villa would be that Boateng is in Ghana's squad for the African Cup of Nations in January, and Moroccan midfielder El Ahmadi will also be involved in the tournament. Not ideal.

ADEM LJAJIC, FIORENTINA
Ljajic is a fiery Serbian talent who signed with Manchester United in 2009 before being loaned immediately back to Partizan - United later opted against the deal. A right-sided attacking midfield player, Ljajic has been starring for Fiorentina but the 21-year-old's agent has confirmed interest from rival clubs, and Villa are said to be admirers. He's a gifted footballer, but would be expensive.

EMMANUEL FRIMPONG, ARSENAL
The young Arsenal midfielder has been cursed with injury so far in his career, suffering two serious knee injuries that have curtailed his progress - as such, he's been on loan for Charlton this season. That deal ends in January, however, and if Arsenal are unconvinced the 20-year-old is ready for regular Premier League action, Villa could move for the energetic, muscular central midfielder. A loan deal, with the promise of a permanent transfer, could prove useful.

ALFRED FINNBOGASAN, HEERENVEEN
Icelandic striker Finnbogasan is only partway through his debut season in Dutch football, but he's making a name for himself - 12 goals in 14 appearances by the middle of December is impressive. Media reports have already linked the 23-year-old with a move to Villa, who could pick up for around 2 million pounds.

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