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As we wrap up the final international break of the calendar year, with a third of the Premier League season done and dusted, we can start to make some fairly accurate predictions about the destination of the league title, the composition of the top 4, the relegation candidates, and so on.
Liverpool have been the team to beat thus far, and Manchester City have looked, at times, to be far from their best. The established order of the traditional top 6 seems to be fading away at the moment as the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur continue to struggle, by exciting their fans one week and crashing right back to earth the next.
Chelsea looks like an exciting prospect, with Frank Lampard's emphasis on youth development seemingly paying off, as the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, and Reece James continue to dazzle.
There have also been some unexpected contenders for the top spots in the league. Chelsea, whom many expected to have a fairly unremarkable season, currently sit in third, while Leicester City occupies 2nd place at the time of writing. Also, newly-promoted Sheffield United led admirably by manager Chris Wilder, are in fifth place now.
Despite all the good things we have seen from the big 6 this season, there are still issues, some not so glaring, and others that stick out like a sore thumb, which need to be addressed and fast. The January transfer window provides the perfect opportunity for teams to rectify current issues and spend half a season bedding in their new signings, before improving next season. There have been some huge transfers in Januaries gone by; the likes of Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, Virgil van Dijk and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, all key players for the clubs they signed for, were all brought in in the winter transfer window.
So, to that end, here is a list of one player each of the top 6 should look to sign in January.
6. Tottenham Hotspur: William
For viewers of the Premier League the world over, it cannot be denied that Tottenham Hotspur is currently experiencing their worst season under manager Mauricio Pochettino since he took charge of the club in 2014. In a matter of 6 months, Spurs have gone from Champions League finalists to the laughing stock of England, as a result of which Pochettino has ended up losing his job.
There are a whole host of problems, including several want-away stars, and key players with contracts running down swiftly, but some of their on-field problems are clear for all to see. In an attacking sense, things haven't been too bad, as they rank 5th in the league for goals scored, but the defence is another story.
Spurs have already conceded 17 goals in their opening 12 games, which puts them 12th in the league in that regard. Injuries have played their parts at times, but they are suffering. Losing Kieran Trippier in the summer without finding an adequate replacement was a blunder, as neither Serge Aurier nor youngster Kyle Walker-Peters seems good enough.
To that end, Spurs should probably look to sign Brazilian right-back William from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, who has started this season in promising fashion. His defensive numbers, especially, look excellent. He makes 4.1 tackles per game at a 66% success rate, coupled with 1.6 interceptions and a 51% aerial duel success rate.
Going forward, William is not excellent but is quite capable. He completes 43 passes per game at a 76% completion rate, which should improve if he joins the North London side, given their higher emphasis on possession of the ball. He also makes 0.9 key passes per game and can often swing in dangerous crosses.
At the age of just 24, there is still time for William to grow, and he could prove to be a solid winter investment for Spurs.
5. Manchester United: Christian Eriksen
Just like Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United are another club with a storied history who have fallen upon some not-so-good times. United haven't got their act together since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in 2013, now on their fourth manager in the last 6 years in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
While there are, quite rightfully, doubts as to whether the Norwegian is capable of handling the pressure and expectations that come with the job at Old Trafford, he does deserve a bit of slack for the current state of the playing squad, which is a mish-mash of players suiting different formations and styles of play. However, Solskjaer seems to know how he wants to build this side, and Christian Eriksen could be perfect in that sense.
It is well-known that United have had their struggles going forward, and questions have been raised about the quality of the forwards, but a more alarming and pressing issue is the lack of creativity in midfield, especially without Paul Pogba in it. Were United to add someone to help take some of the load off the Frenchman's shoulders, it would help tremendously.
Eriksen's contract expires in the summer of 2020, and while it would be difficult to sign him on a free transfer, United could try and tempt Tottenham with an offer in January, and acquire him at a knock-down price. The Dane's fantastic ability to pick a pass, coupled with a credible goal threat from deep, would certainly improve the team, and help unleash United's immense attacking potential.
4. Arsenal: Dayot Upamecano
The problems at Arsenal run far deeper than the football pitch, and indeed the backroom staff. Stories of absentee owners siphoning money out of the club, and the altercation between Granit Xhaka and the home fans at the Emirates Stadium, have left a sour taste in the mouth.
However, to keep it on the pitch, Arsenal has one glaring problem. And that is (surprise, surprise) the defence. Without the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette banging in the goals on an almost weekly basis, it is no exaggeration to say that the Gunners could potentially be embroiled in a relegation dogfight. Therefore, a defensive solution is undoubtedly urgently required.
The answer could well be RB Leipzig's French centre-back Dayot Upamecano. The youngster has been exceptional in the Bundesliga this season under Julian Nagelsmann. A total of 3.5 ball recoveries per game, along with 2.9 clearances and an aerial duel success rate of 67% speaks to his immense defensive ability. Also, Upamecano is a supreme distributor from deep. He averages a pass accuracy of 88.3% with 3.6 completed long balls per game, along with over 50 short passes, and loses the ball less than once per game. Provided Unai Emery is still in the Arsenal hot seat by the time January rolls around, Upamecano could well be the signing that saves his job.
3. Manchester City: Caglar Soyuncu
Throughout the summer, the news surrounding Manchester City was the fact that Vincent Kompany had departed, and that they had failed to recruit a replacement. City, however, was bullish about the fact that defensive midfielder Fernandinho could plug a gap there, if he was required, and so City started the season with 3 senior centre-backs; John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Aymeric Laporte.
Laporte's long-term injury, however, has thrown a spanner in the works, and City has looked extremely vulnerable in recent months, at times even resorting to playing Fernandinho and fellow midfielder Rodri in defence. It is clear that they need a solution-and fast, and that player could potentially be Leicester City centre-back Caglar Soyuncu.
It will be extremely difficult to prise him away from Leicester City, given the Foxes' fantastic start to the season, but the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola and the chance to compete for silverware consistently could help City bring him in.
So far this season, Soyuncu has been immense at the heart of Brendan Rodgers' defence, putting up 2.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, besides winning 65% of his aerial duels. It's also a good thing that, like Upamecano, Soyuncu is an excellent passer of the football, something that is a prerequisite for every player in a Pep system. He completes 87.8% of his total passes and also completes 3 long balls per game. This season, he has made an average of 71.9 passes per game, so he is comfortable with having to consistently pass accurately.
If this transfer goes through, Manchester City will have a real gem on their hands and will be praying that Soyuncu has the same effect for them that Virgil van Dijk had for Liverpool when he arrived in 2018.
2. Chelsea: Ben Chilwell
For Chelsea fans, there has been much to cheer this season. With club legend Frank Lampard at the helm, and the emergence of their talented youth prospects as a result of their transfer ban, the west London side currently sits third in the table, and no team has more points than them, except league leaders Liverpool.
There has been no problem whatsoever with Chelsea's front line, as well as midfield, with the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho all proving undroppable as the Blues look capable of netting against whoever they face.
However, the defence has been a worry, with Chelsea shipping goals like nobody's business. Some of that, however, can be attributed to the continued absences of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, and it can safely be assumed that that side of Chelsea's game will improve once the duo returns. Reece James has emerged as a genuine contender for the right-back berth along with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, so that position is well-covered.
It is the left-back spot that remains a concern for Chelsea, with Marcos Alonso looking a shadow of the league-winning player he was in 2016/17. Emerson is a decent option, but beyond that, Chelsea has nothing much to look forward to. The solution to this problem, therefore, could come in the form of Leicester City's Ben Chilwell.
So far this season, Chilwell has flourished, as have many Leicester players, under Brendan Rodgers' fluid, exciting system. He has averaged 2.5 ball recoveries per game, along with 1.4 key passes, and a total of 3 assists, all coming in the 9-0 demolition of Southampton. A mobile, two-way full-back, Chilwell would no doubt improve the Chelsea defence currently, and potentially, for years to come.
1. Liverpool: Ryan Fraser
What can be said about Liverpool that hasn't been said already? The current Champions League holders have been in imperious form this season, swatting away all before them with consummate ease, and look to be on track to win a first league title in 30 years, and their first Premier League trophy as they sit 8 points clear of their nearest challengers at the top of the Premier League table.
Arguably, the squad as it is is a Premier League-winning one, as Liverpool finished just a point below Manchester City in the season just gone by. One could even argue that it needed no additions and that all the Liverpool players fit perfectly in the side. While that may be true, there is one area Liverpool could look to upgrade; and that is their depth in attack. Beyond Divock Origi, Liverpool can only call upon youngsters Rhian Brewster and Harvey Elliott in the case of a long-term injury to one of their forwards.
To that end, we firmly believe that Liverpool should make a January move for Ryan Fraser. This is a transfer that has been mooted by several sources, and the logic behind it is sound. Fraser is now an established Premier League player and is still 25 years old, so he has a good blend of youth and experience. His energy with and without the ball would see him fit nicely into Jurgen Klopp's high octane pressing system, and his blistering pace could certainly help Liverpool take advantage of tiring defences late on in games. With his Scotland teammate Andy Robertson already at the club as well, don't be surprised if this move goes through.
