January Transfer Window: Best and Worst Scenarios for the Top Clubs

The January transfer window is a crucial time for many top clubs as they look to make some signings which could strengthen the team to enable them to have a strong finish to the season.

Some of the top clubs in the world have started poorly this season but as with big clubs, they do have the resources to rise to the top again if they make the right moves in the transfer market.

Though most clubs in the world prefer to strengthen their team greatly in the summer, injuries and loss in form can contribute to the club requiring players in the January transfer window. For instance, Arsenal signed Andrei Arshavin in January 2009 and he was the main reason why Arsenal managed to qualify for the Champions League again, as he had a major impact since his arrival.

The January transfer window last year had plenty of activity with some big money moves like Chelsea signing Fernando Torres and David Luiz and Liverpool signing Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

There could be a few big moves to watch for in January. Here is what the top clubs would look for in the transfer window.

Barcelona are arguably the favorites to win the La Liga and the Champions League and though they are one point behind Real Madrid, they have the capability to win trophies again this season. They did strengthen their team in the summer by signing the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Cesc Fabregas and will hope to retain both the domestic as well as the European title.

Best Situation

Carles Puyol's fitness has been a worry for the Blaugrana, as he is one of the most important players in the side. Gerard Pique has also been injured at times this season, which has meant both Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets have played at centre back.

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola could look for a centre back in the January transfer window and should have enough depth in attack and midfield with the summer signings.

Worst Situation

Pique is one of the most important players for the Blaugrana and if he does get injured, it could be a problem for Barcelona, considering Puyol has also not been reliable concerning his fitness. Barcelona would prefer to include Busquets at midfield but he could be required at centre back if they do not sign another defender.

This could prove to be a weak link in the side.

Chelsea did have a solid start to the season until the recent consecutive defeats to London rivals Queens Park Rangers and Arsenal. They conceded five goals against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, which will be a concern for Villas-Boas.

With the Manchester clubs still looking impressive, Chelsea have a lot of hard work to do after falling nine points behind leaders Manchester City.

Best Situation

With Fernando Torres still inconsistent, it would be good for the club if Didier Drogba does sign a contract extension. Also, Jose Bosingwa has not looked secure at the back and Chelsea have to either sign a right back or sign a centre back and play Brainslav Ivanovic on the right.

Though Frank Lampard has regained his form, it would be good for the club if they sign another fluid creative midfielder.

Worst Situation

If they continue to play Bosingwa on the right, it is likely that quality teams will exploit the left flank and it is possible that they will enjoy success down that side. Also, the centre back partnership does not look settled and their high line could cause more mistakes from the backline.

They will have to correct the mistakes they made against Arsenal if they are to be considered genuine title challengers.

Manchester City have further strengthened their team in the summer through the signings of Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero and are currently enjoying a five-point lead at the top of the table. If they can maintain their form and consistency, they have a great chance of being the Premiership champions.

Their major problem is to keep the big squad happy and motivated. Roberto Mancini's man management skills will be important for City.

Best Situation

The best situation for City would be if they can sell Carlos Tevez at a good price and also secure a quality attacking player in the window like Ezequiel Lavezzi. There is a chance that Kolo Toure might leave the club; they need to sign another centre back if that is the case.

Also, they will have to hope that the likes of Samir Nasri and Adam Johnson are motivated enough, though they might have to spend some time on the bench.

Worst Situation

The worst situation is if Manchester City fails to sell Tevez in the window and also, if other players do not make a good dressing room atmosphere. It is important for the manager to maintain a good relationship with the squad and also keep his players motivated.

There might be a few players who want to move away from the club if they do not play regularly, which is a problem they could face at the club.

Real Madrid have made progress since the appointment of Jose Mourinho as the manager of the club and they aspire to be the domestic and European Champions this season.

The Portuguese tactician has assembled an excellent team at the club and there are many youngsters who will only get better with experience at the club. It should be an exciting season for Madrid and they will hope to be successful at the end of the season.

Best Situation

Real Madrid do have depth in almost every position and they have a large squad capable of withstanding the rigors of the season. However, they could also make some excellent signings, such as Eden Hazard and Neymar, in the January transfer window. These type of signings certainly add more quality to the squad.

Raul Albiol has not looked very solid for Madrid of late and Madrid could sign another centre back, though Rafael Varane seems to be a fine addition to the team.

Worst Situation

With Madrid making most of their dealings in the summer, there will not be many additions in the January transfer window. If some of their players are not satisfied regarding their situation, that is when there could be a problem.

However, Mourinho is a manager who is capable of excellent man management and will look to utilize his resources to the maximum possible extent.

Inter Milan have not had a good time following the departure of manager Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid and have had managers sacked since the Portuguese tactician left on a high note after winning the treble.

Inter Milan have undoubtedly been affected by injuries but, also, they have not played well as a team, which has contributed to their downfall. With Juventus also improving greatly this season and teams like Napoli and Udinese possessing strong squads, the Milan teams can no longer considered to be the only title contenders.

Best Situation

They need reinforcements in January and some creativity in the forward line. However, if Mauro Zarate can play to his potential, then Pazzini will receive more support as well.

They will look to sign a creative winger like Eden Hazard in the January window and also, with Walter Samuel being absent for many games, they hope to strengthen their defense as well.

Worst Situation

The worst situation for the club would be if they fail to sign a quality defender and also a quality attacking player. They could also lose Wesley Sneijder in the window, which could contribute to them finishing below the Champions League places.

Manchester United did have a terrible defeat at the hands of Manchester City, but with the return of Nemanja Vidic to the starting 11, their defense has looked solid. Despite that defeat, they will be strong competitors for the title and United and Sir Alex Ferguson's experience in winning titles will prove to be an advantage for the team.

They will hope to have a strong results in order to be close to Manchester City. United could make signings in the January transfer window as well.

Best Situation

With United having Rafael da Silva returning in defense, there won't likely be any additions in that area, while they also have a forward line capable of threatening any team in the world.

However, they might need another central midfielder considering that their midfielders were not impressive against City and in some other games. They lack creativity from there, and a signing like Wesley Sneijder could be a major boost to the team.

Worst Situation

United need to keep their best players fit for most of the season, specifically Wayne Rooney and Vidic. It will be difficult for them to sign a quality midfielder in January and they could be Cup-tied as well.

If they do not bring another creative player to the team and Rooney is injured, it will not be a good situation for the Red Devils.

FC Porto had an exceptional 2010-11 season under manager Andre Villas-Boas as they managed to win the Europa league and also excel in domestic competitions, winning the league.

The Portuguese giants qualified for this season's Champions League and though they do have a strong team, they have not looked as strong as the previous season, mainly due to the departures of Radamel Falcao and manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Best Situation

The best situation for the club would be if it was possible to retain all their most important players, like Hulk and Alvaro Pereira. Kleber and James Rodriguez have done well, but they might also look for another attacking player in the window, considering that Hulk still has the highest responsibility in the team.

Worst Situation

With Porto not in a good state regarding qualification to the Round of 16 in the Champions League, they might have to deal with players who could be interested in moves elsewhere.

It is inevitable that some of their players will be targeted by other clubs, which could be a huge blow, as Benfica and some other teams could also challenge for the title.

Bayern Munich did not have a great 2010-11 season. They were not defensively solid and did not look at their best for most of the season.

Since the appointment of Jupp Heynckes and the arrivals of a few quality players like Manuel Neuer, they have established themselves again as serious contenders for the Bundesliga title and also for the Champions League.

They do have a very threatening attack and their defense has been very solid, with Neuer also making a huge impact since signing for the club.

Best Situation

Bayern have been hit with Bastian Schweinsteiger's injury, which is likely to keep him out for some time while Arjen Robben's injury problems are always a worry for the side. The club would greatly benefit if they can keep Robben and other key players fit for most of the season.

Mario Gomez has been in sensational form over the past year, but the German club would benefit if they could bring in another striker in January to strengthen their depth in that position. 

Worst Situation

Bayern Munich looks a very strong outfit and if their key players can be fit, they do not need many additions, though they might look to add the right players if they are available.

Youngster Marco Reus has been impressive and could be a great addition to Bayern, though it is more probable that they will try to sign him in the summer.

AC Milan did not have the best start to their season, but the Italian champions have shown plenty of resolve and quality to string together a set of good results, which has seen them rise to fourth place, just two points behind leaders Juventus.

Milan under Massimiliano Allegri have made significant progress and the manager has again showed that he has the quality to inspire this team to achieve great success. The January transfer window could be important, as it could be used to strengthen their side in an attempt to win the title as well as challenge for the Champions League.

Best Situation

AC Milan still have a very strong team, but the manager might look to add some dynamic players in the team as well in January. Kevin Prince-Boateng has been outstanding this season for Milan and the club might look for another young creative player like Eden Hazard in January, as it will certainly add quality to their attack.

With Phillipe Mexes and Taye Taiwo signed in the summer, the defense does not need any immediate signings in January.

Worst Situation

The worst situation for the club is if Boateng is injured after the January window, because Milan might lack dynamism in midfield. Also, some of their players might struggle to cope with the rigors of the season, which could lead to injuries if they do not add depth to the current team.

Antonio Cassano coming back after the New Year is a big positive, though.

Arsenal had a terrible start to their season, but with Wenger's team finally settling, they have managed to string together a set of positive wins, which has seen them rise to the top half of the table.

They brought in many players in the summer after losing key players. The new signings like Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta and Gervinho do look to have settled at the Emirates, which has contributed greatly to their positive performances.

 

Best Situation

With Jack Wilshere scheduled to return after the New Year, the midfield will be greatly strengthened if he can play at the same level he performed before his injury. Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta seem to be competent for the Gunners in midfield, but the return of Wilshere and Abou Diaby would undoubtedly add more depth to the team.

However, the team is still reliant on Robin van Persie as the striker of the team and Marouane Chamakh has not been impressive. With Gervinho and Chamakh scheduled to leave for African Nations Cup, they might be short in that department.

Worst Situation

Van Persie is arguably the Premiership's best striker and the Gunners need him to be fit for most games this season. Park Ju-Young has yet to adjust to the physicality of the league and did not look sharp in the recent game against Marseille, so leaning on him could be a gamble.

Chamakh has been unimpressive to say the least and looks to be on his way out of the club in the near future. Arsenal need to add another striker in January. If they do not and Van Persie is injured, then they could struggle in the second half of the season.

Borussia Dortmund had a brilliant 2010-11 season, but they lost Nuri Sahin in the summer and did not have the best start to the season. However, their performances as a unit have been good and they have also managed to get some good results in recent weeks, though their qualification to the Round of 16 in the Champions League remains uncertain after their losses to Olympique Marseille and Oympiakos.

However, they still remain a top team and can be serious title challengers to Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga.

Best Situation

The best situation for the club would be if they can retain their best players, because they play as a unit and Jurgen Klopp manages to get the best from his team. They might still need another striker though Lucas Barrios and Robert Lewandowski have done well in the recent past.

Klopp might target one or two January signings and if he manages to add quality to the squad, it will be excellent for Dortmund.

Worst Situation

With Dortmund requiring to win both their games in order to have a chance of qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League, there is a good chance that they could be eliminated. If that is the case, they might lose some of their best players, like Mats Hummels and Mario Goetze, in January. That would be a huge blow to the progress made under Klopp at Dortmund.

Liverpool under Kenny Dalglish has made progress in the last year and the astute manager made some interesting signings in the summer as well as in the January transfer window of last season.

Luis Suarez, who arrived in January, has already established himself as one of the club's most important players, while some others have also shown their quality since Dalglish's arrival.

Though challenging for the Premiership title will be very hard for Liverpool this season, they will consider the season to be a success if they can manage to finish in the top four at the end of the season.

Best Situation

The best situation for Liverpool would be if they can keep their best players, especially Steven Gerrard, fit for most of the season. Also, on defense, they have not had a solid combination and Dalglish could sign another centre back, though new signing Sebastian Coates could establish himself in that period as well.

Worst Situation

The worst situation for the club would be if they lose players due to injury. Considering that they have been very reliant on Luis Suarez, it would be a massive blow if he is injured. Also, if they fail to sign another experienced centre back and Jamie Carragher is injured, they could have problems in central defense.

Tottenham have also made massive progress under Harry Redknapp and are genuine challengers for the Champions League places this season. Though they had a torrid start to their season, the additions of Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor combined with the form of Rafael Van Der Vaart and Luka Modric have allowed them to enjoy a number of positive results in recent weeks.

Best Situation

The best situation for Spurs is if they can hold onto Luka Modric, who will inevitably be targeted by a host of clubs in the future as well. Also, they will be pleased if they sign Adebayor permanently and with Ledley King's and Gallas' injury worries, they might need to sign another defender.

Gary Cahill of Bolton will be available at a cut-price deal and could be a great addition to their team.

Worst Situation

The worst situation for Spurs would be if Modric did leave the club and some other talented players could also choose to do the same if they are not provided with regular playing time.

Bolton might not sell Cahill considering their relegation worries and that could be a problem for Spurs. If Redknapp does not sign a new defender, then injuries could be a problem.

Paris St. Germain was taken over by Qatari owners recently and since then, they have lavishly spent the money to acquire some talented players. The signings of Kevin Gameiro and Javier Pastore indicated the intent of the club to establish themselves as one of the top European clubs in the world.

It does look that they have made some interesting signings, which has established a lead at the top of the table and they have to be considered as the favorites for the French League title this season.

Best Situation

They have been linked with former England captain David Beckham, though it is not sure that the 36-year-old will make the move to France. They do have plenty of options in their side but could look out for any big player who could be available in the January transfer window.

They might make an approach for a big name like Hazard, who plays in the French league. If they can extend their lead at the top, they will be in a great position to clinch the title.

Worst Situation

They do have good depth in their squad and they added some quality players like Jeremy Menez and Javier Pastore. They might have problems if they lose some key players due to injury. If that is the case, then they might make one or two signings in January.

Juventus did have a tough time in the previous two seasons but they have performed quite well this season through manager Antonio Conte, who knows the difficulties of the Serie A. Though he will not get carried away, he will know the progress made by his side this season.

They are currently the one of the best teams in the Italian league and some of their signings have had good impact for the team. They made some excellent signings this season, like Mirko Vucinic and Arturo Vidal, and qualifying for the Champions League will be their minimum expectation after having a promising start to their season.

Best Situation

The best situation for Juventus would be if they can keep their best players until the end and also be able to sell players who are no longer a part of Conte's plans. They might look to add a established centre back of the highest quality and also look for young dynamic players for the future as well.

Worst Situation

Juventus did make some important signings in the summer and it is unlikely that they will spend big this January. It would not be a huge loss if they do not make any January signing, as long as they do not miss key players like Giorgio Chiellini due to injury.