In recent years, the January transfer window has seen little
movement from the top clubs. However, this season I feel the teams at the top
end of the premier league are considerably weaker than they have been in
previous years with the obvious exception of Chelsea. Therefore, I wouldn’t be
surprised to see the likes of Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool dip into
the market. This is a preview of where premier league clubs most need to
strengthen.
It is argued that in the January market it is impossible to
find value but I argue this isn’t true, although it is often hard. Firstly,
players coming to the end of their contracts are often available at knockdown
prices and can be good signings. For example, Newcastle’s £1.5 Million signing
of French international Moussa Sissoko 2 seasons ago is widely seen to have
been good business, with the price only being so low due to his contract
status.
Secondly, you get players that clubs are desperate to move
on to avoid paying their wages. In the summer, these players may cost more as
the transfer window is longer and so there is more time to tout the player
around Europe. In January, clubs are often desperate to offload players and so
will take knockdown prices. This was perhaps the case with Daniel Sturridge’s
move to Liverpool in 2013, who may have cost a bit more in the summer with
other teams interested, as it was Chelsea wanted to offload quickly so that
they could sign Demba Ba, and so Liverpool got an exceptional deal. Similarly
to this, clubs often want to get rid of a player on loan who is surplus to
requirements in January, so that they can sell him in the summer when there is
a longer time to tout him around. This can lead to very effective loan signings
happening in January. These loans are low risk and can be cancelled at the end
of the season if they don’t work out. West Ham were seen to act on this logic
last year as although the likes of Antonio Nocerino, Marco Borriello and Pablo
Armero were not successes, West Ham lost little by loaning the players.
Furthermore,
sometimes good deals are still possible for a variety of other reasons, e.g. if
a team is in a safe mid table position with little to play for or even so in
control of their league they may be willing to sell their prized asset for more
reasonable amounts. Benfica always looked the strongest in their league and
were top for the last 15 rounds of fixtures, and so were willing to sell
Nemanja Matic to Chelsea for a reasonable £21 million given how well the Serb
is playing for Chelsea these days. Therefore, whilst it is often harder to sign
good players at good prices in January, history shows that it is possible.
Chelsea
I’d be very surprised to see Mourinho dip into the market
but if he did, cover at centre back would be top of the agenda I think. Another
top quality winger would be a good addition for Mourinho’s side to play on the
other side to Hazard, but I suspect Mourinho will be happy enough with his
squad to avoid making signings in January.
Man City
I feel Man City need to strengthen in a number of areas. An
experienced centre back is near the top of the agenda due to a number of
injuries to Vincent Kompany meaning he cannot be relied on to play every week.
Given the injury crisis upfront, a new striker may also be on the agenda,
whilst extra competition on the flanks would be helpful for Man City. Whilst I
don’t expect them to address all these issues in January, I wouldn’t be
surprised if they dipped into the market for 1 or 2 players in January.
Man Utd
Everyone knows where Man Utd need to strengthen and it’s in
the centre of the defence. This doesn’t mean this will be where they strengthen
judging by the recent additions of Falcao, Di Maria, Herrera and Mata. I expect
Man Utd to add to their defence this January but only with 1 player when they
need 2 or 3 extra defenders.
Southampton
A quality striker to compete with Pele and Long or a
creative midfielder could be on their shopping list if they decide to really
target European football. Whether they will lose any of their impressive young
players is a continued question but I suspect they will keep their best players
in this window. Elia has already been added to the squad to improve their
options on the flanks.
Tottenham
I think their
shopping list will be shorter than it was a month ago. There is now less
emphasis for them to sign a quality striker given that Harry Kane is in
scintillating form and there is a hope that Erik Lamela is finally coming good.
I could see Adebayor going out on loan however, so they may want to bring in a
striker to compete with Soldado and Kane. Other than that I think it will be a
quiet window for Tottenham.
Arsenal
A Centre Back and a
defensive midfielder are needed at Arsenal. The same has been said for several
years. Surely Wenger will invest in some sort of centre back cover seeing as
he’s had to play Chambers, Monreal and Debuchy playing out of position there
for large portions of the with only 2 centre backs in his squad.
West Ham
Its hard to know what West Ham will do this January. They
could gamble, spend a lot of money in a real push to get into the Champions
League. Equally they could stick with what they have and think that they will
continue to grow. If they do feel they want to add to the squad, a Right back
and a central midfielder will surely top their shopping list, perhaps their
fall away from the champions league places in recent weeks means they won’t
make many additional signings. A real effort could be made to sign Alex Song
permanently this January as he’s been outstanding for them.
Liverpool
Liverpool are obviously likely to be after a striker and a
goalkeeper following their problems in these positions in recent weeks. Origi
coming back to Liverpool may mean they don’t add a striker, and whilst there
are rumours that they are after Petr Cech, I wouldn’t expect Chelsea to sell
him to a premier league rival. Perhaps a frustrating window in store for
Liverpool fans.
Swansea City
I’d be surprised if Swansea did too much more business in
this window despite having flown out of the traps quickly. They’ve already
added Matt Grimes a talented young midfielder from Exeter and Nelson Olivera
who one assumes is partially being brought into cover Wilfried Bony’s absence
during the African Nations cup. This addition may also see Bafetimbi Gomis
leave after only 6 months and having seen him play a number of times last
season for Lyon, I feel he’d be an outstanding addition to most premier league clubs,
having not been given many chances by Swansea due to Bony’s form. For at least
10 sides in the league, Gomis would be their number 1 striker. If they do
decide they need new signings I’d expect them to go for a centre half but I
think this is unlikely.
Newcastle United
Newcastle need a striker, a couple of wingers and a centre
back. As a Newcastle fan I fear that none of those will arrive on Tyneside,
although the centre back addition is possible now that Steven Taylor has been
ruled out for the rest of the season. In fact it has been mentioned that they
could cash in on prized asset Moussa Sissoko. I expect it to be quiet on the
transfer front for Newcastle however, and for Sissoko to stay at least until
the summer.
Stoke City
Stoke have seemed to lack a bit of mobility in central
midfield for a few years now and with Glenn Whelan’s contract talks said to
have broken down, this January might perhaps be the time to change this.
Rumours over Peter Crouch’s future and a lack of firepower upfront could lead
to a hunt for a new striker but in most other positions Stoke look well
stocked.
Aston Villa
They are desperately short of goals and inspiration. I
believe some creative players are more necessary than a striker to replace
Christian Benteke but Villa must add to their pool of wingers and a more
creative centre midfielder in order to maintain their mid table position in my
opinion.
Everton
What has happened to Everton really shocks me, but I believe
its due to an ageing backline as Distin and Jagielka have struggled this season
and Alcaraz is simply poor in my opinion. Gareth Barry has also struggled for
pace in front of the backline. For me a centre back and a defensive midfielder
are a must for Everton who are also lacking inspiration in wide positions as
their flair players other than Kevin Mirallas have not performed this season. Everton
will hope for a big second half of the season from Ross Barkley to get them
back on track.
Sunderland
Similarly to Villa, Sunderland need to add a greater
goalthreat to their game but it is their creative players and not their
strikers that are a problem in my opinion. Fletcher needs greater service from
the misfiring Adam Johnson, Jordi Gomez and co and so adding a creative
midfielder would help a Sunderland side still getting over the loss of Jack
Colback immensely.
Hull City
Another side lacking goals and a striker or 2 will surely be
on their shopping list given the struggles of Hernandez and Jelavic. Bruce’s
summer signings have failed to perform at Hull so its an important window for
the under pressure boss to rectify his poor summer business. A creative
midfielder may also be on their shopping list.
QPR
Harry Redknapp is usually busy in January and I expect him
to be once again. A number of positions need strengthening for QPR and I wouldn’t
be surprised if he added 5 or 6 new players. A striker to take the burden off
Austin, a couple of centre backs given their defensive woes and the struggles
of Rio Ferdinand this season, a defensive midfielder to replace the out of his
depth Karl Henry and a winger given the poor performances of the likes of Junior
Hoilett and Matty Phillips could all be on Redknapp’s shopping list.
West Brom
Tony Pulis’s arrival at West Brom is expected to spark
business. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Berahino leave West Brom given his body
language in the Fa Cup at the weekend after scoring. Whilst he is clearly
talented, he seems to have problems off the pitch at times and with the
reported £20million price tag I would cash in if I was the West Brom owner. If
that happens, a new striker or 2 to replace him would be likely. I also expect
a new attacking midfielder or winger to be brought into freshen up their
seemingly stalwarts in those positions in Dorrans, Brunt and Morrison.
Crystal Palace
I expect Crystal Palace to spend money seeing as they’ve
recently splashed a reported £3.5 million on hiring a new manager! Surely need
a striker and some spark in central midfield, whilst a recognised left back
would be a solid addition.
Burnley
Seeing as Burnley picked up 2 injuries at the heart of
defence in their last game I would expect them to buy a centre back if they are
long-term blows. An addition to the centre of the park would be handy, along
with another option in the wide positions.
Leicester City
Leicester will undoubtedly attempt to strengthen this
January. I would hazard a guess at new midfielders and strikers rather than
defenders whilst with Mahrez going to the African Cup of Nations a new winger
might be on the cards as well.
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