Here’s a quick rundown of the potential ins and out for all the English Premier League teams (in alphabetical order) for the forthcoming mid-winter transfer window.

Arsenal

Arsenal’s manager Arsène Wenger is one to rarely make radical mid-season changes and after encouraging first half of the season that is probably even more likely. However should rival clubs threaten to steal a march on him in the market he’s a wily character will do all he can to help prevent that. Johan Djourou will return from Birmingham to cover for Kolo Touré, bound for the African Cup of Nations, and Jens Lehmann is interesting Wolfsburg, though Wenger may be reluctant to lose the German due to goalkeeper coverage.

Possible Purchases

Luca Modric (Dinamo Zagreb, £10m), Artur Boruc (Celtic, £4m), Luke Freeman (Gillingham), John Bostock (Crystal Palace), Karim Benzema (Lyon, £8m)

Possible Sales

Jay Simpson (Millwall, loan), Jens Lehmann (Wolfsburg or Manchester City), Lassana Diarra (Tottenham Hotspur, £6m), Armand Traoré (Norwich, loan), Matthew Connolly (QPR, £1m), Fran Mérida (Real Sociedad, loan)

Aston Villa

Did you know that Aston Villa have the smallest squad in the Barclays Premier League? There’s one for the pub quiz! Villa’s need for reinforcements is obvious but Martin O’Neill’s cautious approach in the transfer market means that a flurry of new signings is unlikely. The Villa manager is expected to make a right-back his priority, with Porto’s Jose Bosingwa his favoured choice. The goalkeeper Scott Carson’s loan deal from Liverpool may well be made long-term but enticing the striker Jermain Defoe from Spurs promises to be more difficult.

Possible Purchases

Scott Carson (Liverpool), Jose Bosingwa (Porto), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Alberto Rodríguez (Sporting Braga)

Possible Sales

Gary Cahill, Thomas Sorensen, Luke Moore

Birmingham City

It will not have taken the new Birmingham manager, Alex McLeish, long to realise that his squad is high in numbers but low in quality. With doubts persisting about the striker Mikael Forssell’s fitness, the former Scotland manager is likely to be in the market for a centre-forward. McLeish has rejected the notion that he will do all his shopping north of the border but a Scottish influx is nonetheless expected at St Andrew’s, with James McFadden, unable to start regularly at Everton, at the front of the queue.

Possible Purchases

Kris Boyd (Glasgow Rangers), James McFadden (Everton), Michal Kadlec (Sparta Prague), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Possible Sales

Neil Danns, Rowan Vine, Martin Taylor

Blackburn Rovers

A sudden downturn has extinguished talk of Blackburn threatening the top four this season and compounded Mark Hughes’s frustration in failing to strengthen his central midfield, though it was not for the want of trying in the summer. That remains a key objective for this window, with the right-back position a key area. Hughes also needs to lift the mood of his South African striker Benni McCarthy. A limited budget may not allow the signing of a proven midfield recruit, however.

Possible Purchases

Lance Davids (Djurgardens), Valeri Domovchiyski (Levski Sofia)

Possible Sales

Jason Roberts, Robbie Savage, Andre Ooijer, Maceo Rigters

Bolton Wanderers

Gary Megson’s budget largely depends on whether the striker Nicolas Anelka gets his wish to leave the club, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United among the many suitors. Megson has criticised his defence and will make that a priority but he will also need to bring in a replacement for Anelka.

Possible Purchases

Bruno Alves (Porto), Zoltan Gera (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Kris Commons (Nottingham Forest), Nathan Tyson (Nottingham Forest), Jonny Evans (Man Utd)

Possible Sales

Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicolas Anelka, El Hadji Diouf, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Lubomir Michalik

Chelsea

Avram Grant has his first opportunity to begin the transformation of Jose Mourinho’s squad into something approaching his own. He is in most urgent need of a striker to replace Didier Drogba, perhaps unsettled but definitely either injured or absent at the African Cup of Nations in January. He may also consider recruiting cover at centre-half given John Terry’s fitness worries and the possible departure of Ricardo Carvalho at the end of the season.

Possible Purchases

Benni McCarthy (Blackburn), Nicolas Anelka (Bolton), Franco di Santo (Audax Italiano), Martin Fenin (Teplice), Luca Modric (Dinamo Zagreb), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), John Bostock (Crystal Palace), Lulinha (Corinthians, nominal)

Possible Sales

Jimmy Smith (Norwich or QPR, loan), Scott Sinclair (QPR or Crystal Palace, loan), Khalid Boulahrouz (Ajax)

Derby County

There is no position that doesn’t need strengthening at Pride Park but Paul Jewell knows that convincing players to join a club resigned to relegation promises to be a thankless task. Expect the Derby manager, who only succeeded Billy Davies at the end of last month, to court several of his former players although short-term loans, rather than permanent transfers, could be the preferred method of business given that the chairman, Adam Pearson, is reluctant to throw money at a lost cause.

Possible Purchases

Calum Davenport (West Ham), Jason Roberts (Blackburn), Ryan Shawcross (Man Utd), Kevin Kilbane (Wigan)

Possible Sales

Giles Barnes, David Jones, Robert Earnshaw

Everton

Ambitious summer spending, and in the right places, has resulted in a strong Everton squad and the club enjoying its finest season for many a year but David Moyes remains short of options in central midfield. The Everton manager made a top-class central midfielder his transfer priority in the summer, with a then club record £11.25m bid rejected for Porto’s Lucho González, and it remains the objective for next month. A loan signing with a view to a permanent deal may have to suffice for the calibre of signing Moyes is seeking.

Possible Purchases

David Albelda (Valencia), Manuel Fernandes (Valencia), Steven Pienaar (loan made full-time from Borussia Dortmund)

Possible Sales

James McFadden, Andy Van der Meyde

Fulham

Lawrie Sanchez spent heavily yet unproductively in the summer and paid with his job; his successor will demand and be granted funds to reshape. Priority areas are up front and at left-back, where cover is needed. Brian McBride’s injury has been felt while Shefki Kuqi will end his loan spell on January 31 and return to the Championship and Crystal Palace. Another midfielder may be on his wish list, Jimmy Bullard’s comeback not withstanding.

Possible Purchases

Hard to say prior to new managerial appointment

Possible Sales

Same as above

Liverpool

Rarely has a January window caused as many problems for a club. Ideally Rafael Benítez would strengthen in several departments - left-back, central defence, left-midfield and up front - but that was before his American employers tightened the purse strings. Now only a central defender seems imminent, and cooling interest in Racing Santander’s £10m-rated Ezequiel Garay reflects the financial situation, although that could change if Aston Villa pay £10m for Scott Carson and Benítez makes other sales.

Possible Purchases

Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina), Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander), Kakha Kaladze (Milan)

Possible Sales

Scott Carson, Peter Crouch, John Arne Riise, Mohamed Sissoko

Manchester City

Sven-Goran Eriksson has already finalised a one-year loan agreement with the Mexican international striker Nery Castillo but his priority will be to bring in at least one more forward, and City are among the clubs to have identified Nicolas Anelka, who spent 2½ years with them, as a significant target. Eriksson says there will be up to three signings and he retains an interest in the Australian international Mark Bresciano after coming close to signing him in August.

Purchased

Nery Castillo (Shakhtar Donetsk, loan)

Possible Purchases

Nicolas Anelka (Bolton), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Yasser Al Qahtani (currently on trial, Al Hilal)

Possible Sales

Ousmane Dabo, Darius Vassell, Rolando Bianchi, Andreas Isaksson

Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has said that if he does bring in someone it will be a left-back, which might be a source of frustration for those supporters who believe the primary target should be a back-up striker in light of Louis Saha’s persistent injury problems. Ferguson being Ferguson, he might just have been trying to sell the press a red herring - and he will be aware of Dimitar Berbatov’s potential availability at Tottenham Hotspur and Nicolas Anelka’s at Bolton Wanderers.

Possible Purchases

Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham), Nicolas Anelka (Bolton), Branislav Ivanovic (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Possible Sales

Wes Brown, Louis Saha, Johnny Evans

Middlesbrough

Gareth Southgate’s most pressing requirement is to improve his attack and, with Mido proving injury prone, he needs a target man. There could also be a change in goal should Mark Schwarzer, who is six months away from the end of his contract, opt to leave. With funds short Southgate could reluctantly sell one of his two left wingers, Stewart Downing or Adam Johnson, who has returned from a loan stint at Watford. Boro’s manager would love Peter Crouch and/or Jermain Defoe but accepts it would take minor miracles to lure them.

Possible Purchases

Arda Turan (Galatasaray), Rob Hulse (Sheffield Utd), Shola Ameobi (Newcastle), Thomas Sorensen (Aston Villa), Aphonso Alves (Heerenveen) Steve Harper (Newcastle),

Possible Sales

Dong Gook Lee, Gaizka Mendieta

Newcastle United

Sam Allardyce probably needs a commanding centre-half - or two - but Newcastle’s need is not so much acquiring new players as maximising the undoubted talent of those already at St James’ Park - not to mention finally hitting upon a style and formation that suits their respective skills. Even so Allardyce, who will temporarily lose four players to the impending African Cup of Nations, hopes to persuade Newcastle’s board to fund the purchase of three new faces.

Possible Purchases

Wes Brown (Man Utd), Tal Ben Haim (Chelsea), Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Lassana Diarra (Arsenal), Tamas Kadar (Zalaegerszegi)

Possible Sales

Shola Ameobi (Middlesbrough or Norwich), Steve Harper (Middlesbrough)

Portsmouth

Harry Redknapp’s principal concern at present will be the absence of numerous members of his first-choice side at the African Cup of Nations. He cannot cover for them all, so some wheeling and dealing in the market is inevitable. He may be in the market for loan signings, particularly up front and on the right of midfield. “I’m making lots of inquiries about who might be available,” he said. “We’ll be looking home or abroad, and it might be a case of getting a loan with a view to a permanent deal.”

Possible Purchases

Fabrice Pancrate (Sochaux, loan), Jerrel Britto (San Juan Jabloteh), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart, loan), Habib Bellaïd (Strasbourg), Jonas Gutierrez (Real Mallorca), Nathan Dyer (Southampton), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04, loan)

Possible Sales

Matt Taylor (Tottenham, Reading or Fulham), David Nugent (Derby County, loan)

Reading

Reading are not renowned for their muscle in the transfer market but their manager, Steve Coppell, has received assurances that he will have an opportunity to spend freely when the window reopens next month. With long-term injuries to Glen Little and John Oster, Coppell is keen to recruit a right-sided midfielder although he might also be tempted to make a move for West Ham United’s striker Bobby Zamora if Leroy Lita makes his expected exit from the Madejski Stadium.

Possible Purchases

Bobby Zamora (West Ham), Sébastien Puygrenier (Nancy)

Possible Sales

Leroy Lita

Sunderland

Every area of the team is flawed and Roy Keane hopes to improve it by signing “three or four” players of “pure quality”. His greatest need is central midfield enforcer but they also have a lack of finishing ability and can wobble alarmingly at the back. Moreover, they are collectively short of pace. Having spent £36m last summer Keane needs to select the right recruits now. Sunderland are in talks with a couple of European sides about players but would prefer to sign proven Premiership performers.

Possible Purchases

Wes Brown (Man Utd), Jonny Evans (Man Utd), Bobo Balde (Celtic), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Robbie Savage (Blackburn), Gavin McCann (Bolton), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Jason Roberts (Blackburn), Kevin Doyle (Reading)

Possible Sales

Daryl Murphy (QPR), Graham Kavanagh

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham have stabilised under Juande Ramos with players whose futures might have been in jeopardy, such as Paul Robinson, Younes Kaboul and Tom Huddlestone, having rediscovered form. Still, Ramos needs to address the problem on the left with Gareth Bale and Benoît Assou-Ekotto long-term casualties, while he would like an experienced centre-half and a midfielder. A deal has been agreed for Chris Gunter, the Cardiff full-back. Ramos insists that Dimitar Berbatov is going nowhere.

Purchased

Chris Gunter (Cardiff)

Possible Purchases

Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), Lassana Diarra (Arsenal), Daniel Jarque (Espanyol)

Possible Sales

Wayne Routledge, Teemu Tainio, Hossam Ghaly, Paul Stalteri.

West Ham United

Barely a week has gone by without a lament from Alan Curbishley about his injury list. He remembers how difficult it was to strengthen last January but his fears will compel him to look for reinforcements this time out. His top target will be Giles Barnes, the Derby County midfielder, who was the subject of several failed bids over the summer. He may also try again for Nicky Shorey, the Reading left-back. Curbishley will work with the club’s owner and new chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, who has replaced Eggert Magnusson.

Possible Purchases

Giles Barnes (Derby), Nicky Shorey (Reading)

Possible Sales

Luis Boa Morte, Nigel Quashie, Bobby Zamora, Christian Dailly

Wigan Athletic

Having paid a record £3m for a manager last month Wigan’s chairman Dave Whelan is not expected to hold back in the transfer window that could shape his club’s Premier League status. The last two games have been notable for the lack of defensive mishaps that undermined Steve Bruce’s start at the club but reinforcements for the defence remain a necessity, while over-reliance on Emile Heskey and the on-loan Marcus Bent for goals may be addressed also.

Possible Purchases

Gary Cahill (Aston Villa), Damien Johnson (Birmingham)

Possible Sales

Josip Skoko, Julius Aghahowa

How many of those do you think are going to happen? Knowing me, not many!

A very Happy New Year to you all from

The Soccer Blogger

The draw for the last 16 of this season’s Champions League was drawn last Friday and pulled up from very interesting clashes. Arsenal have been drawn against holders AC Milan, whilst last year’s runners up and 5 times champions Liverpool must play Serie A leaders Internazionale.

Celtic face a tern test after being paired with favourites Barcelona. Manchester United will tackle French champions Lyon, who denied Rangers a spot in the knockout stage but for the crossbar. However, Chelsea appear to have the kindest draw of the British sides after being pitted against Greek outfit Olympiakos.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid take on Roma, Sevilla meet Fenerbahce, and Schalke play Porto.

Ties to be played on 19th/20th February and 4th/5th March. However Liverpool’s away game at the San Siro has been put back a week, to 11th March, due Arsenal playing AC Milan the day before.

Champions League second round draw in full:

Celtic v Barcelona

Lyon v Manchester United

Schalke v Porto

Liverpool v Internazionale

Roma v Real Madrid

Arsenal v Milan

Olympiakos v Chelsea

Fenerbahce v Sevilla

It’s going to be a long wait!

The Soccer Blogger

Manchester Utd maintained teir pressure on the current Premiership leaders Arsenal with a last gasp penalty to beat Everton at Old Trafford by 2 goals to 1.

But their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, believes that neither Utd nor Arsenal can afford to underestimate the threat posed by both Chelsea and Liverpool in what still promises to be the most open championship race in years.

Man Utd still trail Arsenal by a single point, followed by Chelsea and Liverpool. However, this season’s suprise package Man City currently separate those two. But it would appear that Ferguson does bot consider City to be a long term threat like Liverpool and Chelsea and that the title will go to one of the “Big Four”, especially if neither of the top two drops any points pver the festive season.

Utd nearly did that yesterday at home to Everton. It took an 88th minute penalty by Ronaldo to end Everton’s 13 match unbeaten run. But as the season nears the half way stage, Ferguson believes his team are in a strong position even though he is very serious about the threat posed by the other big 3.

After yesterday’s game Ferguson said, “You can’t say it’s a two horse race now. As far as I’m concerned the battle of the big four is still on. There’s a slight gap opening up with ourselves and Arsenal nosing in front of Chelsea and Liverpool. But you can’t start calling a two horse race. It’s far too early.

“This season the big games between the leadings clubs are going to have a crucial bearing on the championship, but there can be no easing up. December is a very important month and if we get through the Christmas period, when we have two very difficult way games at Sunderland and West Ham and then Birmingham, and we are still with Arsenal, then we will have a good chance.”

United and Chelsea are likely to be without their normal first choice keepers for the forthcoming matches. Van der Sar missed yerterday’s victory against Everton with a groin strain. It is likely to keep him out for about 3 matches. Meanwhile Cech suffered a blow to his side during the victory at Ewood Park and will be sent for a scan today, Christmas Eve.

It must be said that Arsenal and Utd are not showing any signs losing momentum at the moment and the chasing pack might start finding keeping up a little arduous in the coming weeks and months. Joe Cole, who scored the winner at Ewood said, “We didn’t play well, but what a result. I don’t think that many teams are going to come here and get many points. we know the task ahead. we don’t look at the results, we just want to keep on winning.”

The Christmas and New Year period is going to be very interesting and at the end of it the race for the Championship might be looking a lot clearer.

A very Merry Christmas to everyone from the Soccer Blogger and everyone at The Soccer Blog!

The Soccer Blog

So here’s a quick summary of the salient facts you need to know about the first Press Conference by Fabio Capello, the new England Football Manager. God help him!

Fabio Capello, via his translator promised the packed press conference yesterday to return England to the top of the game. “It’s a job that everybody wants and everybody knows there are great expectations with the job and I will work to achieve these with the FA.” I’m not too sure about the “…it’s a game that everyone wants…” bit. Don’t seem to remember there being too many people lining up for the job. They were too busy making sure they weren’t in line.

Anyway, there were more flashes going off than a strobe light at a disco. All the journalists (and good old Brian Barwick) were salivating like they’d just seen a piping-hot plate of chicken wings pulled out of the deep-fat frier and the TV reporters jostled over the microphone like Newcastle players fighting over a penalty.

Admittedly, the Italian was nowhere near as revealing as David Beckham’s latest poster campaign, but he did give us a few hints about what we can expect over the next four and a half years. Here’s a brief synopsis of the salient points.

That’s amore! Brian and Fabio. Don’t they make a lovely couple? But will it be a match made in heaven or hell?

1. So much for speaking better English than expected. Don Fabio is still at the point where he rhymes honoured with red and says quaint things such as “at this moment my English is not so well, but I prefer to answer in Italian”. Still, it’s a start - he understood a number of questions put to him in English and he reckons he’ll be able to learn the lingo in a month. If he can teach Joe Cole how to speak the language, it will be worth paying hom £6m.

2. Half-time will have to be expanded from 15 minutes to 45 if he is going to use the same interpreter. Capello actually achieved a first by saying less than Steve McClaren in twice the time. He managed not to answer a variety of questions in Italian, such as who he would support if it was England against Italy, whether David Beckham would get his 100th cap and why the FA had appointed a foreigner.

3. On the plus side,hHe did, however, manage something McClaren couldn’t do in more than two years -provide a laugh that wasn’t laced with regret and bitterness. Capello was asked if it was true that he had punched Paolo Di Canio. He said he didn’t … but after a brief pause … added in an ominous tone that he was there when it happened.

4. He has always wanted to be the England manager, (yeah right!) ever since he was growing up in San Canzian d’Isonzo, Italy, and even when he was playing for his country. He didn’t say whether he regretted scoring that goal at Wembley in 1973 though.

5. He wants to have an Englishman - or at least someone who knows the league - involved in his set-up. He didn’t say who.

6. It’s only a part-time job, so Capello says he may have to be less of an authoritarian. He’s even promised to sit the wee lambs down and find out why they don’t feel loved. “Wearing the England shirt should be a matter of pride,” he said, proving that the same old clichés are the valid in any language.

7. There was no umbrella in sight.

8. He dismissed suggestions that he had never signed any English players. “When I was a scout I brought Ray Wilkins and Mark Hateley to AC Milan and as you know I worked with David Beckham,” he said. No one pointed out that Hateley and Wilkins played in Italy more than 20 years ago.

9. He says the style England adopt will depend on the players available. He added that it’s important to be flexible, in case anyone was wondering what sort of tactical acumen they got for their £6 million a year.

Anyone convinced the FA got the right man for the job? Mind you, if Brian Barwick can get a job at the FA, anyone can!

The Soccer Blogger

Ah, the FA….God love ‘em!

Has anyone else noticed how the FA seem to hold their meetings to discuss the important issues, like firing the guy they’d chosen for the England manager for example, over a damn good slap-up meal? Only reason I ask is that after arranging a breakfast meeting to discuss the future of good old Steve McClaren, remember him? a meeting which was to presumably settle their stomachs before confronting the undisgestable reality they’d put themselves and the country in - they arranged their monthly meeting yesterday to coincide with lunchtime at Soho Square.

Now, I like a good slap-up meal as much as anyone, including Bazza Barwick et al, and let’s face it, Mr. Barwick is no stranger to a fish supper, but surely the FA has got more important questions for their executives to deal with than whether they are going to go back to the buffet for thirds!

You would think the more important issue would be to start working on their interview process and start putting together a few questions to ask interviewees because it’s been no surprise over the last day or so that Jose The Special One has started to become more interested in courting a bit of attention (unlike Jose I know) than any serious job offer. And every other worthy candidate just seems to be shaking their heads in disdain. “What, manage England? Yeah, right!” So perhaps we, at The Soccer Blog, could help out Bazza and his mates at the FA a little by coming up with a few questions to ask a potential England manager in the forthcoming interviews.

Let’s start off with some multiple choice questions, to let our poor candidates settle in and make it a little easier for them.

Question 1.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Potential Answers.
A) In Poland and Ukraine preparing for the European Championship B) Sitting beside my private pool in Mauritius after accepting a fat cheque from the FA as your reward for failing to qualify from an easy group C) Working as an Art teacher in Norwich.

Question 2.
Do you think Stevie Gerrard and Frank Lampard can play together?
Potential Answers
A) No B) Never C) Absolutely not D) What position do they play in again?

Question 3.
When should an umbrella be used?
Potential Answers
A) On a golf course in winter, but only when it’s raining so hard your nose starts to run B) When performing in a sultry video with Rihanna, if only! Ella, ella, ella. C) To keep your hair dry while your team and country are getting humiliated in a crucial qualifying match. D) I like walking in the rain.

Question 4.
You schedule a daily press conference for 4pm sharp. What time does it actually take place?
Potential Answers
A) 4pm on the dot. B) 4.30pm, well 4.30 ish. C) Any time you bloody well feel like it, mate. D) Don’t be silly! Why the hell would I want to call a press conference! Have you read the English tabloids?

Question 5.
What role do you envisage Joe Cole operating in for England?
Potential Answers
A) He suits the continued square peg in a round hole role on the left of midfield B) I see him in the “Andrea Pirlo” role behind the striker in a truly creative position. C) Wow, I didn’t realise Andy Cole was actually still playing! Just thought he’d gone to Sunderland on holiday.

Now that we’ve eased the candidate into the interview it’s time to get serious…..

Question 6.
Can you tell us a little about your love life at the moment please?

Question 7.
Reincarnation! Now there’s a word! What’s your opinion on that then?

Question 8.
Now, if you’d just like to write down on this piece of paper who your agent and accountant are….?

Question 9.
What are your thoughts on brown paper envelopes and in particularly the stuffed variety?

Question 10.
You’ll be needing a company car obviously, so what’s your favourite super car at the moment?

Question 11.
I know a stupid question but don’t suppose you’ve ever been arrested, have you?

Question 12.
You are English, aren’t you?

And so it could go on, I’m sure you have your own questions you’d like to ask. But you know, I feel that the FA could make this whole process a lot easier and without the need to eat out all the time by simply asking one question. And that question would be this….

What was the figure you had in mind Jose?

Cut to the chase, that’s what I say!

The Soccer Blogger