5 Teams Who Are Likely to Panic Buy in the January Transfer Window
The January transfer window is just over a month away.
While the complexion of the Premier League will certainly change between now and the opening of the markets on New Year’s Day, it’s already becoming possible to predict who will be splashing the cash.
In the top half of the EPL in particular, the race for the coveted top four spots and accompanying Champions League qualification appears exceptionally open. A number of the sides eyeing these spots have both the resources and the concerns to have means and motive for a panic splurge in January.
The rumours surrounding these clubs are already ubiquitous across the internet.
A final club featured here aren’t in the race for a Champions League spot but appear primed for a transfer window flourish for very different reasons.
Manchester United
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Despite the club’s persistent insisting that they will not settle for any “short-term fixes” during the January transfer market, it’s hard to see Louis van Gaal not pushing for reinforcements.
Defensively, United are surely not strong enough to claim one of the four Champions League places so coveted by the fans and the board.
At the moment, the £150 million spent in the summer looks very much like half a job, rather than the complete overhaul the side doubtless required.
Injuries have certainly compounded the club’s problems, and if the right players become available in January, it’s hard to see the Red Devils resisting the temptation to move.
One tempting purchase might come in the form of Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen, with The Guardian's Scott Murray just one source linking the stopper to Old Trafford.
The International Business Times, however, foresee offensive additions to United’s depleted squad. Jason Le Miere suggests that with Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao unlikely to be at the club next season, Van Gaal will be desperate to begin moulding his new attack in January.
Edinson Cavani and Thomas Muller have both been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, via Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News.
Tottenham Hotspur
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Despite their weekend victory over Hull City, all is not well at White Hart Lane.
New manager Mauricio Pochettino has failed to find an identity for the club, while the side are labouring on the field, delivering lacklustre performances.
The relationship with the fans has also deteriorated, particularly following Emmanuel Adebayor’s criticisms aimed at the Spurs supporters.
While often praised (or criticised, depending on your take) for his business acumen, Daniel Levy has rarely proved averse to overseeing a steady inflow of players.
On the one rare occasion that he hesitated in the January transfer market—in January 2012—the club lost their momentum and ended up being disappointed at the season’s end.
That fourth Champions League spot (and possibly even the third) is there for the taking for any side that can find consistency in the second half of the campaign.
Spurs will surely see this as an opportunity too good to miss out on and so expect extensive comings and going in January.
Jamie Anderson of The Express has linked Sebastian Giovinco with a move to White Hart Lane, while Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail has reported the club are shaping up for a move on Saido Berahino.
The safest bet, however, perhaps comes from The Sun (h/t James Dickenson of The Express), who noted that Spurs are likely to resume their interest in Southampton pair Morgan Schneiderlin and Jay Rodriguez.
Liverpool
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Defeat to Crystal Palace plunges Liverpool further into the mire. They have lost their last three matches and currently find themselves in 12th.
The lustre of last season is fading fast and unless the Reds can seal qualification for the Champions League again (or even win the thing this season) last year will feel like the anomaly.
Brendan Rodgers will doubtless be tempted to head to the markets in January, knowing that it represents an opportunity to salvage the club’s season.
Daniel Sturridge has recently been ruled out until the new year, via Aaron Flanagan of The Mirror, and with Mario Balotelli’s woes continuing, a new striker is a necessity.
According to Portuguese source Record (again via The Mirror) FC Porto’s Jackson Martinez is the club’s key target.
Peter Guy of the Liverpool Echo has also linked the Reds with a January move for Chelsea’s out-of-favour forward Andre Schurrle.
Will the Colombian hitman and the World Cup winner be spearheading a January transfer splurge?
Arsenal
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Ostensibly, there is no crisis at Arsenal. The club are only two points off the Champions League places and could feasibly move up to fourth with a win over West Bromwich Albion this weekend.
However, to have been at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, to have seen Arsene Wenger’s muddle and the fans’ discontent, would have convinced one otherwise.
Celebrity Arsenal fan Piers Morgan is just one supporter demanding that Wenger calls time on his stint in the Gunners’ dug-out, via Jonny Singer of the Mail Online.
More likely, perhaps, is that the French boss attempts to rectify some of the club’s failings in the January transfer window.
He’s never been one to truly panic, but should the tide of Champions League qualification pull away from the north Londoners over the coming month, Wenger may be forced to act.
Some of the extensive rumours have been promising—Adam Durack of the Mirror reports that Marcelo Brozovic is a January target, while his colleague Liam Prenderville [via Fichajes] has revealed that the club are closing in on Swiss defender Fabian Schar.
Other rumours, have been slightly more perplexing.
Earlier in the month, John Cross of The Mirror reported that Chris Smalling was a target, while it’s hard to see Mario Mandzukic leaving Atletico Madrid so soon after arriving in Spain, as Charles Perrin of The Express anticipates.
Petr Cech, per Jack Wilson of the Daily Star, and Morgan Schneiderlin (Anthony Chapman, The Express) have also been named as would be targets…no panic here!
Queens Park Rangers
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It’s a lazy cliche, admittedly, but Harry Redknapp doesn’t half love a bargain. A late phone call, ambiguous statement or car-window interview from the QPR boss has become a staple of Premier League transfer windows and I don’t expect too much to change in January.
A serendipitous coming together of factors might make this a transfer window to remember for the ex-Spurs coach and for QPR fans.
The club currently find themselves at the foot of the Premier League table.
Despite marked improvement over the last month, they were bested by Newcastle United at the weekend.
Following a six-pointer against Leicester City this coming weekend, they face the likes of Burnley, Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion before the New Year. They will hope to have pulled clear of the relegation zone.
However, the side’s mixed form, and scheduled meetings with Everton and Arsenal mean that nothing should be taken for granted.
As per talkSPORT (h/t Sky Sports), Redknapp believes the club will spend in January, with Jermaine Defoe looking like an inevitable arrival. Expect the Hoops to make more than their fair share of panic buys beyond the ex-England international.
