January Transfer Window: What all 20 Premier League clubs need

James Wilson Updated: 09 Jan 24 16:07

With the January transfer window now open, we examine where each Premier League club may look to strengthen their squad at the halfway stage of the season.

The January transfer window presents teams up and down the top flight with an opportunity to bolster their bid to achieve their respective goals, whether that be winning the title, qualifying for Europe or avoiding relegation.

Although the winter transfer market is a notoriously difficult period to do business in, with clubs less willing to part with talent mid-season, it remains true that every player has his price.

Let's explore all the transfer business to be potentially conducted in the Premier League this month...

Arsenal

(Striker)

Entering this Premier League season aiming to go one better on last term's second-placed finish and seal a first title win since the Invincibles team of 2003/04, Arsenal have stuttered in recent weeks after a strong start to the campaign.

It's been in front of goal where the Gunners have displayed a notable drop-off from last season, with their current average of 1.85 goals per match significantly down on last season's statistic of 2.32.

In Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal have a first-choice striker who, although undoubtedly valuable to the team and Arteta's tactical system, does not boast the most prolific goal record, with just three in the Premier League so far this season.

Should Arteta's charges realise their dream of winning the Premier League title this term, a bonafide consistent goalscorer up front may just be what is required in order to take them to this next level.

Potential targets: Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus).

Aston Villa

(Right-back)

Aston Villa have enjoyed a tremendous first half of the season under Unai Emery, nestling inside the top four and through to the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League.

Villa supporters will be desperate to see the Villans continue their excellent form for the rest of the season, and it will be interesting to see how the club's board approach the winter transfer window.

One area of the field in which Villa appear to be lacking depth is right-back, with Matty Cash the only natural in this position, and Emery has regularly elected to utilise central defender Ezri Konsa in this role so far this term.

Potential targets: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Vanderson (Monaco).

Bournemouth

(Striker)

After a difficult start to the 2023/24 Premier League season under new manager Andoni Iraola - failing to win in their first nine matches - Bournemouth have turned things around in stunning fashion to now hover around mid-table.

Iraola has installed an eye-catching, progressive style of play on the south coast which places emphasis on high intensity running and winning the ball high up the field, with the ex-Rayo Vallecano manager having worked under Marcelo Bielsa during his time as a player at Athletic Bilbao.

Bournemouth's squad looks in a good place at the midway point of the season, but should Iraola seek for reinforcements, then a fresh back-up option to Dominic Solanke up front could prove valuable, with Kieffor Moore likely heading for the exit door at the Vitality Stadium this month.

Potential targets: Patson Daka (Leicester City), Akor Adams (Montpellier), Vangelis Pavlidis (AZ Alkmaar).

Brighton

(Full-back)

Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton are enjoying another fine season to date, with the Seagulls comfortably inside the top half of the Premier League and through to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Brighton's success is made all the more impressive considering not only the high-profile departures last summer - including Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea - but also the number of injuries suffered within their squad this season with the likes of Joel Veltman, Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, Solly March and Julio Enciso all having been sidelined.

De Zerbi's squad has looked particularly sparse at full-back this season, with the Italian forced to tinker his tactical set up to employ three central defenders in the backline, and the ex-Sassuolo boss has been on record stating this as one area of the pitch he is seeking new blood in during the winter transfer window.

Potential targets: Valentin Barco (Boca Juniors), Juanlu Sanchez (Sevilla), Quilindschy Hartman (Feyenoord).

Brentford

(Winger/forward)

After a promising start to their Premier League campaign, Brentford have been on an alarming slide of late and are languishing close to the drop zone at the season's halfway stage.

Injuries have hit Thomas Frank's charges hard, and the Dane will be eager to add some fresh faces in the winter transfer window to give his squad a much needed lift.

There has been an over-reliance on the currently injured Bryan Mbeumo going forward, with the Cameroonian's 11 goal contributions meaning he has played a hand in 42.3% of Brentford's 26 Premier League goals this term, and this is certainly an area in which Frank will be looking to recruit a new signing or two this month.

Potential targets: Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven), Assane Diao (Real Betis), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati).

Burnley

(Left-sided defender)

To say Vincent Kompany's Burnley have struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League since being crowned Championship winners last summer would be an understatement, and it would take a significant improvement in form in the second half of the campaign for the Clarets to beat the drop.

Inspired recruitment in the January transfer window could be crucial, with Kompany and Co in need of some gems to help spark a revival in fortunes.

Belgian boss Kompany has admitted if deals are right he's keen to bring in new players, with defence perhaps a priority area with Burnley having conceded the second most goals in the Premier League to date behind only Sheffield United, and the Clarets are conspicuously lacking depth on the left side of their backline.

Potential targets: Mykola Matviyenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Sergio Reguilon (Tottenham), Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham).

Chelsea

(Striker)

Free-spending Chelsea have endured a tough first half of the season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, with their rapidly assembled squad of big-money signings struggling to gel together.

Languishing in mid-table in the Premier League, Chelsea look particularly light up front, with attacking midfielder Cole Palmer currently the Blues' top scorer on league duty with eight to his name.

Summer signing from Villarreal Nicolas Jackson has struck seven, but three of these arrived against a nine-man Tottenham in November, and the Senegalese striker looks a cut below the elite level of striker Pochettino will likely require if he is to steer Chelsea back up towards the top four positions.

Potential targets: Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon).

Crystal Palace

(Central midfielder)

It's been a so-so Premier League campaign for Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson thus far, with the Eagles sat just below mid-table in the English top flight.

There is a clear gap in the Palace squad following an achilles injury suffered by the influential Cheick Doucoure in November which could see the Malian sidelined for the rest of the season, and the South Londoners are likely to seek out a new central midfielder in the January transfer window.

Palace have been forced to deploy Chris Richards, naturally a central defender, in the middle of the park of late, and a new signing in the engine room could be key to their hopes of enjoying a successful second half of the campaign.

Potential targets: Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Pape Gueye (Marseille).

Everton

(Attacking midfielder/winger)

Sean Dyche's Everton have responded to well to receiving a shock 10-point deduction for allegedly breaching the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules, but remain close to the drop zone.

Boasting the best defensive record in the bottom half with 28 goals conceded, it is going forward where the Toffees can at times prove lacking with only the three newly promoted sides and Crystal Palace having registered fewer goals amongst the current bottom 10.

Although manager Dyche's potential transfer budget is likely to be limited in light of the club's financial problems, there may be wiggle room to bring in one or two fresh faces in the winter transfer window, especially if there are some outgoings at Goodison Park.

Potential targets: Wilfried Gnonto (Leeds United), Maxwel Cornet (West Ham), Assane Diao (Real Betis).

Fulham

(Striker)

Fulham have been somewhat Jekyll and Hyde so far this season under Marco Silva, with eye-catching victories over the likes of Arsenal and West Ham cancelled out by disappointing defeats to Burnley and Bournemouth.

Following a slow start to his Fulham career - failing to score in his first 10 Premier League outings after signing from Wolves in the summer - Raul Jimenez has come alive of late to emerge as a key player for the Cottagers.

Considering two of Fulham's most disappointing results of the season against Burnley and Bournemouth arrived when Mexican hitman Jimenez was suspended, Fulham boss Silva may have his eye on adding greater depth in the striker position this month.

Potential targets: Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart), Vangelis Pavlidis (AZ Alkmaar), Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord).

Liverpool

(Centre-back)

Currently leading the way at the top of the Premier League table, Liverpool boast the strongest defensive record in the English top flight so far.

Their stubbornness at the back can be attributed to new skipper Virgil van Dijk returning to the top of his game and his blossoming partnership with the ever improving Ibrahima Konate alongside him, but a knee injury suffered by German stalwart Joel Matip has left the Reds somewhat short of cover at centre-back.

20-year-old youngster Jarell Quansah has impressed when called upon to fill in, but with Matip's contract also set to expire in the summer, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp may look to acquire a new option in central defence in the winter transfer window.

Potential targets: Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Antonio Silva (Benfica), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen).

Luton Town

(Centre-back)

As expected, Luton Town have found life tough in the Premier League following their sensational Championship play-offs triumph last summer, but the Hatters remain in with a fighting chance of surviving relegation should they enjoy a positive second half of the season.

Luton boss Rob Edwards is likely to be searching far and wide for January reinforcements to help keep the club afloat in the top flight, with summer acquisitions including Chiedozie Ogbene, Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend, all on free transfers, having proved shrewd business so far.

Although money is likely to be tight for Luton, the Hatters may look to bring in a new central defender with club captain Tom Lockyer expected to be sidelined for the considerable future.

Potential targets: Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Eiran Cashin (Derby County).

Manchester City

(Holding midfielder)

It is difficult to identify an Achilles' heel in a team as good as Treble-winning Manchester City, but this season has shone a light on how important holding midfielder Rodri is to their success.

The Spaniard's last Premier League defeat in a City shirt arrived back in February last year away at Tottenham, with all three of Pep Guardiola's side's losses this year coming in matches in which the ex-Atletico Madrid man was suspended - against Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa.

With Kalvin Phillips seemingly primed for an Etihad exit in the January transfer window, it could be imperative for City to dip into the market to find some fresh cover for the indispensable Rodri.

Potential targets: Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Joao Palhinha (Fulham), Khephren Thuram (Nice).

Manchester United

(Striker)

To say it's been a difficult campaign for Manchester United to date would be downplaying things, with Erik ten Hag's side currently floundering outside the top six of the Premier League and already eliminated from the Champions League.

The striker position has been a conspicuous problem area for the Red Devils so far this term, with marquee summer signing Rasmus Hojlund struggling to find his feet in English football with just one Premier League goal to his name since arriving from Atalanta for £72m in the summer.

The physically imposing 20-year-old Dane has shown flashes of promise, but is undeniably raw and in need of time to develop into a player capable of regularly leading the line for United, with a lack of alternative strikers available at Old Trafford putting him under a lot of pressure to perform.

Other than the perennially injured Anthony Martial, there are no other recognised senior strikers on the books at Man Utd at the moment, and this seems something which needs urgently addressing in the winter transfer window.

Potential targets: Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich).

Newcastle United

(Central midfielder)

After a sensational season last term which saw Newcastle achieve Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years, Eddie Howe's charges have endured a difficult campaign to date amidst significant injury problems.

The Magpies have been left especially light in midfield, with 17-year-old prospect Lewis Miley given an extended run in the team, and Howe will likely be keen to add to his engine room options in January.

With the ex-Bournemouth boss' tactical philosophy revolving around a high press and running power throughout the team, a busy winter transfer window could be expected on Tyneside in order to support a strained squad which has been stretched to its limit in recent months.

Potential targets: Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Ruben Neves (Al Hilal).

Nottingham Forest

(Striker)

Since replacing Steve Cooper as the club's manager, Nuno Espirito Santo has helped to stabilise Nottingham Forest's form to ease relegation fears after a difficult start to their Premier League season.

Despite already having a bloated squad at his disposal, Nuno will be keen to add some of his own players in the winter transfer window in order to stamp his authority on the side.

A fresh face up front may be in order with Nigerian hitman Taiwo Awoniyi continuing to struggle with injuries, and an upgrade on 32-year-old Chris Wood as his deputy is perhaps required if Forest have ambitions of pushing towards a mid-table finish this term.

Potential targets: Roberto Firmino (Al-Ahli), Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce).

Sheffield United

(Attacking midfielder/winger)

It's been a season to forget for Sheffield United after earning automatic promotion to the Premier League with a second-placed finish in the Championship last term, with Paul Heckingbottom replaced by former boss Chris Wilder in the dugout after overseeing just one victory in the Blades' opening 14 top flight matches.

Wilder has been given the thankless task of attempting to guide the South Yorkshire outfit to Premier League safety in the second half of the campaign, with the January transfer window likely to be a busy period for the club's hierarchy.

The Blades have already moved to bring in former Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton-Diaz on loan from La Liga side Villarreal, with further signings in forward areas likely to be sought with Sheffield United the Premier League's lowest scorers so far this season.

Potential targets: Jack Clarke (Sunderland), Jonathan Rowe (Norwich City), Iliman Ndiaye (Marseille).

Tottenham

(Centre-back)

The newly-formed centre-back partnership of Argentine Cristian Romero and Dutchman Micky van de Ven was a key factor underpinning the marked success of Tottenham at the start of the season under new boss Ange Postecoglou, going 10 matches unbeaten to top the Premier League.

Following a hamstring injury to Van de Ven and Romero's unavailability through both suspension and injury, things have since gone somewhat awry for Spurs, who have looked far more defensively vulnerable in this duo's absence.

The fact Postecoglou has recently opted to line up with a centre-back pairing of Emerson Royal and Ben Davies - both naturally full-backs - highlights the lack of depth at the heart of his defence which the Australian will likely be keen to address as soon as possible.

Potential targets: Radu Dragusin (Genoa), Jean-Clair Todibo (Nice), Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham).

West Ham

(Striker)

Following a disappointing domestic showing last season in which West Ham languished to a 14th-placed finish, with a successful Europa Conference League campaign taking centre stage, David Moyes' men have responded well this term to find themselves battling with the big boys in the top half of the table.

Glaswegian boss Moyes has stumbled upon a magic formula at the top end of the pitch with summer signing Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen combining to great effect, with the latter having recently assumed a central striking berth.

Although 27-year-old Bowen is currently flourishing through the middle, Moyes may be interested in adding to his striking options this month with Michail Antonio's contract set to expire in the summer and Danny Ings without a goal in all competitions so far this season.

Potential targets: Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart), Hugo Ekitike (Paris Saint-Germain), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana).

Wolves

(Striker)

Gary O'Neil has done a fine job as Wolves manager since taking over from Julen Lopetegui in the summer, with his charges sat comfortably in mid-table at the halfway stage of the season.

Like several Premier League clubs, Wolves are likely to be in the market for a new striker to support Matheus Cunha and South Korean international in attack, with the latter having struck 10 league goals this term.

Having suffered an ACL injury shortly after signing from Stuttgart last summer, Austrian target man Sasa Kalajdzic has yet to truly make his mark at Molineux, and with Fabio Silva having already been shipped out on loan to Rangers this month, Wolves boss O'Neil could do with a new striking option to call upon in the second half of the campaign.

Potential targets: Hugo Ekitike (Paris Saint-Germain), Che Adams (Southampton), Danny Ings (West Ham).

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