From Manchester City with their bottomless pockets to Everton with their penniless chairman, it’s part two of CollinsBeans look at just who wants Eden Hazard and Roberto Soldado and who’s more likely to end up with Emile Heskey
6. Everton
What they need
Is it an understatement to say quite a lot? Goals would be a good place to start though. Not only have Everton struggled to put the ball in the back of the net this season in most games they have had issues with even mustering a shot on target. In times gone by, the blue half of Merseyside have managed to get by and indeed thrive for many years when a tight backline has been supplemented by the creativity of Mikel Arteta and the goals from midfield of Tim Cahill. With the Spaniard now at Arsenal, and Cahill desperately out of form, the short fall has not been covered and hence why the team are badly out of form.
The ideal signing
As above then, a striker would seem to be an absolute must, however David Moyes team have relied for so long on being a striker less outfit that a new Arteta and new Cahill (that’s Tim rather than Gary) would seem to be the ideal solution. The only problem at Everton is cash, as in, they don’t have any.
So if they are able to muster the funds, a midfielder that can both create and take chances (say, a Wesley Sneijder type) would seem to be the best value for money approach. Given the club are unlikely to be able to prise the Dutchman from Inter Milan any time soon, and given their propensity for snapping Americans up, Clint Dempsey would be ideal, given he is basically the new Tim Cahill anyway (you know, dopes very little in a game but always seems to break from deep at some point and score). Rather depressingly for a great club like Everton, Dempsey would seem to be just as unobtainable as Sneijder.
Who they’ll end up with
No-one. Despite clearly needing quite a bit, given the general lack of funds it’s highly unlikely that Everton will sign anyone. So, fun times ahead at Goodison! (MS)
7. Fulham
What they need
Some consistency would be a good start. Fulham under Martin Jol have been all over the place, veering from the sublime some weeks (well sublime seems a bit much, maybe just ‘very good’) to the ridiculous on occasion. Knocked out of Europe in comical fashion, the club that was the byword for consistency, barely even flirting with the extremities of either the top or bottom of the table under both Roy Hodgson and Mark Hughes have suddenly come over all Jekkyl and Hyde.
A large part of this perhaps has to do with the Dutchman’s admirable insistence that in his usual four man midfield there is no need for a destroyer/clogger type just there to break up play. At the back, Jol doesn’t seem to fancy former stalwart Aaron Hughes much and Phillipe Senderos is well, Phillipe Senderos so a regular and reliable partner for Brede Hangeland might also help. Finally, up front, the lack of relationship that seems to exist between manager and ‘star striker’ (there seems to be a few too many inverted comma’s in this entry) Bobby Zamora means that if a big striker who holds up the ball well, brings others into play but doesn’t really score that many goals is going cheap, Fulham might be putting in a cheeky bid.
The ideal signing
As noted, while doing much for aesthetics, perhaps a degree of consistency could be gleaned from adding some muscle to the centre of midfield, with a powerful player like Mohamed Diame from Wigan or even former Tottenham, erm ‘favourite’ Didier Zakora providing the support that would allow the likes of Danny Murphy, Moussa Dembele and Bryan Ruiz to thrive. At the back, a fast, composed and comfortable on the ball centre back like Jose Fonte (Southampton) or maybe even ex Rangers man Madjid Bougherra would complement big Brede nicely.
Who they’ll end up with
Given Jol’s main transfer dealing seems focussed on moving talismanic striker Zamora on, the previously mentioned big striker that holds up the ball, brings others into play but never scores position will need to be filled. Does the Fulham manager have Emile Heskey’s number handy? (MS)
8. Liverpool
What they need
A commanding centre forward and a skilful winger. And that doesn’t mean Andy Carroll or Stewart Downing. Despite costing a staggering £53m, both players have so far dramatically failed to produce the goods at Anfield, and it’s creating a big problem for Liverpool’s attack. It doesn’t take much analysis to deduce that their major problem is breaking teams down and scoring goals, and this is obviously even more of an issue since the suspension of Luis Suarez.
The ideal signing
Roberto Soldado from Valencia would be perfect – he’s been scoring goals for fun in Spain and certainly seems to know how to finish. On the wing, it would be something of a risk, but Scott Sinclair has shown this season that he can deliver in the top flight, and he has the pace to stretch the game. He couldn’t be as bad as Downing, surely.
Who they’ll end up with
If the noises from Kenny Dalglish are anything to go by – nobody. You get the impression he doesn’t want to admit defeat on Carroll just yet, and so it’s likely that the Jagerbomb enthusiast will get more games to prove his worth. (JP)
9. Manchester City
What they need
Everybody or nobody depending on who you ask or what the day is. Clearly with the ability to buy anyone, City are in a somewhat unique position of being able to stockpile talent whether they need it or not, and while some might argue after what seems like several billions of pounds worth of arrivals in the last couple of years that they shouldn’t need anyone it’s clear that a couple of areas could do with strengthening if the club are to fulfil all their expectations. Left back has been a problem area with Aleksandar Kolarov not convincing since he joined the club and Gael Clichy continuing the form he showed in recent years at Arsenal by being rubbish. With the notable exception of the magical David Silva the squad also seems to lack that fantasy element from midfield. If you couldn’t guess though, we are somewhat nitpicking.
The ideal signing
Given that City theoretically have the resources to get anyone they want, the ideal signing would be Lionel Messi, but in the real world and wanting top class a left back, Phillip Lahm of Bayern would give them a world of top options. If Bayern were reluctant to sell then a dip into the Spanish market for either of the slightly more unheralded Felipe of Atletico Madrid or Jordi Alba of Valencia would bear much fruit.
Who they’ll end up with
Despite the bottomless pockets that the owners have, it’s arguable whether any real arrivals will make their way to the club as you feel the squad is already chock full of players as it is. Then again, you also get the feeling that they won’t be able to resist a big splurge on someone. The fact remains though that rather frustratingly for City the man they look like they will end up with is the one they are desperate to get rid of; one Carlos Tevez. (MS)
10. Manchester United
What they need
A central midfielder that’s not Paul Scholes. And a central defender that’s not Jonny Evans. And maybe a decent goalkeeper as well. United have clearly suffered from injuries to key players, most notably Nemanja Vidic, and they could do with an injection of real quality to bolster their title push. While bringing back Scholes will provide a boost, it’s not quite the masterstroke that some are making out. Scholes wasn’t very good last season; that’s why he retired. Six months of having a kick about with the reserves is unlikely to transform him back to the Scholes of yesteryear.
The ideal signing
Wesley Sneijder was linked to Old Trafford all summer, and he would bring a real touch of class to an average looking United midfield. Another man apparently being chased by pretty much all the top clubs in Europe is Eden Hazard from Lille, and he would very much fit the bill. As would Benfica’s Nicolas Gaitan.
Who they’ll end up withPaul Scholes. Ferguson is not ordinarily a big spender in January, and it seems unlikely he’ll change that approach this year. United, despite being poor at times, are still very much in the title race and Ferguson will hope that a run of form for Rooney, some more assured displays from Rio Ferdinand and their title run-in experience will help them prevent the Premier League trophy heading across Manchester. (JP)
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