1 Smart Winter Transfer That Will Help Every Premier League Team

Santa Claus is on the way, but Premier League teams won't be receiving their presents until at least January 1.

That's when the winter transfer window officially swings open, and it will remain that way until 6 p.m. ET on February 3.

All 20 teams should be in the market for reinforcements for varying reasons, such as a title challenge, a hunt for a European place or in preparation for a fight against relegation.

Incoming new players won't necessarily change the entire fortunes of a club, but they could make a real, tangible difference to their new team's ambitions and hopes for the rest of the season.

It's rare that major deals happen in the winter window, but value can be found in the right places. With players' contracts expiring, clubs may also be more willing to move those individuals on rather than pay their wages for another six months.

Ahead, here is just one smart (and mostly realistic) signing each Premier League side could make to help their festive wishes become a reality.

Arsenal playing without an established centre-forward worked until it didn't.

The Gunners' lack of an out-and-out goalscorer is starting to harm the team, with onlookers beginning to notice they don't seem to be scoring much from open play.

In fact, as the BBC observed ahead of Week 16's 0-0 draw with Everton, their open play expected goals (xG) of 15.9 for the season ranks them 10th in the Premier League, while 33.33 percent of their goals have come from set pieces.

That's largely down to the work of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, and the club probably don't care so much where the goals are coming from as long as they are coming.

However, they need a new dimension, and their tricky, nimble players could perhaps use a foil to play off. Enter Dušan Vlahović, who ticks multiple boxes with one stroke of the pen.

The Serb, 24, can play as a target man and hold up play to get other attackers involved, while his own output in front of goal is nothing to be ashamed of (52 goals in 120 games for Juventus in all contests).

And if Arsenal do insist on continuing to make use of set pieces, Vlahović is 6'2" and built like a lumberjack, making him a notable threat in these situations.

Bringing the prodigal son back to the West Midlands makes a ton of sense for both Jack Grealish and Aston Villa.

For Grealish, game time is proving hard to come by at Manchester City, with the 29-year-old starting just five matches for the team in the Premier League this season.

For Aston Villa, contributions from the wing have been lacking, with Leon Bailey yet to register a goal and providing just three assists across all competitions.

While a permanent transfer is perhaps out of the question, considering Villa are sure to still be wary about breaking financial fair play rules, a loan move could help Grealish get back to the kind of form that convinced City to shell out a reported $139 million for his services in 2021. It would also bolster the Villans as they continue to surprise in the Champions League.

It might be complicated, and City might not want to sacrifice depth, but Villa fans will surely welcome the homegrown star back with open arms.

Sitting seventh in the Premier League table, Bournemouth are comfortably punching above their weight in the top flight.

That's down to some excellent recruitment, with 21-year-old Milos Kerkez a fine example of that transfer mastery.

The Hungary international is attracting the attention of some top clubs, with football journalist Fabrizio Romano reporting Manchester United hold a strong interest in the left-back.

So, the Cherries might need to do some succession planning. While they may stick to their model of signing promising young talents, one stopgap option could be Tottenham Hotspur's Sergio Reguilon, who is out of favour in London and will be out of contract at the end of the season.

The Spaniard, 28, could be signed on loan or for a low fee, and if Bournemouth find themselves in a pinch late in the window should Kerkez move on, Reguilon could keep things ticking over while they try to solidify a top-half finish.

When Christian Eriksen made his professional football comeback in 2022 following a cardiac arrest, it was Thomas Frank and Brentford that gave him the opportunity to prove his form and fitness.

His performances for the Bees were so good that Manchester United came calling, but now the Dane is in the final six months of his Red Devils deal and all signs point to a looming exit.

In February 2024, Frank told Tipsbladet (h/t Eurosport) that Eriksen would "always be welcome back" at Brentford, and now might be the time to make that happen.

Brentford have relied on their home form to climb to 11th in the table, but the Bees have lost all but one of their eight away fixtures (with that lone outlier being a draw).

Midfield was one area the club didn't really strengthen ahead of the season, and with Mathias Jensen missing time this season with injuries, they could use a bit of reinforcement.

Eriksen could be available for a minor fee, and he would fit into Frank's system expertly.

Brighton & Hove Albion have a reputation for smart transfer business, seemingly plucking young talents from nowhere who turn out to be brimming with potential.

Ricardo Pepi might be a little more well-known, though, at least in the United States. The USMNT star is finally making good on the promise he showed with Dallas by making his mark on the European stage.

He's scored 10 in 15 league games for PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, prompting some Premier League sides to take a long, hard look at the 21-year-old, according to AS (h/t ESPN).

The south coast of England might be a great landing spot, allowing him to continue his progression without the spotlight of some of the more high-profile clubs.

While Danny Welbeck has been surprisingly impressive this term and Evan Ferguson could yet make the starting striker spot his own if he can stay fit, a centre-forward is perhaps of greatest need to the Seagulls as they look to take the next step.

Pepi could be a calculated gamble that might pay off massively in a couple of seasons.

Despite having an impressive collection of goalkeepers on the payroll, Chelsea still need someone to take the gloves off the error-prone Robert Sanchez.

The Spaniard's shot-stopping is impressive, but his uncertainty with the ball at his feet has put the Blues' back line in a number of precarious positions.

With the club performing far better than many expected at the start of the campaign, Chelsea have an outside shot at a title challenge and would love to get back in the Champions League next season.

Caoimhin Kelleher has deputized for Alisson Becker admirably during the Brazilian's injury issues, leaving many Liverpool fans to call for the Irishman to remain at the club despite him publicly seeking a move elsewhere.

Part of Kelleher's success is thanks to his footwork, ensuring Liverpool have been able to confidently play out from the back even in the absence of their No. 1. The 26-year-old has also earned a reputation as an expert penalty-saver, which makes him even more appealing.

With few truly world-class options available, Kelleher would be a sound investment now for the coming years as younger goalkeepers in the Chelsea ranks develop.

With Marc Guehi being eyed by bigger clubs, Crystal Palace could replace one England international with another by signing Harry Maguire.

The 31-year-old remains the most expensive English defender in history following his $100 million transfer to Manchester United in 2019, but his stock has tumbled rapidly since then.

He could be out of contract by the end of this season, although United reportedly have a club option to extend it by a year, according to The Sporting News, and he's been pushed down the Old Trafford pecking order following the arrivals of Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro.

With that in mind, rebuilding his career outside of the north-west might sound appealing, and the Eagles could pick up a bargain compared to Maguire's price tag six years ago.

The Palace back line is surprisingly stable given the club's 15th-place position in the Premier League table, but that could be in jeopardy if Guehi departs. Even if he doesn't leave in January, he still might next summer, so adding a little extra strength in defense for a low fee could be smart business from the Eagles.

In Luton Town's one-and-done season in the Premier League in 2023-24, Elijah Adebayo was one of their standout players.

The 26-year-old scored 10 in 27 games in the doomed campaign, and he remained with the club when they dropped down a league.

Adebayo has only got five in 21 Championship games with Luton struggling to adjust to life back in the second tier, but he could be worth a gamble for Everton.

The Toffees are among the league's least-prolific sides, scoring just 14 to put their scoring output at second-worst in the Premier League. Unsurprisingly, manager Sean Dyche has been favouring an aerial approach to goalscoring, and it hasn't suited Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has just two goals in 15 appearances.

Standing at 6'3", Adebayo would be a perfect target man for that approach, and he might be available for a relatively low fee, which could entice Everton as they deal with the financial strain of building a new stadium.

The form of Rodrigo Muniz last season for Fulham may have been a false dawn in the hunt for Aleksandar Mitrović's replacement. Thankfully for the Cottagers, Raúl Jiménez has knocked in five to aid the club as they seek a top-10 league finish.

But Fulham could use an upgrade, and they could do far worse than looking to Ligue 1 and Nice's Evann Guessand.

The forward is having a breakout season, scoring as many goals in 15 games (six) as he did during the entirety of last season.

The 23-year-old has the kind of strength the club seems to appreciate in a centre-forward, while his hold-up play with his back to goal will help Emile Smith-Rowe to thrive from an attacking-midfield position.

Guessand also has a good passing range and often drops deep to initiate attacks, which should give Fulham another dimension they've not had with previous one-dimensional forwards.

Ipswich Town have come so close but so far on so many occasions this season, either not being able to see out games (claiming just nine points from winning positions in eight games) or not having enough to grab a winner.

A lot of the squad's players are performing in the top flight for the first season of their careers, and that lack of experience is telling.

Kalvin Phillips was supposed to be a guiding light from the center of the park, but his loan move from Manchester City has not worked out so far.

Scouting around the league for midfield options who could provide a bit of nous and might be available, Newcastle United's Sean Longstaff looks like a decent possibility.

The 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, and he might jump at the chance of being a guaranteed starter after spending a good chunk of his career as a back-up or rotation option.

The arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy in the Leicester City dugout has seemingly opened the scoring gates, with the Foxes finding the net five times in two matches before Saturday's 4-0 loss against Newcastle United.

But they could use a little extra firepower, and an experienced goal-getter makes sense to ensure survival now rather than build for the future.

A short-term solution could make a huge difference, and a couple of strikers are out of favour at their current clubs and nearing the end of their contracts. With Leicester not having a lot of financial muscle at the moment, a cut-price deal or a loan seems like a wise option.

Callum Wilson has made just four appearances for Newcastle United this season, partly because of a back injury. But with Alexander Isak in front of him in the pecking order, he won't be expecting a lot of game time.

Despite playing just 985 minutes during the whole of last season, Wilson still found the net on nine occasions. For Leicester, that kind of goal tally could be the difference between staying in the top flight and dropping to the Championship.

The 32-year-old's contract will be up at the end of the season, so he should be available now for little money. Otherwise, a loan to take him off the Magpies' wage bill could be a sensible option for everyone involved.

Danny Ings is also in a similar boat at West Ham United, but Wilson looks the smarter pick of the two.

In the summer, Liverpool were reportedly ready to pay the $64.3 million release clause of Real Sociedad's Martín Zubimendi, but the midfielder opted to stay in Spain.

Things haven't worked out so badly for the Reds, with Ryan Gravenberch making the No. 6 role his own, starting in every one of the Reds' 15 Premier League games and six Champions League meetings.

But he's going to need a bit of a rest at some point. Zubimendi wouldn't be the Dutchman's understudy, but they could, arguably, both operate in tandem in the center of the park, or else they could be rotated regularly as the business end of the season approaches without Liverpool experiencing a drop in quality.

The Anfield club have impressive strength in depth, and even Zubimendi's addition doesn't look as vital as it did at the start of the season. But a zone-linking, ball-winning midfielder is extremely valuable—just look at Manchester City's woes with Rodri on the sidelines.

For a team aiming to remain on top of the Premier League and progress through the knockout stages in Europe, Zubimendi could be a brilliant addition in the club's trophy assault.

Manchester City simply aren't used to losing games at the rate they are this season. They have lost five of their last seven Premier League games and only won one of the two other fixtures.

The loss of Rodri to a likely season-ending injury has been devastating, while a couple of usually reliable starters have not been at their usual high standards.

One of those is Kyle Walker, with the 34-year-old being a shadow of his former self as the perils of aging are catching up to him.

Signing a player who can offer some steel in the middle of the pitch and also play at right-back makes a ton of sense to provide at least a little remedy to the club's ailments. One such individual fits the bill, and the fact that his contract expires at the end of the season makes him entirely gettable.

Joshua Kimmich could soon be on the way out of Bayern Munich. He told ZDF SportStudio (h/t Goal) that he would "sit down in winter and then try to see the bigger picture" regarding his future.

If City come in with a tempting offer, the 29-year-old might see his future in the Premier League.

While we're used to seeing City splash the cash, a cut-price deal to try to salvage something this season seems a sensible bet before regrouping ahead of 2025-26.

Ruben Amorim's arrival at Manchester United has at least made the club a little less goal shy. The Red Devils have scored nine in five Premier League games under the Portuguese, which is a far better record than the 12 scored in 11 games before then.

But the sooner they can get the ball in the net with regularity the better, and the club might be looking to raid Sporting CP again in a bid to bring goal-machine Viktor Gyökeres to the north-west of England.

The Swede has been electric this season, scoring 26 in 24 games for the Primeira Liga side across all competitions. Amorim helped the 26-year-old's development into a lethal scorer, and bringing the pair together again could bring goals back to Old Trafford in abundance.

Whether Gyökeres will want the move is another matter, with United languishing in 13th place in the Premier League and some way off the qualification spots for European football next season.

The Sweden international might want to wait and see which other clubs will contend for his services ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

The progress of Newcastle United has stalled somewhat, with their 12th-place position in the Premier League a far cry from where many expected them to be following the investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

One area of the squad that could use a bit of an overhaul is at centre-back, with Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schär edging towards the end of their contracts and Dan Burn proving a solid but limited defender.

Moves for Joe Gomez and Marc Guehi didn't come through in the summer, and it's not looking so likely they will be able to make repeat bids stick in January.

However, a move for Benfica's António Silva could be a bit more promising. He's a target for the Magpies, according to TeamTalk, and he's not getting much game time in the Primeira Liga.

With Sven Botman on the way back from a long-term injury, the pair could make for a balanced centre-back pairing that would provide the club with a platform for success in the coming years.

Nottingham Forest are defying all expectations this season, sitting fourth in the Premier League thanks in part to a solid defensive record (19 conceded, joint-third best in the division).

It's a close-knit squad, with manager Nuno Espírito Santo fielding a consistent starting XI that is yielding impressive results. But it could use a bit of improvement to help the Reds maintain their unexpectedly lofty position.

Some Forest fans will tell you otherwise, thanks to the homegrown talent's cult-hero status, effort and work rate, but an upgrade on Ryan Yates looks the most obvious option to strengthen.

According to Tuttosport (h/t Sport Witness), the Tricky Trees have their eye on Juventus' Nicolo Fagioli, who is struggling for minutes with the Old Lady and could be available for less than $30 million.

Forest have financial issues to be mindful of, but if they can find some cash down the back of the couch, it could be a brilliant bit of business.

The Italian, 23, boasts tactical flexibility—he can operate across a range of midfield positions—and he is known for his ball-playing ability and appetite for a duel.

Taking some of Yates' best traits and adding a slice of elegance, Forest could build around Fagioli for years to come.

Southampton need goals. They have only found the net 11 times in 16 Premier League matches, which is partly the reason why they are bolted to the foot of the table.

The English top flight still looks like too big of a stage for Adam Armstrong to shine. Meanwhile, new signing Ben Brereton Díaz hasn't yet found the net in a Southampton shirt, and fellow new arrival Cameron Archer has managed just two successful strikes.

They might already be looking towards the Championship with a return likely next season, and in doing so, they may have spotted a player who could be their salvation.

Borja Sainz of Norwich City leads the league's scoring charts, bagging 15 in 21 games to put him five clear of the nearest challenger for the division's Golden Boot award.

He might not be cheap, and the Canaries will fight hard to keep the 23-year-old Spaniard as they hunt for a playoff spot, but investing in Sainz would be wise move for Southampton not just for now but also for a possible future in the second tier.

If he hits the ground running at the St. Mary's Stadium, he might just keep the Saints in the Premier League. If he doesn't, he's already demonstrated he can dominate in the Championship and will help the club return to the top table in 2026-27.

Tottenham Hotspur are having a bit of a defensive crisis.

Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have both missed time while on the treatment table, leading to Ben Davies filling in at centre-back alongside Radu Drăgușin for a handful of games.

However, Davies is injured too now, and Spurs have to contend with the loss of starting goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

While it's unclear how long those woes will continue, it makes sense for the club to invest in their back line, and an England international might be up for grabs.

It seemed Marc Guehi might have been ready to move on to greater things in the summer following standout performances for England at Euro 2024, but he stayed at Crystal Palace. The Eagles have been massively underwhelming, though, and the call of a bigger club might be difficult to ignore.

Palace would be loath to let the 24-year-old go, especially with their form in a bit of a state, but a big-money offer would be tough to turn down.

West Ham United's long hunt for a striker continues, and their needs have just become a lot more pressing.

Michail Antonio, who has been the club's only real option up top for the last few years, was involved in a road traffic accident in early December that left him with a broken leg that required surgery.

Thankfully, it wasn't any worse for the Jamaica international, who will now need a lengthy recovery period.

Niclas Fullkrüg arrived for a hefty fee in the summer, but the German has only suited up for the Hammers in five games. Danny Ings, meanwhile, has just one goal this season and doesn't look to be a huge part of manager Julen Lopetegui's plans.

If the Hammers want to roll the dice again on a possible striking solution, maybe Hugo Ekitike could be the next one up.

The 22-year-old has scored seven for Eintracht Frankfurt this season, good enough for joint-sixth in the Bundesliga's scoring charts. His age and profile would suit the east London club as they build for the future, and they were reportedly interested in him this time last year, according to The Standard.

Still, West Ham might need some patience with Ekitike as he develops, which is something they haven't historically had with the strikers they've signed in the past.

No Premier League team has conceded more goals than Wolverhampton Wanderers this season.

The 40 that they have shipped in 2024-25 is four worse than the team closest to them (Southampton), and it's undermining what is a fairly solid scoring output (24).

Wolves really need to tighten up that back line, and experience and Premier League knowhow will certainly go a long way as they fight for top-flight survival.

A TBR Football report from November linked the club to former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Eric Dier, who is now plying his trade with Bayern Munich.

However, the 30-year-old is out of favour with the Bundesliga side, featuring just four times for them in the league this season, with all of those appearances coming from the bench.

Dier's contract will be up by the end of the campaign, so a cut-price deal (or a loan) for a player with 274 Premier League games under his belt could make a real difference as Wolves try to shore things up following the sacking of head coach Gary O'Neil.