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  • Writer's pictureLewis Eadie

A player each Premier League team needs to sign before deadline day


@The Sun

Transfer deadline day is on the horizon, que Jim White in his yellow suit, frantic agents propelling there players on private jets and clubs tearing there hair out as their list of targets disappear one by one. Here is every player each Premier League club should sign before January 31st. There is a eclectic mix of idealistic signings any fan would wish for and real possible incomings.


Arsenal : Moises Caicedo

Mikel Arteta desperately needs to add quality reinforcements to strengthen his midfield. His refusal to let fringe player Albert Sambi Lokonga depart to Monaco, shows his worry about injuries de-railing the league leaders title charge. If they secure the Brighton midfielder, they will be bringing in one of the league's most exciting stars, and announcing themselves back as a powerhouse, with Chelsea and Liverpool circling to sign the Ecuador international. The only struggle for the Gunners is Brighton want at least £75m, as they attempt to keep the 24 year old at the South coast.


Aston Villa: Mohammed Kudus

Steven Gerrard's vision to pull off an audacious reunion with Phillipe Coutinho at Aston Villa and re-juvenate the Brazilian has not worked out. Instead, he has become an enigma at Villa Park struggling to force his way into contention under Unai Emery and a shadow of the creative playmaker he once was at Liverpool. Kudus was the heartbeat of Ghana at the World Cup and is the ideal spark Aston Villa need to sew the attacking cracks shut and create chances. It would be a coup if Emery could pull this deal off ahead of European heavyweights like Bayern Munich and the 23 year old would demand a pricey fee in the region of £35m plus.


Bournemouth: Djed Spence

Tottenham are reluctant to part ways with the £25m summer arrival, but a loan move for the outcast could be a beneficial deal for both parties. Antonio Conte has overlooked the 22 year old, behind Emerson and Matt Doherty and at the moment he is a wasted talent on the sidelines. His pace and energy down the right flank was integral to Nottingham Forest's rise out of the Championship last season, and he could have a similar impact for Bournemouth who are in need of a boost. For Spurs, he returns in the summer with match sharpness and Premier League experience.


Brentford: Noah Okafor

This would be an ambitious move for the Bees, but they need to start to prepare for Ivan Toney's incoming lengthily betting ban. The 22 year old Swiss international scored three goals in six Champions League appearances this season and is Salzburg's top scorer with seven goals. The Austrian champions could demand in excess of £30m, but his versatility where he can play out wide or as a number 9 means he can either fill in for Toney or partner up with him. It seems like a no brainer.



Amadou Haidara - @TheMetro


Brighton: Amadou Haidara

The Seagulls have faced a onslaught of bids for their prized assets this window, Trossard has already joined Arsenal and Caicedo is on the brink of leaving. If Roberto De Zerbi, wants to continue his ascent up the table and challenge for European football, they must bring in new faces. Haidara has been on Liverpool's radar since the summer and would be a like-for-like replacement if Caicedo does leave the Amex this winter. He could be another gem they discover, who can become a sizeable future profit.


Chelsea: Stop Spending... Declan Rice

The Blues have splashed £190m on players this January, but still have not addressed their biggest weakness which is central midfield. N'Golo Kante has five months remaining on his contract, Jorginho continues to pass sideways every game and both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and loanee Dennis Zakaria are injured. It seems destined that Declan Rice, the former Chelsea academy player, is to return to his boyhood club and re-unite with his best friend Mason Mount. However, West Ham will not part ways with him this window but expect Chelsea to target him in the summer. They may need to pay around £100m plus.


Crystal Palace: Ismailia Sarr

One of the World Cups best players to watch, it is baffling that Ismailia Sarr has remained in the second division with Watford for two years. He is a defenders worst nightmare, with his acceleration, movement and skill and he already has Premier League pedigree. In the past the Hornets demanded £50m for there talisman but this season he could be available for around £35m. Palace need alternatives to Wilf Zaha and are in desperate need of scoring goals and being clinical infront of goal. Sarr alongside Olise and Eze makes a frightening proposition.


Everton: Kamaldeen Sulemana

What don't Everton need at the moment; a clinical striker, talented wingers and an entire new defence. Demari Gray has been the shining light at Goodinson Park this season but he needs support. The exit of academy prospect Antony Gordon to Newcastle means the club look void of attacking threats. Sulemana is an exciting 20 year old at Rennes, and he has the capabilities to be a superstar. A host of clubs are interested in the trickster, but Everton need to get to the front of the que and splash around £25m for the Ghanaian.


Weston McKennie - @whiteandred



Leeds United: Weston McKennie

This would be a huge deal for Jesse Marsch. The Juventus midfielder, is an experienced international for the USA and already has a brilliant partnership with Leeds' Tyler Adams. The Yorkshire side have appeared erratic and volatile this season under there managers counter-attacking system and they are in need of a composed defensive midfielder who can provide stability. The 24 year old, is an all-round professional who has flare going forward but is combative and aggressive when defending. Leeds could capture him in a cut-price deal for around £20m and he could be there solution to losing anchor-man Kalvin Phillips in the summer.


Leicester City: Tete

Leicester continue to be reluctant to invest in new signings this window, after just one newcomer in the summer. On the pitch, Brendan Rodgers needs serious help in restoring his team back into a top half-side and a priority has to be bringing in attacking support to take the scoring load off the ageing Jamie Vardy. Tete, only joined Lyon last season from Shakhtar Donetsk and he has looked an exciting winger. With Marc Albrighton now merely a squad player and Ayoze Perez continuing to un-impress, the Foxes need quality out wide who can create chances for the forwards.


Liverpool: Youri Tielesman

The truth is, Liverpool have been suffering in midfield since the departure of underrated Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum. The Roma player was the ideal attacking influence in Jurgen Klopp's system, who would support Fabihno and Henderson but had the licence to drift forward too. Tielemans is his successor, he is a technician who can carve open defences or unleash an insane volley but he is also composed and elegant on the ball. Where Matheus Nunes and Jude Bellingham demand fees over £60m, the Belgian could be as cheap as £30m with his contract expiring in the summer.


Manchester City: Theo Hernandez

Pep Guardiola appears to be experiencing a mid-life crisis in his Manchester City tenure this season, exiling Joao Cancelo. At left-back he has dismissed the Portuguese star, as well as summer recruit Sergio Gomez to instead play Nathan Ake there in an unorthodox position. If Cancelo is close to a unprecedented exit, Milan's Hernandez has to be the top priority. He is going to be a costly fee of around £60m, but he is the best left-back in the world at the moment. His ball control and dribbling skills means he is a threat offensively, and he matches Pep's blueprint which is a full-back who can overlap and provide.



Denzel Dumfries - @TheGuardian


Manchester United: Denzel Dumfries

This might not make sense, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka's re-emergence into the starting eleven and the fine form of Diogo Dalot this season. But, if Ten Hag wants to transform the Red Devils into title contenders, they have to sign Dumfries. He has shone for the Netherlands at the Euros and World Cup and is the finest example of the revolutionary new full-back. He does play in a 3-5-2 formation for Inter Milan which gives him attacking freedom, but the way he sprints up and down the flanks and can completely dominate opposition mean he could become a cheat code for United. The growing Dutch influence in this team as well, means he would settle in very quickly.


Newcastle: Joao Pedro

Yes Newcastle have lost Chris Woods, but they don't need to spend big on a pedigree name. They already splashed £80m on Aleksander Isak this summer and have Callum Wilson. Instead they should sign a young prospect who can grow at St. James Park, while still providing cover for the injury-prone Wilson. Joao Pedro is Watford's star player and has scored eight goals in 20 appearances this season. Newcastle did have a bid rejected in the summer and they would have to pay a premium fee to convince the Hornets to let him leave in January.


Nottingham Forest: Keylor Navas

Pinch me. If any potential transfer best described a fantasy FIFA signing this deal is the one. Keylor Navas, the four time Champions League winner and PSG stopper is seriously a target for newly promoted Forest. Dean Henderson suffered a serious injury in the draw against Bournemouth and some very ambitious person behind the scenes at Forest saw Navas as a realistic solution. If Steve Cooper does manage to bring the Costa Rican to the Premier league, it has to be the most surprising transfer of all time.


Southampton: Illiman N'Diaye

N'Diaye has been the Championships best performer this season, for Sheffield United and is attracting a lot of interest from the top division. The 21 year old has the chance of securing automatic promotion with the Blades this year, but with Southampton, Everton, Brentford and Crystal Palace all calling; his Premier League debut could be fast-tracked. He will cost the Saints around £25m and his creative influence and goal contributions could give Nathan Jones' side a much needed lift that helps them out of the relegation zone.



Pedro Porro - @LondonFootball


Tottenham: Pedro Porro

Spurs have been extremely inconsistent this season, and have looked defensively fragile keeping just six clean sheets. There key problem has been at right wing back, Emerson Royal is prone to a mistake and Matt Doherty does not have the quality of a top player. Pedro Porro, could be Antonio Conte's long-awaited solution and Spurs are familiar with the 25 year old after playing Sporting twice in the Champions League. The main problem with Tottenham is pulling their hand out of there pocket but a deal of around £30m is nearing completion.


West Ham: Terem Moffi

£38m summer signing, Gianluca Scamacca has not been a total car crash upfront for the Hammers this season, but West Ham have struggled to incorporate him and play to his strengths. The long-term injury to Maxwell Cornet and rumours Michail Antonio is nearing a exit, mean signing a striker needs to be a priority. Lorient striker Moffi has scored 13 goals in Ligue 1 this season and is touted in France as the next star export. It is a risk, bringing in an untested foreign striker as Sebastian Haller showed but the Nigerian could be available for as little as £25m.


Wolves: Michail Antonio

Wolves epitomise a striker crisis this season. Marquee signing Sasa Kaladzjic suffered an ACL injury on his debut, Raul Jiminez is still a shadow of his former self since his head injury and Goncalo Guedes has gone missing in his debut Premier League campaign. The late addition of Diego Costa has been a failure, which has left Julen Lopetegui to rely on Daniel Podence in a false number nine position. Michail Antonio is a hardened Premier League veteran, whose physcial prowess and tenacity make him a nuisance for defenders. He could be the shrewd signing Wolves need to end there goal drought.




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