With less than two months remaining until the 2025 Winter Transfer Window, most Premier League clubs have had a decent look on the overall make-up of their squads and will now be looking to address some of the areas which need further strengthening.
In this article, we take a look at last 10 clubs alphabetically and the one position these clubs need to address during this January transfer window.
Leicester City: Forward
Jack Clarke
According to reports from the summer, Leicester City were watching the situation of Ipswich Town left-midfielder/winger Jack Clarke as the player was of interest to them. However, the 2015/16 Premier League champions opted instead to bring in a combination of Jordan Ayew and Bobby De-Cordova Reid instead of investing in competition for Stephy Mavididi.
One thing Leicester City has struggled with on the attack is retaining the ball under immense pressure when in the final third. Leicester have been guilty of often giving the ball away due to a misplaced pass or a failure to take-on an opponent, beat them, and then get a cross in. This is exactly what Clarke does exceptionally. The 23-year-old winger is exactly what the Foxes are after, someone who can be relied upon in the final third.
Clarke is a graduate of the Leeds United academy, having left for Tottenham Hotspur and then most recently performing well for Sunderland before his switch to the newly promoted Premier League side.
Liverpool: Forward
Jean-Philippe Mateta
The talented Frenchman has shone at Crystal Palace in recent times, particularly towards the end of last season as he showed some prolific form.
The Reds could perhaps do well to sign someone like Mateta as an upgrade on Darwin Núñez, who has blown hot and cold for much of his time at Anfield.
There are reports that there’s a hiccup in the Frenchman’s contract negotiations. Mateta’s current contract with the Eagles is due to expire in the summer of 2026, so this could be a worrying development for the club.
It remains to be seen if Palace will feel they can afford to give Mateta the pay rise he’s asking for, which could perhaps work in Liverpool’s favour as that kind of money surely wouldn’t be as much of an issue for a top club playing in the Champions League
Manchester City: Defensive Midfielder
Alan Varela
According to recent reports, Manchester City are eyeing another young Argentine to help cover for Rodri, in the form of FC Porto’s Alan Varela. The 23-year-old joined the Portuguese club in the summer of 2023 after ab impressive spell at Boca Juniors.
Varela is a deep-lying combative midfielder. He is not as well-endowed in possession as Rodri, but understands his role as a tempo-setter very well and rarely gives the ball away.
The midfielder impressed in the Champions League last season, helping take Porto all the way to a penalty shootout in the last 16 against Arsenal. Varela is rumoured to have a release clause of £58m, which is well within City’s capabilities.
Varela’s strengths off the ball could help City tighten up at the back. With Rodri absent much of the season, Guardiola’s side have looked much more porous at the back, with just two Premier League clean sheets.
Manchester United: Left-back
Federico Dimarco
Another left-back that United have recently been linked with signing is Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco. The Italian is also capable of playing on the wing, and his impressive performances have caught the eye of the Red Devils.
Injury has prevented Dimarco from having a significant impact in this season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) so far, but he has started every game in Serie A, scoring one goal and producing a further two assists. Again, he would suit Amorim’s style of play perfectly as a left wing-back.
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Newcastle United: Centre-back
Marc Guehi
After an impressive end to the season under Oliver Glasner and a good Euro 2024, Guehi was a man in demand and when interest from Tyneside made headlines, many were excited about the prospect of him playing in black-and-white. And that excitement continued throughout August, until the final days of the window when it became clear Guehi would remain at Crystal Palace.
Guehi, meanwhile, endured a difficult start to the season although his performances have improved in recent weeks. Newcastle United, on the other hand, have already lost thrice in the league this season. Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth and Lloyd Kelly have all played at centre-back this season and they have shown throughout the campaign to be a much better defensive unit than throughout most of last season where they were being carved open almost at will at times.
However, it certainly won’t hurt Eddie Howe’s chances of European qualification by adding someone of Guehi’s caliber.
Nottingham Forest: Striker
Santiago Giménez
Mexico striker Santiago Giménez stayed at Feyenoord after a second bid from Premier League side Nottingham Forest fell through earlier this summer. According to ESPN, Giménez made the personal decision to turn down Forest despite weeks of negotiations between the two sides.
Giménez joined the Dutch side from Liga MX’s Cruz Azul in July 2022 on a four-year contract and made an instant impact. In his first season, the forward netted 23 goals in 45 games across all competitions. He propelled Feyenoord to the league title during that inaugural season.
He bettered that club tally last season, netting 23 goals in 30 games in Eredivisie.
Southampton: Striker
Danny Ings
Southampton were keen on signing West Ham striker Danny Ings earlier this summer. It is believed West Ham were willing to let Ings leave the club as the striker had just 12 months left to run on his contract.
Ings made just seven starts in 30 total appearances for the Irons in the 2023-24 campaign and is unlikely to force his way into Julen Lopetegui’s plans.
With just six months remaining in his contract when the January transfer window comes, the Saints will either look acquire his services on a loan deal or sign him up on a free transfer in accordance with the Bosman rule.
Tottenham Hotspur: Centre-back
Andreas Christensen
The north London club were reportedly in for a centre-back this summer. According to a report by Sport, Spurs had kept their eyes on Barcelona centre-back Andreas Christensen. The Danish international previously represented Chelsea in the Premier League before joining the Spanish side in 2022.
The Sport report claimed that the newly appointed Barcelona boss Hansi Flick wanted to let go of either Christensen or Eric Garcia this summer. The decision was made as the club wanted to reduce the overall wage bill for the sake of financial stability. However, the Barça hierarchy failed to offload either centre-back.
With the Danish international’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2026, and Barcelona looking at a price somewhere in the region of €25 million, Ange Postecoglou and Daniel Levy will look to explore this option come January transfer window.
West Ham United: Striker
Igor Jesus
According to Brazilian outlet Globo, the Hammers have flown board members over to Brazil to propose a formal £30 million bid for Igor Jesus. That would make him West Ham United’s 8th most expensive signing of all-time.
The 23-year-old has bagged eight goals and three assists in 22 games for Botafogo, since joining them back in July on a free transfer. Before that, he was a huge hit out in the UAE with Shabab Al-Ahli Club, bagging 43 goals and 20 assists in 87 games.
With Julen Lopetegui sort on attacking firepower, especially in the #9 role, shelling out £30 million for the young Brazilian is a risk worth taking after finding themselves in 14th place after 10 games.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Forward
Zakaria Aboukhlal
Gary O’Neil’s side are still waiting to record their first top-flight win of the season, accumulating just three draws from their opening ten matches during 2024-25. The Wolves hierarchy, headed by sporting director Matt Hobbs, have allegedly moved to express an interest in Aboukhlal.
The 24-year-old winger is capable of playing on both wings, as well as being utilised when needed in central areas going forward. As per reports, Wolves have made contact with their Toulouse counterparts to determine whether it may be possible to sign the 24-year-old at the turn of the year.
Aboukhlal has so far contributed with four goals and one assist from ten Ligue 1 outings this campaign. Wolves allegedly have eyes on an initial loan deal with the option to buy in the summer. Aboukhlal has a contract at Toulouse until 2026.
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