Biggest Needs of the Premier League's Big 6 in Final Weeks of Transfer Window
The January transfer window is open, and clubs around Europe are making deals to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season.
Today at Bleacher Report, we're looking at the transfer needs of the Premier League's "Big Six" in the final weeks of the window.
Who are the Big Six? They're not the current top six teams, but rather the biggest clubs with the most name recognition—Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Keep reading to see each team's greatest need and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Arsenal: Seal Elneny Deal
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Current League Position: First, 42 points
Arsenal have enjoyed a good first half of the Premier League season. The Gunners sit two points clear atop the table and have put themselves in position to win their first league title since 2003-04.
However, manager Arsene Wenger knows he still needs to address certain areas of his squad. "I will be busy (in January), that is for sure," the Frenchman told reporters in December (h/t ESPN FC). I have already said we are short."
The most glaring area in which Arsenal lack options is central midfield. With Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere injured, the Gunners need reinforcements for their title charge.
Over the past few weeks, Arsenal have been linked strongly with a move for Basel's Egypt international midfielder Mohamed Elneny. The deal has been drawn out by work-permit issues, but Wenger said on Monday that he hopes to complete the signing soon.
"I expect Mohamed, yes, we are positive that this week it can happen," he said, per Sky Sports.
For Arsenal, the biggest need is a simple one: Seal the deal.
Chelsea: Depth at Center-Forward
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Current League Position: 14th, 23 points
To say the current season has been a disappointment for Chelsea would be an understatement. The defending Premier League champions are currently in 14th place, just six points above the relegation zone.
The arrival of Guus Hiddink seems to have steadied the ship, but the disastrous start to the season has already proved costly, as manager Jose Mourinho was shown the door last month.
A defensive record of 29 goals conceded (in 20 games) suggests reinforcements are required in the back line, but we're looking at the other end of the pitch instead. Currently, Chelsea are overly reliant on Diego Costa at center-forward. When Costa is injured, banned or out of form, the Blues' options are limited.
One possible option is AC Milan's Carlos Bacca, according to the Daily Mail (h/t Samuel Stevens at the Independent). Bacca has netted eight goals in 19 Serie A appearances this season, but he would command a large transfer fee, per Stevens.
Other potential targets include Leicester City's Jamie Vardy and Atletico Madrid's Jackson Martinez, according to the Telegraph. Or perhaps Chelsea are looking at a striker we don't know about yet.
Liverpool: Reinforcements All Over
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Current League Position: Eighth, 30 points
Like Chelsea, Liverpool have already changed managers this season following a run of poor results. Since taking over from Brendan Rodgers, Jurgen Klopp has received a crash course in the physical demands of English football.
As the hectic holiday schedule finished, Liverpool's injury report looked more like a lineup for a Premier League match. Several first-team regulars are out with hamstring injuries, including Philippe Coutinho, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Daniel Sturridge. Meanwhile, non-hamstring injury concerns include Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi and Mamadou Sakho.
In other words, Liverpool have players missing from all over the pitch. In the remaining weeks of the transfer window, Klopp simply needs to bring in reinforcements from wherever he can find them.
The Reds have already completed the signing of Steven Caulker on loan, and that surely won't be their last business this month.
Schalke's 20-year-old midfielder Leroy Sane, Juventus defender Martin Caceres and West Brom forward Saido Berahino are targets, per the Telegraph. Expect the transfer gossip to keep rolling in throughout the month as Liverpool search high and low for reinforcements.
Manchester City: Defensive Help
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Current League Position: Third, 39 points
The first half of the season was something of a disappointment for Manchester City. And yet, with 20 games played, the Sky Blues are just three points off the top of the table despite suffering five losses.
One of the biggest concerns for Manuel Pellegrini's team has been the back line. Sure, City have allowed just over a goal a game (21 goals in 20 matches), but that doesn't tell the full story. Without captain and center-back Vincent Kompany in the lineup, the back four have struggled to keep clean sheets—which has made life that much more difficult for Pellegrini.
Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi both commanded huge transfer fees when they joined City, but so far, they haven't lived up to them. Kompany hasn't started a match for City since Nov. 8, and his return is nowhere near.
Yet Pellegrini doesn't seem to feel the need to reinforce the back line.
Per Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, he said:
"It's difficult [to give an update] because Vincent has a lot of different things to try to understand, to find the reason for so many injuries. We have a complete squad in this moment. We have [Martin] Demichelis, [Nicolas] Otamendi, Bacary Sagna can play that position. We have Cameron [Humphreys], a young player that did pre-season with the squad.
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All that may be true, but a failure to strengthen in the back line could undo City's title challenge. While attacking options are also needed to bring depth behind Sergio Aguero, the defense has been a much more critical issue of late.
Manchester United: Attack, Attack, Attack!
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Current League Position: Fifth, 33 points
Manchester United are boring. You know it. We know it. Louis van Gaal knows it.
"There are matches that I have enjoyed, and there are also matches where I'm very bored or angry because we are not disorganising our opponent's defence," the Manchester United manager told BBC Sport this week. "But that is football."
Maybe that's just football, or maybe it's Van Gaal. Either way, United's supporters are accustomed to better. Over the years, the club's many memorable, all-conquering teams have thrilled fans with exciting, attacking football. That has not been the case this season, with United scoring just 24 goals in 20 league matches.
Tottenham Hotspur: Lock Down What You Have
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Current League Position: Fourth, 36 points
Just past the halfway point of the season, Tottenham Hotspur have positioned themselves well. Through 20 games, Mauricio Pochettino's men are fourth in the table, only six points behind leaders Arsenal.
Transfer chatter surrounding the club is somewhat quiet. A few reports have linked the club with new attacking options, with Moussa Dembele (no, not Mousa Dembele) a target according to the Independent. Meanwhile, the Birmingham Mail reports that Spurs could offer Andros Townsend and cash for West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino.
Either of those moves could boost Pochettino's options, but his most important business this month might be securing the future elsewhere. On Tuesday, the club announced a new deal for promising 19-year-old Dele Alli, who has broken into the first team this season. Meanwhile, star striker Harry Kane has pledged his future to Tottenham amid rumors of interest from Real Madrid (h/t Sky Sports).
Signing a few new players in January could help Spurs' push for the top four (and perhaps the title), but securing the future is even more important.
