Opinion: One position every Premier League club needs to bring in this week

 

The January transfer window slams shut in one week.

Some clubs would be happy with the squads they have, some will be desperate to bring players in through the door. Every club could do with strengthening in at least one position, so let’s take a look at one position that every club should address over the next week. 

 

AFC Bournemouth – Winger

Andoni Iraola would have expected more from his team than 15^th at this stage of the season, and a lot of their success was due to Antoine Semenyo, who joined Manchester City at the start of the month. Given that they are also having to contend with injuries to Marcus Tavernier, Justin Kluivert, Enes Unal and Ben Gannon-Doak, Bournemouth desperately need attacking reinforcements this transfer window.

 

Arsenal – Central midfielder

To be honest, Arsenal have nearly the perfect squad at the moment, which is evident by the fact that they sit top of the table in January, having lost just twice in the league all season. In truth, they don’t need to strengthen at all, and have no notable injuries affecting them.

If I had to choose a position, maybe a more creative central midfielder to sit alongside Declan Rice, to receive the ball and ping passes to the front line, as a backup to Martin Odegaard. The Gunners have a lot of ball-winners in the squad, with the likes of Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, but could maybe do with another playmaker, should Odegaard pick up an injury.

 

Aston Villa – Striker

They seem to be on the brink of signing Tammy Abraham from Roma, which comes just at the right time, given that, since selling Donyell Malen last week, Aston Villa had just one recognised striker in their squad, in Ollie Watkins.

Given that Watkins has seven Premier League goals this season, less than was expected of him, the signing of Abraham will provide competition for him and will hopefully bring more goals for Villa, in an area that needs to provide given Unai Emery’s tactic. Even though Villa sit third in the table, there is still room for improvement in the Number 9 position.

 

Brentford – Attacking midfielder

Except for Fabio Carvalho’s season-ending injury, Brentford have nearly a clean bill of health at the time of writing, having defied expectations under Keith Andrews this season, sitting 7^th in the table.

They could do with some reinforcements in attacking areas to ease the pressure on Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago, Brentford’s star men who have 26 goal contributions between them in the league this season, and bring someone in who can play either in the Number 10 role or out on the wing – a direct replacement for Carvalho, if you like.

 

Brighton – Striker

Brighton’s only recognised, fit number 9 at the moment is Danny Welbeck. At 35, he seems to be reaching the peak of his career later than expected having scored 20 goals in the last 18 months for Brighton and is a strong starting striker option for Fabian Hurzeler.

But he does need some competition. The only other number 9 at the club is Stefanos Tzimas, but the Greek striker is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury. Brighton fixed their central midfield problems with the return of Pascal Gross, but need to open their wallets again to provide competition for Welbeck.

 

Burnley – Central midfielder

Burnley have a lot of squad depth at the club, but a lack of quality is evident, and will be exposed even more if they have a poor second half of the season. Given that they have lost captain Josh Cullen to a season-ending injury, and now have just three central midfielders, they could do a lot worse than bringing one in over the next seven days.

 

Chelsea – Central midfielder

The Blues have such a large squad that it was near-on impossible to pick out a position they need reinforcing. But given the long-term injuries to Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia, the central midfield position could be worth looking at for Liam Rosenior’s side.

Rosenior tends to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, with two central midfielders and a number 10, so if Chelsea were to add to their already overlarge squad, it would be worth going in for a central midfielder.

 

Crystal Palace – Centre back

The Eagles are in freefall at the moment, without a league win since the first week of December, and are enduring a tough hangover season following that glorious FA Cup win in May. They have just sold their captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City, leaving them with two senior centre-backs, so without strengthening in the heart of their defence, Palace could be in real trouble in the second half of the season under outgoing boss Oliver Glasner.

 

 

 

 

Everton – Winger/Number 10

Jack Grealish’s injury will hinder Everton in the second half of this season, so it would help David Moyes to go into the market for someone of a similar ilk to the Englishman. Whether it is a short-term loan with the potential to go into the market for a more permanent replacement in the summer, or a January transfer with a fee paid, The Toffees would struggle without signing a proper replacement this week.

 

Fulham – Centre back

Fulham have had a solid season so far, sitting 11^th in the table, but Marco Silva should sign a defensive reinforcement this week. Given his three at the back system, Fulham should have more than four senior centre-backs in the squad. What happens if Calvin Bassey or Joachim Andersen suffer an injury?

 

Leeds United – Left back

Daniel Farke has every right to be happy with his squad as it stands and there is no real glaring positional weakness. Everyone has done their job this season, and The Whites deserve to be sitting a fairly comfortable eight points above the drop zone.

Looking at their squad, Gabriel Gudmundsson is the only player who is a natural left-back, though James Justin is accomplished in the role but prefers the opposite side, so if Farke were to strengthen further, left-back could be the way to go.

 

Liverpool – Full back

It has been a tough second season in charge for Arne Slot at defending champions Liverpool, and a lot has been made about the inconsistencies of Liverpool’s full backs – Jeremie Frimpong on the right, who seems to have settled in a little more in recent weeks, and Milos Kerkez on the left, who is already being written off as a poor signing since arriving from Bournemouth.

Given Conor Bradley’s season-ending injury he suffered against Arsenal two weeks ago, Slot should be looking at a full-back to bolster the ranks at Anfield, maybe one who can play on both sides of the defence.

 

Manchester City – Right-back

The toughest choice on the list. City’s squad is ridiculously well-balanced in every position, with quality depth all over the pitch. If I had to pick a position for Pep Guardiola to strengthen (it would have been easier to decide before the signings of Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo), maybe right-back.

Given that Mateus Nunes, usually a central midfielder, has been appearing at right-back in recent weeks – and excelling in the position – maybe Guardiola could sign an out-and-out number 2, which hasn’t happened since the departure of Kyle Walker, but, given Guardiola’s tactical flexibility, that right-back could be playing in central midfield in the near future.

 

Manchester United – Left-back

United look to have solved their perennial goalkeeper problem with the signing of Senne Lammens which makes this choice more difficult than it might have been six months ago. Given recently-departed manager Ruben Amorim’s preference to play a formation with three centre-backs, it has left the Red Devils, and Michael Carrick, a bit light in full-back areas.

Luke Shaw is the only out-and-out left back, though there is not as much of an issue at right-back with Noussair Mazraoui and Tyrell Malacia, so, for the fourth team in a row, I am choosing a full-back.

 

Newcastle United – Defender

Make that five.

Newcastle’s main problem at the moment is their defence, with the likes of Emil Krafth, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles all on the sidelines, and Dan Burn only just back from a month-long layoff. The Trippier-Botman-Thiaw-Hall back four is solid, but they will be in big trouble if one of those players suffers an injury. A defender is a must in this window for Eddie Howe, be that a centre-back or a full-back.

 

Nottingham Forest – Winger

I could have easily chosen full-back for Forest as well. In recent weeks, Sean Dyche has been deploying Ola Aina and Neco Williams at the side of his defence but with few natural replacements should either pick up an injury.

Dyche should be looking on the wing for reinforcements, however (Dwight McNeil, anyone?) They have lacked ‘game changers’ this season and sit just above the drop zone, in need of someone to take the game by the scruff of its neck and produce a moment of magic.

 

Sunderland – Winger

The Black Cats’ return to the top flight has exceeded the expectations of even the most die-hard Mackems. Sitting comfortably in the top half of the table, and with a realistic shout of European football next season, massive credit must go to Regis Le Bris and his overhaul of the squad in the summer. I might as well spin a wheel to decide what position Sunderland need to strengthen in this week.

Maybe a winger – Romaine Mundle has not really hit the ground running in the Premier League, having played quite a lot of football recently. Sunderland will most likely need a game-changing winger or attacking midfielder if they qualify for Europe, so why not try and get one in now to help push for the top 6?

 

Tottenham Hotspur – Attacking midfielder

Where do you start with Tottenham? Their goalkeeper has an uncertain future at the club, their defenders cannot seem to click when playing together, the midfield is devoid of creativity and they have never really replaced Harry Kane up front.

A massive problem at Spurs has been the lack of creativity from midfield, especially since James Maddison picked up his significant injury. The recent signing of Conor Gallagher does not look to have solved that problem, and if Thomas Frank wants to increase his chances of keeping his job in N17, he needs a player of a similar ilk to Maddison.

 

West Ham United – Left-back

Oh look, another full-back.

This has been Ollie Scarles’ breakout year as a senior player at West Ham. He is highly rated, but he is also playing in a team that could easily be relegated in May. Nuno could do with a bit of experience at left back to rotate with Scarles, maybe someone who can play at centre-back as well, given West Ham’s centre backs’ tendencies to make errors.

 

Wolves – Striker

Can I say “everywhere”?

Wolves look doomed – 14 points adrift of safety despite some good results in recent weeks. They are, by some distance, the division’s lowest scorers – Tolu Arokodare has just one goal since arriving at Wolves, Jorgen Strand Larsen is misfiring and Hwang Hee-chan has never fully recovered from his significant injury picked up last year. Rob Edwards needs to go for broke to find someone who is going to score goals for him, in a last-ditch attempt to achieve the impossible, and keep Wolves in the Premier League.