With the January transfer window now open, Alex Keble and Adrian Clarke assess each of the 20 Premier League clubs and pinpoint areas they need to strengthen.
Nottingham Forest
Targets: Goalkeeper & forward
Nuno Espirito Santo could well be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper.
The club sanctioned deals for Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos last summer, but neither 'keeper has cemented their place in Forest's starting XI.
Making costly mistakes between them, Vlachodimos has a record of -4.1 goals prevented, according to Opta, with US international Turner not faring much better on -2.7.
Indeed, the duo rank 29th and 31st in that category out of the 34 'keepers used in the Premier League this season.
While the form of striker Chris Wood is a boost - he has scored seven goals in 18 appearances - I expect Forest’s new head coach to target a striker. First-choice forward Taiwo Awoniyi is set for three more months on the sidelines, so boosting Forest's attacking options could be imperative.
Former Liverpool favourite Roberto Firmino has been a name mentioned and this type of forward, who links play cleverly, would be ideal for a counter-attacking team like Forest.
Sheffield United
Targets: Attacking midfielder
The Blades need to improve at both ends of the pitch to give themselves a fighting chance of safety.
Former Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz has joined on loan from Villarreal, but Chris Wilder may also targeted another striking option. Scoring only 15 times so far, Sheff Utd at present are not equipped to produce the volume of goals they will need to escape the bottom three.
Wilder's side also must be more creative, so a midfielder or wide player who makes chances will also be on their radar.
Sunderland’s in-form winger Jack Clarke, who had spells at Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur, has been linked. Netting a meagre eight goals from open play, Sheff Utd have registered the fewest shots in the division this season.
On the back of some recent mistakes by Wes Foderingham, the Blades head coach may also be interested in a new goalkeeper. It would feel harsh on Foderingham, who has largely been excellent since joining the club, but his save ratio this season of 64.5 per cent is below expectation.
Having made their first signing of the January transfer window already, you can still expect Sheff Utd to be active this month.
Targets: Central defender/midfielder
Ange Postecoglou’s squad has been stretched to the max by an injury crisis, so the Australian is likely to ask for fresh legs.
Central defence could be his first port of call. First choice pair Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are excellent, but there is not a great deal of quality depth in this position. Spurs will be looking at fast, young centre-backs who suit their pressing style, but any targets will also need to be comfortable playing out from the back. Genoa's Romanian centre-back Radu Dragusin is reported to be a target.
Spurs would also benefit from an additional central midfielder. Rodrigo Bentancur’s return from injury is a welcome lift, but when Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr are unavailable - as they are at the moment - Spurs are light on options. With Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg being linked with an exit, we could see the Dane replaced before the end of the month.
Postecoglou could also consider bringing in a striker. They are scoring goals, but Harry Kane has still not been replaced with a finisher. After Son Heung-min's 12 goals, the next-best scorer is Richarlison, with six. With Son now away on Asia Cup duty too, the reports of Spurs working on a deal to bring former Chelsea forward Timo Werner are understandable.
West Ham United
Targets: Creative midfielder & forward
West Ham are flying, but outside the first-choice starting XI they do not have as much strength in depth as David Moyes would like.
In an ideal world he would recruit a new striker. Using Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in that position has worked fine of late, but with Michail Antonio and Danny Ings now 33 and 31 years old respectively, he must look towards the future.
Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy, with 17 Bundesliga goals already, is a name that has been mentioned, but the Hammers are sure to have multiple targets in mind. A front man with height and pace would suit their style of play.
An imaginative attacking midfielder would also enhance West Ham’s squad.
James Ward-Prowse is performing well in that position but is arguably more effective in a box-to-box role instead. Snapping up a No 10 would act as an insurance policy should Lucas Paqueta be targeted by bigger clubs in the summer window.
The Hammers have also been stretched at centre-back this season. Moyes is a huge admirer of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Max Kilman, who would be the type of defender who fits the bill at the London Stadium.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Targets: A new No 9
Gary O’Neil has admitted he wanted to bring a No 9 into the club last summer, so keep your eye on Wolves adding that type of player to their ranks this month.
The team have scored more goals than expected, which means they may not be in a hurry to add a striker, but if one of their targets becomes available, they are likely to try and get the deal done.
The loans of forwards Fabio Silva (to Rangers) and Sasa Kalajdzic (Eintracht Frankfurt) have opened up a spot in the squad.
Planning for the future might also come into O’Neil’s thinking. Star men Pedro Neto and Kilman have been linked with other clubs, so we could see a fast wide man and central defender arrive at Molineux, too.
Wolves are enjoying a terrific campaign and find themselves in a position where they can tinker with the squad rather than having to make hurried short-term acquisitions.
Also in this series
Part 1: Arsenal to Brighton
Part 3: Burnley to Fulham
Part 3: Liverpool to Newcastle
