Which EPL club needs the strongest January transfer window?
Several squads could use some help, but these five would benefit the most from adding a big name.
With several clubs in the Premier League struggling with injuries and others far from where they should be in the league table, many clubs are plotting major moves with the transfer window having finally opened.
However, the question is: what club is most in need of signing big names in order to get their season back on track?
Newcastle
After struggling for the majority of the season and sitting in the relegation zone, Steve McClaren’s side is in desperate need of strengthening their back line and signing a prolific forward. The Magpies have conceded 34 goals this season while only scoring 19. Youth and inexperience of both Mitrovic and Ayoze Perez, who are 21 and 22-years-old respectively, has failed to produce enough goals to keep their side out of the bottom three. With Steven Taylor and Massadio Haïdara both out with injuries as well as multiple other players, Newcastle also needs to reinforce their defense. Given their place in the table, it will be tough to draw a prolific enough striker to rescue them on a permanent deal, but they should look to sign a big name on loan. A young quality defender would help strengthen McClaren’s lineup and may be a signing the Magpies can afford.
Aston Villa
Another team battling relegation, Aston Villa still has not recuperated from the loss of Christian Benteke to Liverpool in the summer transfer window. Villa needs to search for a striker to replace the Belgian international, who contributed 42 goals in his time at Villa Park. With the money received from the sale of Benteke, Villa should have some funds left to sign a goal poaching striker similar to the one they lost. One quality option for the Villains would be Loic Remy who is in search of more regular first-team football as the 2016 Euro Cup is quickly approaching.
Manchester United
Inexperience has been the major issue for the Red Devils front line under Louis van Gaal. The Manchester side has been very average this campaign, boasting a goal differential of only seven in the first half of the season. While LvG’s side has some of the top young attacking talents with both Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial near the beginning of their careers, a more experienced goal scorer is still needed. Rumors have been circulating about the possibility of Neymar, Bale or Ronaldo joining the Red Devils but all of these are audacious moves that seem unlikely. Despite being only three points out of the top four in the Premier League, Man U will need to definitely add production up top if they hope to make a Champions Leauge spot next season.
Liverpool
Another team plagued in goal production is Liverpool. The Reds have had almost all of their options at striker injured at some point during the season with Danny Ings suffering a long term injury and Daniel Sturridge’s health being unreliable. The Merseyside club will hope that the prowess of Jurgen Klopp as a manager will be able to help them draw a top quality striker. One player the team has been linked to is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who worked under Klopp at Dortmund. Liverpool also desperately need to sign reinforcements in the center of midfield. Extensive injuries have caused the Anfield side to have very few options on the bench, as well as a lack of options in weeks where the club has more than one match. Klopp is nearing the signature of Marko Grujic, but the 18-year-old will likely not be enough to fill the midfield void by himself.
Chelsea
Despite the extensive problems by the four teams mentioned above, Chelsea has definitely had the biggest problems in the first half of the season. The Blues, who won the league last season, currently sit in 14th and have allowed 29 goals in only 20 matches. While many people are claiming that Chelsea should sign a high-quality attacker to score more goals, strengthening the defense should be the top priority for the London club. With Branislav Ivanovic not having signed a new contract yet and other issues at the back, a quality right back would be extremely beneficial to Chelsea. By signing a right back, the Stamford Bridge club would take pressure off their entire back line and would also alleviate some of the strain put on Thibaut Courtois and Asmir Begovic.
