Premier League January needs - Part Two

Posted Friday, December 24, 2010 by Teamtalk.com

Pennant, Dzeko & Beckham: January movers?

TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes looks at the January needs of the remaining Premier League clubs following Part One of our review on Tuesday.

Manchester City: City have come in for a fair bit of stick after missing the chance to go top on Monday night, but they could have beat Everton by a cricket score in truth.

The problem was their finishing in front of goal and that's what Roberto Mancini needs to address in January.

Carlos Tevez chips in with his fair share of goals but he's a link man and simply isn't clinical enough. City need someone to get on the end of crosses and poach a few tap-ins, and the obvious answer is Edin Dzeko.

Mancini will need a few more players in the long run, but nabbing Dzeko in January would give the Blues a real chance of fighting for the title this season. Whether they can prize him from Wolfsburg remains to be seen.

Manchester United: Anders Lindegaard will complete his move to the club come January 1 but it's unlikely Sir Alex Ferguson will spend any more money.

However, the Scot will not have forgotten the contribution Henrik Larrson made on loan in 2007 and that might just have him considering a reunion with David Beckham. His return to Old Trafford would split opinion, but it could hardly harm United to take a player that loves the club and would happily play whenever and wherever the manager wanted.

Newcastle United: Alan Pardew says he is happy with his first XI but it would make sense for the new Toon chief to add a bit of competition, just in case.

Patrick van Aanholt would be a popular signing to cover Jose Enrique and a nippy striker to play off Andy Carroll wouldn't go amiss either. Defensive cover may also be needed if Steven Taylor moves on, but Pardew is confident of keeping all his stars.

Stoke City: The Potters' priority is to complete the permanent signing of Jermaine Pennant but Tony Pulis is unlikely to do too much else - unless offers come in for a few of his fringe players.

Pulis has always got one eye on the transfer market and you never know what he could conjur up on deadline day, but Stoke aren't in massive need of reinforcements so don't expect a busy month.

Sunderland: Steve Bruce has assembled a fantastic squad at the Stadium of Light but he'd jump at the chance of taking Charles N'Zogbia if a deal could be done next month.

Danny Welbeck has been doing a decent job out wide recently but an injury to Darren Bent or Asamoah Gyan would see him needed up front again and, although the Black Cats have plenty of other players capable of operating on the wing, N'Zogbia would offer them something completely different.

Tottenham: Spurs were quiet in the summer transfer market but the one player they did spend money on, Rafael van der Vaart, has proved to be top class and Harry Redknapp could do with someone of similar quality to play alongside the Dutchman.

Robbie Keane looks certain to leave the club and Redknapp needs to find his exact opposite as a replacement - a proper targetman.

However, finding the right man won't be easy. Dzeko wouldn't be available in the Champions League and probably wouldn't sign anyway, and the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Fernando Llorente and Mirko Vucinic look likely to stay where they are.

Vedad Ibisevic seems the most realistic possibility of the strikers Redknapp has been linked with, although it wouldn't be the biggest surprise if he moved for Emmanuel Adebayor despite his vow not to.

West Brom: Roberto Di Matteo has suggested he won't strengthen in January, but a bit of cover wouldn't go amiss for the Baggies and he'll know that. A stand-in for Peter Odemwingie would certainly be handy, as would another right-back to compete with Gonzalo Jara.

Albion are always quiet in January, though, and it's unlikely to be any different this time around.

West Ham: Most West Ham fans will have a new manager top of their Christmas wish list, but they're in desperate need of some players too.

It's impossible to know how much money they'll have to spend but Grant, or whoever else is in charge, needs to add fight and experience to the side or they look doomed.

Steve Sidwell appears to be on his way but the Irons' biggest problems are not in midfield. If West Ham could get a fee for the walking disaster Matthew Upson and replace him with Richard Dunne, even on loan, they'd stand half a chance of staying up. Or maybe the club could appoint Sam Allardyce and beg him to bring Chris Samba with him?

The Irons definitely need a left-back and striker too, and rumours are already circulating they'll attempt to bring in Wayne Bridge and Robbie Keane. Both would be perfect but it'll be a tough sell to persuade players of that quality to join the league's bottom club.

Wigan: Roberto Martinez's first priority needs to be extending the loan spell of Ali Al-Habsi. Bolton boss Owen Coyle has indicated he is unwilling to sell the goalkeeper but he has been the calming influence Latics needed at the back, and keeping him for the rest of the season is crucial.

They could do with a striker who scores goals too but Martinez will probably keep faith with what he has and pray one of Mario Boselli or Franco Di Santo suddenly realises where the net is.

However, if they continue to fail in front of goal, maybe Martinez will have his hand forced before the end of the month.

Wolves: Robbie Keane and Joleon Lescott have been linked with returns to Molineux but both deals appear unlikely in truth. However, it all depends on what other clubs move for the pair as Keane especially needs a move.

Wolves are another club that could do with a player of Wayne Bridge's quality at left-back but, like many, they would face a tough task selling him the move.

It is imperative Mick McCarthy adds someone in defence, though, while keeping Matt Jarvis is another important task for the month.