Christian Eriksen, Declan Rice, Isco, Ben White
Wanted players? Christian Eriksen, Declan Rice, Isco, Ben White
As the first half of the 2020-21 football season comes to an end, teams are undoubtedly starting to think about where their squads need strengthening.
So what – and who – will the Premier League managers have on their wishlists?
Arsenal
Arsenal need creativity and inspiration from somewhere as those brought in have so far either been injured (Thomas Partey) or hopeless (Willian) while their season has descended into crisis.
Former Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen, who has flopped badly at Inter Milan, has been mentioned as a potential signing, as has Houssem Aouar of Lyon, who was a summer target. Getting players out of Lyon is tough at any time under the iron-hard negotiating style of president Jean-Michael Aulas – January may prove impossible.
Norwich’s Emi Buendia is a possibility and may be one player available within Arsenal’s price range.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been promised support by technical director Edu; financial calculations are being made. As Arsenal look at their budget and consider their options, will January be the time they finally manage to get the expensive Mesut Ozil off their wage bill?
Aston Villa
Don’t expect any big-money moves here but manager Dean Smith may look at his attack. Ollie Watkins, the £28m club-record signing from Brentford, has been outstanding but Keinan Davis has not produced enough goals when he has had a chance.
January is a fraught market, especially for acquiring the priceless commodity of goals, as Villa discovered with the failed £8.5m signing of Genk’s Mbwana Samatta last year. He is already out on loan at Fenerbahce.
Villa have long been linked with Werder Bremen’s Milot Rashica but at this stage there are no plans for any serious spending. Continue reading