and the transfer needs for the Premier League specifically
the top six teams may not be in January. But over the next few
Windows the summer perhaps
what do these big boys need? What kind of key additions they
need to make to improve their squads and take themselves to
the next level over a pro soccer talk. I put up
a transfer needs for all 20 Premier League clubs
in January to hear Mark who needs who needs what in
the transfer window, who needs to make key signings and key
areas.
So, let's run through the top six
right now between us
and see who should go after certain players,
and what positions they really need strengthening. So
Nick, I'm going to start with you Manchester City.
I said, Central Striker is probably the only real area
where they need to strengthen. Do you agree with that? And any
names pop out of the page to?
That's the only. Yeah,
and it's erling Harland and he opened the door this weekend
and it's
for lack of a better term, Borussia Dortmund. Fault, they
apparently have been pressuring him,
he has and I want to give him full credit for this. He could
have been hinting at where he wants to be in talking about
the release clause for quite some time, but he hasn't, he's
left it out there so he could focus on Dortmund. So he could
be the guy who is faithful to his club
and they pressured him enough that he's saying, listen, if
we're gonna do this, we have to talk about it now. And so
man city just brought in a boatload of money for fair and
Torres if they apply that towards what they They were
going to pay for a striker and their family connections here.
I think they could bring him in. There are some questions
about fit Andy and I think specifically has talked about
this,
but I also believe that we have seen Pep Guardiola
work any number of stylistic players
into his system and I don't think he would waste a player
like, Merlin Holland. So
I'm gonna stick here and say that yes, Central Striker is
there need if they're need if available is One of the very,
very, very best. We've seen in the last 20 years.
Totally agree with that. I think
even watching their win against Chelsea at the weekend. The
amount of balls that were whipped into the box, around
the six-yard box and nobody was there to finish it off of me.
It's easy to say our Ascent. Forward would have finished
that off
but sometimes maybe their system doesn't work as well
with one static slightly static forward. It's interesting,
right? It's almost like a luxury signing at this point
because they're winning trophies win in the league
without a central strike all recognize. Central strike. And
maybe that's just the way they play. Maybe they don't need
that. Maybe they can just add another couple of attacking
midfielders. So, yeah, really interesting to see what man
city does and
I think everland Holland. Doesn't join them, then,
killing them back. They would make sense. You can play them
all positions across the the forward line.
But yeah, it's going to be really interesting to see what
man see you do with obvious money that they have to spend
on a new forward player
and he ever words going to come to you, Liverpool. I went for
a striker again, but I feel like they have another big area
where they need to strengthen.
Have a go. What the Liverpool need in the upcoming transfer
Windows.
Yeah, I don't think it's Striker.
They have the three and four really went, for me, know, is
healthy kind of underneath secondary attacking players who
are very goal. Minded. They score goals. They don't just
set up goals. For whoever's, playing up top. They are
very, very modern type
of
slightly narrower Wingers. If you will kind of secondary for
words, like I said, so I think they can get all the goals that
they need. Once they get some Allah and mate back from Africa
Cup of Nations. Think they're fine on that into the field. It
really is Central Midfield to me
where they're very thin for be no. Been very, very good.
The last handful of Seasons, Jordan Henderson, obviously
the same. He's getting on just a little bit in his career.
Curtiss Jones has developed nicely and come along, but I'm
not seeing a ton of depth in their Nabi. Kata has just not
turned into the player that
they thought that he would when he was signed.
And so, they are one or two injuries away
as they have been in past seasons and even this season as well.
All from being really short-handed in the middle of
the field and I don't think that's going to mean them
falling out of the top four race this season,
but I do look forward to next season and beyond that, and say
that's an area. They absolutely have to strengthen because
fabinho
approaching 30 here, fairly slowly Jordan Henderson on
the wrong side of 30. So I just think they need to make over
that area the field.
And there's so that the great thing is there's so many good
players that fit the way that Liverpool want to play now
because the pressing system is such a popular thing all
around. Europe, there's a lot of players that are working on
it every single
day, every single week, every single game
and very, very good at so, they'll have their pick of
a lot of really talented players. Obviously, they've got
the money to do it and then you're going clop, probably come back
next season with an even better team and hopefully give
Manchester City a real real challenge for the title.
Yeah. How to agree, with
disagree, with that. I always say, agreeable, your analysis
and the
central Midfield. Yeah, that is a really good one because
I said, a few of the players are Henderson Milner for They're
all getting towards the end of their careers
and you need clop system more robust Central midfielders who
may not be the flashiest,
but they can get about the pitch. They can really get in
players faces and then Henderson's Court obviously is
quality on the ball. He can really pick a passes out and
knit
Midfield and attack together.
I'm looking at someone there's a few Central midfielders
linked with Liverpool and others. Your ETA elements who
I know is a favor of the show
James Wolpert house. I hate to say it. As someone from
Southampton, but would be a very good Henderson replacement
long-term, potentially
and John McCain, is another name that we're going to talk
about bit further down this list, but there are some really
good
Central midfielders who might be available, might not be will
cost a lot. But I feel like a lot of these big teams now have
very similar needs when it comes to the transfer market.
Nick. Let's move on to Chelsea. I think their key need
at least in January is a left-wing back, but do you see
any other? Needs for them coming up. I'm looking at
potentially the contractual situations they have there is
a few gaps opening up and Thomas who called Squad at the moment
as a nurse. So they're going to be busy in
January. And in the summer.
There are there are gaps. I'm, I'm looking at them as someone
who needs to find a way to in. This is the
most easier said than done thing that you can possibly say,
find another or your next
Cesar hospital quetta
because he has been there forever. He has been good for ever.
I'm managers have moved him out of the side and they've almost
been forced to put them back in.
I feel like he might be, since I've been watching every week
for work, every year as many games as I can. He might be
the most underrated player
in the league or underappreciated. I should say
player in the league. So, yeah. Finding
those next Mainstays. Those guys who can plug and play and
have that versatility on that side of the pitch. Nothing
against a bench. Oh, well, or a reach James, who are, who are
very, very talented players.
I look at Elsie and I wonder I have a hard time projecting.
I don't mean to take this in the wrong direction, but I have
a hard time projecting what they should do? Because of what
they've done
at manager over the last five years
because there seemed to even be some cracks in the way took
those talking. We know he's overly honest. So maybe there's
nothing to that. But
I'm starting to think here's a team with
three of the best Central midfielders in the world,
in Conte. Georgie. No.
And, and metelkova church. And
I'm looking at all the attackers they have and
is this a team that really needs to be playing that
formation is so I want to know. Are we ever going to have
a long-term system there because it does seem like that maybe
more than Personnel is what's stopping them
from taking the next step.
So I have a hard time saying they need anything other than
a player who is versatile and can be there for 10 years.
That yeah. That's a good point. I mean, the way that he plays
with the system. The wing-backs has sent a box. Lot of those
players can interchange. Which
I am looking at the center back situation and particular.
I just think with rudiger
as bellaqua Christensen all out a contract and you know,
varying degrees of likeliness that they'll stay. It seems
rudiger and
especially Christian sort of really stalling on this new deal
and might have to look at bringing in
a couple of new centre-backs. Maybe in the summer
months, those situations do or do not get resolved
and left back is a
big issue. Marcus. Alonso is obviously holding down the fort
while chill. Sells out, may be a short-term solution there.
But yeah, Chelsea got so many good players. I think, like you
said, the best thing is working out system and Partnerships and
combinations for how to get the best out of them as a team.
Because we've seen that as an attacking unit. They have
struggled to do that in recent months
on the Thomas to court. Okay, let's focus on Arsenal.
Think we all know where they need to strengthen, right? Central
Striker position,
obviously dusan mihajlovic for Fiorentina has been linked time
and time again with them with lat.
That and then qetsiyah out contractor, bam, Yang
seemingly out of favorite Arsenal. It's a huge area
where they need to improve Andy, any other areas of
improvement for Arsenal and areas that they need new
additions, either this January because it's tough to do deals
in January. So a lot of clubs now lining up deals for
the summer, right? And
think one player we mentioned earlier, might be key for
Arsenal, moving forward, if they can get it.
Yeah, it's they're in a tough situation because in January,
especially they don't know if they're gonna have Champions
League next season. And I think philosophy H. That's probably
going to be a stipulation for wherever he ends up signing. He
is of the quality
he needs to make the jump into the champions league right now
are some haven't been there in five years as we talked about
the last couple weeks. And so I think they're going to have to
wait until the summer probably if they want him now they can
go for another
option. In January.
Maybe somebody a little bit cheaper, a little more of
a short-term option or someone that they feel can. Of them
8090 percent of the production of him
at a fraction of the cost and they can get them in a little
bit sooner. I just think that he's going to be patient. He
should be patient at least and wait and see. Okay.
What is the landscape next season? Because that's going to
be very, very important for, you know, setting up the rest
of his career and if they're not in Champions League,
I think they're probably out. So maybe it's maybe it comes down
to Simply as whoever finishes fourth in the Premier League,
gets that final Champions League place
and of has the inside track to getting blachowicz
and Maybe
to tie it back to something that Nick said earlier. I kind
of like the fit of him at Manchester City, a littler lot,
better
than Holland, just because he's more of a holdup play. He's
more involved in the linking and the creating going on and
a little bit. Less kind of straight line running towards
goal to get on the end of chances. And I know I don't
have made it work with Samuel Eto'o long, long time ago.
But Holland is another caliber of that just, you know,
completely different level. So maybe while who bitch fits
their a little bit if Arsenal or not able Get into the top
four, and they have to kind of bow out of the race to sign him
icon. The thing that needs to strengthen his son from a field
as well. That's kind of what was hinted at their of another
player. We mentioned, your ET, Le Mans alongside Thomas party,
a vast look at that deal, done with his contract, running down
at Leicester live, just over
12 months left at the end of the season. So
that's very doable. I think from a financial perspective
whether or not Arsenal, do get into the champions league and
Petit Le Mans. Are you need to go somewhere where he's going
to be the main man, and you could dictate the tempo. Of
the game, like he does for Lester,
obviously great box to box by and if you know, you got Thomas
parte within the ball. Give it to T elements and he's feeding
sacca Smith from Martinelli and whichever strike an image to
bring in.
That's great. I mean, that's a really
almost arteta risk. The kind of player. He is and calm on
the ball and it's everything together very nicely. And
I think if he went to Liverpool Man City, he'd maybe get lost
in the squad a little bit to you lemons. You'll see a very,
very good player,
but he has a lot of very
good players around.
Him who may be in struggle to dictate the game as much as you
would like, but I think if you went to Arsenal, he really
would be given the keys to that Midfield.
And I'd love to see that. Personally. We're all huge two
elements fans. Of course, talk about Central Midfield, Nick
Mandola, Manchester United. That's an area. We've known
they've needed to strengthen for a very long time.
Obviously, Paul Papa's out a contract in the summer. They're
looking already. Looks like Replacements. John begins names
been mentioned as a potential replacement Darren Fletcher
the technical director apparently really loves his fellow.
So countrymen, in that role. Aston Villa,
do you think that's
a good fit for United is mcginn? Good enough to have
a big impact Old Trafford. And
where else do you think they need to strengthen under Ralph
rag? Nick's, I guess I was gonna say tutelage, but
his consultancy is, what are we doing? At the end of this
season, right? When he moves into the director's room
upstairs and has a little word in whoever comes in as manager
in their ear. So, you know what may be strengthened in this
area
and then John mcginn could work. They're not as a
As a focal point obviously. And
perhaps not, what I would suggest because Central
Midfield is the need. But I'll tell you what, I like about
John McCain. When you watch Aston Villa, is he does seem
kind of fit for that. Sort of support all action role. He
pops up like, three times a game at three times a game, you
say to yourself.
Oh, yeah, John begins on Villa.
It's, these are these three moments where he cuts in. He
makes a late run into the box to get a good chance, sir. He
takes an audacious shot or he makes a massive tackle
times those out. Well,
so, I really do like him as a player for me.
We though it's about look, if Paul Pogba was going to leave
and it seems like that is more likely than not.
How do you fit the bill there? Because you have Bruno
Fernandez who can do a lot of what Paul Pogba does in
the final third, you will in theory have a defensive midfielder who
could take care of that and it's got Mike Tomlin a
to me as interesting as we as we evaluate
what is going to be the future that Midfield. I think you
could see
a situation where it's completely reorganized. Need
their Wilfred indeedy. Everybody needs a Conte. So I'm
taking a step slightly down. Sorry, Lester fans,
but they need their Wilfred indeed
and I know Fred tries to fill that role and Fred is probably
better than most people think, because he's become a little
bit of a little ostracize there, but find me that guy and
then fullbacks as well as interesting to me. I don't know
that they necessarily need
one.
But as rang Nick evaluates them, we've seen him often. Go
to de lo
he likes. Alex tell as wamba Socastee. Oh, they're Shaw's
still there. What is the future there? Because I think all four
of those guys can play.
It's just a matter of who's the right fit for what United wants
to do
exactly that. I think in this full 222 system on the rang and
need to get some balance. Is that the way they're going to
go forward? What kind of midfielder they need. There's
a lot of big questions there because defensively
some decent defensive midfielders, but all very
similar I feel and they do need to freshen up there with Matic
Fred
and make tahminae and they need if papa is going to leave like
He think he is. They need that number eight that bit more
Dynamic Central midfielder who can burst from the field and
really link me film. The tack, it sounds easy to say but it's
very difficult to do
and very few players, do it. Well consistently
gaming game out and that's what United for me are really
missing. Especially in recent weeks. We've seen their forward
line, just almost stood 30 yards up the pitch, from
the rest of the team. And not a lot is happening in between that.
And the Tottenham Hotspur feel like they need that kind of
midfielder as well. And number number eight, all action, we've
spoken about that, maybe a sent the back as well. That's
the biggest transfer need to focus on for Antonio Conte over
the next couple of transfer Windows.
Yeah, it should be really easy. And I can be short with this
one. I think. Spurs, defense is actually quite good under
Conte. He has in defending. Well, and, and having the extra
body back there. It has been really advantageous for them.
I think the attack, the players, the trio that they've got up
top with Kane and son
and Lucas Maura.
I think that's also really good and they have history working
together. Thing right in the middle that connects those two.
That is one holding back
each one of those things, but I think also making life harder
on the other. They're unable to progress the ball after they
win it and get it to that forward line which then puts
pressure and and counter attacking chances on the defense.
And then the defense is under a little bit of pressure and then
they're not able to feed the forward line. So it's just
a repetitive cycle of supposed to be and on belay. It was
supposed to be able to sell. So
it's neither of those guys. They can both move on either in
January in the summer. Get in. Whoever is going to be
the right player for Conte. And I think he needs to have
significant say on who it's going to be and I think he
will.
And then finally maybe finally
everybody at. Spurs can start pulling in the same direction
Weston McKinney has been linked Tom. And Tom again would tell
him I mean, that would be a really good fit
for the US Men's National Team for him. And for Tottenham
I think for what they're looking for. Flexible all action
midfielder.
Let's see if that happens.
But it's been really fun to do this. And I've the transfer
needs post up on pro soccer, talking embassies. Of the cam
you can go and check that out for all 20 teams what they need
in January. I'll be updating it throughout the month
and it is fun to see
because a lot of teams need very similar players
and there's only so many quality players that
are around to take them to the next level and take them to
where they want to go to.