A January Transfer Need for World Football's Big Clubs
Forget Christmas presents, the real buying is done in the January sales, and we're about to see world football's biggest clubs splash the cash once again.
The re-opening of the transfer window in Europe will allow the big boys to reshape and remodel their squads ahead of the challenges in the latter half of the season, but which areas should they be strengthening?
Let's take a look.
*The clubs listed make up Bleacher Report's "Big 14" and are in no way representative of current league tables or positions (sorry, Leicester City!)
AC Milan: A New Centre-Back
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Milan have enjoyed something of a revival, losing just one of their last 10 Serie A matches to move up to sixth in the table.
However, all is still not right at the San Siro.
The Rossoneri have kept just three clean sheets in their 17 league matches this season, conceding only two goals fewer than 17th-placed Genoa.
While the likes of Carlos Bacca and Giacomo Bonaventura continue to impress going forward, they could do with a little more back-up in defence, meaning that Milan manager Sinisa Mihajlovic could be scouring the globe to find a new centre-back to replace the ageing Alex and Philippe Mexes, both of whom are now 33.
Arsenal: Beefing Up Central Midfield
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November brought with it Arsenal's usual injury crisis. Central midfield was hit particularly hard, as both Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla were ruled out for months.
Going into the season with those two as his first-choice central pairing was always going to be a risky strategy from Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, but it was an understandable one given the pair's success in the latter half of last season.
With the pair now out, Aaron Ramsey has begun to excel in a more attacking central role, but the Welshman could perhaps do with a better partner given the question marks against the suitability of Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta.
Both are known to have suffered from injuries in the past too, and strengthening in this department could just be what Wenger needs to get over the line in the title race.
He can't rely on Jack Wilshere's fitness, after all.
Atletico Madrid: A More Reliable Goalscorer
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In squandering the chance to go three points clear at the top of La Liga on Sunday night, Atletico Madrid showed their biggest weakness.
Diego Simeone's men are usually fine when it comes to keeping it tight and winning close games, but it isn't quite clicking in front of goal at the moment.
Luciano Vietto had a night to forget in Malaga, the excellent Antoine Griezmann wasn't on form, Fernando Torres showed why he'll surely be leaving the club when his loan deal expires at the end of the season and Jackson Martinez is still injured.
While Simeone will probably be happy to stick with what he's got in the striking department, he might just be tempted to enter the market.
Barcelona: A New Forward (Apparently)
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What do you get for the team that has everything? Well, more of the same, it seems.
As reported by our very own James Dudko, Barcelona will target another forward in the January window as cover for the sensational trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, who is also the subject of contract discussions.
With Barca's transfer ban coming to an end in January and the club able to register summer additions Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, Dudko's piece cited Barca club president Josep Maria Bartomeu as saying: "The coach and the technical staff want a striker. If he comes it will be a loan deal with a right to buy."
He'd better get used to sitting on the bench.
Bayern Munich: Some Granit in Midfield
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Like Barcelona, Bayern Munich don't really need any new arrivals right now as they sit on top of the Bundesliga table and look for progression in the Champions League.
Indeed, with Carlo Ancelotti already lined up to replace Pep Guardiola as Bayern manager in the summer, it might well be that the Italian oversees any business.
However, with December reports linking them with a move for the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Granit Xhaka, perhaps a deal for the Switzerland international could be pushed through.
Speaking earlier in December about the interest, Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer told Sport Bild (h/t Goal.com): "Xhaka is a good player, no need to talk about that."
Watch this space.
Borussia Dortmund: For Jurgen Klopp to Stay Away
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Ever since Jurgen Klopp took over at Liverpool in October, there have been almost constant rumours linking the former Borussia Dortmund boss with moves for his old players at the Westfalenstadion, although none seem too convincing.
As far as incumbent BVB coach Thomas Tuchel is concerned, that will hopefully remain the case throughout the window.
As reported by Joe Wright of Goal, the Dortmund boss would be quite happy to end January with the same squad he started it with, saying:
"Of course, we feel very comfortable with the number of players we have, we are fortunate that we have very few new injuries.
I'm not a fan of winter transfers. The team shows every day how hard they work and what achievements they are capable of.
I'm not naive, I know some players are less satisfied with their role, so I can't rule anything out. I wouldn't mind if we started the second half with completely the same selection.
"
Chelsea: Someone to Liven Up the Attack
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Jose Mourinho has gone, and what he's left behind is new manager Guus Hiddink's responsibility for now.
The Dutchman has the remit of getting Chelsea up the Premier League table and away from the murky depths to which they've plumbed this season, and to do that, he'll need some more reliable goalscorers.
Diego Costa has been sluggish all season, Loic Remy never looks to be more than an impact substitute at best and Radamel Falcao has been nothing more than an abject failure at another English club. And while Eden Hazard is still not scoring, the goals will have to come from somewhere.
Goalscorers are hard to find, but Hiddink could need one.
Juventus: Maybe Completing the Cuadrado Deal, but Otherwise It's All Good
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With their disastrous opening to the season firmly behind them, Juventus are ticking along quite nicely as they bid to recover from the false start to their Serie A title defence.
Things are going so well, in fact, that general manager Beppe Marotta has told Mediaset (h/t ESPN FC) they don't want to bring in any new faces in January, ruling out moves for linked players such as Ilkay Gundogan, Ever Banega and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Marotta said:
"We've got some serious professionals who are devoted to this club and [Max] Allegri has got to keep their concentration high. But knowing these players, I have no doubts about that happening.
We don't need to repair anything. We had a difficult start to the season, but we've got back to being competitive.
You don't always find bargains in January. We're always on the lookout, but I don't think we're going to do anything sensational.
"
Perhaps making Juan Cuadrado's loan move from Chelsea permanent would be an option, but other than that, they look like being quiet.
Liverpool: A New Goalkeeper
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It's tempting to say a whole new spine of goalkeeper, central defender and defensive midfielder is what is needed at Liverpool (and some would add a forward to that).
However, the Reds have fallen foul of signing too many players at one time before, so it would be better to build slowly—and from the back.
Simon Mignolet has had his impressive moments in the Liverpool goal, but he's made too many errors for a real sense of security in him to return. You get the sense he is no longer a reassuring presence for his defenders.
The Belgian seems to be bullied too easily, most notably when set pieces are crossed into the Liverpool box, and the Reds would stand a better chance with a more confident and authoritative figure between the sticks.
Manchester City: A Forward Who Is More Aguero Than Bony
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We know what you're thinking, forwards who are like Sergio Aguero are pretty thin on the ground and very difficult to buy, but bringing in a player of the Argentinian's profile would doubtless improve Manchester City, who sorely miss the former Atletico Madrid man when he isn't there.
Wilfried Bony isn't the same type of player, and he just seems to be passing through the club destined to spend more and more time on bench, as Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo did before him.
One option would be to play Raheem Sterling through the middle, as Liverpool often did last season, but with the resources available to City, you'd think they could do somewhat better than that—and a new forward would breathe life into a stuttering title challenge.
Manchester United: A Goalscorer
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Watching Wayne Rooney struggle up front for Manchester United has become something that isn't for the faint-hearted, and the need for United to spice up their attack is apparent—regardless of the identity of their manager for the rest of the season.
A player who can excite the United fans, one who will complement the raw talents of Anthony Martial, would be most welcome at Old Trafford right now.
United need more goals if they are to make a sustained challenge for a top-four finish.
Paris Saint-Germain: Keeping a Successful Squad Together
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As they stride ceaselessly to the Ligue 1 title, Paris Saint-Germain will be able to rest players for combat in the Champions League in the new year, when they'll face Chelsea.
That will mean keeping the squad together and motivated will be vital for manager Laurent Blanc, who will need players such as Lucas Moura and Adrien Rabiot to be on top of their game whenever they are needed.
The club may seek a replacement for the ageing and soon-to-be-out-of-contract Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer, but right now, PSG should be happy with the cards they've been dealt.
Real Madrid: A Clever Squad Addition
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Spanish football expert Dermot Corrigan outlined his belief that Florentino Perez will look to add to the Real Madrid squad in a bid to quell the growing crisis talk around the Santiago Bernabeu in a recent column for Unibet, and it is easy to see why.
Real could do with competition for Marcelo at left-back, with Corrigan suggesting Liverpool's Alberto Moreno could be a target, but it is difficult to see the club moving for a superstar in any position, with none of their big names set to depart until the summer at least.
Tottenham Hotspur: A Pressing Partner for Harry Kane
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Tottenham Hotspur continue to impress under Mauricio Pochettino, with their pressing game coming on in leaps and bounds this season.
One addition they could do with, though, would be an out-and-out strike partner for Harry Kane, one who has the speed to both press and get on the end of the service provided for him by Spurs' creative players.
Step forward the Premier League's top scorer, Jamie Vardy, who has been superb for Leicester City this season and would add an extra element to Tottenham's game.
He wouldn't come cheap, though.
