Team Analysis: The January Transfer Window 2013
Manchester United
A New Midfielder- A requirement for a new midfielder has been there for quite a while now. With Owen Hargreaves injury torn ever since the Champions League win back in 2008 and then leaving last year, United have been bereft of an Anchor in midfield. Now with Scholes also nearing an end (again!) to a glorious trophy ridden career, it is pertinent that United sort their midfield out. The obvious candidates that have emerged in recent times are
Kevin Strootman and
Victor Wanyama.
The Dark Horse-
Wesley Sneijder.
A New Winger- I know, I know! We always thought we had enough of them. But this season more than any, we have felt a complete lack of them so much so that Sir Alex has been forced to play a midfield diamond to counter his lack of quality wide options. Both Nani (when he was fit) and Valencia look off the boil and Young was in footballing terms, a panic buy. With Bebe moving back to Portugal and Giggs close to calling time on his own marvellous career it leaves a space open for a new winger to come to Old Trafford. The names doing the rounds are
Wilfred Zaha and
James Rodriguez with me of course preferring the latter.
The Dark Horse-
Cristiano Ronaldo
A Left Back- Actually what they need is a back-up left back who can be at the club well after Evra is done. Or someone who can play across the back line.
Leighton Baines has been talked up by the media in recent times and while he'd be absolutely brilliant, I'd like to see a
Fabio take up the left side of defence in the long term. Maybe there is a way we could get him back from QPR and send Buttner the other way! Fabio also provides decent back-up on the right side of defence.
The Dark Horse-
Ashley Cole
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Manchester City
A New Defender- To be quite honest City have one of the strongest starting elevens in England. What they lack though is decent cover in many positions but most importantly central defence. With Joleon Lescott quite possibly on his way out, it is important City spruce up their defence. A prime candidate is
Mamadou Sakho who has been eyed by Mancini for quite some time now. The other name doing the rounds is
Ryan Shawcross.
The Dark Horse-
Daniel Agger
A Midfield General- With Yaya going to the ACN in January soon, City need someone not named Javi Garcia they can depend on. Its true Mancini got two central midfielders this summer but both have really failed to make an impression in the first half of the season. And Gareth Barry is a good player, no doubt, but he is not my idea of a first choice midfielder for a Championship chasing team. They are over-dependent on Yaya and his absence may come back to bite them!
De Rossi is Mancini's long-term target and I could see Mancini doing handstands if he gets him this month!
The Dark Horse-
Marouane Fellaini
Playmaker/ Striker- The popular opinion is that they have plenty of both and whoever wants to go to City now would probably end up on the bench like Sinclair. The thing is, one of their playmakers is Samir Nasri whose form is as fickle as they come. He is a sort of player who has one good match inter-spruced between a couple of really bad matches where at best he's anonymous. And then there is Mario "Why always him" Balotelli who shuttles between the sublime and the ridiculous and may well be on his way out! Spanish playmaker
Isco has been one of their targets since last summer and could be made available this transfer window.
Fernando Llorente is another player closely monitored by City and could make a move in January. Either of these positions being filled could see a City team tear apart defences in the league like they did last year.
The Dark Horses-
Falcao,
Kaka
Next up...
Chelsea &
Tottenham
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