Game-changing moves – unravelling the January transfer window in EPL

IT’S that time of the year when every football fan gets excited – not about New Year’s resolutions, but the January transfer window.

This is the period when potential title contenders and top-four qualifiers strengthen their squads, and one transfer can mean the difference between winning the title and fighting for survival.

This week, league fixtures took a backseat to make way for the FA Cup matches.

Instead of discussing on meaningless ties in the FA Cup, let’s focus on potential areas that teams competing for the league or fighting for survival should address.

For Arsenal, what began as a campaign competing for the league might end up as a battle to qualify for the Champions League.

To secure a top-four spot, Mikel Arteta must persuade the owner to open their chequebook for a striker, a rightback, a leftback, and another midfielder.

Ivan Toney’s name is circulating among Arsenal fans, but will Stan Kroenke approve the purchase after significant spending in the summer transfer window? Toney, a proven striker, could help ease the burden on Bukayo Saka while putting more pressure on Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus to be clinical. A rightback could support Saka in the final third, and a new leftback could move Oleksandr Zinchenko to the midfield, reducing dependence on Kai Havertz.

On Merseyside, Liverpool need another centreback after Joel Matip suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

If Jarell Quansah from the academy can step up and become a rotational player, the team could redirect the funds for a centreback to a defensive midfielder. Wataru End has settled in well and won over the Anfield faithful, but he can’t play every game, especially with his absence for the Asia Cup.

There’s a high probability that the football director will look for a shortterm solution while Juergen Klopp waits for Stefan Bajcetic to regain full fitness.

Up front, there’s enough firepower to cover Mohamed Salah’s absence during the African Nations Cup.

For Aston Villa, there’s a high probability that Unai Emery could look for a striker to support Ollie Watkins. Another striker could also provide Emery with tactical flexibility when chasing a game.

A rightback could offer competition to Matty Cash, but Villa are a club that will heavily rely on their academy when push comes to shove.

Due to Sandro Tonali’s one-year suspension, Newcastle require more depth in the midfield.

Lewis Miley has stepped up, but if the Magpies want to qualify for the Champions League next season, Eddie Howe cannot rely solely on a 17-yearold. Ruben Neves and Kalvin Phillips are rumoured to be joining the Magpies, but we shall wait and see whether that rumour gains steam!

For the red half of Manchester, there are many gaps that need filling if Erik Ten Hag wants to turn Manchester United’s season around. Because of Financial Fair Play and a tight budget, United might need to prioritise the recovery of existing players unless they can sell someone to finance a new signing. Jadon Sancho is rumoured to return to Borussia Dortmund on loan.

Ten Hag definitely prioritises squad harmony for the second half of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur started the January transfer window with a bang by signing Timo Werner on loan from RB Leipzig. It would be interesting to see if Ange Postecoglou can turn Werner into a prolific striker and banish Werner’s Chelsea past. This loan makes sense for Spurs as it provides an option for Ange up front while Son Heung-min is away.

Will Chelsea spend another £100 mil (Rm591mil) in this transfer window? One can never bet against Todd Boehly’s unlimited funds and creative ways to sign players. With Christopher Nkunku coming back and looking lively, there may not be a need for a forward, but Mauricio Pochettino could want the owner to sign another centreback to strengthen the backline with Thiago Silva approaching 40.

It will be an interesting January transfer window, and it is still early for any of the clubs to make a big splash. Expect things to change in a couple of weeks. The status of Kylian Mbappe is still unknown, and his destination could be the talk of this transfer window.