Welcome back to part two on my two part feature about 'Who needs who in January'.
Anyway, I don't want to keep you waiting so I will delve straight into the second part of my feature.
Manchester City
As the introduction of part one showed, City have made the biggest splash in the transfer window so far with the acquisition of 24 year old Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko for a reported £27million. On the verge of joining AC Milan eighteen months ago, Dzeko has since proven his capabilities around Europe and has since joined Roberto Mancini's City days after the window opened. I believe Dzeko is the only player City needed to sign in January and I feel the rest of the window will be a quiet one for City as they look to clear players off the wage bill rather than add to it. Expect a few high profile players leaving this month with Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor expected to be shown the door this month.
Manchester United
Like their rivals, United have already made one signing this month with the completed move of highly rated Dane Anders Lindegaard. Again, like City, I expect this to be the only move Ferguson makes this month with Lindegaard expected to be a ready-made replacement for the (expected) retirement of current number one Edwin Van der Sar. With that said, United have let youngster Federico Macheda head out on loan for the remainder of the season to Italian outfit Sampdoria. Expect more goings than comings this month at Old Trafford as I feel Lindegaard is United's one and only signing in January.
Newcastle United
I think it's safe to say the first thing Newcastle need is a new owner. It looked as though Mike Ashley had turned things around with the fans by giving Chris Hughton the chance to succeed as a club yet his sacking proved otherwise and the so-called 'Cockney Mafia' need to head back down south sooner rather than later. With that said, new manager Alan Pardew need not make too many wholesale changes this month. Sebastian Larsson looks set to join from Birmingham along with the permanent signing of Hatem Ben Arfa. Pardew's main concern must be to hold onto cult hero Andy Carroll which looks all but certain after Pardew and Carroll publicly stated that the latter is going nowhere this month.
Stoke City
Like Newcastle, I feel that the less change at Stoke, the better. Tony Pulis has completed the permanent signing of Jermaine Pennant from Zaragoza giving Pulis the desired width from both wings to assist the strikers. With a majority of the Stoke manager's dealings completed in August, I feel Pulis' main concern would be to keep hold of former German international Robert Huth amidst reported interest from Liverpool.
Sunderland
One deal must cross Steve Bruce's mind on a daily basis - Can I sign Danny Welbeck permanently? The Manchester United trainee, currently on loan at Sunderland, has been in fantastic form this season and aiding the Black Cats push up the table and Bruce must be begging his former employer at United to let him have the youngster permanently. With that said, a new centre-back wouldn't go amiss with Michael Turner set for a extended spell on the sidelines through a knee injury.
Tottenham Hotspur
Redknapp acted swiftly to bolster his defence with the signing of South African international Bongani Khumalo and with David Beckham's on-off-on-off-on loan deal set to be clarified sooner rather than later, Redknapp needs one more piece to complete his jigsaw - a world class striker. With Robbie Keane set to depart the club, the Spurs manager could do with a new striker to come in to ease the burden on Dutchman, and top scorer, Rafael Van der Vaart along with providing decent competition to Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko.
West Bromwich Albion
A spark of life is needed to help Roberto Di Matteo's West Brom following their excellent start to the campaign. Now one point off relegation, Di Matteo needs an injection of quality to help replicate the early season form which saw them defeat Arsenal at The Emirates and pick up a point at Old Trafford. Di Matteo could do with a creative/goal scoring midfielder to help with current WBA hero Chris Brunt and to help provide the quality needed to push them back up the table.
West Ham United
Avram Grant needs to the backing of the owners this month to move West Ham away from the foot of the table. Despite constant stories about the level of debt surrounding the club, The David's need to financially back Grant in the window otherwise the debt level will rise should a drop to The Championship occur come May. With the imminent signing of Wayne Bridge from Manchester City on loan to help bolster a leaking defence, West Ham desperately need to keep hold of captain Scott Parker if they are to be a Premiership team come next season.
Wigan Athletic
Similar to West Ham, Roberto Martinez needs the backing of Dave Whelan this month otherwise Wigan will find themselves playing Championship football next season. They are in desperate need of a player to drag them through games in the centre of the park, a motivator off the pitch and to make the DW Stadium a place where teams dread to play otherwise Premiership football will be a mere memory rather than current reality next season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Following survival in the first season, Wolves are finding it harder to adjust to the Premiership in the second. Having missed out on Steve Sidwell, a player Mick McCarthy could have done with; Wolves need to look elsewhere to bolster their squad. A loss of form to star striker Kevin Doyle hasn't helped things at Molineux so a new striker may be a given for McCarthy should one become available along with a midfielder similar to Sidwell. The Irishman also needs to get his squad to turn home-turf to their advantage and re-build Molineux as the fortress it was last season.
So there we have it; part one and two on 'Who needs who in January'. I hope you have found both parts enjoyable and informative on my take on what teams need to do to improve in the coming months of the season.
Anyway I have to go, I will write again shortly.
Laters,
Macca
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