JANUARY represents a notoriously difficult transfer window for clubs to shop.
The player value is really high because no one wants to risk weakening their position by selling one of their better players.
However, that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning as players are constantly being linked to moves throughout the month.
However, there will inevitably be some movement at the top level, with the financial heavyweights likely to trigger moves as they can afford moves at this time of year.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United are three such clubs rumored to be eyeing a deal in January.
Below we look at one profile that each club should focus on to achieve their respective goals: competing for the title and top four bids, moving away from relegation and towards European contention.
Chelsea
Given how gung-ho they have been since taking over Clearlake under Todd Boehly, it wouldn't be unusual to suggest that Chelsea will be active this winter.
However, despite boasting one of the most bloated squads in top-flight football, they still lack quality options in the center of defence.
Nowadays, teams seem to prefer centre-backs who are extremely comfortable with the ball at their feet and who can contribute in the build-up phase of their team.
But if we think back to Jose Mourinho's dominant Chelsea team, they had their former captain John Terry at the back – a defensive player who was more comfortable making tackles and duels than playing line-breaking passes.
This is the profile that Chelsea currently lack in their side's defensive unit, and for that, 20-year-old Lens star Abdukodir Khusanov would be the perfect fit.
The young Uzbek international is in his first season in the French Ligue 1, but is already being linked with major transfers across the continent.
He is powerful, aggressive and dominant and fits the age profile Chelsea have targeted in recruitment, meaning he still has areas in which he can improve.
Khusanov is the definition of an aggressive and front foot defender and this is where he profiles himself in a similar way to Terry in his prime.
He is comfortable defending tightly in 1-on-1 situations where the opposing striker wants to stand with his back to the defender to receive the ball and allow his team to advance the ball.
However, he is also comfortable and able to defend large areas of space, showing mobility in his movements to cover large areas.
The biggest criticism of him at the moment is that he can sometimes be overly aggressive in challenges, although that only further endears him to the fans of the team he plays for.
Signing a player like Khusanov would bring a profile to the squad that Chelsea lacks.
Arsenal
Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal feel they are so close to creating the right environment with their squad build to take the next step and win the Premier League.
Yet the Christmas period hit them with a huge blow, with Bukayo Saka sidelined until March due to injury, losing a reliable set-piece taker at the same time.
The profile that Arsenal currently lack is a striker who can create for others, but can also play on the last line and threaten the space behind the defense and between opposition defenders to score for himself.
Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have quality, but neither feels like the decisive asset Arsenal really need to take that final step.
That's where Newcastle striker Alexander Isak comes into the equation.
The Swedish forward has scored 13 goals and four assists in all competitions this season, and while he won't come cheap, he would be valuable to Arsenal.
Isak has shades of Thierry Henry in his game, without the fast pace that the Frenchman had, and we often see him moving into the channels on the right side of the pitch.
These types of moves make it difficult to mark him well and we often see him start in these areas and then make smart moves into the middle with timing to attack the last line.
Crucially, Isak is a player who thrives in the final third and would suit a team like Arsenal, who are exceptionally dominant in terms of possession.
Arsenal have often had to rely on players like Saka or Martin Odegaard to make things happen.
But adding a player like Isak to this group would provide a new option in attack, and as such the 25-year-old striker feels like the perfect signing for the Gunners.
There's no doubt he'll be exceptionally expensive – with a price tag of €150m – but if they want to catch Liverpool this season, they really need to look at this kind of deal.
Manchester United
Halfway through the 2024/25 season, Man Utd are in 14th place in the Premier League at the turn of the year.
They have already fired Erik ten Hag and replaced him with two-time Portuguese champion Ruben Amorim, although the results have not really improved yet.
These are the problems facing the Red Devils and they cannot be 'solved' in one winter transfer window.
A complete squad rebuild is planned in several windows to bring in players who fit the Amorim system and have the quality to play for Man Utd.
You could argue that a centre-back, central midfielder and striker would all make sense, but above all United lack a consistent and dangerous goalscorer on the last line.
And a proven talent for Amorim at Sporting Lisbon in the form of Viktor Gyokeres could be the perfect solution to their goalscoring problems.
The 26-year-old is a powerful striker who can run up front and play on the last line of the opponent's defence. He is ideally suited to the style of football Amorim wants to play at United.
None of Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford have the ideal profile for the position; they are too raw, preferring to drop deep or preferring to play in wider areas.
The pace and movement of a striker like Gyokeres would force opponents to play deeper and make the Red Devils more effective on the ball in the attacking phase.
This would be very effective if United want to attack in transition and of course he has also proven to be an excellent goalscorer, with 62 goals for club and country in 2024.
There is a real feeling that the United board must be prepared to back Amorim in January to give their coach a chance to at least challenge for a place in the Europa League or the Conference places.
Signing a forward like Gyokeres would go some way to helping him achieve these goals.
Conclusion
There is very rarely any real value in the market in January.
However, at the top of the Premier League there is still an urge for clubs to strengthen themselves to give themselves the best chance of finishing as high as possible.
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