We are virtually at the halfway stage of the Premier League and, as far as this SBOTOP observer is concerned, it’s very clear who needs what.
If it were up to me, Manchester United would hire a new manager who played a system which suited his players, and Wolves would start to treat their fans to have a new team because they don’t deserve what they’ve experienced over the last six months or so.
As neither of those decisions is in my gift, though, I think the purpose of this article is to identify where I think top-flight sides could be best strengthened as they bid to put Premier League 2025 highlights – some have had far more than others – behind them and welcome in 2026.
In terms of players. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has assembled a super squad which seems well equipped to end the club’s long title wait – our Premier League 2025 betting odds concur. However, the side has experienced such misfortune on the injury front, the Gunners hierarchy could be forgiven for thinking they could do with one more defensive recruit.
William Saliba’s recent return has come at a perfect time, just as the hectic festive period was beginning, but they can ill afford to lose him or last summer’s signing Piero Hincapie, with both the influential Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera still out – the latter until mid-January.
Likewise, Manchester City don’t need much, but I do think they would struggle if they were without the services of runaway top scorer Erling Haaland.
If Arsenal and City are the top two, Villa are also in the mix as we approach the halfway stage.
Realistically, they are likely to be kingmakers as opposed to kings, but home victories over both the top two in the last two months have put them in a healthy position. Indeed, they could keep themselves at the sharp end should they repeat their January transfer window of last season when Marcus Rashford and Marcos Asensio arrived on loan.
Of course, if their two loanees this season, Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott, produce what they are capable of, then their squad will be strengthened greatly in the second half of the campaign.
Bournemouth lost two of their best players last summer in Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, and certainly cannot afford to lose any more of their key men, especially Antoine Semenyo.
If they can get beyond the first fortnight, after which the attacker’s £65 million release clause becomes inactive, the Cherries will be better placed to rediscover their early-season form through the second half of the campaign. Tyler Adams’ injury is a concern because, without the USA international, manager Andoni Iraola is light on natural defensive midfielders.
Likewise, Crystal Palace have a superb skipper in Marc Guehi, who they need to keep hold of as they juggle European and domestic commitments. To lose him now would be foolish and totally undermine the decision to reject Liverpool’s advances in the summer.
Oliver Glasner wants Palace to use the winter window to ‘’correct what we missed in the summer ‘’, with a wide forward and a right wing-back towards the top of his list. Ismaila Sarr’s injury and AFCON call-up give Glasner the perfect opportunity to highlight how light they are on attacking width, especially on the left.
Centre-forwards generally remain at a premium and, while their top-flight status is not under threat, Everton could do with someone who can regularly put the ball in the net to deliver an end product to the work of the likes of Jack Grealish and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall.
Fulham don’t just need a more prolific striker, they could do with reinforcements in a number of areas. If supported, manager Marco Silva will be able to push the Cottagers much further up the table.
Elsewhere, United need a new system at best, a new manager at worst, but as neither is likely to happen, a mobile central midfielder to complement the guile of Casemiro would be a start.
Newcastle are down to two fit centre-backs and remain involved in all competitions. Sunderland could do with their returning AFCON men back as soon as possible, and West Ham require a frontman who can find the net now Niclas Fullkrug seems set to go to AC Milan, initially on a six-month loan. That completely surprises me as I thought he would be a real hit when he moved to the east end of London in the summer of 2024.
So, there you have it, the January transfer window is upon us, and every club needs something just some more than others.
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