With the summer transfer window either rushing or creeping toward completion, depending on whether you want your club to buy a new player or hold onto an asset, it’s due time we address the needs of each team with time ticking away.
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Everton
Roberto Martinez has added some key pieces over the summer with the main signing Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea for a whopping $47 million. That’s a lot of cash for the Toffees to splash but they needed to. Bringing in free agents Gareth Barry (who spent last season on loan at Everton) and Samuel Eto’o will proved the squad with plenty of experience and the additions of Christian Atsu on loan and versatile Bosnian international Mohamed Besic are good pick ups. Unlikely that Martinez will do much more business but with Everton in the Europa League this season, he may need to get a few more players in to bolster the squad.
Hull City
The Tigers need to do some business and it will hinge on their progress to the Europa League group stage. Steve Bruce has sold Shane Long for $20 million to Southampton and is desperate to bring in some more attackers with his big summer signing, Robert Snodgrass, out for six months after suffering a horrible injury on his debut. Defender Michael Dawson has arrived from Spurs but Hull will need plenty more signings between now and next Monday if they’re going to stave off relegation and compete in Europe. New additions up front, especially after their failed attempt to sign Jordan Rhodes, are key with just Yannick Sagbo and Nikica Jelavic as their recognizes strikers.
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Leicester City
The Foxes have been frugal in the summer window with four free transfers incluing Matt Upson, Jack Barmby and Marc Albrighton but they did bring in forward Leonardo Ulloa from Brighton in a club record $14 million move. They need to strengthen throughout as Nigel Pearson’s men have looked solid yet unspectacular against Everton and Chelsea to open the season. Esteban Cambiasso has been mentioned as an option in central midfield, while they are closing in on James McArthur from Wigan. Work needs to be done if Leicester are going to shake off their tag as relegation candidates.
Liverpool
Mario Balotelli. Adam Lallana. Dejan Lovren. Lazar Markovic. Rickie Lambert. Emre Can. Javier Manquillo. Alberto Moreno. Divock Origi. Yeah, it’s been a busy summer at Anfield after nine new arrivals. Luis Suarez has left and Brendan Rodgers has splashed $193 million in transfer fees after receiving $128 million from Barcelona for Suarez. Liverpool;s business seems to be done for this window but their are still rumors around that Radamel Falcao could be heading to the Reds ahead of their first Champions League campaign since 2009-10.
Manchester City
They didn’t really need to sign many players over the summer, did they? City brought in a few top players, just for arguments sake, as young French defender Eliaquim Mangala arrived from FC Porto for $59 million and destructive Brazilian midfielder, Fernando, also came from Porto for $20 million. A back up goalkeeper, Willy Caballero, and Bacary Sagna on a free from Arsenal, also arrived as Manuel Pellegrini added to his squad prudently. This summer was all about keeping their best players around as Samir Nasri, Vincent Kompany, Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero all signed new contracts. Don’t expect City to make any late signings unless an offer too good to turn down presents itself. Falcao has also been touted as a potential target for City before the window slams shut.
