Biggest Summer Transfer Need for Every EPL Team
As the end of the current Premier League season draws ever closer, teams will be alternately hoping for a strong finish to the campaign and already looking ahead to plan for 2013-14. For some, that might mean a renewed challenge at the objectives they had for this season, while for others it might be starting in a completely different division.
Whatever the aims, teams will have an idea in mind of which is the key area of the playing staff they need to strengthen this summer and the main objective for the transfer window.
Is it to make a record-breaking signing? To tie current stars down to longer-term deals? To beef up the depth of the squad or to fill a vastly underperforming position?
Here is the biggest need for all 20 of the current Premier League clubs during the forthcoming transfer window.
Arsenal
1 of 20Club Expectations: Top four.
Current Position: Third
Positions Strengthened this Season: Attacking midfield, striker, left-back
Key Summer Requirement: The Gunners are finishing the season strongly and look like they will secure a top four spot once more, qualifying for next season's Champions League. After two seasons of scares over whether they would make it or not, surely this summer the manager has to address Arsenal's glaring deficiencies.
A strong central midfielder, perhaps another central defender—or a return to top form for Thomas Vermaelen—and a top striker are all requirements. The biggest of those may be the central midfielder.
Aston Villa
2 of 20Club Expectations: This season, renew and rebuild—with survival.
Current Position: 17th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Defensive midfield, attacking midfield, striker, centre-back, full-back
Key Summer Requirement: Adding some experience to the squad and a bit more quality is a must, particularly at left-back and potentially at centre-back and in midfield. Their biggest summer business though may be retaining key striker Christian Benteke.
If Villa stay up this season, they should build on this term and improve significantly next term.
Chelsea
3 of 20Club Expectations: Top four and a title tilt.
Current Position: 4th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Striker, attacking midfield, right-back
Key Summer Requirement: Chelsea might well be in the market for a big-name player or two, particularly in the striker and central midfielder department, but there is one key piece of business they need to take care of nice and early.
Namely, deciding on a permanent appointment as manager of the first team.
Everton
4 of 20Club Expectations: European qualification
Current Position: 6th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Attacking midfield, forward
Key Summer Requirement: As with Chelsea, Everton need to secure the future of their manager David Moyes or else find a suitable replacement for him if he decides to part ways with the club.
On the playing field, Everton have put together a reasonable squad for a top-six-or-seven side, but to take a further step forward, they certainly need to improve their striker options.
Fulham
5 of 20Club Expectations: Building towards a top-half finish.
Current Position: 10th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Central midfield, winger, forward, right-back, attacking midfield
Key Summer Requirement: Fulham will likely be focused on trying to keep their improving squad together this summer after seeing the likes of Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey depart last year. Martin Jol is gradually putting together a good squad, but to make a real assault on the league and try to break into the top eight, they need further reinforcements.
Most importantly would be an extremely able central defender to play along with Brede Hangeland, who has perhaps not been at his own best level this season.
Liverpool
6 of 20Club Expectations: Build for the future and qualify for Europe.
Current Position: 7th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Striker, attacking midfield, central midfield
Key Summer Requirement: Liverpool's defence will need some sort of major surgery this summer, with an able replacement for long-serving centre-back Jamie Carragher top of the list of priorities.
Seb Coates and Martin Skrtel could yet exit as well, along with reserve centre-back Danny Wilson, so the Reds could feasibly be looking at two or three defenders coming in during the summer.
Manchester City
7 of 20Club Expectations: Title challenge.
Current Position: Second
Positions Strengthened this Season: Central midfield, wing, centre-backs, full-backs
Key Summer Requirement: City have disappointed somewhat in the defence of their league title after making some sub-standard summer signings last year, none of whom have really hit the heights in their debut campaign.
A top central midfielder appears a basic need for them, perhaps along with another central defender and a striker to replace the departed Mario Balotelli.
Manchester United
8 of 20Club Expectations: Title challenge.
Current Position: First
Positions Strengthened this Season: Attacking midfield, left-back, striker
Key Summer Requirement: United appear on the verge of regaining the Premier League title at a canter, so they will focus their attentions on summer improvements to cover where they fell short in Europe.
Another goalscorer may be a requirement, but a top central midfielder might be the biggest issue, along with another left-back.
Newcastle United
9 of 20Club Expectations: Top eight finish.
Current Position: 13th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Full-back, forward, central midfield, centre-back
Key Summer Requirement: Newcastle have spent openly in their favoured French market once more but have not reaped an impressive league finish to build on last season as a result.
The Magpies will have two objectives in summer: keep hold of the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Cheik Tiote, who will attract attention from elsewhere, and add another couple of quality additions to the side.
A replacement for Fabricio Coloccini in the centre of defence will be the biggest spot to fill.
Norwich City
10 of 20Club Expectations: Lower-mid table finish.
Current Position: 14th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Striker, goalkeeper, centre-back, full-back, centre midfield
Key Summer Requirement: Chris Hughton still requires a win or two for his team to be completely safe, but it looks like being another season of impressive continuity and progress for Norwich City.
In the summer, they may well have already done their biggest and most impressive deal, capturing Ricky van Wolfswinkel, but they will still try to improve the defensive side of their game. Another addition in the wing areas wouldn't go amiss either, to provide the ammunition for the likes of van Wolfswinkel, Kai Kamara and Grant Holt.
Queens Park Rangers
11 of 20Club Expectations: Survival the minimum expectation after heavy expenditure.
Current Position: 19th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Striker, attacking midfield, centre-back, central midfield, goalkeeper, full-back
Key Summer Requirement: Relegation is almost assured now for QPR, and they will have only one objective over the summer.
Namely, to rid their squad of the biggest earners, unsustainable in the Championship, and likely headed by such names as Loic Remy, Chris Samba, Jose Bosingwa and Julio Cesar.
At the same time, they will have to spend a certain amount of money to try to keep a squad together, which is competitive at the second level in English football, so they can bounce straight back.
Reading
12 of 20Club Expectations: Survival challenge.
Current Position: 20th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Full-back, central midfield, winger, striker, centre-back
Key Summer Requirement: Like QPR, Reading have almost had their fate sealed and will very likely be playing in the Championship next term.
Nigel Adkins has inherited a squad not entirely filled with the types of players he enjoyed working with at Southampton, so there could be some heavy recruiting going on at St. Mary's in the summer. Paramount to this work, if they have aspirations of getting back into the top flight, they will need a reliable goalscorer and an extremely able central defender, neither of which they have at present.
Southampton
13 of 20Club Expectations: Survival challenge.
Current Position: 11th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Centre-back, attacking midfield, forward, central midfield, goalkeeper
Key Summer Requirement: It will rather be a case of continuing steady improvement for Southampton after a stellar first season back in the top flight. Mauricio Pochettino has a very good side at his disposal, so adding quality in one or two key areas could see the Saints up into the top half next season.
Another wide attacking midfielder and a good centre-back might be the best additions they could look to bring in.
Stoke City
14 of 20Club Expectations: Mid-to-top-half finish
Current Position: 16th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Goalkeeper, winger, central midfield, striker
Key Summer Requirement: Considering the amount of expenditure the club has had over the past few seasons, Stoke's struggles are a real surprise late in the current season and the club will not look kindly on relegation. There is still time to save themselves, but just one win since the turn of the year does not bode well.
The key decision to be made over the summer could well be whether or not to stick with long-time boss Tony Pulis.
On the pitch, more quality is needed in midfield, while the front line has not been a reliable enough source of goals either.
Sunderland
15 of 20Club Expectations: Mid-table finish.
Current Position: 15th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Striker, centre midfield, winger, full-back
Key Summer Requirement: Centre-backs and a replacement left-back for the on-loan Danny Rose will be top of Paolo Di Canio's shopping list over the summer if he saves Sunderland from the drop and remains as boss.
The Black Cats could certainly do with more attacking additions as well, but it is in defence where they have been particularly poor at times this season.
Steven Fletcher, Connor Wickham and Danny Graham make up a potentially impressive front line, so the focus should be on improving the service they get from the second line of attack, regardless of which forward starts each game.
Swansea City
16 of 20Club Expectations: Around a top-10 finish.
Current Position: 9th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Attacking midfield, forward, centre midfield, centre-back, left-back, winger
Key Summer Requirement: Keeping the star names at the club this summer will be the big battle, with the manager and certain players all likely to be in demand. Michu, Michel Vorm, Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor could all be in big demand.
Swansea definitely need to add a good striker to their ranks having sold Danny Graham.
Elsewhere, another central midfielder and cover at full-back might be worthwhile additions.
Tottenham Hotspur
17 of 20Club Expectations: Top four finish.
Current Position: 5th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Attacking midfield, centre-back, striker, goalkeeper
Key Summer Requirement: Champions League qualification or not might turn out to be the deciding factor in keeping Gareth Bale at the club this summer, but Spurs will still bring in a massive transfer fee if they sell him.
Andre Villas-Boas would be able to strengthen the squad considerably with that kind of income.
Spurs could do with a bit more depth in the wide areas, as they have looked troubled without Bale and Aaron Lennon, but a top centre forward is absolutely the biggest area they have to improve in during the summer.
West Bromwich Albion
18 of 20Club Expectations: Mid-table finish.
Current Position: 8th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Defensive midfield, striker, centre-back
Key Summer Requirement: WBA have improved considerably in terms of results and league placing this season, and Steve Clarke will look to build on that with a few signings this summer.
Striker Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to return for a second loan spell, and therein lies the single biggest issue for the boss to address this summer. He also needs to find additional players at central midfield and likely at full-back if they want to stay around the same level.
In truth, eighth place is probably the highest that West Brom could finish in the league without significant investment; from this point on it will be about running as fast as they can just to stay in the same place as other clubs also improve.
West Ham United
19 of 20Club Expectations: Lower-to-mid-table finish.
Current Position: 12th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Centre-back, striker, attacking midfield, goalkeeper, centre midfield, centre-back, winger
Key Summer Requirement: Like Lukaku, West Ham will lose striker Andy Carroll this summer unless they can arrange a permanent deal for him. He, or another forward, will be the main addition for the Hammers this term if they want to continue their progression back in the Premier League.
The biggest decision for the club to make, though, is whether to keep manager Sam Allardyce in place or take a new direction.
Elsewhere, they will need better quality in defence and maybe in goal to get into the top half, with surely even the indefatigable Jussi Jaaskelainen due to take a step back soon.
Wigan Athletic
20 of 20Club Expectations: Avoid relegation (preferably from March onwards).
Current Position: 18th
Positions Strengthened this Season: Centre midfield, centre-back, goalkeeper, striker, attacking midfield
Key Summer Requirement: Wigan are hoping to avoid relegation late on in the season once more, though they still have plenty of work to do yet.
If they manage to stay up, then reinforcements in both attack and defence will be needed over the summer if they want to finally avoid being involved in the fight to go down or stay up next season. The biggest requirement might be to decide on their first choice goalkeeper for next season, with Ali Al-Habsi suffering dips in form and on loan Joel proving an adequate replacement of late.
