Picking a January Transfer Window Final-Week Target for Each Premier League Club
On January 31, the winter transfer window will shut. Whether it slams or slides quietly depends on your viewpoint, but what is certain is the opportunity to do business will cease.
The vast majority of Premier League sides are still in need of a midseason boost. We've seen plenty of errors made during this period (hello, Fernando Torres) but also some real success stories emanate from the first month of the calendar year (Luis Suarez, anyone?).
Every transfer is a gamble—particularly when time is a factor—and as we enter the final week of the 2017 winter window, Bleacher Report suggests a target for each of the 20 teams in the English top flight.
Arsenal: A £50M Man
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Arsenal look pretty set. They sit in second place in the Premier League, they qualified first from their Champions League group and their FA Cup hopes are alive and well.
Given the depth manager Arsene Wenger has at his disposal, it's hard to say with any conviction that the Gunners need anything in particular. The French tactician has the ability to change formation and style with ease and has some of the league's best players in his first-choice XI.
It's arguable the only thing that could change things for the better at this point is a world-class signing. But that won't happen in January.
Bournemouth: Asmir Begovic, GK
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According to Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard, Bournemouth have approached Chelsea for Asmir Begovic, bidding £10 million but being told to stump up £12 million.
Eddie Howe's record in the transfer market as Cherries boss has been hit-and-miss, but the Bosnian goalkeeper would be an astute addition. It's clear he won't be surpassing Thibaut Courtois in the Chelsea pecking order any time soon, but that doesn't mean he's not an excellent goalkeeper.
The incumbent Artur Boruc is a weak point in this Bournemouth squad because of his inconsistent performances and erratic punches; Begovic, therefore, would upgrade this XI markedly from the get-go.
Burnley: Robbie Brady, Winger
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Burnley are on the trail of two wingers, Robert Snodgrass and Robbie Brady, in an attempt to bolster their goal threat.
Jack Gaughan of MailOnline recently reported that the Clarets are willing to part with £13 million to land Brady, while Sky Sports News HQ noted that Hull City have accepted a bid of £10 million for Snodgrass.
Burnley manager Sean Dyche is wise to address this area, as while George Boyd is an honest worker, he offers little in the final third. A refreshment of the wing corps is needed at Turf Moor.
Chelsea: Tim Krul, GK
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According to B/R's Dean Jones, Tim Krul has emerged as a target for Chelsea as their search for a new back-up goalkeeper narrows.
With Begovic interesting Bournemouth, Jones revealed the Blues are open to selling him but want a replacement secured first.
One of their requirements is that any new recruit is 6'4" or taller—likely because of a coaching preference and the fact Courtois is 6'6"—and Krul fits the bill.
The Netherlands international is out on loan at Ajax from Newcastle United—who seem to have a remarkable surplus of goalkeepers—but isn't playing.
That Chelsea's big concern in January is who their reserve goalkeeper will be come February tells you everything you need to know about how well they're set for 2017.
Crystal Palace: Lamine Kone, CB
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Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce clearly isn't impressed with the defensive line he's inherited. Having already added Jeffrey Schlupp earlier in January, he's targeting a new centre-back, per B/R's Dean Jones, and has been chasing Carl Jenkinson, per Dominic Fifield and Paul MacInnes of the Guardian.
The net appears to have been cast pretty wide with regard to attracting a new centre-back, but the ideal solution may be closer to home; Sunderland's Lamine Kone would be a great addition. Allardyce signed him for the Black Cats 12 months ago and is now asking the question again, per Colin Mafham of the Express.
Kone was one of several key men as Sunderland scraped clear of relegation in 2015-16, with his imperious physical displays setting the tone for a resilient run of performances.
Everton: Manolo Gabbiadini, ST
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Manolo Gabbiadini featured in our list of players who need to sort out a move for themselves this transfer window, as Napoli's lack of faith in him is clear.
The Italian has struggled to adapt to Maurizio Sarri's system and hasn't featured much despite Arek Milik suffering a bad knee injury. Dries Mertens plays up front now, while Leonardo Pavoletti has been acquired as back-up.
There are several striker-needy Premier League teams that could use Gabbiadini, and one of those is Everton, who don't have an alternative to Romelu Lukaku. Enner Valencia, signed on loan last summer, hasn't worked out so far.
Hull City: Havard Nordtveit, CM (loan)
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If Marco Silva has hopes of steering Hull City clear of relegation, he best spring into action for central-midfield reinforcements in January. He's already brought in Evandro from FC Porto, but recent events should force him to act again.
Ryan Mason has effectively been ruled out for the season with a fractured skull, while Jake Livermore was sold to West Bromwich Albion. That's two first-choice midfielders gone, leaving the likes of David Meyler to hold the fort.
Silva will have to be practical: Hull are in the relegation zone and are not sickeningly rich. A fringe Premier League player on loan might be the ideal solution, and someone like Havard Nordtveit—talented but as yet unable to find form with West Ham United—could be an astute pickup.
Leicester City: Timm Klose, CB
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During the summer of 2016, Leicester City found themselves picking the market apart and selecting the best targets. With Champions League football to offer, many were happy to take the call.
But the situation is different this winter; the Foxes probably only have two European games to use as bargaining chips, as they're not expected to beat Sevilla in the round of 16. After that, they'll have to focus on a relegation fight.
That means the pool of players to pick from is significantly smaller and significantly less glamorous. It would perhaps be prudent to check the Championship and skim off the best from that division, and Norwich City's Timm Klose could improve their XI.
Since Wes Morgan returned to his 2014-15 version, centre-back has emerged as a problem for Claudio Ranieri.
Klose's injury last season might well have been the difference between Norwich staying up and going down, as he proved during his half season in the Premier League that he's a commanding and solid performer.
Liverpool: Julian Brandt, Bayer Leverkusen
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Bayer Leverkusen may boast Champions League football, but that hasn't helped them keep hold of their best players; they have a recent history of selling star men to big bidders, and 2017 is expected to be no different.
There are a number of interesting prospects in manager Roger Schmidt's squad, and of all the attack-minded ones, Julian Brandt is the crown jewel. Fast, direct, hungry to press and incisive on the ball, he'd fit Jurgen Klopp's style of football perfectly and allow far greater rotation in the front three.
While some may point to goalkeeper and left-back as positions that require addressing with greater urgency, it's clear Klopp has earmarked Loris Karius to take back the No. 1 slot, while James Milner will be trusted to take the Reds to the summer from full-back.
Manchester City: Milan Badelj, CM
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Manchester City's areas of need are uncomfortably plentiful given the club spent just shy of £200 million last summer, but the priority has to be midfield.
With Ilkay Gundogan out for the season and Fabian Delph consistently hurt, a lot has been asked of Yaya Toure in recent months—particularly given Fernandinho has taken most of the last eight weeks off too.
A more defensive option like Luiz Gustavo could appeal here, but once Fernandinho and Fernando are back, that becomes less attractive. Fiorentina's Milan Badelj, a talented midfield schemer capable of splitting teams open with scything through balls, is a Pep Guardiola-style player and could fill the Gundogan-shaped void.
Manchester United: Faouzi Ghoulam, LB
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Manchester United probably don't need to do any business in January; their squad is both massive and highly competent, and manager Jose Mourinho is now coaxing them into proper form, so there's no need for a big-splash addition.
One clear weakness in the team, though, is the left-back position. Luke Shaw hasn't played for the club since the end of November, and Miguel Delaney for the The Independent reports Mourinho is willing to offload him this summer.
If that happens, it plunges United back into the market for a left-back, and a player who might suit Mourinho's style a little better is Faouzi Ghoulam of Napoli. A big, barrelling presence, he's durable, strong in the challenge and a physical force to be reckoned with moving up the line.
Middlesbrough: Carl Jenkinson, RB
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Middlesbrough fans might be screaming for goals at this point, but with Alvaro Negredo (likely expensive on the wage bill), Rudy Gestede (newly signed) and Jordan Rhodes (bids for him rejected, per Laurie Whitwell for MailOnline) all competing for one spot, it's safe to say manager Aitor Karanka's business is done in this area.
The midfield is workmanlike and reliable, and most of the defence is fine. One area that does cause concern is right-back, though, and Karanka has tried all sorts of different things to get around that weakness this season.
Antonio Barragan has been largely disappointing, and Calum Chambers can't be the answer on the right. Why not pluck another Arsenal defender in Carl Jenkinson to play alongside Chambers? Crystal Palace have been after him, but we're deep into January and no deal has been struck.
Southampton: Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool
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Usually, business between Southampton and Liverpool goes the other way, but in this case, the Reds have an unwanted player in a position Saints direly need to reinforce.
Centre-back is an issue for Southampton in a post-Jose Fonte world, and when Virgil van Dijk limped off injured against Leicester City on Sunday, the lack of depth in that area was fully revealed.
Manager Claude Puel has faith in the existing corps, selecting Jack Stephens to deputise with no qualms and handing Maya Yoshida the captaincy against Norwich City, but a fourth body would do a world of good.
Mamadou Sakho, in limbo at Anfield, would be an ideal recruit and strengthen Saints' defensive line once more.
Stoke City: Davy Klaassen, CM
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Try as he might, manager Mark Hughes does not appear to be able to solve Stoke City's central-midfield puzzle.
Charlie Adam and Glenn Whelan are two names the club have tried to move on from but end up consistently moving back to.
A fresh face would do a world of good, and considering the Potters' wide-ranging scouting policy, it's tough to name such a target.
Hughes has a predilection for silky footballers and has tried hard to change Stoke's image, so someone like Ajax's Davy Klaassen could help continue that transition.
Sunderland: Maximilian Arnold, CM
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One of Sunderland's major issues, on a week-to-week basis, is supplying Jermain Defoe with clear chances. The forward often cuts a frustrated figure as he's served nothing, and for most of the goals he scores, he fashions chances for himself or knocks in from the penalty spot.
The Black Cats do have injuries in this area, but Lee Cattermole or Jan Kirchhoff won't help with this; they're both destroyers who create turnovers, not chances.
Someone like Wolfsburg's Maximilian Arnold might just be able to help here. He works extremely hard and wouldn't leave others with increased loads, and his driving runs might open things up for Defoe a little more.
Swansea City: Neven Subotic, CB
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There's no doubt that Swansea City are on the up. The appointment of Paul Clement as head coach seems to have lifted spirits, and players are gradually starting to rediscover their form.
The club has two strikers capable of scoring enough goals to stay up, a diamond of a midfielder in Gylfi Sigurdsson, a reliable goalkeeper in Lukasz Fabianski and has recently bolstered full-back stock by signing Martin Olsson.
All that leaves is centre-back. Federico Fernandez is getting better again, but can he be trusted to maintain form until May? Is it fair to ask so much of an admittedly impressive, but green, Alfie Mawson on a weekly basis?
A bit of steel and know-how wouldn't go amiss at the Liberty Stadium, and Neven Subotic provides both in spades. Unwanted and unused at Borussia Dortmund, and having been a medical away from joining Middlesbrough last summer, this could be his chance to finally appear in the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur: Luan, AM/ST/Winger
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Like north London rivals Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur are in good nick. Yes, there are some injuries in the defensive line and wing corps to deal with, but the depth is sufficient and the team looks good.
So manager Mauricio Pochettino should be planning for the future. With Vincent Janssen looking more like a transfer flop every week—although there is still time for him to turn things around—another body in the forward line wouldn't go amiss.
Gremio's Luan transformed Brazil's fortunes during the Rio Olympic Games and has the ability to play in a variety of positions along the forward line. The 23-year-old would need nurturing and moulding, but Spurs are in a position to commit to that.
Watford: Ashley Young, AM/Winger
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Watford don't score enough goals. Twenty-five netted in 22 Premier League games is an awful record, one that must improve if the Hornets wish to avoid a relegation scrap.
What they need are attacking weapons—players who can provide a spark, a moment out of nothing. Isaac Success has threatened that but can't stay fit, while Odion Ighalo—the man who decided so many of Watford's games in the first half of last season—looks woefully short of confidence.
With Manchester United's Ashley Young seemingly on the market, it would make sense if manager Walter Mazzarri opted to pounce. The forward came through the ranks at Watford and would presumably provide some determination in the final third that the Hornets lack.
It's also worth remembering that Young is capable of producing when it matters the most.
West Bromwich Albion: Tomas Necid, ST
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West Bromwich Albion are in a strong position. The defence is typically strong, the goalkeeper is a star, the midfield has recently been reinforced and Salomon Rondon is the perfect striker for Tony Pulis' system.
If they lack anything, it's probably a viable option outside of Rondon. Hal Robson-Kanu has barely featured since moving to the club last summer, and while he's a different type of striker to the Venezuela international, that doesn't necessarily make him ideal.
Another burly target man who can rotate in and allow the Baggies to play the same way would be lovely, and Tomas Necid of Bursaspor could fit the bill.
West Ham United: Kelechi Iheanacho, ST (loan)
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Despite being the primary back-up to Sergio Aguero during a half-season in which Manchester City played a lot of games, Kelechi Iheanacho hasn't played much football. Pep Guardiola has seemed hesitant to trust him, with Nolito often getting the nod in Aguero's place instead.
Now Gabriel Jesus has been added to the mix, Iheanacho's chances of playing seem even slimmer.
Perhaps a loan move could help his situation, and a club like West Ham United—perennially searching for a solution up top for when Andy Carroll gets hurt—could be a nice landing spot.
All statistics from WhoScored.com
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