Premier League Transfer Talk: Transfer Target Each EPL Club Should Aim For

With the season at halfway point, talk turns towards January transfers.  Here is a rundown of one transfer target for each Premier League club to aim for this January.

Each team in the Premier League needs to make some changes in January to either maintain or improve.  Failing to do so could see them drop down the table, or relegated from the Premier League.

Here is a rundown of one transfer target that each Premier League team should be looking to meet by the end of January.

Bolton

Bolton sit at the bottom of the Premier League, desperately searching for a win.  Having conceded more goals than any other team, something needs to change.

Not likely to attract any big-money signings in their position, a loan move would be the best option for Bolton.

Bringing in Josh McEachran from Chelsea would help strengthen the midfield and provide extra support for the struggling defence.  The Chelsea midfielder is a player Bolton should definitely be looking at.

Blackburn

Blackburn are having a torrid season under manager Steve Kean.  Winning just two games so far this season, the supporters have been making their feelings about Kean very clear.

With so much pressure on the manager, performances of the team must be affected.  The best signing Blackburn can make is that of a new manager.

Some newspapers have already linked Alan Shearer to the job.  Signing him as manager would be a big boost for Blackburn.  

The former striker, who won the Premier League with the club, could provide the boost in confidence needed to get out of the relegation zone.

Wigan

Wigan are a team who battle relegation from the Premier League every season.  They are in desperate need of a January signing that can stabilize the team and ensure their safety.

With Hugo Rodallega struggling for form and a lack of goals, the signing of Billy Sharp from Doncaster Rovers could make all the difference.

Sharp has been in great goal-scoring form, and his finishing ability could help a Wigan side who often play creative football.  Said to be available for £3 million in January, Sharp could be a bargain for Wigan if he keeps them up.

Wolves

Wolves, like Wigan, once again find themselves fighting against relegation from the Premier League.  The team at Wolves seems to lack a real creative spark, and Mick McCarthy should be looking to sign a player with some real creativity in January.

Liverpool, on the other hand, seem to have the opposite problem, and have too many players for too few places.  Even after the injury to Lucas, Maxi Rodriguez cannot earn a starting berth at Anfield.

With the Argentine desperate to prove his ability, he could be open to a loan move to Wolves, something Liverpool may also be happy to allow.

Rodriguez at Wolves would provide Steven Fletcher and Kevin Doyle with some much-needed service.

Sunderland

Sunderland are in desperate need of someone who can score some goals.  A strong squad and a new manager—the only thing lacking is goals.

Bringing in Andy Johnson from Fulham could help solve that problem for Sunderland.  The striker is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning a January move is definitely possible.

Johnson would provide Sunderland with a different type of striker to what they already have, and most importantly, he should provide them with goals.

QPR

Queens Park Rangers brought in a lot more players than either Norwich or Swansea, who were promoted to the Premier League with them.  Despite this they find themselves as the lowest of the newly promoted teams.

The squad at Loftus Road seems pretty strong, but like so many teams, QPR could do with another goal scorer.  Jay Boothroyd has disappointed so far, scoring only twice.  His place in the team should be under threat.

A good option for QPR would be Kris Boyd.  Now a free agent, after terminating his contract with Turkish club Eskisehirspor, Boyd will be looking for a return to the UK.

QPR should offer him the chance to prove himself in the English game.

Everton

Everton have once again made it clear they don't have money to spend.  Their transfer activity in January is likely to be restricted to the loan market.

The obvious area for Everton to improve is the midfield.  This is something the club have already done.  Their ideal January signing is Landon Donovan.  

Already in place is a two-month loan deal to bring Donovan back to Everton in January.

West Brom

West Brom have made a promising start to the season.  Already looking like a team who will stay away from the relegation battle, manager Roy Hodgson needs to make sure of it.

Andrey Arshavin is having a difficult time at Arsenal, and is in desperate need of a boost.  Arsenal could be ready to let the Russian forward leave permanently, but like Nicklas Bendtner, they could give him one more chance.

A loan move to West Brom in January could suit all parties.  An in-form Arshavin would help West Brom climb the table.  Arsenal would benefit from either an increased transfer fee, or a player returning with confidence.  Arshavin could resurrect his career in England.

Like the Maxi Rodriguez-to-Wolves move, this would be a sensational loan move.  But why not?  Stranger things have happened in football.

Swansea

Swansea have made a very positive start to life in the Premier League.  Still, like most newly promoted teams, they know the second half of the season is the most difficult part.

The signing of a new striker could provide Swansea with the boost they need to stay out of the relegation battle.

Bringing in Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield could give them an added edge.  Rhodes is an unknown player as far as the Premier League is concerned.  His scoring tally shows he can convert chances, something that is essential to Premier League survival.

Fulham

Fulham are in that awkward position where the season could go either way.  A good run of result could see them pushing into the top eight.  A bad run could see them battling for Premier League survival.

Despite having plenty of strikers, Fulham have again struggled to score goals, especially away from home.  Bringing in Nikica Jelavic from Rangers in January could help solve that problem.

The move could be part funded by the sale of Andy Johnson that has already been mentioned.  Jelavic could give Fulham that added edge, especially away from home.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa have performed as expected under new manager Alex McLeish.  Sitting in 10th place, Villa fans will be a lot happier than this time last season.

One area they don't seem to be too happy though is in defence, specifically with Alan Hutton. 

Signed in the summer from Tottenham, Hutton has failed to impress, and is often the weak link in an otherwise strong defence.

A great option for Aston Villa would be Manchester City defender Nedum Onouha.  Versatile and able to play at centre half as well as right-back, Onouha proved his ability whilst on loan at Sunderland last season.

Norwich

Norwich, like Swansea, have done very well so far in the Premier League.  Still, their toughest task lies ahead. 

With James Vaughan out with a long-term injury, Norwich will face some serious problems should they suffer any injuries to attacking players.  That means their January target needs to be a forward.

Norwich may find it difficult to attract players already in the Premier League, and so will be forced to look in the Championship.

One player they should be looking at is Ross McCormack of Leeds.  The striker has picked up 10 goals already this term, and could be a valuable asset to Norwich in the second half of the season.

Stoke

Stoke surprised many this season by securing Europa League football after Christmas.  But that could be harmful to the Premier League form of the team.

Already suffering a defeat after all but one Europa League game this season, things will need to improve for Stoke in January.

The area Stoke could do with improving most is midfield.  They have plenty of defenders and attackers, but could do with an extra body in the middle of the park.

Steven Pienaar of Spurs could be a great signing for Stoke.  With Pienaar not making a single Premier League appearance this season, he will be eager to get some playing time.

Being cup-tied for the Europa League would mean Pienaar would be a Premier League starter at Stoke, whilst others concentrate on the Europa League.

Newcastle

Newcastle have been the surprise package of the Premier League so far this season, mostly thanks to the goal-scoring ability of Demba Ba.

But with Ba jetting off to the African Cup of Nations in January, goals could be hard to find in Newcastle.

A definite January target for Newcastle should be Fernando Llorente of Athletic Bilbao.  An ambitious target for an ambitious club, they still have cash in reserve after the sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool.

Spanish international Llorente has been in good goal-scoring form this season, but forever lives in the shadow of Fernando Torres and David Villa.

Llorente will be the perfect fit at Newcastle, his size and strength making him a perfect January replacement for Ba.

Liverpool

Liverpool have a very strong squad, and seem to be very close to getting that winning formula back under Kenny Dalglish.

One place they could strengthen is in defence.  Having already singed left-back Jose Enrique, Dalglish should turn his attention to the centre of his defence.  

Bringing in Gary Cahill would provide Liverpool with a strong England international, for the long-term.

With Bolton's current predicament, Cahill could even come at a lower price than expected. 

Arsenal

Arsenal have surprised everyone so far this season.  A few months ago it was all doom and gloom, with many fans wanting manager Arsene Wenger sacked.  Not anymore.

With some strong performances in both the Premier League, and Champions League, it has become apparent the key man for Arsenal is Robin van Persie.

In January, Arsenal need to find a player capable of scoring goals not only alongside van Persie, but in the event van Persie picks up an injury.

A great option for Arsenal would be Anderlecht striker Matias Suarez.  Already linked to Arsenal in the run-up to January, the striker could provide van Persie with some much-needed support when it comes to scoring goals.

Chelsea

Chelsea seem to be a team that is not sure which direction to turn.  For every step forward they take, there seems to be a setback waiting around the corner.

Bringing in some new talent could help that, especially if that talent is familiar with boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Porto midfielder Souza is a player Chelsea should be interested in.  The young Brazilian has already played under Villas-Boas, and will help provide Chelsea with a long-term midfield option.

Creating an exciting partnership with fellow Brazilian Ramires, Souza could become a Premier League great.

Tottenham

Tottenham might have crashed out of the Europa League, but that will not stop them from challenging for a return to the Champions League.

Their January transfer target should be simple: Sign Emmanuel Adebayor permanently. 

The striker seems to have settled into Tottenham very well, and could be the difference between Champions League and Europa League for Spurs.

Manchester United

Manchester United are having a bit of a midfield crisis at the moment.  With several injuries, and no long-term replacement for Paul Scholes, Manchester United need to act.

The perfect signing for them would be Christian Eriksen of Ajax.  The Danish international is just 19 years old, and already linked with a move away from Ajax, with United one of several clubs interested.

Manchester City

Manchester City have a seemingly endless transfer budget, and could sign almost any player they want.  So who should they sign in January?

The answer: nobody.

With a vast amount of money already spent in recent years, and a huge squad with an incredible amount of talent, Manchester City should save their money.

Their transfer target for January should not be to buy anyone, but instead to sell Carlos Tevez.