Brace yourself – it’s that time of year again. Hold on to your hats and your star players as the transfer window opens and lets in the wind of change.
Here’s what we think might be going on in the Premier League…
Arsenal
What they need: Everyone who’s ever watched an Arsenal match (except possibly Arsene Wenger) knows what they need – a centre-half and a ball-winning midfielder.
Potential arrivals: Virgil van Dijk, Ron Vlaar, Tyrone Mings, James Milner, Moussa Sissoko, Morgan Schneiderlin, William Carvalho
Potential departures: Lukas Podolski, Yaya Sanogo, Joel Campbell
Aston Villa
What they need: What Villa desperately need is goals. They’ve managed a league-worst 11 all season. In Christian Benteke they’ve got the man to provide them – if only they had anyone who could get the ball to him every now and then.
Potential arrivals: Tom Cleverley, Ikechi Anya, Matt Jarvis, Darren Fletcher, Lasse Vigen Christensen
Potential departures: Fabian Delph, Ron Vlaar, Darren Bent
Burnley
What they need: Top priority for Burnley might not be bringing people in, but keeping hold of what they’ve got – namely top scorer Danny Ings. The club’s prudent approach to Premier League spending will likely preclude any extravagant purchases.
Potential arrivals: Raul Albentosa, Giampaolo Pazzini
Potential departures: Danny Ings
Chelsea
What they need:Â Nothing. But when has that ever stopped them? Jose Mourinho insists he has no plans to buy or sell in January, though, so we’ll take him at his word.
Potential arrivals: None
Potential departures: Mohamed Salah
Crystal Palace
What they need: Manager-in-waiting Alan Pardew will bring his own ideas for potential recruits but it would be surprising if one of those wasn’t a striker. Chairman Steve Parish is on the lookout for one, anyway.
Potential arrivals: Bafetimbi Gomis, Peter Crouch, Yaya Sanogo, Pape Souare
Potential departures: Andrew Johnson, Jerome Thomas
Everton
What they need: More than anything Everton could probably do with some good luck. Given that’s tough to buy, they may want to look at bringing in some defenders – they’ve let in 31 goals this season, with only QPR conceding more.
Potential arrivals: Mohamed Salah, Douglas, John Ruddy, Marcelo Brozovic, Adnan Januzaj
Potential departures: Christian Atsu, Bryan Oviedo
Hull
What they need: You could argue the Tigers need to start getting the best out of their summer signings before splurging again. We suspect there may be a loan arrival or two, though.
Potential arrivals: Darren Fletcher, Lee Cattermole, Agyemang Badu, Aaron Lennon
Potential departures: Hatem Ben Arfa, Yannick Sagbo
Leicester
What they need: Kasper Schmeichel’s injury means a new goalkeeper would be a welcome addition, and money may also be available for a forward and centre-back.
Potential arrivals: Aleksandar Mitrovic, Danny Ings, Jermain Defoe, Troy Deeney, Jack Butland, David Marshall
Potential departures: Nick Powell
Liverpool
What they need: Given Simon Mignolet’s woeful season, it’s unthinkable that Liverpool won’t sign a new goalkeeper. Depending on Daniel Sturridge’s fitness, a striker could be useful too.
Potential arrivals: Petr Cech, Sergio Romero, Jack Butland, Ron Vlaar, Fabian Delph, James Milner, Divock Origi, Saido Berahino, Charlie Austin
Potential departures: Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini, Lucas, Glen Johnson
Manchester City
What they need: A striker, preferably eligible in the Champions League, to provide cover for the injury-prone Sergio Aguero. Other than that, it’s all about loan signing Frank Lampard: will he stay or will he go back to New York?
Potential arrivals: Frank Lampard, Edinson Cavani, David Villa
Potential departures: Matija Nastasic, James Milner
Manchester United
What they need: Defenders. Having said that, they needed defenders in the last transfer window too and bought just about everything but, so who knows?
Potential arrivals: Kevin Strootman, Martin Odegaard, Mats Hummels, Victor Valdes
Potential departures: Anderson, Darren Fletcher, Anders Lindegaard, Adnan Januzaj
Newcastle
What they need: A manager. After that, given Mike Ashley’s apparent lack of ambition, it’s probably fanciful to think Newcastle will be bringing in high-profile players to push them up the league. He remains open to selling the club’s best players when the price is right.
Potential arrivals: Danny Ings, Aleksandar Mitrovic
Potential departures: Moussa Sissoko, Cheick Tiote, Tim Krul
QPR
What they need: To fend off the inevitable interest in Charlie Austin. If they do manage to keep him, they might want to give him a chum up front to take some of the pressure off.
Potential arrivals: Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Mauro Zarate, Ravel Morrison
Potential departures: Adel Taarabt, Shaun Wright-Phillips
Southampton
What they need: Ronald Koeman says the club will be buying, not selling, in January and has emphasised the point by bringing in Eljero Elia. More attacking talent could be on the way, but there is bound to be more interest in Morgan Schneiderlin, and big offers could be hard to refuse.
Potential arrivals: Danny Ings, Nathan Redmond, Kevin Kampl, Jesus Corona, Philipp Wollscheid
Potential departures: Morgan Schneiderlin, Jay Rodriguez, Jack Cork, Artur Boruc, Paulo Gazzaniga
Stoke
What they need: Injuries to Peter Odemwingie and Victor Moses means Mark Hughes will look to strengthen his attacking options out wide.
Potential arrivals: Aaron Lennon, Junior Hoilett, Nathan Redmond, Matt Jarvis
Potential departures: Andy Wilkinson, Wilson Palacios
Sunderland
What they need: It’s a familiar tale for the Black Cats, who can hardly buy a goal at the moment. They desperately need a striker to supplement, or replace, the misfiring Connor Wickham and Steven Fletcher.
Potential arrivals: Danny Ings, Fabio Borini, Mohamed Salah, Giampaolo Pazzini
Potential departures: Jozy Altidore, Charis Mavrias
Swansea
What they need: The club are confident of keeping Wilfried Bony but need cover for their in-form striker, who goes away for the Africa Cup of Nations, while another left-back to compete with Neil Taylor would also prove useful.
Potential arrivals: Joel Campbell, Alex Pritchard, Leo Baptistao, Matt Grimes
Potential departures: Bafetimbi Gomis, Alan Tate
Tottenham
What they need: Tottenham need leaders and battlers, really. Streamlining a bloated squad will also be a priority for Mauricio Pochettino’s but a defensive midfielder and a striker would certainly be welcome additions.
Potential arrivals:Â Morgan Schneiderlin, Fabian Delph, Jay Rodriguez, Hector Moreno, Jackson Martinez, Saido Berahino
Potential departures: Vlad Chiriches, Kyle Naughton, Mousa Dembele, Paulinho, Andros Townsend, Aaron Lennon
West Brom
What they need: West Brom fans might hope the Baggies don’t end up making any big signings – if they do it probably means they’ve sold Saido Berahino. Any injection of talent for the new manager to work with will be welcome.
Potential arrivals: Danny Ings, Matt Jarvis
Potential departures: Saido Berahino, Jason Davidson
West Ham
What they need: If the club sell Winston Reid rather than risk losing him on a free in the summer, Sam Allardyce will want defensive reinforcement but other than that the Hammers are well set. Maybe Allardyce will pull off one of those Ivan Campo/Jay-Jay Okocha-type signings he makes from time to time.
Potential arrivals: Nicolas N’Koulou, Doneil Henry
Potential departures: Winston Reid, Ravel Morrison
Source: SNAPPA
