- From Arsenal to Wolves: Smart January moves every Premier League club should make | OneFootball

January is often cited as a challenging month for business, but there has already been plenty of transfer movement in the winter window.

AsPremier League clubs scramble to get deals done, we've selected one ideal signing we feel each top-flight club could make.

Arsenal

Arsenal look unlikely to delve heavily into the market this month, with Mikel Arteta’s squad packed with quality depth and several players on the cusp of a return to action.

A longer-term project might be the profile targeted, andArsenal have an interest in Eintracht Frankfurt winger Jean-Matteo Bahoya.

The 20-year-old is explosive, direct and a willing worker. He could be a super supplement to Arteta’s forward line.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa are another side unlikely to spend big in January. PSR restrictions have hindered Unai Emery in recent windows, and there’s a desire to keep hold of the players who could generate funds to reinvest.

Amid a reported desire to cancel Harvey Elliott’s loan spell fromLiverpool before the purchase clause becomes mandatory, another frontline option could be sought on a temporary basis.

Omar Marmoush, squeezed out of the picture atManchester City of late, will have suitors. The Egyptian scored 28 goals in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt and City last season, but has fallen out of favour.

Whether City would sell to anAston Villa side who have become a direct rival is another matter.

Bournemouth

The biggest talking point atBournemouth centres around outgoings, with an expectation that Antoine Semenyo’s £65m release clause will be triggered.

Replacing the club’s leading scorer will be difficult, particularly in a mid-season window. Could a loan make more sense?Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri and Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb are two terrific talents in need of more minutes.

Brentford

With Vitaly Janelt expected to leave in the summer and Jordan Henderson approaching his 36th birthday,Brentford’s focus will centre around defensive midfield additions.

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman is a player the Bees like, though prising him from the Netherlands may be difficult despite a reported release clause of around £17m-£20m.

Veerman has eight goals and seven assists from midfield for the runaway Eredivisie leaders. At 27, he may now feel that it's time to test himself outside of his home country.

Brighton

Succession plans are being put in place atBrighton, ahead of inevitable interest in their top talent next summer. Manchester United have put Carlos Baleba high on their wish-list, which could lead to a vacancy in midfield.

Genoa’s Morten Frendrup certainly ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to the data. The 24-year-old is a relentless ball-winner, leading Serie A for tackles won in each of the last two seasons.

Burnley

Burnley have issues at both ends of the pitch, but conceding goals has been a problem. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has been an astute addition of experienced, proven Premier League quality, and signing a centre-back of similar ilk could benefit their survival bid.

Axel Disasi, unwanted atChelsea, often comes alive when it comes to penalty-box defending.

Chelsea

Chelsea have broken transfer records aplenty in recent years, but somehow have a squad lacking in balance and experience.

Robert Sanchez’s improvement has perhaps shifted the focus from goalkeeper to centre-back. Ronald Araujo has been linked previously and recently returned from a break from football to concentrate on his mental health, amid criticism at Barcelona. A fresh start may be welcomed by the Uruguayan.

Crystal Palace

Marc Guehi is set to leaveCrystal Palace, either this month or when his contract expires in the summer. Chris Richards and Maxence Lacroix will need a new partner, and Jeremy Jacquet is a player of huge potential.

This season, Jacquet ranks among Ligue 1’s top players for both percentage of dribblers tackled and clearances. The 20-year-old has admirers from wealthier clubs, so Palace will need to move quickly.

Everton

Where to start? After a mass exodus in the summer, there are still glaring gaps in David Moyes’s squad. A centre-forward, defensive midfielder, and right-back are all urgent for the Toffees, though Moyes has cast doubt on mid-season spending.

Using The Friedkin Group’s ownership of AS Roma to finalise a rumoured swap between Beto and Artem Dovbyk may be the best bet for the Blues. Despite a modest time in Italy, Dovbyk won La Liga’s Pichichi Trophy in 2024.

Longer-term, Jorgen Strand Larsen would be a smart signing from aWolves team that looks doomed. Everton could do a lot worse than the Norwegian, who hit 14 goals in the Premier League last season.

Fulham

Fulham have been relying on Raul Jimenez for too long, with Rodrigo Muniz unable to put together a run of games.

Signing a striker should be the focus, particularly with Harry Wilson in such creative form. Troy Parrott’s goalscoring form for club (AZ Alkmaar) and country (The Republic of Ireland) has not gone unnoticed in thePremier League.

Leeds United

Leeds have looked like a new signing since a change in formation, but another forward could be used to complement the partnership of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.

Pace, particularly, would be useful to Leeds across the run-in. Feyenoord forward Ayase Ueda, who has 19 goals in 22 games this season, has been linked.

Liverpool

Liverpool’s failure to land Marc Guehi on deadline day has come back to haunt them, with a lack of depth at centre-back as Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk have struggled for form.

Guehi is expected to see out the season atCrystal Palace, but a sizeable offer for a player with just six months left on his contract could tempt the Eagles. Oliver Glasner has admitted he is not naive enough to think Palace will not entertain suitable bids.

Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has overhauled his frontline in recent windows, and that looks set to continue in January.

City are closing in on a deal to signBournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who would help lessen the reliance on Erling Haaland and improve the increasing unpredictability of the Citizens' attack.

Semenyo has a £65m release clause that can be triggered before January 10th.

Manchester United

Manchester United have made strides forward this season, but remain frustratingly inconsistent. Midfield remains the glaring issue for the Red Devils, who are expected to address it in the upcoming windows.

While dream targets such as Carlos Baleba (Brighton) and Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest) may need to wait until the summer, there’s an opportunity to strengthen sensibly in January.

Ruben Neves, ready to quit Saudi Arabia, is reportedly available for around £20m. The formerWolves captain would upgrade the ranks and free Portugal teammate Bruno Fernandes to play higher up the pitch.

Newcastle

Injuries have stripped Newcastle’s defensive depth down to the bare bones. A centre-back should be high on the wish list for January, and easier to find than the creativity also required.

An enquiry forBournemouth’s Marcos Senesi would be smart, given his contract situation and performances this season. However, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are also reportedly keen. Senesi's deal expires at the end of the campaign.

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest have steadied under Sean Dyche, but require more to keep clear of trouble. Extra energy in central midfield would be welcome, with Ibrahim Sangare currently at the Africa Cup of Nations and Elliott Anderson the subject of interest from Premier League rivals.

Could Conor Gallagher be tempted back to the league on loan? The Atletico Madrid midfielder needs minutes if he is to regain his England place.

Sunderland

Sunderland stacked up on depth in the summer, and their recruitment has been wise. The Black Cats are comfortably clear of trouble, though AFCON has depleted their ranks. Furthermore, just two players, Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey, have scored more than two Premier League goals.

After a failed move in the summer, a swoop for Sassuolo winger Armand Lauriente could be revisited to provide some x-factor in the final third. The winger scored 18 goals in Serie B last season.

Tottenham Hotspur

Thomas Frank has suggested Tottenham will be active in January after an underwhelming start to his tenure.

A lack of attacking imagination - and a proper replacement for Heung-min Son - could be found in Ademola Lookman.

The London-born Nigerian winger has flourished at Atalanta, where he’s scored 55 goals in 134 games and won the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award. Out of contract in the summer, the fee could be reasonable.

Given Mohammed Kudus' injury and the sale of Brennan Johnson, an addition on the flanks looks necessary.

West Ham

West Ham have wasted no time in the January transfer window, with Valentin 'Taty' Castellanos and Pablo Felipe brought in in a bid to finally end their striker curse. The Hammers have brought in countless forwards in recent years, with none having truly lived up to expectations.

Expect further deals, with centre-back also a priority. Charlie Cresswell has been heavily linked after an impressive summer with England's u-21 side and at Toulouse this season. Cresswell is a real presence and ranks second in Ligue 1 for aerial duels won. At 23, he could form part of a rebuild at the London Stadium, regardless of which division the Hammers are in next season.

Wolves

Things are bleak forWolves, who remain winless as we reach the new year. Already 15 points from safety, recruitment must focus on a likely Championship campaign next season.

Signing proven second-tier talent that may provide an immediate lift would be sensible. CouldWolves