5 European clubs that require radical changes in personnel

As clubs everywhere count down to the resumption of the domestic seasons, the transfer window kicks into full swing and, for some, new additions are imperative to overcome the mistakes of last season. While a few clubs have used an aggressive approach and others a relatively measured one, some have just been left behind and may be in danger of missing out.While not all clubs need to be gung-ho in reinforcing their line-ups, some who desperately need to have done little or nothing to indicate that they’re moving towards targets to replenish their teams in the areas they need to strengthen.Poor transfer acumen left a handful of sides in the troublesome situations last campaign and a squad revamp could turn their fortunes around.Here is a list of clubs which desperately need to clear out the clutter and add fresh legs for the coming season.

#1 Newcastle United

Austin the man to solve goal drought at St. James’ Park?

The arrival of John Carver on Tyneside initiated free-fall for the Magpies in the latter stages of last season, as they collected a desolate four points from their final eleven Premier League matches. With Papiss Cissé the only Newcastle player to register more than ten goals last term, a potent striker is top of the list for new manager Steve McLaren.

An exciting youngster has eluded St. James’ Park for some time now but 24-year-old Georginio Wijnaldum has completed the switch to Newcastle. While the Dutchman could spearhead the revitalisation of the Magpies’ midfield, QPR’s Charlie Austin could prove the best solution to the goal drought, with Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has netted 36 times for Anderlecht, being tipped as a younger alternative.

McLaren will have his work cut out if he is to bring in West Ham target Aymen Abdennour, the man thought to be the answer to Fabricio Collocini’s inevitable departure to Argentina.

Mike Williamson is another thought to be surplus to requirements, while some bigger names such as Moussa Sissoko and Tim Krul are subject to alleged interest from Liverpool and Crystal Palace respectively.

#2 FC Schalke 04

Johannes Geis signed on a four-year deal from Mainz

It was a Bundesliga season like no other, the only familiarity being Bayern’s dominance at the top of the tree. Gladbach and Wolfsburg tightened their grips on second and third, leaving Schalke without Champions League action. This is something of a rarity for the Gelsenkirchen side and the club now sits in a position where new manager André Breitenreiter will have to send the excess baggage packing and invest wisely this window.

Johannes Geis has already signed on a four-year deal and avid Bundesliga fans will hope he can emulate last season’s heroics at Mainz, meanwhile, Joel Matip has been strongly linked with a £10-million move to Newcastle and Italian Davide Astori from Cagliari is rumoured to supersede the Cameroon international.

The clear-out would be complete if they send Max Choupo-Moting and Klass Jan-Huntelaar packing and make a shock move for Christian Benteke in order to abide by the fast-paced game Breitenreiter will be looking to play.

#3 Napoli

Could Higuain move away to find Champions League football?

Following a less-than-impressive campagin in Serie A, which saw Gli Azzuri slump a 5th place finish, Napoli have lost Rafael Benitez to Real Madrid, a factor which has only heightened their collapse and left the side with a lot to ponder. Their absence from Europe’s elite competitions has signalled unrest from some of their biggest names including Marek Hamsik and Gonzalo Higuain, whose availability has sent shockwaves across the continent.

Reinforcing the defence could play centre-stage this window for a side which shipped a rather heavy 54 goals last season and letting the aforementioned two plus Faouzi Ghoulam, who has been linked with a switch to North-London this Summer, could bolster the transfer kitty enough to invest in the back-line.

Hijacking Arsenal’s speculated interest in Daniele Rugani could prove the priority, while the Maurizio Sarri’s side could join the race to land Davide Astori themselves. Sassuolo full-back Sime Vrsaljko could slot in for Ghoulam.

Although Napoli are regarded as one of Italy’s most traditional outfits, they are not the most affluent of sides and alterations in personnel could rely solely on big moves out of the club. Ultimately though, this is a club in need of supplementary additions if they are to mirror the successes of times gone by.

#4 Borussia Dortmund

Thomas Tuchel has taken over from Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund

Having gradually had the fabric of their team pulled apart by Bayern Munich in the transfer market, Dortmund are a side whose decline has come as a result of letting big names go and bringing in a catalogue of individuals as opposed to a couple of world-class replacements.

After braving an early-season relegation battle to eventually finish seventh, the club are a shadow of the Champions League finalists of 2013 and have seen the form of many of their players tarnished by injuries and new manager Thomas Tuchel will find great difficulty in knowing what his best eleven are.

Roman Burki has arrived as Roman Weidenfeller’s potential heir to the goalkeeping throne, while Gonzalo Castro enhances squad depth ahead of Dortmund’s arduous forthcoming Europa League campaign.

Dortmund will attempt to keep last season’s top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has flirted with a move to some of the continent’s finest clubs. On the other hand, fellow forward Adrian Ramos may be used as leverage by the German club, to fuel an offer for Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland, in a move that would transform Dortmund’s attacking armoury.

While big stars Mats Hummels and Marco Reus finally look set to stay, Die Schwarzgelben may be perfectly happy to sell Ilkay Gundogan and Lukas Piszcek, if moves for William Carvalho and Mattia De Sciglio come to fruition.

#5 Manchester City

Could De Bruyne be on his way to City?

City’s initial free-spending approach was grounded by the shackles of financial fair play, regulations which have since been met by the club, allowing them to give the squad a mass overhaul this Summer. Young and hungry for first-team action is the criteria Pellegrini will be looking to meet with his additions, after an aging squad finished eight points adrift of league victors Chelsea.

Reportedly warranting a hefty fee of £50-million is Wolfsburg’s midfield dynamo Kevin De Bruyne, who is thought to be a prime target for City in their bid to add more versatility to a static midifield which failed to cope with the multitude of fixtures last term.

While Edin Dzeko is destined to leave for regular first-team football, the Sky Blues have snapped up Bursaspor forward Enes Unal as a potential replacement; a testament to the injection of youth into the first team squad. A deal for Raheem Sterling would extend the spending to well beyond £100-million and the likes of eager-to-leave Samir Nasri or Yaya Touré could ignite a City exodus.

Furthermore, in order to acknowledge the homegrown player restrictions, City may be forced to counteract the departures of Englishmen James Milner and Micah Richards with deals for Ross Barkley and Fabian Delph, to ensure their squad is home to some native blood. This could mean Pellegrini is extra cautious in the market and is restricted to the numbers of individuals he can ship in from across the continent, unless he is to show some foreign faces the exit door.