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It is common knowledge that clubs do not get the right value for your money during the January transfer window, with players’ prices inflated and the window for getting deals done small. However, if the Premier League’s big guns decide to spend big, there are a few players who could be the difference between second or third place, and the Premier League title.
This list consists of one player each title contender can buy in order to make them favourites for the Premier League crown.
Manchester United – Marco Reus
They might have numbers on the wing, but none out of Ashley Young, Nani, Antonio Valencia and Wilfried Zaha have been able to knock down a starting berth this season, with teenage sensation Adnan Jazuzaj the only winger to make a significant impression this term.
David Moyes’ side have been lacking in goals as well, apart from their strike partnership, and the signing of Marco Reus would help both fronts. The German winger could be sold for the right price, and could be interested in a move to Old Trafford.
Chelsea – Sami Khedira
Chelsea already have a squad too big to handle. In Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba, they have three strikers who could all be inconsistent, but have enough quality in between them to find goals on a regular basis.
Their attacking midfield is flooded with options, the defence is relatively strong, and Petr Cech is one of the league’s best shot-stoppers in goal. However, as was easily seen against Newcastle, they are struggling without a deep-lying playmaker who can put in a shift, with Frank Lampard slowly losing his pace and Ramires caught out of position all too frequently.
Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira could be a possible solution to this problem, with Madrid possibly ready to let the German leave for the right price.
Arsenal – Robert Lewandowski
The Arsenal machine might be working smoothly for now, but a threadbare striking line could leave them exposed between now and the end of the season. Olivier Giroud has been shouldering the burden all season, but even teammate Laurent Koscielny admitted earlier this week that the Frenchman could be tiring with the excessive gametime he is receiving.
Enter Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker’s contract ends in June, and is widely expected to be joining Borussia Dortmund’s rivals Bayern Munich over the summer. However, with Dortmund unlikely to want their star player in their direct rivals’ hands, Jurgen Klopp could be ready to part with Lewandowski in January for a minimal fee.
With Arsenal showing that they aren’t scared to spend big anymore, if the quality is available, a move for Lewandowski could be profitable for the Gunners.
Liverpool – Yohan Cabaye
When he joined Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers asked for time in order to implement his changes. Close to a year and a half later, and his Liverpool team seems to have slowly realised its potential, and is lying in second in the Premier League, just two points adrift of first-placed Arsenal.
However, they still have a few holes to cover, with the side still unconvincing at times, especially in their midfield and defence. Rodgers might not be able to sign the world’s biggest names due to the club’s lack of European football, but the solution to one of his problems might already be playing in the Premier League.
Sitting in front of either the back three or the back four, depending on the shape that Liverpool employ, Yohan Cabaye will be able to perform the dual role of a creative player in midfield and an extra man to drop back in defence when required. Signing Cabaye would also allow Steven Gerrard more positional freedom to venture forward to link up with the attacking players.
Manchester City – Leighton Baines
It’s tough to find a player who would make a difference to a club that has multiple players for each position and endless pools of money in reserve. However, Everton left-back Leighton Baines could be the right player to give the Citizens an edge in attack and solidity in defence.
Manchester City have been leaking goals at the back, and while a major reason for that has been Vincent Kompany’s prolonged absence, Aleksandar Kolarov’s defensive ineptitude has had a role to play as well, as the Serb, while good in attack, has been culpable at the back at times.
Getting Baines would provide a further defensive stability, while allow City to enjoy width while attacking, given Baines’ propensity to attack.
