It’s the most wonderful time of the year: yes, Christmas is just around the corner folks and for SBOTOP football fans that means a packed festive schedule of mouth-watering action.
But off the pitch club there is plenty of activity too as officials are scurrying around to try and ready their dealmakers for the January transfer window. And it is in the Premier League where the big bucks are usually splashed. But January is often a tough time to complete a good deal as selling clubs can smell desperation; so there will be tough competition for the top clubs in England to get the best deals over the line.
So what can we expect from the Big Six?
Well just to be clear, I’ll define that group which is clearly made up of the current top four, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City…and two others. And with apologies to Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, in fifth and sixth, and the next four in the top half of the table I’m going for the ‘traditional’ Big Six and heading into the bottom half to find Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who has led his team to a four-point lead and with a game in hand, there is a fine balance to maintain. He may want to strengthen his hand to hold off any challenge from Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester City but he can’t afford to unsettle his dressing room. Talismanic striker Mo Salah is still the best in the business as he showed recently during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Manchester City, and Reds fans are desperately hoping their club gets itself into gear to offer the Egyptian king a new 12 month deal. Apparently they have opened talks and are also looking to keep hold of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Premier League 2024 betting odds say the title is the Reds to lose and, if they have a good January, Liverpool can push on in the new year.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were the big winners last weekend and their recent Premier League 2024 results have been little short of outstanding, with four consecutive victories since they drew 1-1 with Arsenal in November. And, like Liverpool, their main objective is to keep hold of their big players. Cole Palmer is one of the best in the word right now and reports in Spain suggest Real Madrid are tracking the attacking midfielder. If anywhere, the Blues could do with strengthening at the back; defender Axel Disasi has fallen out of favour and he could be on his way out, and Chelsea have been linked with Benfica star Tomas Araujo who has an £83m release clause.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may be tempted to strengthen his attacking unit to try to add some firepower to his supremely creative group. He brought on Gabriel Jesus as the Gunners chased a winner against Fulham but the Brazilian forward is not a prolific goal-scorer. One name that has appeared on Monday is that of Everton centre forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the Toffees revealed they are willing to sell the England man for £20m. At 27 years old Calvert-Lewin is approaching his prime but he has suffered from injuries in recent seasons and scored only twice in 14 games. But a change of scene may well do the player good and, as his contract expires in 2025, £20m could represent a good medium term deal for the Gunners.
Whatever’s happening at Manchester City right now the Sky Blues are in danger of slipping out of the title race after the drew 2-2 away to Crystal Palace. City are unlikely to spend big but news coming out of Italy suggests that Pep Guardiola is set to make a move for Juventus full back Andrea Cambiaso. The 24 year old can play on either flank and the City boss is a big admirer, and he has recently bemoaned the defensive frailty of his team.
And then there are Tottenham and Manchester United. Fans of Spurs and the Red Devils are in meltdown at the moment and they will cry out for wholesale changes; but Financial Fair Play rules and availability of players, better than they already have, will make things difficult for Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorin.
Tottenham have developed a worrying habit of collapsing at the back as they did in the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend, and they have been linked with a move for RC Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov who the French club value at £25m. Tottenham believe they can get their man for a cut-price deal and may start the bidding at £10m.
Manchester United are arguably in a bigger mess off the field following the shock departure of Dan Ashworth, and the Red Devils are reported to be looking to Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta as a possible replacement, but I suspect the Rojiblancos man will be hard to lure given the current turmoil at Old Trafford.
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