Arsene Wenger – Arsenal
Arsene Wenger will have a lengthier Christmas list than most managers because his Santa letter every year ends with an extra line reading: ‘And please make the fans like me.’ But at the tippy-top of the Frenchman’s wants will, or should be, be the defensive midfielder that he has sought, or at least needed, for so long.
One lesson that the hierarchy at Arsenal needs to learn is that one good purchase now is worth much more than an average buy every year for three years. With Aaron Ramsey playing much higher up the pitch and Jack Wilshere’s ankles being made of wet paper, a holding midfielder like Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho is a must-buy.
Paul Lambert – Aston Villa
Goals are as rare as a Roy Keane Christmas card at Villa Park this season and, despite a strong start to the season, Aston Villa are struggling to to get the ball in the net on a weekly basis. Christian Benteke is only just rediscovering the high standards expected of him but a lot of that has to do with the lack of quality delivery to the big Belgian.
Lambert’s primary aim in January will be to hang on to Benteke but, if Villa are to finish somewhere near mid-table, a pacy winger is required who can get behind defences and whip dangerous crosses in to the target man. Manchester City flop Scott Sinclair could revitalise his career at Villa and Lambert would do well to seal a deal for the former Chelsea man, who is the target of a number of Premier League clubs.
Sean Dyche – Burnley
Hanging on to Newcastle target Danny Ings will be much more important for the Burnley boss than recruiting any new players. With Sam Vokes well on his way to full fitness and George Boyd coming into his own, goals should be less of a problem for Dyche come the second half of the season.
The strengthening for Burnley should come at the back. Dyche needs to add Premier League quality if he is to have any hope of keeping the Clarets up. If Dyche could get somebody like West Bromwich Albion defender Craig Dawson, it could steady the ship at Turf Moor and give them a decent chance at avoiding the drop.
Jose Mourinho – Chelsea
It’s getting increasingly difficult to figure out where Jose Mourinho could strengthen his squad as the Chelsea boss is blessed with top quality in every position. That means he may focus on players for the future come January rather than attempt to introduce anyone into his starting XI.
It has been rumoured that Chelsea are set to make an offer for Benfica forward Anderson Talisca and have had scouts monitor the young Brazilian throughout this season. Mourinho initially wanted to sign the player in the summer from Bahia and loan him straight to Vitesse Arnhem but work permit issues cropped up and he ended up moving to Portugal.
Benfica have slapped a €44million release clause on the 20-year-old which the Blues could be willing to meet in order to have reinforcements in place for the 2015-2016 season.
Neil Warnock – Crystal Palace
Anyone who can keep Marouane Chamakh off the pitch will be appealing to Mr Warnock as the lanky Moroccan has managed just the one goal this season.
The Crystal Palace manager has pinpointed Bafetimbi Gomis as his primary transfer target this winter in an attempt to add to Palace’s woes up front. The French forward has struggled to break into Garry Monk’s Swansea side thanks to the scintillating form of Wilfried Bony and Selhurst Park could be the ideal destination for the former Lyon talisman to show what he can do in front of goal.
Roberto Martinez – Everton
Roberto Martinez normally has his side set out to perform creatively and express themselves through their football but that has been somewhat absent at Goodison Park in this campaign. All that is required for the Toffees is just one innovative spark and it should light the fire for the likes of Ross Barkley, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas (all of whom could do with a boost) to come to life.
We’re all well aware of the lack of transfer fees that Bill Kenwright is willing to provide so Martinez could be set to delve into the loan market for reinforcements.
The Spaniard has been linked with a loan move for Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah who Jose Mourinho wants to gain Premier League experience. The 22-year-old could do the trick for Everton but Martinez would be forced to let current Chelsea loanee Christian Atsu return to Stamford Bridge if he was to strike a deal for Egypt international Salah.
Steve Bruce – Hull
Hull are one of those sides who actually play entertaining football but fail to secure results. They will need something of a marquee signing such as Spurs speedster Aaron Lennon to bring some festive cheer to the KC stadium and kick-start the Tigers’ season.
Hull have a good working relationship with the North London club, having recently acquired the services of Tottenham trio Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Michael Dawson. And Lennon, who Spurs would be willing to part with for around €9million, could give Hull a much-needed midseason boost with his almost unmatchable pace and early delivery.
Nigel Pearson – Leicester
Leicester will need some serious reinforcements if they are to secure survival in the second half of the season. Any player that Pearson goes in for should have proven experience at the top level.
Speculation surrounds the future of Jermain Defoe who, if available and willing, should be put right to the top of Nigel Pearson’s Santa letter but, after the Leicester manager’s foul-mouthed tirade at a fan earlier this month, Pearson might just be left with a lump of coal in his stocking.
Brendan Rodgers – Liverpool
We reckon the Liverpool boss is waking up nightly thinking: ‘I wonder if Barcelona would give Luis back if I ask nicely.’
Liverpool have struggled for goals since Mario Balotelli came in for Suarez. But more worrying than the Italian’s addiction to shots off target is the fact that ‘keeper Simon Mignolet has been struck down with a bad case of Pilaphobia (we’ve quite cleverly combined the Greek word for ball (pila) and fear of (phobia) – we’re very clever us).
That means that Brendan Rodgers will be looking to secure a more reliable goalkeeper in January and the appropriately-named Fiorentina stopper Neto looks to be the most likely candidate. The Brazilian, 25, is out of contract in June but Liverpool could be set to go in for him next month in order to plug that goal leakage problem.
Manuel Pellegrini – Manchester City
Manchester City have built up a head of steam in recent weeks but, if they are to launch a serious title bid in the New Year, a reinforcement or two is required. One man who has caught the eye of Manuel Pellegrini is Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. The Frenchman is seen as a long-term replacement for Yaya Toure, who is 10 years Pogba’s senior.
Representatives of Man City met the player’s agent earlier this month so a deal for the former Manchester United man, who is a target for a number of clubs, is not unfeasible. Pogba has only just signed a new contract to stay with the Turin club but it’s believed that Juve would accept an offer of around €70million for the multi-faceted midfield man.
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