The January transfer window is a fickle beast. It can act as both a help and a hindrance to a club, having the ability to make or break your season. We have seen in the past that clubs who are willing to spend in the winter transfer window can make massive improvements, but attractive deals are often hard to come by.
That being said, they are possible. Liverpool went out and splurged on Virgil van Dijk last season, a move which seems to have played a major part in the team becoming top dogs in the league at the moment.
Will any of the Premier League's top six clubs make a similar move this season? Here is the area each team should be looking to improve:
Liverpool - Left Back
Where can Liverpool really improve this side at the moment? Klopp seems to want another attacking midfielder in his squad, as evidenced by the courting of Nabil Fekir during the summer transfer window. A player of the desired quality will likely not be available in January however, and the German will be hoping that Naby Keita can contribute more in that role in the coming months.
There does not seem to be any real holes in the squad, although bringing in a left back could be an option. While Andrew Robertson has established himself as perhaps the best in that position in the Premier League, an injury to the Scot could prove disastrous.
Alberto Moreno has proven time and time again that he is simply not up to the job, and couple this with his recent comments about his frustrations at the club, and finding an alternative at left back in January could be a priority.
Spurs - Central Midfielder
Spurs have a very well-rounded squad, with no glaring holes. A back up striker could definitely be sought out, with Fernando Llorente no longer an adequate option. It will be difficult to recruit a player who knows they will play second fiddle to Harry Kane however, while Heung-Min Son can also fill that role.
One would assume that Mauricio Pochettino would certainly like another option in midfield. Age looks to be catching up with Moussa Dembele, with the Belgian also out of contract in the summer. Eric Dier continues to look unconvincing, and he is simply not good enough to take Spurs to the next level.
An upgrade over both would be a big step in the right direction for Tottenham, although it is unlikely Daniel Levy will give his manager a whole lot of funds to play with in January.
Manchester City - Holding Midfielder
Manchester City need another holding midfielder, that much is becoming clear. While the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva usually receive all the plaudits when it comes to making this City team tick, Fernandinho's recent absence has shown just how vital he is.
The Premier League champions have lost to both Crystal Palace and Leicester City without the Brazilian in the team, and all of a sudden they have a real challenge on their hands to catch Liverpool. They lacked steel and mobility in the middle of the park, while Fernandinho's propensity to produce a number of tactical fouls throughout the 90 minutes was also dearly missed.
At 33-years old, the midfielder's absences are likely to become all the more regular. January should be the time to seek out his long-term replacement. Failure to do so could prove vital in the title race.
Chelsea - Striker
Maurizio Sarri is clearly not satisfied with his options up front. His decision to play Eden Hazard in a 'false nine' role points to that fact, and while the Belgian has performed admirably in the position, it is not where he sees his future in the game.
If Chelsea are to hang on to Hazard this summer, they need to everything possible to appease their star man. Playing him in his preferred wide left role would be a start, as would finding him a top class partner up front.
Alvaro Morata looks a shell of the player that the club forked out £58million for, and he has been unplayable at times this season. Olivier Giroud has some unique qualities, but he does not tick all of the boxes for a talismanic striker at a club like Chelsea.
The January transfer window is a notoriously difficult time to recruit top forwards, with teams often reluctant to let go of their top goalscorer midway through a campaign. Chelsea need to get somebody in the door however, even if Roman Abramovich has become increasingly financially prudent in recent seasons.
Arsenal - Centre Back
This one is fairly self-explanatory. Arsenal are a shambles at the back. That was clear during yesterday's drubbing at the hands of Liverpool, when the defending was absolutely laughable at times.
For all the progress Unai Emery has made at The Emirates, he has not sorted out the team's defensive problems. A lot of that could be down to the players at this disposal, many of whom do not look up to the task. Mustafi has been woeful, Koscienly is plagued by injuries, and Stephan Lichsteiner looks around four years past his best.
Money is needed in January if Arsenal are to sustain a top four push, and that will be a test of how much Arsenal are willing to back their new manager. FSG gave Jurgen Klopp £75million to go ut and sign Virgil van Dijk last January, will Stan Kroenke do the same for Emery?
Manchester United - Centre Back
Jose Mourinho pleaded for a centre back during the summer transfer window, but the board seemed reluctant to back their manager in the transfer window. It is possible that both parties were proven correct on the matter.
The board were right not to entrust Mourinho with another transfer war-chest, as evidenced by the lack of successful signings over his spell in charge. Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof have both been recruited for massive fees under his tutelage, and neither looks up to scratch.
Equally, the Portuguese was proven correct that United did indeed need a central defender, with their back four looking shambolic at times this season. It is almost definitely Mourinho's fault that they were so bad, but we should probably let him have a win on this one.
United need an upgrade, with big money moves for the likes of Kalidou Koulibably have mooted.
