A Premier League Christmas
With Christmas upon us, we’ll all be enjoying time with family and time off work and school, but, most importantly, time with presents. Premier League clubs are the same way. With January upon us, and a busy holiday game schedule, many clubs will look at the coming days as a time to reflect and see what they need most to improve in the second half of the season. Today, we’ll look at what should be at the top of each team’s wish list. We just covered the bottom 10 teams in the Premier League, which leaves the top 10.
1) Leicester
What’s the Gift: Jannik Vestergaard
Why: The biggest flaw in Leicester right now is that they allow way too many goals. Bringing in a young, talented centerback will help plug those holes. Vestergaard is at Werder Bremen, who sit way down the Bundesliga table, but retains impressive defensive stats.
2) Arsenal
What’s the Gift: A clean bill of health
Why: It’s really difficult to find something wrong with this Arsenal squad right now. Olivier Giroud is even in the mix for top goalscorer. If they can keep their players healthy, and performing consistently, they are looking like the team to beat. Now, we do say that every year, but at this point, who knows.
3) Manchester City
What’s the Gift: Paul Pogba
Why: They are already most likely getting Pep Guardiola, so what’s left? The biggest problem in their squad is a legitimate replacement for Yaya Toure. When Toure wants to show up to a game, they do great. When he doesn’t they struggle. Of all the players in the world, Paul Pogba does what Toure does best. If they pick him up, Manchester City looks scary good again.
4) Tottenham
What’s the Gift: Competition for Harry Kane
Why: Getting proper competition or back up for a player that is indisputably first choice is one of the most difficult jobs in soccer. Spurs look good, one of the better defenses in the league, steadily climbing the table with quietly convincing performances. The last real piece to the puzzle (because on their day, each other their starters can be great) is genuine competition for Harry Kane. Kane still scores a huge percentage of Tottenham’s goals, and if he goes out of form or gets hurt, they could be in trouble.
5) Manchester United
What’s the Gift: Gonzalo Higuain
Why: Manchester United aren’t scoring enough goals, if any goals at all. For a large chunk of the season, they had a tight defense and the best goalkeeper in the league. Picking up Higuain would deliver these goals for them. He’d be expensive, but they can certainly afford it.
6) Crystal Palace
What’s the Gift: Timo Horn
Why: Crystal Palace are really performing well right now and I had to really look at who has been their worst performer. In all honesty, it came down to keeper Wayne Hennessey. At 28, he’s young for a keeper, but could still be improved on. Timo Horn is one of the better keepers in the Bundesliga and has a reported £7m. Palace could improve one of their weaker positions for years to come on a really affordable package.
7) Watford
What’s the Gift: Joel Matip
Why: Watford is another team that could use a slight tuneup at the back. Joel Matip is having a great season in Germany and is out of contract in the summer. While Liverpool have been linked with the defender, it would be a move made in the summer. If Watford were to make a solid offer for the player, Schalke might be willing to listen, instead of losing him for free in the summer.
8) West Ham
What’s the Gift: Lucas Biglia
Why: West Ham have been okay in the goalscoring front, but they have been allowing too many goals. Lucas Biglia is a defensive midfielder who can still offer something going forward. While he isn’t young (29), he can bring in some experience and stability that could take West Ham to the next step.
9) Liverpool
What’s the Gift: Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Why: Liverpool need a new goalkeeper. Mignolet is a nice guy and would a be fine backup, but he has made too many mistakes in his Liverpool career. The previously mentioned Timo Horn or Jack Butland would work, as would the large host of German keepers. The one I’m honing in on is a player that I have liked for awhile, though a possibly unrealistic target. Ter Stegen is a great young goalkeeper who is feeding off the scraps of game time at the Barcelona table. Rumors are flying around that he is unhappy with his role at the team, and Liverpool have been linked with a move. It could turn out to be a great move, if it happens.
10) Everton
What’s the Gift: A long-term replacement for Gareth Barry
Why: He’s been great for Everton since joining, but he is 34 this year. Everton need to find his replacement sooner, rather than later. Somebody in the mould of Victor Wanyama, if they could prise him from Southampton, would be a blessing for Everton.
