Guide To The January Transfer Window: What Does Arsenal, Manchester United And Other Clubs Need?

It’s cold, wet and there isn’t that much to look forward to.
January’s pretty rubbish, isn’t it? The fantastic schedule of
festive football is also behind us, but there is one thing to
cheer us fans – the January Transfer Window.
The biggest deals in football may be done and dusted during
the summer, but this mid-season cash splurge gives clubs the
chance to potentially shape the rest of the campaign, rescuing
plummets towards relegation or solidifying a title push.
With the help of UT Coin Traders, we’ve taken a look at all 20




Premier League clubs to work out what they need – and what
they’ll probably end up with.
Arsenal
Oh Arsenal, how often we have been here before.
Winning the FA Cup last May and overcoming Manchester City
in the Community Shield had suggested that Arsenal may
finally be ready to become serious title contenders once again,
while the marquee signing of Alexis Sanchez for around £35
million from Barcelona had appeared to be Arsene Wenger
laying down a marker.
Four defeats and five draws from their opening 16 games
however has put paid to any ideas of winning the title
however, and the abuse Wenger suffered at a Stoke train
station signalled a nadir for the Gunners’ beleaguered
manager.
What they need:
Once again it is the midfield and defence that is pointed out
as weak points in the Arsenal squad. Wenger’s decision to
only bring in only two defenders (one of which was the
inexperienced Calum Chambers) while Vermaelen, Djourou
and Sagna went the other way appears to have been a
mistake, and once again they failed to recruit a tough-
tackling centre-midfielder.
Real Madrid playmaker Sami Khedira and Barcelona enforcer
Sergio Busquets are two additions that would add a much
needed element of steel into the Arsenal midfield, with the
former possibly available at a cut price £11m with his
contract expiring at the end of the season. The Gunners were
linked strongly with the Madrid man last summer, however
Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho – linked previously with
Manchester United - would make a fine alternative, if a little
more expensive.
F.C. Basel’s young defender Fabian Schar would be ideal for
the centre of their defence, having shone for the Swiss
champions this season as well as being Wenger’s kind of
player.
Also linked with:
Andy Robertson (Hull City, £12m); Joao Moutinho (AS
Monaco, £30m); Adrien Rabiot (Paris-Saint Germain, £9m);
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona); Gabriel Barbosa (Santos, £24m)
; Julian Draxler (Schalke 04, £37m)
Possible Outgoings:
Tomas Rosicky -> Olympiakos
Aston Villa
After a 1-0 win at Anfield left Aston Villa with 10 points from
their opening 4 games, Paul Lambert and his new assistant
Roy Keane had appeared to lead the West Midland’s club to
significant improvement since last season’s relegation battle.
Unfortunately the devilishly hard run of fixtures which saw
them play Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton
back-to-back – picking up 0 points on the way – derailed
their form and left them once again scrapping in the wrong
half of the table.
What they need:
They are somewhat short on out and out strikers with the
continuing injury to Libor Kozak, with the Villains relying
heavily on Christian Benteke. The Czech international should
be back in the New Year however, and they’re unlikely to do
much business unless they lose any key players, although
Paul Lambert ruled out selling Benteke.
The permanent signing of Tom Cleverly from Manchester
United has been suggested however.
Also linked with:
Giampaolo Pazzini (AC Milan)
Possible Outgoings:
Ron Vlaar -> Manchester United
Fabian Delph -> Liverpool
Burnley
Newly-promoted Burnley’s start to the season appeared to
suggest that a long and difficult season was ahead for the
Lancashire side, however 11 points from a possible 15 across
November and December has given them a much needed
boost, inside the bottom three but in touching distance of the
teams above them.
The most important thing for Sean Dyche this January is
holding on