Last Minute Transfer Window Shopping Lists For All 20 Premier League Clubs

After assessing each Premier League team’s weaknesses last season, talent gaps within the squad and new signings, I’ve compiled a short-list of suitable players teams could and perhaps should sign between now and the end of the transfer window, taking into account realistic transfer budgets and each manager’s preferences.

Drum roll, please. Here are the 20 Premier League clubs evaluated:

Arsenal

2011/12 Weaknesses

10 losses, more than the rest of the top 4 and double the amount of Manchester United and City
Conceded more goals than the rest of the top 8, with the exception of Newcastle.
Too reliant on van Persie for goals.

Shopping List

Pacey left back with the stamina and ball skills to shuttle up and down the entire left flank.

Left Back Shortlist

Domenico Criscito
Alex Sandro
Leighton Baines
Neil Taylor

Centre Back Shortlist

Wenger’s most dependable defenders have tended to be English.

Phil Jagielka
Kolo Toure
Toby Alderweireld

Striker Shortlist

Giuseppe Rossi (when he returns to fitness)
Falcao
Kevin Gameiro
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Alvaro Negredo

Aston Villa

2011/12 Weaknesses

Only Stoke scored fewer goals last season
Just 7 league wins all season, fewer than every team but Wolves
17 draws, 5 more than any other team

Shopping List

Goalscorer needed to compliment a fit again Bent and players that can create the openings for Bent and co.

Gary Hooper
Giovani Dos Santos
Yakubu
Matt Phillips
Wilfried Zaha
Pete Whittingham
Chris Burke
Rickie Lambert

Chelsea

2011/12 Weaknesses

10 losses and conceded 46, both far too many for a team aspiring to 1^st place in the league
Did not score anywhere near enough to challenge the top teams.

Shopping List

Sturridge and Torres cannot be relied upon to score with any regularity.

Striker Shortlist

Fernando Llorente – Probably the best match for Drogba’s physicality and general playing style.
Leandro Damiao
Edinson Cavani
Hulk
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Loic Remy
Roberto Soldado

Everton

2011/12 Weaknesses

Need to get more goals if they are to break into the top 6

Shopping List

Striker Shortlist

Creative Midfielder Shortlist

Fulham

2011/12 Weaknesses

Ended the league season with a goal difference of -3
Low scorers

Shopping List

Physical striker needed similar in style to Zamora and Pogrebnyak.

Striker Shortlist

Grant Holt
Maxi Lopez
Marouane Chamakh
Roque Santa Cruz
Rickie Lambert

Liverpool

2011/12 Weaknesses

Liverpool’s strikers had a very low conversion rate last season despite many chances being created.
Very low scorers given their league aspirations.

Shopping List

Players needed that can offer pace, dribbling and creativity from out wide.

Shortlist

Ball playing Central Defender Shortlist

Toby Alderweireld

Striker Shortlist

Suarez is a creator and dribbler and not actually good at finishing.

Manchester City

2011/12 Weaknesses

Lacking options in certain squad positions.

Shopping List

Deep-lying play-maker needed that can add variety to attacking play when needed.

Shortlist

Man City could still benefit from an additional attacking midfielder that can stay wide and go past players.

Shortlist

Manchester United

2011/12 Weaknesses

Considerably lower goal difference when compared to champions Manchester City, scoring less and conceding more than their title rivals.
Lack a pronounced creative or defensive presence in the centre of midfield.
Having to rely on Rooney for goals too often.

Shopping List

Midfielder Shortlist

Right Back Shortlist

Gregory van der Wiel
Ignazio Abate
Mathieu Debuchy – One of the best performing right backs at Euro 2012.
Joao Pereira
Andoni Iraola
Christian Maggio

Creative Midfielder Shortlist

Newcastle United

2011/12 Weaknesses

Conceded 51, more than any of the other top 8 teams.
Need to find more scorers than just Cisse, otherwise the team will get found out.

Shopping List

Centre Back Shortlist

Douglas
Naldo
Robert Huth
Ryan Shawcross
Brede Hangeland
Khalid Boulahrouz

Striker Shortlist

Right Back Shortlist

Khalid Boulahrouz
Gregory van der Wiel
Jesus Gamez
Angel Rangel

Norwich City

2011/12 Weaknesses

High scorers but conceded a lot, so need a better defense.

Shopping List

Centre Back Shortlist

Curtis Davies
Craig Dawson
Dedryck Boyata (loan)
Danny Wilson (loan)

Left Back Shortlist

Martin Olsson
Kyle Naughton (loan)
Greg Cunningham (loan)

Striker Shortlist

Yakubu
Klasnic
Gio Dos Santos
Gary Hooper
Billy Sharp

QPR

2011/12 Weaknesses

Too many losses
Very low scorers

Shopping List

Centre Back Shortlist

Curtis Davies
Roger Johnson
Scott Dann
David Wheater

Striker Shortlist

Shane Long
Roque Santa Cruz
Matty Fryatt
Danny Graham
Ivan Klasnic

Reading

2011/12 Weaknesses

Only scored 69 goals last season in 46 league games, need an influx of attacking players added to the squad.

Shopping List

Striker Shortlist

Matty Fryatt
Yakubu

Winger Shortlist

Winger to match McAnuff on the opposite flank

Matt Philips
Wilfried Zaha
Chris Burke

Southampton

2011/12 Weaknesses

Conceded 46 goals from 46 Championship games, so will need a more resistant defense.

Shopping List

Central Defenders Shortlist

Curtis Davies
Craig Dawson
Dedryck Boyata (loan)
Danny Wilson (loan)
Roger Johnson
Scott Dann
David Wheater

Stoke City

2011/12 Weaknesses

Joint 2nd highest draws and lowest scorers in the whole league
Conceded 53, will have to shore up the defence in order to finish higher than last season.

Shopping List

Full Back Shortlist

Martin Kelly (loan)
John Flanagan (loan)
Karl Naughton (loan)
Liam Ridgewell
Stephen Warnock
Tony Hibbert

Inventive Midfielder Shortlist

David Dunn
Jamie O’Hara
Graham Dorrans
Jake Livermore
Chris Brunt
Lucas Biglia
Lee Chung-Yong
Hugo Viana
Peter Whitingham
Chris Burke
Julien Feret
Yossi Benayoun

Striker Shortlist

Nicky Maynard
Shane Long
Gary Hooper
Kris Boyd
Anthony Stokes
Micheal Owen
Yakubu
Jordan Rhodes
Matty Fryatt

Sunderland

2011/12 Weaknesses

Commendable defence but need to get more goals
High amount of draws, becoming more of a goal threat will help turn draws into wins.

Shopping List

One more striker needed, preferably British as O’Neil favours buying from this region.

Shortlist

Gary Hooper
Danny Graham
Grant Holt
Shane Long
Kevin Doyle
Ivan Klasnic
Billy Sharp
Yakubu
Seydou Doumbia
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Left back is a very apparent weakness within the squad.

Shortlist

Erik Pieters
Stephen Warnock
Martin Olsson
Marek Cech
Reto Ziegler
Taye Taiwo (loan)
Kyle Naughton (loan)

Swansea City

2011/12 Weaknesses

Despite being applauded for their high ball retention throughout last season Swansea didn’t convert enough of that possession into goals, so there is an obvious need to buy strikers.

Shopping List

Striker Shortlist

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Tomas Necid
Maxi Lopez
Marc Janko
Roque Santa Cruz

Pace and Direct Running Shortlist

Gio Dos Santos – Perfect option, as he can play anywhere within a front 3 and has been nurtured playing the Spanish way.
Ryan Babel
Dani Pacheco (loan)
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

Tottenham Hotspur

2011/12 Weaknesses

It’s vital Spurs better their defensive record to have a chance of competing for a top 4 place again this season.
More goals need to be scored and shared out amongst the wingers, central midfield and strikers.
Lost too many at home by frequently failing to break through the defences of the lesser teams.

Shopping List

Need a new striker that can alternate or partner Adebayor when needed.

Shortlist

Need wide players who can create for the strikers and alternate with Bale and Lennon.

Shortlist