Liverpool & Villa Need New Squads – What YOUR club needs!

Who tops the shopping list at your club? With the January transfer window now open for business, here’s what the top clubs should be looking at.

1. Arsenal
There has been a nagging doubt over Olivier Giroud in the run-in as a big game player, scoring big goals in the biggest of games. He’s rectified that this season but I would still like to see him have some world class competition while Arsenal are in a great position.

STRIKER

2. Leicester
An unbelievable season so far to be honest but I was a little concerned by Claudio Ranieri’s comments on ‘popping the corks’ on getting 40 points.

There’s half a season left, Leicester have a real profile now so should strike while the going is good because players can be lured by potential European football. I’d put in a cheeky £25m bid for Benteke! They may even get him!

STRIKER

3. Man City
Unbelievably for a club who has spent £70m on 2 already, a central defender of authority is a must. Still not convinced by Mangala or Otamendi and if they are going to dent the latter stages of the Champions League too, I honestly believe one more great defensive midfielder is needed.

CENTRAL DEFENDER/HOLDING MIDFIELDER

4. Tottenham
Simple this one, you don’t win a league with one striker and believe me the way Spurs are playing they are in the title shake up as we speak. So go and get a striker to support Kane as it would be a huge shame if they got to April then lost him to injury or poor form.

A line leader for me, and again, I wonder if Benteke may be being touted around potential buyers already.

STRIKER

5. Man United
Not straightforward at all as I wonder whether the United board will think twice about giving LVG a big one again which would limit his scope and budget in the market. Having said that, goals have been hard to come by so maybe a loan move for the rest of the season a la Falcao. But hungrier and fitter. Vardy anyone?

STRIKER

6. West Ham
The Hammers have enough goal power in their locker with plenty of creativity so there’s not too much of a worry on that front. They have good options. For where the Hammers want to be (Europa League at best) I think they have all the bases covered. It’s getting players back fit and firing rather than more in the dressing room!

NOBODY

7. Crystal Palace
I think Palace’s recent form without Bolasie and Cabaye shows that if they are going to get into Europe, they must have players to come in and replicate the form of those 2 guys when they are absent.

Against Chelsea there wasn’t the guile of a Cabaye or the directness of a Bolasie, so I’d certainly be looking at trading in one, maybe two of their current strikers for 1 very good one. Maybe Gayle/Campbell out and Charlie Austin in?

STRIKER

8. Liverpool
Where to begin? Jurgen Klopp in his 7 seasons at Dortmund was talked of as a motivator, bargain finder and Gegenpresser but one word always seems to be missing. Ruthless.

He turned over players in a way Barry Fry would have been proud of and Liverpool need the same.

There’s too many average players, too many from different managers.

This window we may see only 1 or 2 in and nobody out, but mark my words, in May it will be a bloodbath!

EVERY POSITION

9. Watford
I’ve enjoyed watching Watford this season. Aggressive, great team ethic, disciplined and a very good shape. I thought they’d struggle so I’m delighted to be wrong. Like West Ham they have bought enough bodies into the club last summer, so it will be giving either Capoue or Watson a rest at some point with Behrami to come in and play his part.

NOBODY

10. Stoke
Pound for pound you’d be hard pushed to find a manager who’s done as well as Sparky in the last 18 months.

Changing a style and tempting premium talent to Stoke isn’t easy, regardless of the money Premier League clubs have, but I have to say he’s knitted the old Stoke with Shaquiri and co. very well indeed.

I thought they missed a link man (N’Zonzi left of course) between a well-marshalled rear guard and exciting attack, and that may well be the case. A Kouyate type player with a great engine who breaks play up and gives it to the undoubted talent up top.

MIDFIELD ATHLETE

11. Everton
Simple. A central defender and a Goalkeeper. Funes Mori and Stones have shown signs of a potential partnership but with the goals the Toffees are scoring I think they should be in the market for a proven stopper, maybe to entice Stones to stay beyond this season.

Tim Howard isn’t getting any younger and he at least needs a challenger ready and waiting to take his position, which looks sooner than later.

CENTRAL DEFENDER/GOALKEEPER

12. West Bromwich Albion
Tony Pulis keeps teams up. Usually with 4 central defenders across the backline, so I have no worries at all about the Baggies getting relegated.

However, with uncertainty over Berahino and several names from the Yo-Yo teams of yesteryear still in the Albion squad, I do believe that a consistent attacking midfielder of quality is needed. Rondon and Lambert will both score goals with service but Sessegnon is too hit and miss, so a player with pace, who can skip past defensive midfielders for the Baggies is a must.

ATTACKING/CREATIVE MID

13. Southampton
I worry for The Saints. Mane late, results hit and miss and one wonders whether agents are in players’ ears; the big boys are circling. So the immediate action is to keep their best players until summer. I’d be inclined to cash in on Mane to keep the rest at the club in the short term and get injured players back. Good overall squad.

SELL MANE/NO INCOMING.

14. Chelsea
Much better against Palace, Mikel and Fabregas looked a real partnership, Costa looked up for it, the only real negative was Hazard and that for me is where the transfer activity needs to be around. Sell him to Madrid and reinvest the money in not one but two strikers. They are ok for attacking midfielders but not in striking numbers or quality so sell Hazard for 60 million and get 2 in.

2 STRIKERS

15. Norwich
Goals pay the bills! Alex Neil has built a hard working side very much in his own tenacious image who will fight to the death but now they have crossed the 20 point mark, the Canaries need to stop looking over their shoulder and move forward.

They haven’t had a good solid striker since Grant Holt so they need to finally source one.

Pay the money and give good, honest wide men and attacking midfielders something to aim for. I’d test WBA’s resolve for Berahino, his stock has fallen since Spurs went sniffing around and in my opinion Spurs should be setting their sights higher, so go on Norwich, aim high!

BERAHINO/STRIKER

16. Bournemouth
The signing of Iturbe from Roma shows a real intention on the part of the club and manager to not only keep the Cherries in the league but to do it with the attacking style that saw them so exciting in the Championship and for much of this season.

It’s hard to look at potential players that Eddie Howe might want, as I’m sure he doesn’t want to upset a very hardworking and honest dressing room whilst looking for quality additions. From what I’ve seen of Bournemouth they are fine as they are.

NOTHING

17. Swansea
I tipped Swansea for 6th this season and I’m still struggling to find where it went wrong. A club man in Monk, a stable board, a good squad and fairly recent signings who should have added quality to the Jacks.

Can’t help but feel the backline needs an upgrade in line with the potential brought in attacking positions. Rangel, Williams and Taylor (with the last two massively emotionally involved in the Wales Euro campaign) along with Leon Britton have been at the club a long time now and I think that it’s time to usher in a new back 4 to build from.

RB/LB/CENTRAL DEFENDER

18. Newcastle
Mike Ashley said things would change, things would get better and trophies would keep him interested. Yet the problems remain the same. Too many average players feel the weight of the black and white too much, too little inconsistency too much of the time.

If Ashley is serious, he’d do what his predecessor did and bring a magical signing to the Toon.

A Ginola, a Shearer, someone to hero-worship, someone to get the Geordies off their feet. Because if you do that, the crowd, so important in Newcastle, roar you home rather than get on your back.

Start with one marquee signing, then build a team. No one fits that bill at the moment but sometimes, just sometimes, you have to chime with the culture of a club. And for Newcastle, from Wor Jackie to Keegan to Shearer, they love a hero. So give them one!

Break the bank for Chicharito or Benteke.

19. Sunderland
Simple one this. Maybe not in this window but if Sam is staying longer than a year then a woeful back 4 has to be dismantled for younger, fitter versions. They’ve danced with danger with some of the worst defensive performances in the league in the last 2 years, only surpassed recently by Villa. So 2 new central defenders and 2 new fullbacks for me. The rest Sam can work with.

NEW BACK 4.

20. Aston Villa
I could go on a rant but I won’t, it’s simple. Too many over-the-hill experienced players, too many sub-standard rookies.

I’d keep Grealish as he does have genuine promise, Ayew has been ok, Gil maybe if he bulks up could cope with more than cameo roles and Amavi as a squad player when fit. The rest, put up for sale. An overhaul of huge proportions to give Villa a chance in the Championship, never mind the Premier League.

EVERY POSITION UP FOR GRABS.