Arsenal
Hopefully our new suits will begin to make their mark, bringing some knowledge of continental rough diamonds. Sadly I can’t see Wenger admitting that Xhaka’s a Jack-of-no-trades and signing Carvalho (or even an ageing Nzonzi) as a dedicated defensive midfielder. Otherwise, our targets will be dictated by contracts for existing players, thanks to the rank incompetence that resulted in Sánchez, Özil and Wilshere being imminently out of contract. Whatever happens, though, we badly need to fill the creative abyss left by Cazorla’s injury.
- Bernard Azulay @GoonerN5 goonersdiary.co.uk
Possible targets: Jonny Evans (West Brom), David Neres (Ajax), Steven Nzonzi (Sevilla), Medhi Benatia (Juventus), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Hirving Lozano (PSV), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester).
Bournemouth
We need a goal-scoring central midfielder – a Ross Barkley type – but Eddie Howe will probably save the cash instead and bring Lewis Cook into the starting lineup more regularly and work on getting more out of him. I’d also like a new right-back to give Adam Smith some competition, but again Eddie seems happy to patch up by shifting Simon Francis over when Smith is unavailable. All in all, I’d expect any signings to be young academy players that have potential to be Premier League standard, such as Liverpool’s Ryan Kent.
- Peter Bell @CherryChimes afcbchimes.blogspot.co.uk
Possible targets: Dujon Sterling (Chelsea, loan), Ryan Kent (Liverpool), Chris Willock (Benfica).
Brighton
The focus is on another striker. Glenn Murray has scored a few (but he missed that penalty against Burnley) and Tomer Hemed is fit again, but that’s the area where spending could make the biggest difference. There’s been lots of talk about Celtic’s Moussa Dembélé and some about Spartak Moscow’s Zé Luís. Some consistency in front of goal could make such an impact: if only we’d taken our chances at Old Trafford and against Stoke and Burnley at the Amex …
- Steph Fincham
Possible targets: Moussa Dembélé (Celtic), Zé Luís (Spartak Moscow), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle).
Burnley
We lack a central defender. That might sound silly given our defensive record, but it’s just a matter of having the right numbers. I’d be happy to see the next Michael Keane/James Tarkowski join us: someone with potential to become a first-team player in the future. I’d also like to see a replacement for Robbie Brady who suffered a serious injury a few weeks ago. We’ll miss his creativity and quality. If we could get someone to fill that gap, he’d be a key signing.
- Tony Scholes uptheclarets.com, @utcdotcom
Possible targets: Nedum Onuoha (QPR), Majeed Waris (Lorient), Karl Toko Ekambi (Angers).
Chelsea
We’re still desperate for some alternatives up front. I’m a long-time admirer of Cavani but our attempts at landing the big names recently have proved fruitless so I don’t hold out much hope. Dries Mertens would also be most welcome but Napoli have no obvious reason to sell. Atlético seem to be a selling club so maybe Antoine Griezmann could be prised from their clutches. The price would be high, though, and our big-spending days seem to be over.
- Trizia Fiorellino chelseasupportersgroup.net
Possible targets: Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Arthur (Grêmio), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen), Jean-Michael Seri (Nice), James Tarkowski, Ross Barkley (Everton).
Crystal Palace
We’ve been suffering badly from having only one fit striker. It was a bizarre gamble in the summer window, and backfired badly when Benteke was injured too. With Connor Wickham still not near fitness, a forward has to be the priority. Besiktas’s Cenk Tosun was heavily linked a few months ago but he’s at Everton now; several other names are floating around. Elsewhere, a winger to provide some competition and cover for Townsend and Zaha wouldn’t go amiss, while a quality keeper has to be on the cards. Julian Speroni is assured legend status, but he’s not the long-term solution. Neither is Diego López, the 36-year-old Espanyol goalkeeper, who has been heavily linked. What gives us hope is that the player search is being led by our director of football, Dougie Freedman, who picked up Mile Jedinak and Yannick Bolasie for peanuts when he was manager. He has been to Uruguay, Germany, and Spain looking for strikers, while also looking in League One for potential up-and-coming stars.
- Chris Waters palacetrust.org.uk, @Clapham_Grand
Possible targets: Diego López (Espanyol), Kevin Trapp (PSG), Bartosz Bialkowski (Ipswich), Ben Watson (Watford), Zé Luís (S Moscow), Nicolás Gaitán (Atlético Madrid), Karl Toko Ekambi (Angers).
Everton
Big Sam’s chance to shape his squad. We desperately needed a striker so there’s lots of interest in how Cenk Tosun will do. There were also some reports that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be on his way from Dortmund, but, as much as I love the thought, I won’t be holding my breath on that one. We also need a left-back as Leighton Baines has started to pick up injuries more often, meaning we’ve had to play right-back Martina out of position.
- Steve Jones @bluekippercom
Possible targets: Cenk Tosun (Besiktas), Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace), Nicolás Gaitán (Atlético Madrid), Karl Toko Ekambi (Angers), Steven Nzonzi (Sevilla), Mallik Wilks (Leeds).
Huddersfield
Our Premier League status is a miracle in itself – trying to hold on to it through the second half of the season will probably require some investment, though. We could really do with a dynamic No10, someone capable of unlocking defences and complementing the power of Laurent Depoitre and Steve Mounié. David Wagner has been pretty coy about it: “I have my eye on the market, but it’s my job to have my eye on the market. If I don’t have the feeling that we have to do something today, tomorrow is totally different.”
- Alex Taylor @bluekippercom
Possible targets: Almamy Touré (Monaco), Kyle Scott (Chelsea).
Leicester City
Adrien Silva will be a nice start. We signed him 14 seconds too late for the deadline in August, so he’s been waiting for a debut ever since. Elsewhere, there are still questions over our ability to defend set pieces and defensive cover wouldn’t go amiss, even with Huth and Dragovic more than capable on their day. We could also do with another option on the wings – but other than that our squad is well balanced.
- Chris Whiting thechriswhitingshow.wordpress.com, @ChrisRWhiting
Possible targets: Hatem Ben Arfa (PSG), Andre Almeida (Benfica), Solomon Kvirkvelia (Lokomotiv Moscow), Kyle Scott (Chelsea).
Liverpool
Groundhog day. When we’re having a bad day it feels the midfield are edgy because they don’t trust the back four and the back four are jumpy because they don’t have complete faith in the keeper. So, we need a keeper. Mignolet is much improved, but it can feel like he always has a mistake in him – I’d love Atlético Madrid’s Jan Oblak. We’ve finally signed Virgil van Dijk, but still need another – Lazio’s Stefan de Vrij looks like he’d be a good fit and rumours are doing the rounds we’re interested. We should probably add in a central defensive midfielder, too. We have a top line-up of front men, but it’s Coutinho who makes it work at its best, so hopefully talk of Barcelona cooling on wanting him is true and we can keep hold of him, at least until summer.
- Steph Jones
Possible targets: Stefan de Vrij (Lazio), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Kevin Trapp (PSG), Hirving Lozano (PSV), Leon Goretzka (Schalke).
Manchester City
A centre-half is an absolute must. John Stones’s injury highlighted how threadbare we are in that position, primarily due to Vincent Kompany’s unique fitness situation. There was a lot of talk of Virgil van Dijk, which I would have been happy with: he has the credentials required to play in a Pep Guardiola defence – fast, strong, good on the ball and dominant in the air. Liverpool got there first – but those are the qualities we still need to find. Left-back is another area we could look to strengthen, but given Delph’s excellent form I’d be surprised if we made a big move in the market.
- Lloyd Scragg ninetythreetwenty.com, @lloyd_scragg
Possible targets: Jonny Evans (West Brom), Iñigo Martínez (Real Sociedad), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace), Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund).
Manchester United
We’re being linked with all the usual faces: Gareth Bale, Antoine Griezmann and all decent ex-Mourinho players who are currently keeping the bench warm somewhere – but I honestly can’t see anyone coming in. We look in need of two full-backs, a central midfielder, a right winger and an additional forward, but I expect the real moves to come in the summer, when at least five players will depart.
- Shaun O’Donnell
Possible targets: Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), André Gomes (Barcelona), Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Malcom (Bordeaux), Jorginho (Napoli), Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester).
Newcastle United
What we need and what we’ll get are two different things. The team needs major surgery: a quick, predatory goalscorer (or three), a commanding midfielder capable of dictating play, an experienced, specialist left-back … they’re all essential to our survival. While Karl Darlow and Rob Elliot have served us well in the past, we can now see why Rafa was interested in recruiting Pepe Reina in the summer.
- Richard & David Holmes
Possible targets: Danny Ings (Liverpool), Emerson Palmieri (Roma), Chris Willock (Benfica), Islam Slimani (Leicester), Kiko Casilla (Real Madrid), Kenedy (Chelsea, loan).
Southampton
Who do we need to sign? Anyone with some pace. Literally anyone. Please, just someone who can run beyond a full-back. Nathan Redmond just isn’t cutting it, yet despite his non-existent performances he’s still getting regular games. Our previous reputation as a young, exciting team is slipping: we’re in danger of becoming a bit aged and stale, so you could argue that pretty much every area of the team could do with freshening up with some younger blood. Perhaps a young keeper to put a bit of pressure on Forster and maybe another striker so Shane Long isn’t one of the few options available.
- Steve Grant saintsweb.co.uk, @SteveGrant1983
Possible targets: Nicolás Gaitán (A Madrid), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham).
Stoke City
We’re in a strange situation. We obviously need reinforcements, but its hard to see the board giving Mark Hughes any significant money to spend right now: I certainly wouldn’t if it was my money. The two most crucial areas are clear. Despite all of Fletcher’s experience we can’t rely on him to carry the team week in week out; and it was obvious all summer we needed two new full-backs – that hasn’t magically sorted itself out, either. Holding on to Butland and Shaqiri will be just as important, too.
- Rob Holloway
Possible targets: Danny Ings (Liverpool), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Dusko Tosic (Besiktas), Daniel Opare (FC Augsburg).
Swansea City
Our big problem is a lack of an attacking midfielder: our owners didn’t feel the need to replace Gylfi Sigurdsson in the summer. Among other needs are another striker – Bony is injury-prone and we can’t seem to play to Abraham’s strengths – and a right-back. But the feeling among many fans is a lack of trust in the club to bring in quality players. It feels like the damage is done and it’s just too late to turn things around.
- Kevin Elphick Swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk
Possible targets: Daniel Opare (FC Augsburg), Danny Ings (Liverpool).
Tottenham
I don’t think we need Ross Barkley, but we do need a pacey midfielder. Son is quick, but we need more options like him: an impact player who will beat a man, at pace and on the counter. Thomas Lemar or Riyad Mahrez would be lovely. Another striker would also be great, with Anthony Martial a quality prospect – though the likelihood of United selling seems very slim.
- Jonny Holmes
Possible targets: Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Malcom (Bordeaux), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Dusko Tosic (Besiktas), Ross Barkley (Everton).
Watford
We could do with more options in wide attacking positions, where we’re susceptible to injuries: Richarlíson has played almost every minute. But rebuffing interest in the Brazilian and in midfield star Abdoulaye Doucouré is perhaps more important than who we bring in. Defensive frailties would be resolved by a kinder injury list, while we also need a way to make our forward line work. Another option there would be useful given that Stefano Okaka seems keen to move on.
- Matt Rowson bhappy.wordpress.com, @mattrowson
Possible targets: Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Pontus Dahlberg (IFK Goteborg).
West Brom
It’s going to be a difficult month. We’ve pretty much maxed out on wages due to financial fair play rules, so we can wish all we like but unless we move players out we’re stuck with what we have. The big clubs knew exactly what they were doing with FFP. We badly need striking options, though, and Danny Ings or Daniel Sturridge, if fit, would be decent loans. But they are big ifs.
- Richard Jefferson wbaunofficial.org.uk/forum @richbaggie
Possible targets: Mallik Wilks (Leeds), Solomon Kvirkvelia (Lokomotiv Moscow), Danny Ings (Liverpool), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle), Ben Mee (Burnley).
West Ham
We need another creative midfielder to take the pressure off Manuel Lanzini – a Jack Wilshere type, though he’s unlikely to leave Arsenal. A bit of power from the likes of Watford’s Doucouré would be useful too. The squad is also struggling with ageing and injured centre-backs and Alfie Mawson might be a promising signing. We also need to unload clearly unhappy players such as Diafra Sakho.
- Pete May Author of Goodbye to Boleyn, hammersintheheart.blogspot.co.uk
Possible targets: André Schürrle (Borussia Dortmund, loan), Hatem Ben Arfa (PSG), Danny Ings (Liverpool), Alfie Mawson (Swansea), Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle), Joe Allen (Stoke).
