Premier League - Transfer Special: Part 1
What relegation threatened clubs need to do by January 31st in order to keep their Premier League status:
20th - Norwich City - 17 points
After 26 games played in the Premier League season, Norwich find themselves in a desperate situation and will have to fight for their lives to retain their Premier League status.
They have already been busy in the window however, which is encouraging for their fans but also highlights the desperate situation they now find themselves in. So far Norwich have spent money on Rupp and Duda both from the Bundesliga in typical Farke fashion. They have targeted creative midfield as an area that needs improvement and Duda who signed on loan from parent club Hertha Berlin, got an assist on his debut for Norwich.
In my opinion, I’d say these were good signings, particularly Duda who has a good goal/assist record in the Bundesliga. However, I’d say the position which needs improving with greater urgency is centre half.
Even at the start of the season when Pukki was in incredible form and Norwich were looking an exciting team, they were still very leaky at the back. That has continued throughout the season, partly due to injuries preventing Farke from selecting a regular back four but also a lack of Premier League experience at centre half. It’s not easily found with the budget Norwich have to work with but a centre back with Premier League experience is what Norwich most need before the window closes next Friday.
Norwich City currently find themselves at Rock Bottom - despite playing some entertaining football.
19th - Watford - 23 points
Despite the disappointing defeat to Aston Villa on Tuesday, Watford have been vastly improved since Nigel Pearson was appointed as manager. He has experience in being in this sort of situation and it’s shown in Watford’s performances. It feels like they were overcomplicating it under Quique Sanchez Flores and a return to basics has really benefited this Watford side.
Remember this is the same team which made the FA Cup final last season and finished 11thin the Premier League. Pearson seems to be getting the best out of this talented group of players and despite their current precious position, I think they’ll comfortably stay in the league. They have made one signing so far in January with 24-year-old winger Pussetto from Udinese, but I don’t think Watford need to rush in and make any other transfers this window. They have a strong enough squad to stay up and as we’ve seen with Aston Villa, too many new faces aren’t always a positive thing.
Watford have solidified since Nigel Pearson has taken charge.
18th - Bournemouth - 23 points
Bournemouth’s recent run has been the worst one Eddie Howe has had as a Premier League manager. Despite his remarkable achievements with the club, questions over his future have suddenly arisen.
Bournemouth recorded a massive win on Tuesday at home to Brighton and Callum Wilson’s goal draught finally ending was a big positive for them. However, despite those three goals against Brighton, Bournemouth remain the second lowest scoring team in the league.
I think they have really missed the creativity and goals from injured David Brooks, but an even bigger issue has been the lack of goals from their strikers. Callum Wilson started the season looking sharp and hungry for goals and like the player who has been linked with a move to Chelsea last January.
However, he has since suffered a major goal drought and with Joshua King currently injured, Solanke has shown little sign of the promising young player who Bournemouth signed from Liverpool. They aren’t currently linked with anyone, but I don’t think that is a problem.
The potentially bigger issue is losing key players like Ryan Fraser who is being linked with a move to West Ham and Ake who is being targeted by Chelsea for a return to the Bridge. If they are to survive this season, it’s vital they keep hold of both players if they are to stay up.
They also need Wilson to continue his resurgence and Solanke has to start proving why he was so highly rated in the first place.
Things haven’t clicked this season with Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth
17th - West Ham - 23 points
David Moyes has steadied things at West Ham and a combination of bringing in experienced Randolph after Fabianski’s latest injury setback and Antonio returning from injury, I think West Ham have what they need to stay up.
Antonio has in my opinion been West Ham’s best player when he’s been fit this season and he seems to link up well with big summer signing Haller. With those two leading the attack, I think West Ham have goals in them and their back four is stronger on paper than some of the other relegation candidates.
The lack of options at right back is the biggest concern for me as Zabaleta at the age of 35 is being overused and doesn’t look the player he once was. So if West Ham were to do anything from now to January 31st it would be to bring in a younger right back as someone who can rotate with Zabaleta.
Just today the club has been linked with a return of former Hammers hero Payet but in all honesty the sour way in which things ended the first time, I don’t see it happening and if it did, I don’t see it benefiting either party. West Ham have an incredibly creative player in Lanzini and so I would say a bigger priority would be to try and get the best out of him.
David Moyes has steadied things at West Ham, although there’s still room for improvement
16th - Aston Villa - 25 points
It just emphasises how close the Premier League table is right now when Villa’s win against fellow relegation threatened Watford brought them up from 18th to 16th.
To avoid Premier League relegation this season, there is a consensus that the usual 40-point mark might not be enough to guarantee staying up. That is largely due to how open and unpredictable this season has been and how other than Liverpool, no side in the league has shown consistency. Therefore, Aston Villa have a chance to stay in the league despite being underwhelming for large parts of the season so far.
They have also already been busy in the window, bringing in Premier League winner Drinkwater from Chelsea, ex Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina from AC Milan and Genk striker Samatta for £10m. A striker was a big priority considering the injury to their previously only fit forward Wesley, as was the astonishing signing of Pepe Reina after first choice keeper Tom Heaton got ruled out for the reminder of the season.
Reina has already made a big impact for his new club, making some big saves in the vital win at Villa Park on Tuesday night. However, there is more risk involved with the highly rated striker Samatta as is often the way with strikers joining the Premier League for the first time. Villa need his goals and Grealish to continue his brilliant form if they are to stay up this season, but I don’t think Dean Smith’s side need to delve further into the window this time out as mass signings didn’t work for them in the summer.
The signings they have made could make a big difference to their season as a player like Drinkwater should add just the right balance to Villa’s midfield, Reina looks to still be a reliable goalkeeper and Samatta could be Villa’s answer up top in the absence of Wesley.
Captain Jack Grealish has been influential for an inconsistent Aston Villa side.
16th Brighton - 25 points
Brighton’s form has suddenly slumped and they are back in the relegation debate, but I think they will be fine. They have a great work ethic for starters and a very intelligent manager in Graham Potter.
He is the epitome of a man who excels when you give him time to build. He took Swedish side Ostersunds FK from the fourth division to the Europa League in his time in Sweden. His style of play has really been on show at Brighton and it’s a highly attractive style.
The signing of Maupay from Brentford in the summer has also proven to be a shrewd one from Potter who appears to have a clear transfer strategy. He takes notice of players who impress him when he sees them play for other clubs and Maupay is a prime example of this as he played several times against Potters previous club Swansea.
That is why Brighton haven’t rushed into making desperate signings in this window, they will likely only bring anyone in if they fit the right profile of player that they are looking for. I would say that a creative midfielder would be their biggest priority, defensively they are strong and well organised, but they are only averaging a goal per game. When you take away Maupay’s goals, they are missing an attacking midfielder who can score and set up goals, particularly as Gross’s form has dipped considerably.
They have recently been linked with 24-year-old Morosini from Italian side Brescia and I think he could be the ideal man for Potter. They have looked to a box-to-box midfielder in Aaron Mooy for their creativity this season but Morosini would offer something a bit different. He’s more of a typical number 10 and he was an essential part of Brescia’s team which got promoted to the Serie A last season.
Neil Maupay has got off to a great start in his maiden Premier League season.