A 2015 January Transfer Window Need for Every Premier League Club
The new year is commonly regarded as a time for change and revolution, a fresh opportunity to better one's self and in no arena is that more applicable than the Premier League.
The winter transfer window does throw its share of obstacles in making it difficult for clubs to change as they might like, however. Clubs are less open to selling their best resources and cup-tied players make for difficult targets.
Nevertheless, every outfit among the English top flight has their need(s) this January, although some clubs evidently require a lot more help than others.
For some teams, it's a case of one area sticking out more than the rest in terms of need for reinforcement, whether it's due to a shortage of players altogether or simply because the current crop aren't up to the task.
Here, we've examined the quality and quantity each team possesses in each position, dissecting what each manager should be chasing first and foremost over the month to come.
Arsenal: Centre-Back
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Another transfer window, another period during which Arsenal fans can fret about whether or not manager Arsene Wenger will actually spend big on the positions that actually need it.
In January 2015, that main area is centre-back. With the departure of Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona, injury to Laurent Koscielny has highlighted just how light Wenger is in that portion of his squad.
To put it in short terms, when three of your full-backs—Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers—can each say they've had game time in central defence, you know where you need to invest.
Per Mertesacker hasn't been able to rely on a consistent partner all season, and even with a fully fit Koscielny, one can indeed argue more top-class competition is needed.
Wenger also has concerns in signing a steelier brand of central midfielder, but at least the manager has natural options in that area to accommodate for any injuries to some extent.
Aston Villa: Winger
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Despite their failure to win a great deal of games this season, Aston Villa have actually been fairly strong at the back, conceding as many goals as Arsenal thus far (21) and less than Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle United.
It therefore goes without saying that their main issue lies in attack , but with a figure like Christian Benteke leading the line, Paul Lambert's men should be in scorching form up top.
Or at least one would think. Injury prevented the Belgian from featuring until October, since going on to score two goals in his eight league outings, but service has been lacking for periods, too. It's for that reason a touch of class is needed out wide.
According to Squawka, Benteke has had 23 shots on goal this season, an understandably low total given his absence. However, even if one were to extrapolate that figure to say he had featured in all 17 games, it still wouldn't put the forward on a par with the division's big names—Sergio Aguero has had 76 attempts on goal.
Lambert has thus far utilised Charles N'Zogbia, Kieran Richardson, Andreas Weimann and Gabriel Agbonlahor as his go-to wingers, the latter two of whom aren't natural wide players and may arguably feel more comfortable through the middle.
Lambert can feel confident in his defence when full fit, with a promising bunch of playmakers among his three-man midfield options, but the wing talent on offer needs an injection of more than pace alone.
Burnley: Anchoring Midfielder
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Bigger investment is needed at Turf Moor this January if the Clarets are to give themselves a genuine shot at survival. In pursuit of stability, a holding presence in the team's core should be priority No. 1.
Sean Dyche hasn't been able to make full use of Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah during his time at the club, but with the youngster's time at Turf Moor coming to an end, a new face will be welcome.
As long as Danny Ings is fit, Burnley have their talisman up front, a player who needs the responsibility and is currently embracing it, while there are options at both full-back and centre-back.
Leicester City staged a coup in bringing in a player of Esteban Cambiasso's quality this past summer, but Burnley's failed to add that kind of reliable class to their core.
At present, those in the engine room have a Championship aura about them, but an experienced Premier League character who knows how to break up play and keep hold of possession would go down a treat.
Chelsea: Box-to-Box Midfielder
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If there were any team in the division whom one could say honestly don't need a thing this winter, it's league leaders Chelsea. But for the sake of discussion, central midfield sticks out as the one area which, if pushed, they could say would welcome more depth.
This is mainly due to the fact that Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic make up a world-class duo in the middle, but the drop-off in quality behind them is quite steep.
And that's saying something when considering plenty of clubs would snap up the likes of Ramires or John Obi Mikel, but the simple answer is every other position has at least one backup of similar first-team pedigree.
Kurt Zouma is making strides as a potential successor to John Terry with Andreas Christensen close behind, Diego Costa has Loic Remy and Didier Drogba hot on his tail, while Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle can barely get a look out wide.
Jose Mourinho is blessed to have been permitted such extravagant investment over the past year, but if there were one area an extra face could fit, it's right in the central slot.
Crystal Palace: Striker
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It may seem silly to suggest Crystal Palace require a striker when Dwight Gayle has spent much of this season on Neil Warnock's bench, but one might be right in saying that's the manager's error.
In any case, there still remains that guiding light at Selhurst Park, that figure the rest of the team can lump a ball toward and know in their heads that he's capable of doing his bit as an attacking platform.
Glenn Murray will make his return from a loan at Reading in the new year, but the forward remains an untested quantity in the top flight, while confidence in Marouane Chamakh—if there ever were some—may be waning.
Fraizer Campbell is a more inspiring figure in places, but the former Manchester United, Tottenham and Sunderland man doesn't quite cut it as a leading front man.
Under Warnock, the Eagles have lost some of the rigid defence that Tony Pulis instilled among the squad, but the players are still there in defence and midfield to stay up.
More than anything, this side needs a finisher. Palace have managed to score more than one goal in only five league games this season, and the fact that anchorman Mile Jedinak is their top scorer by three goals speaks volumes.
Everton: Centre-Back
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It's a familiar struggle for depth at Goodison Park that threatens to derail Everton's dream of a top-four push this season, where the slightest tip into poor injury fortune could ruin their campaign.
Given the club's reliance on stern defensive stature through the seasons, centre-back is the position at most risk of being left undermanned, with Antolin Alcaraz already on the sidelines.
If Phil Jagielka were to join him, the back line could be thrown into disarray, with John Stones and Sylvain Distin having each seen their share of time out of action this term.
Those absences have exposed a potential shortfall in central defence. Distin's age-defying majesty may finally be nearing its end at Goodison, while the highly promising Stones could still be too raw to be thrown in at the deep end.
Toffees need not get their hopes up, however, with manager Roberto Martinez quoted by ESPN as saying:
"We'll always work hard to try to see what we can do, but it's not a priority in this window. I felt the priority was to make sure we got exactly what we wanted in the summer window. We achieved that, and I'm very pleased with the squad. In January, I don't expect any major changes.
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If kept fit, Everton's midfield is packed with talent and the club invested too heavily in Romelu Lukaku for the Belgian not to be entrusted up front.
That being said, if it is to be another shoestring budget for the Blues, an affordable name should be eyed to provide cover at centre-back.
Hull City: Striker
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Only Burnley and Aston Villa have scored fewer goals than Hull City this season, but it isn't for Steve Bruce's lack of trying to add star names up front.
Abel Hernandez arrived from Palermo to partner Nikica Jelavic in attack, but the Uruguayan has struggled to adapt, with injuries also holding him back from making that seamless step from Italy.
Yannick Sagbo is the man offering cover at present, but the truth is the Tigers are still recovering from the loss of Shane Long, who was a valuable asset to the squad.
Curtis Davies, James Chester and Alex Bruce were pat of a sometimes terrific back three last season, while Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore have been significant investments in central midfield.
In truth, Gaston Ramirez could do with coming upon better form, but the finishing dilemma up front is even more of a concern for manager Bruce.
Leicester City: Left-Back
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Leicester City are another of the Premier League new boys in need of some hefty rotation this winter, but one spot in particular could do with the introduction of an altogether higher class of player.
So limited are Nigel Pearson's options at left-back that Paul Konchesky has started in all but one of the Foxes' Premier League fixtures, with the more offensively minded Jeffrey Schlupp offering some form of cover.
However, Konchesky simply isn't of the quality needed to be a starting asset in the top flight, rated by WhoScored as not only Leicester's worst defender, but by some margin the worst outfielder to have played more than 1,000 minutes.
Leonadro Ulloa has the ability to tide matters over up front and the midfield selection in front of Pearson is far from the worst in the division. However, they say defence decides seasons, and in the Foxes, Konchesky stands out as the weak link in need of replacing.
Liverpool: Goalkeeper
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To some extent, certain outfield weaknesses can be covered up by the work of others, but any club looking to perform at the elite level and take a top four spot needs a reliable figure between the posts.
This season's decline at Anfield has coincided with Simon Mignolet's biggest fall from grace, showcasing form so disappointing that reserve Brad Jones was recently promoted to first choice.
Commenting on his stopper's drop to the bench, Brendan Rodgers insisted Mignolet may yet reclaim his spot, per the Press Association (h/t the Guardian):
"I’ve seen a real positive reaction from him. John [Achterberg], who’s our excellent goalkeeping coach, and myself sit down with him, study his game and look at the areas we feel the improvements can be made. Hopefully when he returns he’ll have gained from that time out and becomes a better keeper for it.
We’ve seen it in the past with other keepers at other clubs—sometimes that little period out can really help. I’m confident that’ll be the case with Simon. I haven’t lost any belief in him—he’s still an outstanding goalkeeper. I’m sure when the time comes for him to come back in, he’ll be a better goalkeeper for it.
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However confident Rodgers might be, the simple truth of the matter on current form is that Mignolet isn't good enough for their needs, and neither is Jones.
Petr Cech's agent Viktor Kolar is quoted by the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce in saying the Chelsea No. 2 won't be available until next summer, which seemingly rules his prospect out.
Some may see other areas as more desperate concerns, but at least Rodgers has options at striker, winger and centre-back—other problem positions—but the same can't be said for goalkeeper.
There, the Northern Irishman is stuck with a couple of sub-par options, neither of whom can adapt to tactics or do much to change their prospects. A change in personnel is needed fast.
Manchester City: Striker
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Over the summer, it would have been absurd to suggest big-spending Manchester City would ever suffer from a shortage of strikers, but following recent injury misfortune, the resources have been dwindling.
Alvaro Negredo departed for Valencia on loan to leave Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic as the three-man crew upholding Manuel Pellegrini's front line.
Still not a poor selection, agreed.
However, injuries to all three of those stars remaining left James Milner to be fielded up front in the recent 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, a fixture where the Citizens at times looked neutered in attack.
With the European season returning in February and the winter schedule set to demand more of Pellegrini's squad, a loan signing may be the most valuable for City.
Like Chelsea, the club's splurging in recent years has given them a stacked squad replete with options in every position, but thanks to an unfortunate spout of absences, attack is the one place in need of fresh blood.
Manchester United: Centre-Back
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Despite the arrival of Marcos Rojo and Louis van Gaal's best efforts to craft Manchester United into a three-man defensive unit, things look shaky at the back for the Red Devils.
It would help if between them, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling could maintain top health for an consistent amount of time, but such hasn't been Van Gaal's luck this term.
It's well-founded at this point that the club is missing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic following their summer departures, two steadfast staples of the squad who gave a rare solidity in central defence.
And that's precisely the presence that's still lacking. Rojo is a flashier brand of versatile defender, Smalling's time has been split too widely between right-back and centre-back since his arrival, while Jones is still trying to decide if he's a midfielder.
Ferdinand and Vidic never had such issues; they were too good in central defence for there to be any such conundrum.
Moves for Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria have shown a willingness to invest heavily in attack. Now the club needs to devote the same attitude in chasing a totemic centre-back addition, though it's difficult to say if the right one will be available in January.
Newcastle United: Striker
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Papiss Demba Cisse has done his best to convince Alan Pardew that he's the man to lead Newcastle United's attack this season, rising to become the club's top scorer with seven league goals.
However, the Magpies chief doesn't seem convinced and it's likely that a more proven figure will be hunted this winter, bringing the same prolific rate that Demba Ba once boasted on Tyneside.
Ayoze Perez has impressed for patches since his summer switch from Tenerife, but Emmanuel Riviere has struggled to have the same first-team impact since moving from Monaco.
Academy graduate Adam Armstrong has even received a greater deal of playing time recently, except it's not as experimentation or simply handing a youth useful minutes; he may actually be one of their better choices.
Unless Pardew is willing to give Cisse a greater responsibility in attack (which seems unlikely), he has to make moves to add alternative choices this winter.
Queens Park Rangers: Winger
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In Charlie Austin, Harry Redknapp is happy to have one of England's most prolific threats in front of goal, a player who looks likely to challenge the opposition goal as long as the ammunition's there.
And if ammunition is what the manager seeks, stocking up on wide players this winter would be wise business in the chase to keep fuelling his star man up front.
At present, Redknapp's team is extremely focused on making avenues down the middle of the pitch. Leroy Fer, Karl Henry, Eduardo Vargas and Sandro have all been some of the more impressive players at one point or another, but all occupy central roles in the team.
Shaun Wright-Phillips is yet to make a league appearance in 2014-15, Adel Taarabt's place in the team is highly debatable and Junior Hoilett has been on the fringes of late.
It's for these reasons that a better standard of winger is needed at Loftus Road and not one who offers speed over all else, as Wright-Phillips once did.
Austin needs a figure (or two) whom he can rely on to make it to the byline so that he doesn't have to worry about altering his charge into the area or dropping deep to collect ball.
If the former Burnley man can be utilised correctly, then the Hoops have a supreme chance of staying up and all efforts should be geared toward optimising the Englishman's threat.
Southampton: Attacking Midfielder
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January is a period likely to test Southampton again as the Saints attempt to retain the majority of their star performers, Morgan Schneiderlin's talent in particular being a major priority.
Ronald Koeman's men crafted their early-season rise into top-four contention based largely off the back of stubborn defence, so it seems matters are still sorted in the back line.
However, Sadio Mane and Emmanuel Mayuka will depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal and Zambia, respectively, next month, leaving attacking reinforcements as the biggest need.
Per the club's official website, the manager said:
"We have already spoke about the transfer window. We need one or two players in front because we don’t have a lot of choices. We will lose Sadio in January as he will play in the Africa Cup of Nations. That means we will need good attacking players and we are looking for that and working on that.
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That being said, it's a lynchpin between midfield and attack which would suit best. The wings have depth in Dusan Tadic and soon-to-arrive Eljero Elia, while full-backs Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bertrand also help in that regard.
However, star striker Graziano Pelle could do with an extra catalyst in behind, a puppeteer along the lines of what the club might have once hoped Gaston Ramirez to be.
Jay Rodriguez is still to make his full comeback up top and also offers options out wide, while Shane Long can fulfil a similar role. What's lacking at present is a specialist No. 10 capable of the flash in front of Schneiderlin, Victor Wanyama and Steven Davis.
Stoke City: Striker
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Mark Hughes' shift toward a more offensively capable Stoke City side has inevitably led to a more impressive array of weapons at the Britannia, with the manager still perfecting his line-up.
Injuries to Peter Odemwingie and Victor Moses have shortened options out wide of late, but it's a star man up front Hughes requires most, even if it means allowing some of the current crop to leave.
Summer arrivals Mame Biram Diouf and Bojan are showing promise in that regard, but the likes of Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters could easily be swapped out if superiors assets were to arrive.
The Potters could also field Marko Arnautovic in the leading role, but Hughes seems intent on utilising the Austrian in a wing capacity. If the move away from Pulis' Potters is to be complete, a prolific scoring centrepiece would round off their evolution.
Sunderland: Striker
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No other team can match Sunderland this season when it comes to shutting out the opposition at the expense of their own ambitions in possession, seeing out no less than 10 draws in their first 17 games.
Hull City are the Black Cats' closest rivals in those terms with seven draws, but when one considers five of those draws have been 0-0 stalemates, the Stadium of Light defence appears a capable one.
The flip side of those stalemates is that Gus Poyet's side have also failed to break the deadlock far too often, finishing without a goal to their name on eight occasions from 17 fixtures.
Joint with bottom teams Leicester and Hull on 15 goals scored this term, Poyet needs a man capable of putting the ball in the back of the net week in, week out. Steven Fletcher, Connor Wickham and most notably Jozy Altidore don't look the figures to do that.
Wickham arguably holds priority among those three as a major hope for the future, while Fletcher is the front man closest to his prime and Altidore could be allowed to leave as far as many fans are surely concerned.
Finding a place in the team for on-loan Inter man Ricky Alvarez would go down as a major new year boost for Poyet, but with so much potential in midfield, the team is sorely missing its finishing touch in attack.
Swansea City: Full-Back
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With 22 goals scored and 19 conceded after the first 17 games of the season, it's been difficult to pick out any one particular flaw with Swansea City this term in what's been yet another well-balanced campaign.
The Swans finished their 2013-14 season with a neutral goal difference (54 goals scored, 54 goals conceded) and once again the squad has looked equal in all regards, with full-back the one area perhaps lacking in options.
Neil Taylor and Angel Rangel are welcome enough resources on the left and right, respectively, but Dwight Tiendalli and Jazz Richards are a steep fall in quality after the first-choice pair.
Ben Davies' departure for Tottenham's borders over the summer still hasn't been addressed and Monk may well have a big hand in finding competition on either defensive flank, having once played that role for the club himself.
Tottenham Hotspur: Midfield General
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According to Sky Sports, Mauricio Pochettino is insistent that Tottenham are unlikely to be conducting any business this winter, proclaiming that he's "happy with his squad" as it stands.
Spurs fans may not agree, given the current roster has only been good enough to see the north Londoners into seventh place at Christmas.
Like close rivals Arsenal, it's a lack of bite at their core that Tottenham are lacking, with the squad rotation at White Hart Lane leading to an uncertainty among the likes of Mousa Dembele, Paulinho and Etienne Capoue.
In fact, Spurs fans may well prefer to see youngsters Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason get their chances ahead of those who have arrived in the transfer market over recent years.
James Dickenson of the Express says Southampton's Schneiderlin won't be making the move north this winter, although his tough-tackling disposition would be an ideal counterweight for Christian Eriksen to lean on.
Striker is the other concern for Spurs, but until one of Emmanuel Adebayor or Roberto Soldado are offloaded in light of Harry Kane's emergence, it's unlikely the funds will be available to sign another big-money forward.
West Bromwich Albion: Striker
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Alan Irvine splurged a club record £10 million on Brown Ideye this past summer, but having failed to score in seven Premier League outings for the Baggies to date, it's fair to say the funds may have been badly invested.
The West Bromwich Albion helmsman has a massive squad under his command with a bounty of players vying to weave their way into each position, but as is the case for numerous other clubs, the forward line is the zone lacking genuine class.
Ideye was a risk arriving from Ukraine and one that hasn't paid off thus far, while Georgios Samaras is a limited centre forward and Victor Anichibe holds some promise alongside Saido Berahino.
The Daily Star's Harry Pratt reported earlier in December that the Baggies had ended contract talks with Berahino, a deep concern for the club's fans considering his potential to lead their line for years to come.
The 21-year-old appears to have deeper issues surrounding his situation and if Irvine is to ensure West Brom's survival, a similarly reliable figure (preferably a more experienced one) must be added next month.
West Ham United: Defender
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Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and the loan signing of Alex Song were examples of some sterling business from Sam Allardyce this past summer, a sign of things finally coming good at Upton Park.
However, it's a case of the longer-standing assets in east London finally paying off, particularly the likes of Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll, both of whom have been more consistently impressive in recent months.
The attack looks well looked-after between that bunch, and if Big Sam is to solidify any place among the Premier League hierarchy, shoring up defence is the first note to address in January.
Winston Reid's expiring contract is a grave concern for the Hammers, but even without thinking ahead to his replacement, adding more options at the back would be taking the pre-emptive strike in the war against those injuries to come.
Centre-backs would be most welcome to sit behind Reid, James Collins and James Tomkins, but full-backs Aaron Cresswell, Joey O'Brien, Guy Demel and Carl Jenkinson are in just as much need of cover.
As aforementioned, the old adage goes that attack wins games while defence wins titles. West Ham United won't be challenging for the top-flight's first prize anytime soon, but conceding fewer goals in the latter half of the campaign would suitably complement their thriving attack.
