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January Transfer Window: Who needs what

By on December 30, 2014

For Premier League managers, Christmas comes in January, not December. Unless you were very very bad, like Barcelona over in Spain, who have just had an appeal for their two-window transfer ban rejected, those managers get their gift cards to splash in the transfer window, often the deciding factor in the title or relegation race. Now, telling who will get what it nearly impossible, so even attempting to guess would be all but useless. However, who needs what? Who needs to improve here, and who needs to improve there? Here is a look at Part 1 in our series, the big six:

Chelsea:

Well… nobody really. Chelsea resemble that rich kid on the block who already has most everything they need. A goalkeeper, two in fact, full-backs, defensive midfielders, attacking midfielders, and forwards. Jose Mourinho has already shown his content with his starting eleven by keeping it consistent throughout the season. The only minor need they may have is another out and out winger, although even then that player would likely end up on the bench behind Eden Hazard, or another center-back, despite the fact that Gary Cahill and John Terry have been magnificent together and The Blues already have Kurt Zouma biting at the bit to get into their starting eleven. Need: Low

Manchester City:

As ironic as it may be considering City have one of the best, and highest scoring forward so far this season in Sergio Aguero, City really do need another forward, highlighted by the fact that they recently had to play James Milner in a false nine role. Currently, they only have Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic to backup Aguero, hardly an optimal situation in Manuel Pellegrini’s preferred 4-4-2. Need: High

Goalkeepers: Many expected City to be in the market for a goalkeeper over the summer due to Joe Hart’s shaky form, however Pellegrini only outlined his trust in Hart by selling Costel Pantilimon to Sunderland, which Hart has taken advantage of and assured his spot as City’s No1. Need: Low

Defenders: It was just last summer in which City seemed to all but end their center-back troubles by spending £31.8 million on Eliaquim Mangala, yet after a dismal start to his City career and an untimely injury to Vincent Kompany City will also need another center-back, at least for the short-term future to see them out until Mangala finds his form. Need: Medium

Midfielders: Despite injuries to both Yaya Toure and David Silva, City’s midfield has held up exceptionally well. With Fernandinho a backup to Toure and Fernando, and Silva and Samir Nasri a formidable pair, as well as pace in Jesus Navas, it should be least City’s lowest priority. Need: None

Manchester United:

It has obviously been the one thing Manchester United have needed since even before the end of the last transfer window: a center-back, preferably two. United have played more than thirteen different center-back pairs this season, ranging from Phil Jones, Tyler Blackett, and Michael Keane, to Michael Carrick and Daley Blind. At this point it isn’t as much a matter of if, but who United will sign. Need: Desperate

Goalkeepers: Given David De Gea’s scintillating form of late, this has been perhaps United’s most stable position of all so far this season. Need: None

Midfielders: After their summer spending spree United are pretty much fully stocked in the mid. Blind has proven an excellent holding midfielder, with Carrick a more than capable backup. Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata have both found their form, Ander Herrera has carried his weight and Angel Di Maria proven fantastic. United simply need all their players to return from injury rather than new ones. Adnan Januzaj, United’s savior last season has hardly had a chance so far this season.

Meanwhile, you also have to consider United’s wing-backs, although even that isn’t much of an issue when Van Gaal opts for that tactical decision – Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia have together been decent so far this season. Need: Low

Forwards: Now that Robin Van Persie is back on four, with four goals in his last five matches, and Radamel Falcao back from injury, Wayne Rooney has been more or less dropped back into the midfield. James Wilson has also been eager to get on the pitch – moreover, on the scoresheet – leaving United needless in the finishing department, so long as they retain Falcao over the summer, though that is an issue to be dealt with later. Need: None

Arsenal:

What does it say about Arsenal that Arsene Wenger has done our job himself? He has promised he “want(s) to buy a right-back or a centre-back”, while recently identifying his midfield as an area to improve upon as well.  We thank Arsene, although he might want to consider the fact that promising new star players in the transfer window usually comes back to bite you…

Goalkeepers: It has been a theme for Arsenal over the past few years, those goalkeeper woes.  However, since Wojciech Szczesny has sealed his spot as their No1 – Lukasz Fabianski moved onto Swansea City in turn – and Colombian David Ospina came in over the summer and has provided adequate backup, that is no longer an issue.  Need: Low

Defenders: Arsene said it himself, Arsenal will be out looking for new defenders.  Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers were both brought in over the summer to cover for the loss of Laurent Koscielny, but especially due to injuries Arsenal have been stark of center-backs lately, at least some for the near term future with Hector Bellerin making promising cameos so far this season.

Midfielders: Arsenal are stocked with creative attacking midfielders, yet an injury plague has struck once again making Wenger rethink his lineup – it’s nothing urgent but Arsenal should be on the market for a defensive midfielder.  Need: Medium

Forwards: Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in nine Premier League appearances so far this season, and three in just his past three matches, so given Danny Welbeck joined over the summer, Arsenal should be fine with what they have.  Especially with Alexis Sanchez putting in plenty of goals himself, ten already, along with six assists, despite mainly playing on the wing, it again is not urgent but it would also be hard to see Wenger pass if a good option – Edison Cavani in particular – came on the market. Need: Medium

Liverpool:

So, here we are again – Liverpool are yet again in need of forwards.  Last summer they spent tens of millions on two alone, but with both, Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert, turning out to be flops so far, and Daniel Sturridge out for months, Liverpool have been in a goal drought.  Raheem Sterling has proven he just isn’t quite a natural finisher, far better in an attacking midfielder role, leaving Liverpool desperate for at least a short term payout, but hopefully a long term partner for Sturridge as well.  Need: Desperate

Goalkeepers: Simon Mignolet has been laughably poor so far this season, and with no reasonable backup, with all due respect to Bradley Jones, who has actually been okay when filling in, are forced to look to the transfer window.  They have already been linked with Lille’s Vincent Enyeama, Sampdoria’s Sergio Romero, and Malaga’s Guillermo Ochoa. Need: High

Tottenham Hotspur:

Although Tottenham Hotspur currently sit in eighth, they have reached the end of the year with the same manager they started the season with, and are up from their early season slump. Maurico Pochettino has had a fair amount of time to judge his side, and it is fair to say Tottenham have a quality side, with Christian Eriksen, Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier, Jan Vertonghen, and more. At the moment, it is more about letting go of all the fringe players which Tottenham have bought over the past few seasons with their Gareth Bale money. Lloris has been outstanding, their defense competent, midfield too good on paper to need much of an improvement, and front line fine with the success of Harry Kane. If anything, it is that last department in which they need improving, and are linked with Saido Berahino. Need: Low

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.