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Transfer needs for each Premier League club in January

By Joe Prince-WrightJan 1, 2017, 12:59 PM EST
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The first day of 2017 has arrived.

[ MORE: Latest PL transfer news ] 

That also means the January transfer window has opened for every Premier League team as they have 31 days to spend big or ship out players midseason.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at where each club needs to add in the January transfer window.

Arsenal

Biggest need: Center back, attacking midfielder
Dream additions: Chris Smalling; Ross Barkley, Dimitri Payet

Bournemouth

Biggest need: Striker
Dream addition: Marcus Rashford

Burnley

Biggest need: Experienced striker
Dream addition: Chris Wood

Chelsea

Biggest need: Center back, defensive midfielder, striker
Dream additions: Leonardo Bonucci, Michael Keane; Arturo Vidal; James Rodriguez

Crystal Palace

Biggest need: Striker, winger, center back, defensive midfielder
Dream additions: Jermain Defoe; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Lamine Kone; James McCarthy, Morgan Schneiderlin

Everton

Biggest need: Center back, central midfielder, winger
Dream addition: Jose Fonte; Morgan Schneiderlin; Memphis Depay, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Hull City

Biggest need: Striker, defenders
Dream additions: Marcus Rashford, Sebastien Haller; Carl Jenkinson, Hans Hateboer

Leicester City

Biggest need: Center back, right back
Dream additions: Michael Keane; Kieran Trippier

Liverpool

Biggest need: Goalkeeper
Dream additions: Joe Hart

Manchester City

Biggest need: Center back
Dream additions: Leonardo Bonucci, Virgil Van Dijk

Manchester United

Biggest need: Center back, right back, playmaker
Dream additions: Jose Fonte, Virgil van Dijk, Victor Lindelof; Nelson Semedo; Dimitri Payet

Middlesbrough

Biggest need: Striker
Dream addition: Marcus Rashford

Southampton

Biggest need: Striker, attacking midfielder
Dream additions: Marcus Rashford, Daniel Sturridge; Hatem Ben Arfa, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Stoke City

Biggest need: Striker
Dream addition: Marcus Rashford

Sunderland

Biggest need: Striker, central midfielder
Dream additions: Marcus Rashford; Tom Cleverley

Swansea City

Biggest need: Striker, winger, defenders
Dream additions: Dwight Gayle, Jordan Ayew, Aleksandar Mitrovic; Luciano Narsingh; Carl Jenkinson, Steven Caulker

Tottenham Hotspur

Biggest need: Center back, attacking midfielder
Dream additions: Michael Keane; Ross Barkley

Watford 

Biggest need: Center midfielder
Dream addition: John Obi Mikel

West Bromwich Albion

Biggest need: Central midfielders
Dream additions: Morgan Schneiderlin, James McCarthy

West Ham United

Biggest need: Striker, defender
Dream additions: Jermain Defoe, Marcus Rashford; Taulant Xhaka

Son scores a throwback, full-field dribble goal to up Spurs lead

Photo by Daniel Hambury/EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaDec 7, 2019, 10:56 AM EST
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Heung-Min Son saw Harry Kane‘s stunner and pushed all his chips into the pot.

The South Korean continued Spurs first-half demolition of Burnley by providing a third goal via a wonderful, near field-length dribble and finish that would make Diego Maradona nod in approval.

[ STREAM: Spurs-Burnley + every PL match ] 

He must’ve covered 80 yards or more on the dribble, winding his way into open space with a couple of touches past wayward defenders.

Don’t sleep on the speed, either, Son in possession and blazing past defenders at full sprint.

Scores, streams

Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool – NBCSN [STREAM]
Tottenham 3-0 Burnley – NBC Sports Gold [STREAM]
Watford 0-0 Crystal Palace – NBC Sports Gold [STREAM]

WATCH: Harry Kane’s emphatic rip from distance puts Spurs up

By Nicholas MendolaDec 7, 2019, 10:33 AM EST
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If Harry Kane is about to find his best self, then the Premier League should be quite concerned that Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur may return to its finest form.

On evidence of this strike versus Burnley on Saturday, it’s possible.

[ STREAM: Spurs-Burnley + every PL match ] 

Kane absolutely pummeled a shot from distance past the excellent Tom Heaton on Saturday, the first of two early goals (Lucas Moura) as Spurs are making a quick rebound from a midweek set back at Old Trafford.

Heung-Min Son perfectly settled a long ball to Kane, who was in space and cognizant of the goalkeeper’s position. The Englishman bashed the ball home for his eighth league goal of the season and 14th in all competitions.

Everton: What was different, and what’s the way forward?

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By Nicholas MendolaDec 7, 2019, 10:03 AM EST
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Everton got off the mat in style on Saturday, three days after a mistake-filled 5-2 loss to its Merseyside rivals.

While that loss wasn’t necessarily as bad as it looked on the score board, it was wretched at the back and enough to warrant a change at manager.

[ RECAP: Everton shock poor Chelsea ]

Duncan Ferguson took the reins at Goodison Park, and things were much improved in a 3-1 defeat of Chelsea.

What was different? Plenty, though most came in the form of personnel performances rather than changes (Also, Chelsea was terrible, but that negates little for an Everton side which had been insipid against inferior competition to Saturday’s visitors).

1) The Formation: Duncan Ferguson opted for a straight-forward 4-2-3-1 that often came closer to your traditional 4-4-2. The Toffees hemorrhaged possession but pounded away at the Chelsea attackers and counted on their swift, talented attackers to do their damage with limited chances. Call it the Newcastle United model. With Chelsea a bit off, it played out perfectly for Ferguson.

“Who knows? A new face, a new voice, a new message, who knows? These things just happen in football and the players give a reaction when they lose a manager.

“I think that’s right. What we really need at this club is the work ethic, the team really needs to work their absolute socks off. The fans really got behind us and believe me that gets you an extra goal.”

2) The Force: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, given the stage and his track record, had the game of his life. That’s not exaggeration. The 22-year-old had six shots, two goals, and won 10 aerial battles. That’s exactly what’s required given the formation and tactics outlined in Point No. 1. After scoring three goals in four matches a month ago, “DCL” had been very poor and flubbed his chances against Liverpool. This was a beauty, and Calvert-Lewin was clearly playing for his coach.

“It was a massive game for us and I have a very close relationship with Duncan. He has stuck by me for the three years I have known him. The most important thing was to go out and give 100%.”

I mean, that’s always the most important thing, but we can’t blame a 22-year-old for trading on the cliche market.

3) Other changes: Ferguson took a risk in deploying Morgan Schneiderlin over Tom Davies. The former had been one of the Toffees worst statistical players this year, while Davies is a hometown kid who had admittedly been very poor for the better part of a month. Schneiderlin wasn’t great in passing, but was steadier than the kid and won six tackles. When Davies came into the match, he wasn’t great but was more advanced and his lone positive contribution was a big one:

Yerry Mina missed the match through injury, which may’ve played a role in Ferguson’s decision to go to four at the back, but the difference in defense was down to both Mason Holgate and Michael Keane playing dramatically better. Keane especially, having not been credited with a single tackle in the loss to Everton.

We should save some space for Jordan Pickford, whose passing stats suffered from a directive to “get the ball out of there ASAP” but registered three saves in an improved performance. Pickford hasn’t been steady for his club — incredible against West Ham, terrible versus Liverpool and Brighton, and if he can eliminate the bad days and be just a bit above average he can be a big difference. Steadier work from the backs will help that.

And really that’s what will fix the Toffees. The attack hasn’t been amazing but it hasn’t been relegation worthy. And frankly the backs have not been awful, allowing the third-fewest attempts per match in the league, but have been prone to absolutely horrendous mistakes that left Pickford on an island. The less the keeper is in damage control, the higher Everton can rise.

4) So Big Dunc? Given the immediate road ahead, Ferguson’s approach and passion could give the club the leeway to wait a few weeks to make sure it hires a steady, experienced hand considering their long-term goals. Ferguson might be a name for the future, but as we outlined earlier this week… European spots remain there for the taking! Their next few matches provide chances to directly affect teams above them, with Manchester United at Old Trafford and Arsenal visiting Goodison. There’s also an opportunity to beat Leicester City and get to a League Cup semifinal.

Those are two routes to Europe right in front of the Toffees. Ferguson’s Brucian (or Benitezian) tactics and system can give them a chance to get two or three points from the league matches, and certainly can be enough to out-duel the Foxes at home. And you might say, so maybe he’s the man! Don’t look past what the club means to him. But in the long run, the talent and ambition of Everton needs a sustained system that isn’t just about “grinding it out.” Maybe Ferguson can supply that but is that a risk to take now, with Arsenal, Manchester United, and Spurs all wobbling in ways you wouldn’t expect in a given season? A commitment to working hard is just the first step to success.

Watch Live: Bournemouth v. Liverpool, Spurs v. Burnley headlines

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By Joe Prince-WrightDec 7, 2019, 9:41 AM EST
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Three Premier League games take place at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday.

[ STREAM: Every PL game live here ] 

Crystal Palace head to Watford, while Bournemouth host league leaders Liverpool and Burnley travel to Tottenham.

[ MORE: Sign up for NBC Sports Gold ] 

You can access additional games by purchasing the new “Premier League Pass” via NBC Sports Gold which also includes an extensive selection of shoulder programming such as Premier League News, Premier League Today and NBC Sports originals such as Premier League Download and much more.

[ STREAM: “Goal Rush” here ]

For those of you familiar with the Premier League Breakaway Show during busy days (Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Championship Sunday etc.) in the PL, this will follow that model of being similar to the NFL RedZone with action shown from all of the games in the 10 a.m. ET window. More info is available here.

The schedule for the three games at 10 a.m. ET is below and you can stream each game live by clicking on the links.

10 a.m. ET: Bournemouth v. Liverpool – NBCSN [STREAM]
10 a.m. ET: Tottenham v. Burnley – NBC Sports Gold [STREAM]
10 a.m. ET: Watford v. Crystal Palace – NBC Sports Gold [STREAM]