Where will our rivals look to strengthen?

[JMaher94]

Long story short, where will all the teams in the top 7 look to strengthen this summer?

 

Arsenal

-Striker; They will definetly need to get a new striker in to replace Giroud who is simply not good enough to lead the line.

-Central Midfielder; Need to replace Arteta who I do not think is up to it anymore, a decent squad player no doubt. Think it's imperative for them that they add a bit of grit and steel to their side but with Wenger in charge, most of this is unlikely to happen anyway.

-Right Back; This is based on if Sagna does not sign a new contract, having only Jenkinson would not be enough.

 

Chelsea (Might as well put us in here)

-Striker; No chance we will be going into next season without a top class centre forward, Diego Costa seems to be the favourite for the job at the moment but that can all change, not forgetting Lukaku is still to come back from loan.

-Central Midfielder; Someone to partner Matic that can dictate the tempo of the game, someone in the Modric mould. Hopefully that can be Van Ginkel as I don't think Ramires can play well in a pivot as his passing leaves a lot to be desired and their are still questions marks about David Luiz.

-Left Back; Luke Shaw is obviously one of our main targets, a prospect of having an English left back for the next 10-15 years will hold us in good stead. Nothing wrong with having 5 top draw defenders.

 

Everton

-Striker; With Lukaku and Traore returning from loan, they will definetly need to strengthen the top side of their team.

-Centre Back; Distin is getting on a bit now, cover for him wouldn't go amiss. John Stones is a great talent and will be a key part of their defence in the next few years but I reckon they could do with a bit of backup. Alcaraz is not good enough.

Providing Gareth Barry signs there after this loan, I do not think they'll need to sign another central midfield player.

 

Liverpool

-Back Up Striker; Obviously, Suarez and Sturridge positions will not be under threat as they're the focal point of their side, with Aspas most likely leaving, they will need to buy a striker most likely reaching the twilight of their career to come in incase of injuries etc..

-Central Midfield; With the Champions League back at Anfield next year, they will need to sign at least one central midfield player. Lucas and Allen are injury prone, Gerrard is getting older and like Lamps won't be able to play every game.

-Left Back; Along with United, could be our main challengers to sign Luke Shaw, Enrique has had an injury hit season, and Cissokho is returning to Valencia, not that he was good enough anyway.

-Winger; After failing to sign him in January, I think Liverpool will sign Konoplyanka. Would be a great addition for them, although given Sterling's recent form, they may not need him and they'll be a definite battle for places on that one.

 

Manchester City

-Centre Back; It's simple really, a centre back to partner Kompany. Mangala seems to be there target.

-Back Up Central Midfielder; Someone who can either slot into that midfield or cover both Fernandinho and Toure. Fernando from Porto looks to be signing there this summer.

 

Manchester United

-Two Central Midfielders; One is not enough, they need a complete rehaul of their midfield. Carrick has had an average season and Fellaini was the worst signing of the season. They'll definetly need two players of the Matic calibre so that they can compete for next season otherwise they'll be in trouble

-Left Back; Patrice Evra will most likely be leaving at the end of the year, so they may need to sign another left back. Most of the times that I've seen Buttner play, he has been poor.

-Centre Back; Vidic if off to Inter, Ferdinand is too old and not good enough anymore. They will definetly need to strengthen here in the summer.

-Winger; United's biggest problem is the fact they do not possess any quality wingers, they have lots of number 10s (Mata, Rooney, Januzaj and Kagawa) in which none of them are really that good on the wing. They need players with pace who can run in behind the defence. Young, Valencia and Nani will most likely be shipped out in the summer, maybe one kept for cover.

 

Tottenham

I think Tottenham's biggest problem is that their squad has no identity. They have a lot of decent players, but not ones that are going to make the stretch into the Champions League. I think they need a complete rehaul of their side in general. Lloris, Vertonghen are supposedly unhappy at the lack of CL football so they could be depatures in the summer, Adebayor you can never tell if he's coming or going. I think they need to clear out the deadwood and sign one or two top class players, but for what position I do not know.

Edited April 14, 2014 by JMaher94

[lewy]

united and liverpool need the most players, our squad is barely big enough for the league never mind any other competitions, id' say we're ok at CB with agger, skrtel, sakho, toure(?) and illori to come back, would like a fullback maybe, i wouldnt be surprised if enrique is forced into retirement with his injury. think centre mids ok with allen, lucas gerrard, henderson and suso to come back, main areas are attack surprisingly, thing we need a great winger to offer something different.

 

United need 2 CB's i think, they can get away with buying just one CM as I dont think they'll have any european football next year, they need wingers though, id say 2 if nani leaves which is looking likely. 

 

You guys obviously need a striker, perhaps 2, apart from that you seem pretty sorted, same with arsenal, although they should maybe looking at signing a big character, ozil is great but he's not exactly a leader.

 

City maybe just a CB, f**k knows with tottenham, i dont think they really need to sign anyone, maybe a striker, they just need to stop being sh*t, think they'll look a lot better next season though

[JMaher94]

united and liverpool need the most players, our squad is barely big enough for the league never mind any other competitions, id' say we're ok at CB with agger, skrtel, sakho, toure(?) and illori to come back, would like a fullback maybe, i wouldnt be surprised if enrique is forced into retirement with his injury. think centre mids ok with allen, lucas gerrard, henderson and suso to come back, main areas are attack surprisingly, thing we need a great winger to offer something different.

 

United need 2 CB's i think, they can get away with buying just one CM as I dont think they'll have any european football next year, they need wingers though, id say 2 if nani leaves which is looking likely. 

 

You guys obviously need a striker, perhaps 2, apart from that you seem pretty sorted, same with arsenal, although they should maybe looking at signing a big character, ozil is great but he's not exactly a leader.

 

City maybe just a CB, f**k knows with tottenham, i dont think they really need to sign anyone, maybe a striker, they just need to stop being sh*t, think they'll look a lot better next season though

 

Tottenham are a really strange one I will have to agree, don't know if they need a complete overhaul, or a better manager.

 

Liverpool are fine at centre back I will agree, you'll definetly need to sign some more players to cover for the Champions League. Do you not think you'll need to add to your midfield given Gerrard's age and Lucas/Allen being injury prone?

Edited April 14, 2014 by JMaher94

[lewy]

Tottenham are a really strange one I will have to agree, don't know if they need a complete overhaul, or a better manager.

 

Liverpool are fine at centre back I will agree, you'll definetly need to sign some more players to cover for the Champions League. Do you not think you'll need to add to your midfield given Gerrard's age and Lucas/Allen being injury prone?

I dont think sherwood has done particularly bad, but the money they've spent and the players they brought in they should be doing far better, i actually didnt mind AVB apart from his insistence in playing an absurdly high line. Yeah if i think about it actually we probably will need a CM, im not sure what type of player we'd go for that, whether it be a box to box or just a DM, i rate Lucas but if we want to challenge for the champions league (which i guess would be an aim) then we probably need better than him as a regular starter, i'm not a massive fan of allen to be honest 

[Jonty]

Good topic, hopefully Liverpool will be buying a replacement for Suarez after he joins up with Ronaldo and Bale.

[JM7]

Arsenal need a new manager.

[Mamizcar]

Arsenal: Striker, CDM, CB and RB. 

 

Liverpool: CDM, RB and a winger/AM.

 

City: CB

 

United: LB, CB, winger and CM (DLP)

Edited April 15, 2014 by Mamizcar