Not all clubs are able to buy players in January, but that doesn’t mean they’re not considering their options.
And with just-under two weeks until the transfer window closes, talkSPORT.com has taken a look at the top target for every Premier League club.
AFC Bournemouth – Chris Mepham (Brentford)
Bournemouth have been pretty active in January so far – securing a £19million move for Dominic Solanke and a loan deal for Nathaniel Clyne – both from Liverpool.
And it’s understood the Cherries are close to bringing in Brentford’s Chris Mepham for over £15m to bolster a defence that has been shipping goals recently – conceding 17 goals in their last five games.
However, Bournemouth’s main priority this season has to be keeping hold of star striker Callum Wilson, who has been linked with Chelsea and West Ham in January.
Arsenal – Denis Suarez (Barcelona)
Unai Emery declared last week that Arsenal can only sign players on loan in January which is a massive blow for a club in the middle of its transition phase.
However, one name that has been linked with a move to the Emirates is unsettled Barca midfielder Denis Suarez.
It is understood the Gunners will pay £2m for his services until the end of the season with a view to buying him on a permanent deal in the summer.
Brighton & Hove Albion – Alexis Mac Allister (Argentinos Juniors)
Brighton are in a good place. Eight points clear of the relegation zone and simply too good to go down so there’s no great need for them to recruit this winter.
However, the Seagulls have been linked with a move for Argentinian prospect Alexis Mac Allister.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who also has roots in Scotland, has great potential but signing a player from Argentina can be tricky due to work permit issues.
Burnley – Demetri Mitchell (Manchester United)
Despite their crucial victory over Fulham last weekend, Burnley are still a club at risk of suffering relegation after an excellent campaign last season.
Sean Dyche’s men really could do with another defender to tighten things up at the back but they have not been linked with many players this window.
However, according to the Daily Mirror, Manchester United winger Demetri Mitchell has reportedly attracted interest from the Clarets and Bournemouth after his productive loan spell at Hearts in the Scottish Premier League.
Cardiff – Emiliano Sala (Nantes)
Goals goals goals are on Cardiff’s agenda for the second half of the season if they want to stay up in the Premier League having played defender Callum Paterson up front for a lot of the campaign.
And to their credit, they have taken action, securing the loan signing of Oumar Niasse from Everton and they’re also on the verge of completing a deal for Nantes striker Emiliano Sala.
Sala, who has 12 goals in 19 Ligue 1 appearances this season, has flown out to Cardiff for a medical but is not expected to feature in their crucial Premier League clash with Newcastle on Saturday as Nantes want him to play one final game for them on Sunday.
Chelsea – Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)
Chelsea are in need of a natural goalscorer and it looks like they’re finally going to get one in the form of Gonzalo Higuain.
The Juventus man, who has spent the first half of the season on loan at AC Milan, is expected to move on loan in January with the option to extend it for a further 12 months in the summer.
Crystal Palace – Cenk Tosun (Everton)
Crystal Palace missed out on striker Cenk Tosun a year ago after he chose to join Everton from Besiktas, however, things have not gone to plan for the Turkey international.
Marco Silva does not appear to rate Tosun that highly as he has been restricted to appearances from the bench more often than not.
And the Liverpool Echo claims Palace are willing to go for Tosun again as they desperately search for an out-and-out striker to add some much-needed goals to their game.
Everton – Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)
Exciting changes are going on at Everton but most of their transfer dealings in January are likely to see players leave Goodison Park rather than come in.
However, they could be ready to pounce on Ryan Fraser, who is yet to sign a new deal at the Cherries, with The Sun reporting Everton are monitoring the situation.
Fulham – Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
In truth, it would probably do Fulham good not to bring any more players in as they’re a squad full of new faces with little idea how to play together.
But if they were to bring in someone else, then a defensive leader is what they need as the Cottagers have been far too easy to breach at the back this season.
And Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill could be on his way to the Blues’ west London rivals after his links with Arsenal have gone quiet.
Huddersfield – A new manager
Huddersfield need a miracle to stay up and could do with multiple new signings. But they need to get someone in to manage the players first following David Wagner’s departure on Monday.
Under-19s coach Mark Hudson has been put in charge for the Terriers’ Premier League clash at home to Manchester City on Sunday – a game you can listen to live on talkSPORT – and if they can get a result then that could give him the job full-time.
But given Huddersfield are bottom of the division and eight points off safety, the manager’s job is something of a poisoned chalice.
Leicester City – Brendan Rodgers (Celtic)
Leicester have hit something of a rut lately through their Carabao Cup and FA Cup exits in quick succession.
They’re clearly suffering from losing their best player in Riyad Mahrez over the summer and manager Claude Puel’s future is looking very uncertain.
Few players have been linked with moves to Leicester in January as there seems to be little appeal to go there at the moment so perhaps a new manager is what the club needs.
Brendan Rodgers has been linked with a move to the King Power Stadium, but the Celtic boss has stayed true to conventions and distanced himself from the role in public.
Liverpool – Weston McKennie (Schalke)
Jurgen Klopp seemed to be quite irritated by talkSPORT’s Ian Abrahams suggestion that Liverpool need to bring in another defender in January due to their injury crisis at the back.
However, they have been linked with a move for Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie in January and will try again in the summer if they can’t get a deal over the line for the American, according to The Sun.
Manchester City – A replacement for Fernandinho
These are big boots to fill as Fernandinho is arguably Manchester City’s most important player.
But the Brazilian turns 34 in May so Pep Guardiola will be determined to get someone in sooner rather than later after failing to land Jorginho in the summer, who chose to join Chelsea instead.
City have been linked with the likes of Declan Rice, Ruben Neves and Croatian wonderkid Ante Palaversa.
Manchester United – Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli)
Jose Mourinho was unable to land a centre-back in the summer but now life at Old Trafford is looking more rosy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, there could be an opportunity to bring in a top class defender.
They have been heavily linked with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly despite manager Carlo Ancelotti claiming the Senegal international does not want to leave.
Newcastle United – Gregoire Defrel (Roma)
Let’s face it, even though Newcastle could do with some more players to boost their chances of survival, they’re unlikely to sign anyone in January.
But stranger things have happened in football and Corriere dello Sport claims the Magpies have offered £13m for Roma outcast Gregoire Defrel.
The striker is currently on loan at Sampdoria and with seven goals so far this term, Defrel could give Newcastle a little extra panache up front.
Southampton – Jean-Kevin Augustin (RB Leipzig)
Saints have improved noticeably since Ralph Hasenhuttl was appointed manager in December and he may be making an impact in the transfer market too.
Exciting youngster Jean-Kevin Augustin, who worked under the Austrian at RB Leipzig, could be on his way to the south coast.
However, Hasenhuttl has remained coy on the Augustin speculation, saying: “It’s nice that we are linked with this guy. I know Jean-Kevin very well and every player I know well is linked with us.”
Tottenham – Giuseppe Rossi (Free agent)
Harry Kane’s injury and Heung-min Son at the Asian Cup has prompted a frantic search for a new striker in January and their answer could be former Manchester United man Giuseppe Rossi.
Spurs have reportedly made an approach for the Italian on a pay-as-you-play deal for the free agent.
He was last at Serie A club Genoa before leaving at the end of last season.
Watford – Maxwel Cornet (Lyon)
Watford’s main concern this transfer window has to focus on keeping players rather than buying players with Abdoulaye Doucoure telling French media he plans to leave the Hornets.
However, an intriguing rumour saw Lyon winger Maxwel Cornet linked to Watford early in January.
It would be a major coup for Javi Gracia’s men if they could recruit someone of Cornet’s quality but acquisitions at Vicarage Road seem unlikely.
West Ham – Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
With Marko Arnautovic eager to leave for the Chinese Super League, West Ham will be frantically looking around for a new striker.
And it looks like the Hammers want to bring in Bournemouth frontman Callum Wilson.
He was linked with a move to Chelsea, but given Higuain is close to joining the Blues, that could clear the path for the east London club to pursue England international Wilson.
Wolves – Che Adams (Birmingham City)
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves have enjoyed a good first half of the season on their return to the Premier League but they need more firepower up front.
And after failing to land Tammy Abraham earlier this month, Wolves are looking at Birmingham frontman Che Adams, according to the Daily Mirror.
