Ah January - a time for resolutions and new things.
Most of us are short of money come this time of year, but that’s never the case in football.
Somehow all the clubs manage to smokkel one or two signings before February rolls around to bolster a final push for the finish line.
So let’s take a look at what our favourite clubs will need to finish the season off on a high.
CHANGE ROLE: Thabo Nodado. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
Cape Town City
At the start of the season, all then-coach Benni McCarthy could think about was a new centreback.
When Greek defender Giannis Potouridis arrived at the end of October, Benni didn’t get even get a chance to use him because the boss was fired the next week for having the worst defensive record in the PSL.
What City need is someone to play the role Ayanda Patosi did to give them a cutting edge in the final third. At the moment, the likes of Mpho Makola and Thabo Nodada are playing too deep to be as effective as they can be.
It’ll be interesting to see if Jan Olde Riekerink gets what he needs from chairman John Comitis.
Stellenbosch
A ball-playing midfielder with experience arrived in Granwald Scott to kick off the silly
season.
But at 32 and a horrible injury record, Scott might not be enough to help Steve Barker’s team to manage ball possession enough.
Barker will be first to admit that his team is better on the counter.
But running hard makes you tired and resting in possession is an important tactic to take the sting out a game. It’s much better than sitting deep to protect leads as they found out against Bloem Celtic on Tuesday night.
Liverpool
What could possibly make Jurgen Klopp’s runaway Premier League leaders better?
They already brought in Takumi Minamino from Red Bull Salzburg.
And at the cost of just £7.5m, Klopp has stacks more cash to use.
So to make sure of that first league title in 30 years, I suggest a centreback just in case something happens to Virgil van Dijk.
Man City feel apart when Aymeric Laporte got injured and that’s the last thing Reds fans need.
They have been link to 22-year-old Brighton defender Ben White who has impressed on loan at Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa.
Snap him up before he becomes a ready-made Pep Guardiola or Mikel Arteta buy.
Manchester City
It's an easy one for Pep... get a new centreback.
Kalidou Koulibaly has long been linked to City and has been a star in Italy’s Serie A.
Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar also fits the bill as a ball-playing defender. Then there are Nathan Ake and Caglar Soyoncu.
Reports reckon Pep is planning for life after Sergio Aguero and likes the look of Inter’s Lautaro Martinez.
BLUES TARGET: Moussa Dembele. Picture: Emmaunel Foudrot/Reuters.
Chelsea
Since their transfer ban was
lifted six months early, Chelsea have been linked with almal.
But after posting record losses of over £100m, just how much cash will Roman Abramovich sign off for rookie coach Frank Lampard?
Up front, Gabriel Barbosa and Moussa Dembele have been
identified to help ease Tammy Abraham’s burden.
The pair are more mobile than the likes of Olivier Giroud or Alvaro Morata before him.
Nathan Ake could return to Stamford Bridge to sure up the defence too.
A MOURINHO FIT: Callum Wilson. Picture: John Sibley/Reuters.
Spurs
Transfer windows at Spurs are gonna be awesome with odd couple Jose Mourinho and Daniel Levy going shopping together. It’ll be like Real Housewives v DIY.
Whether Jose has curbed his shopaholic tendencies or not, he needs a striker to relieve Harry Kane once in a while.
AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek has been linked, but Callum Wilson seems abrasive enough to do whatever Jose smaaks- think Didier Drogba or Diego Costa crossed with Diego Milito, Samuel Eto’o and Benni.
He also needs someone to replace wantaway Christian Eriksen - James Rodriguez on the cheap, anyone?
And he should start thinking about Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld at the back too.
GUN DEFENDER: Jerome Boateng. Picture: Michael Dalder/Reuters.
Arsenal
Isn't Arsenal always short of a defender or two and physical
central midfielders?
Sokratis walks a tightrope when it comes to staying on the field and with comedy defender Skhodran Mustafi, they are probably the first manne Mikel Arteta would love to see the back of.
Dayot Upamecano and World Cup winner Jerome Boateng would definitely be an improvement.
DEVIL ON LOAN: Chris Smalling. Picture: Supplied.
Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position is becoming more desperate with each day.
His team tactics are limited and most of that is down to a lack of a creative options in midfield.
Unleashing Paul Pogba as a No.10 would probably be best for both for the player and the club.
But maybe that boat has sailed already and cashing in on the Frenchman could see Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Neves produce goals and guile from midfield.
In defence, there has been talk of recalling Chris Smalling. Face palm.