The January transfer window is opening for the English Premier League - here's who every club in the league should sign

What does it need?: A central defender (or two), and an attacking midfielder.

Who would fit the bill?: Houssem Aouar, Jerome Boateng.

Arsenal fans were hoping their side would be pushing for a top four finish and a positive end to last season. Instead, the Gunners currently sit 15th having endured their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign.

Going forward, Mikel Arteta's side lack creativity behind the strikers, limiting the usually prolific Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette to just six goals between them so far this season.

Lyon's Houssem Aouar would put a huge dent in that problem, but would cost around $70 million.

At the back, the Gunners lack quality and discipline. Bayern veteran Jerome Boateng is out of contract in the summer, and with the German club having opted not to extend his deal, the 32-year-old will be looking for a new club as soon as possible.

What does it need?: Nothing.

Who would fit the bill?: N/A

This season for Aston Villa, Jack Grealish is finally living up to his promise as one of England's best players, summer signing Ollie Watkins has been a man-mountain up front, and Matt Targett has been arguably the division's outstanding left-back.

Midfielder Douglas Luiz has been so impressive he's now being linked with move back to Manchester City.

There's no need to fix what isn't broken, and Aston Villa is looking as good as it has done in a decade.

What does it need?: A striker.

Who would fit the bill?: Eddie Nketiah.

Neal Maupay's five goals have been a decent contribution for the Seagulls this term, but the Frenchman needs support if he is to help fire Brighton to safety.

Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah has also scored five times for the Gunners this term, though just one of those goals has come in the Premier League, with the 21-year-old rarely being given the nod ahead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette.

A short-term move to the Amex could be a good deal for all parties. Brighton gets itself a talented young goalscorer, Nketiah gets some game time, and Arsenal get back a more experienced striker once the loan is over.

What does it need?: A striker and an attacking midfielder/winger.

Who would fit the bill?: Bright Osayi-Samuel, Lucas Joao.

Despite only scoring eight goals in 14 games, Burnley is somehow hovering just above the Premier League's relegation spaces, albeit by only two points.

Should it want to stay in the Premier League, it will need extra creativity in midfield and someone to find the net more often.

Given the club's small budget, Championship duo Bright Osayi-Samuel, who has scored twice and assisted three so far this term for Queens Park Rangers, and Lucas Joao, who has found the net 11 times for Reading, would be ideal and affordable solutions.

What does it need?: Nothing, but to decide a regular starting XI.

Who would fit the bill?: N/A

Chelsea invested very heavily in the summer, spending just shy of $300 million to bring in all of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell, and Eduoard Mendy.

While the Blues have been inconsistent, they still remain just shy of the top four and are flying high in the Champions League.

It would be silly to upset again the apple cart again so soon, but constant squad rotation is not helping Frank Lampard build a title winning team.

What does it need?: A striker.

Who would fit the bill?: Michail Antonio.

Crystal Palace already has a plethora of strikers at its disposal in the form of Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, and Jordan Ayew – however none are finding the net as often as manager Roy Hodgson would like.

Michail Antonio scored eight goals in the last seven games to keep West Ham United in the Premier League last season, however still isn't considered the club's first choice striker. He's also yet to be offered a new contract despite his current deal expiring in the summer.

Time for Palace to pounce.

What does it need?: Nothing.

Who would fit the bill?: N/A

"What I think about Carlo Ancelloti was never a secret. I couldn't respect him more," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp told the BBC of Everton's boss back in October.

"When I heard he was going to sign for Everton I thought 'Uhhh, the next proper challenger in line.'"

The German's comments may have raised eyebrows at the time, but come January 1, they are looking pretty accurate.

Everton currently sit third in the table with a game in hand, which if it wins, will move it level on points with Klopp's leading Liverpool.

More of the same please.

What does it need?: A striker.

Who would fit the bill?: Daniel Sturridge

After a poor start to the season, Fulham has started to string some decent results together, including a hard-fought 2-1 win over Leicester and a draw at reigning champion Liverpool.

That being said, Scott Parker's side has still only managed 13 goals in 15 games this term, an area in which it must improve if it wants to beat the drop.

Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is a free agent, and with 76 Premier League goals to his name already, would offer excellent experience and quality.

Alternatively, Parker could recall Aleksandar Mitrovic who, despite scoring 26 goals in all competitions last term, hasn't started a game since the beginning of November.

What does it need?: Nothing, just to be a bit less gung-ho.

Who would fit the bill?: N/A

Leeds' first Premier League season in 15 years is going pretty well so far. Marcelo Bielsa's side sits 13th in the table and, as expected, has thrilled with its all-or-nothing approach.

However, it is exactly that approach that has seen the Peacocks concede a division high 30 goals in just 15 games.

If it isn't more careful, such willingness to concede at the expense of excitement could cost the club its place in the top flight, especially if the goals start to dry up.

What does it need?: A left-back.

Who would fit the bill? Nuno Mendes.

Having let first choice left-back Ben Chilwell leave for Chelsea in the summer, the last thing Brendan Rodger's needed was for first choice Ricardo Pereira and first choice centre-back Caglar Soyuncu to suffer injuries.

That's exactly what happened, however, and it has left Leicester ravaged at the back.

Fortunately, Pereira and Soyuncu are expected to return in the near future, however Chilwell's absence is, of course, permanent.

Though youngster James Justin has filled the void admirably, the Foxes could still do with an extra set of legs and left-footer to fill the void, such as Sporting Lisbon teenager Nuno Mendes, who is valued at $14 million.

What does it need?: A central defender and a striker.

Who would fit the bill?: David Alaba, Joshua King.

Replacing the injured Virgil van Dijk is an almost impossible job, especially given Liverpool has a limited budget to do so.

Bayern Munich's David Alaba would offer quality in abundance and could be available on the cheap with his contract at the Allianz Arena set to expire in the summer.

At the other end of the pitch, Liverpool also need some extra fire power to help plug the gap left by Diogo Jota's injury and Roberto Firmino's lack of goals.

Bournemouth's Joshua King is the ideal man for the job, and like Alaba, his contract is due to expire soon, meaning he is unlikely to cost the Reds too much.

What does it need?: A striker.

Who would fit the bill?: Lautaro Martinez.

Manchester City fans will hate to hear it, but the reign of the injury-riddled, 32-year-old Sergio Aguero, who has scored 180 Premier League goals for the club, is all but over.

Brazilian Gabriel Jesus has proven he doesn't quite cut the mustard when it comes to replacing the Argentine, so City must now look elsewhere.

Inter Milan striker and Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez is the perfect man for the job – he's quick, strong, and has a devastating eye for goal, just like the man he'd be replacing.

"I know Manchester City are looking for a replacement for Aguero, Martinez is your guy," the former City star Owen Hargreaves told BT Sport in August. "He's got everything. He's skillful, a lethal finisher. He's got everything."

What does it need?: Two central defenders.

Who would fit the bill?: Dayot Upamecano, Gerard Pique.

Why Manchester United continues to be linked with more and more attacking talent when its problems clearly lie at the back is anybody's guess.

The Red Devils do not need Jadon Sancho, Kingsley Coman, or Ousmane Dembele — what is needed is capable, confident defenders.

Leipzig colossus Dayot Upamecano should be number one choice at centre-half, while Barcelona veteran and former United star Gerard Pique would bring some much needed experience to the heart of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's back four.

What does it need?: A holding midfielder.

Who would fit the bill?: Boubacar Kamara.

A solid yet mobile holding midfielder is just what Newcastle needs to allow Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin to flourish going forward and compliment Jonjo Shelvey, who despite his excellent passing range, often leaves his team exposed due to his inability to tackle and lack of pace.

Marseille's Boubacar Kamara is available for any interested parties for around $38 million due to the French club finding itself in financial hardship, according to The Boot Room.

What does it need?: A new manager.

Who would fit the bill?: Eddie Howe.

After finishing an impressive ninth last season, Sheffield United has endured the worst start to a campaign of any side in Premier League history this year, losing 13 and drawing two of its opening 15 games.

Given that the team is almost exactly the same as it was last term, it's not unfair to point the finger at head coach Chris Wilder, who has done little to change his side's approach despite its woeful start.

An injection of confidence in the form of a new, more creative boss is what Sheffield needs if it is to avoid relegation.

What does it need?: A left-back.

Who would fit the bill?: Robbie Brady.

As Insider predicted it would do this season, Southampton is going extremely strong.

Not only is Ralph Hasenhuttl's side fourth in the league and just off the top, it has also proved it can cope without talisman Danny Ings, who missed most of November through injury.

The only area in which the Saints could realistically improve going into the new year is at left-back, where it lacks back-up for first choice Ryan Bertrand.

Burnley's Robbie Brady would be a versatile and cheap solution. Plus he can stand-in as Danny Ings' double if the striker gets injured again.

What does it need?: Anything but another central midfielder.

Who would fit the bill?: N/A

Tottenham don't really need anything going into the second half of the season given it looks well on course to challenge for the top three, if not — dare we say it — the title.

What it does need though is to avoid spending another extortionately large sum of money on yet another central midfielder.

The Portuguese boss already has Tanguy Ndombele, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Giovani Lo Celso, Dele Alli, Harry Winks, Eric Dier, Gedson Fernandes, and Moussa Sissoko as options in the middle of the park, and adding another name would only further complicate his conundrum as to who should start.

What does it need?: A striker.

Who would fit the bill?: Salomon Rondon, Cedric Bakambu.

Slaven Bilic can feel hard done by to have been sacked by West Brom earlier this month.

Yes, the Baggies were in the relegation zone at the time, but the Croat had them grinding out some decent draws.

What they lacked — and still do — is a top class centre half and a striker who can fire at least 10 goals in the second half of the season to keep them up.

Given the Chinese Super League just imposed a salary that will likely result in a mass exodus of players, West Brom should do everything in its power to bring back Salomon Rondon, who left The Hawthorns for Dalian Professional in 2019.

Alternatively, Beijing Guoan striker Cedric Bakambu, formerly of Villarreal, would be a wise buy.

What does it need?: A central defender.

Who would fit the bill?: James Tarkowski.

10th placed West Ham has vastly improved on its efforts from last season, but is still conceding more goals than any other team in the top-half of the league.

David Moyes tried desperately to Burnley's James Tarkowski in the summer to no avail, but with the Englishman's contract at Turf Moor now coming into its last 18 months, Burnley might be willing to negotiate before it becomes too late and he's allowed to walk away free.

What does it need?: A striker.

Who would fit the bill?: Andre Silva.

Without first choice striker Raul Jimenez, who suffered a horrific head injury at the end of November, Wolves managed just four goals in five games throughout the whole of December.

Given the club will need someone to come in and hit the ground running, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva, who has scored 10 times in 13 games this term, could be the perfect solution considering his experience playing alongside Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence for Portugal.

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