5 football clubs that desperately need to buy before the transfer deadline

The transfer window offers an opportunity for teams to be able to fill gaps in their squad, so that they can ensure that the season ahead is successful. Irrespective of whether its a big or a small club, the need for new players every season is certainly there. With the August transfer window now in its last legs, here are a few clubs that desperately need to make some signings before the window slams shut.

#1 FC Barcelona

Normally, the transfer activity that Barcelona have had during this window would count as good business. They brought in Luis Suarez, arguably the 3rd best player in the world behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. They also brought in much needed replacements in the form of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ivan Rakitic, Thomas Vermaelen, Claudio Bravo and Jeremy Mathieu. They also sold players that weren’t working out for a significant amount of money, especially Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez.

But the transfer ban that they are staring at for the next 2 transfer windows will hurt their chances for next season as well as the Champions League, and it is imperative that they make more signings before the present transfer window closes. While they may have some good players, one can never predict injuries and form, and to wait till January 2016 would spell doom for a club as huge as Barcelona. Even if it means not playing some of the players as regularly as they would like to justify salaries, taking a longer view would be more beneficial for the club at the present time. True, their ban may yet be overturned by the CAS, but that’s a gamble that they cannot afford to depend on.

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#2 Manchester United

Louis van Gaal may be a refreshing change for Manchester United after the disaster that was David Moyes, but even he won’t be able to do any miracles if the present squad goes into September without significant additions. As evidenced in the first two games of the Premier League, Manchester United’s midfield has hardly been convincing, and to win the league or even get into the top 4, they need players who can dominate that area.

Their new signings have already been injured, with both Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera already sitting out of games. Michael Carrick is already on the injury table, and even if he were available, it is vital to have an understudy in place to groom as and when Carrick moves on, considering he’s already 33 years. Even the defence needs a major upgrade (despite Rojo’s signing) after the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. With van Gaal forced to play a 3-5-2 formation for the moment, the pressure on the centre backs is far too high for them to cope and they need a lot of quality there. Even their forward line could use some help, for no manager seems to trust Javier Hernandez to give him an extended run, and while Danny Welbeck can do a job, he’s not a like for like replacement for either Wayne Rooney or Robin van Persie.

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#3 AC Milan

For a club that has won 7 European Cups, they currently are in a bad state of affairs. While it is certainly nice to see other clubs having a shot at the European spots, it is still sad for a club of the stature of AC Milan to not be part of the European elite. They need some major star power to propel them to the top 3, if not challenge for the title, on which Juventus seems to have a vice like grip!

They certainly have made some signings, but none of them are really awe-inspiring. When you look at the team-sheet, there is nothing there to suggest that the opposition needs to be intimidated, perhaps apart from El Shaarawy. With Mario Balotelli bound for Liverpool, they need to make a statement of intent. It was Balotelli who propelled to the Champions League spots during the 2012/2013 season, and they need a similar impactful signing if they are to be taken seriously in this campaign. Of course, money is certainly a problem, but if they don’t find a way soon, they’ll end up a forgotten club not before long.

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#4 Bayern Munich

It’ll probably be a bit rich to suggest that Bayern Munich need to make some desperate signings, but that’s what their coach Pep Guardiola certainly feels. While the club certainly takes in all the talented players on offer, they are a bit short at the moment that can cause problems to them. While they have brought in Robert Lewandowski, they’ve lost both Mario Mandzukic and Toni Kroos.

Added to that is the injury list that they are facing presently, with their biggest loss being Javi Martinez who may not even feature this season. Along with him are Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thiago Alcantara who are not scheduled to recover any time soon. If Bayern don’t want to lose ground, they’ll need to find quick solutions for their preidcament, and splashing the cash in the transfer market is certainly the quickest way.

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#5 Arsenal

For Arsenal, this is almost a regular appearance, even during a transfer window where they seem to have done all their business quite early, which is certainly surprising. However, a closer look at the squad shows a gaping hole in central defence, and an inadequate support at Right Back. True, Calum Chambers may have played well so far, but to expect a 19 year old to be shifting across the backline as support, and if rumours are to be trusted even as a defensive midfielder, is putting too much burden. They need to sign at least one central defender, and a full back if they are to cope with the amount of injuries they always seem to have.

They also need a defensive midfielder, and though Arteta is the captain, he’ll definitely a much younger player in support if Arsenal are not to be caught out against the big teams. Flamini is an option, but he seems to have lost the manager’s confidence. Up top, there has been an incessant cry for a proven goalscorer and to have only Giroud again, with Sanogo in support, would yet again spell disaster for the team.