How the transfer window will assess the top teams seasons and what they each need to do

With the season drawing to a close some clubs may be happy with their achievements, some clubs may be disappointed. The clubs movements in the transfer market should be an indication of just how happy they are.

Of course, at the end of the season all clubs have to strengthen, that is the nature of the game, but where they choose to strengthen and by how much is a reflection of how they believe they’re season went.

Chelsea

Title winners and worthy of the crown, however, are they up there with Barcelona and Real Madrid? No, well I don’t think so. Chelsea have dominated the league so it would be easy for them to say ‘lets not change a thing’ this squad won the league so we’ll definitely make a title run next season. The problem with that is that Chelsea haven’t been fantastic in the second half of the season. 

(“Did you know there is a problem with Chelsea”) 

They haven’t stopped winning games but they have failed to blow teams away (the use of the word failed suggests they tried to blow teams away, which under Mourinho is actually unlikely.) Anyway, to compete with the best in Europe Chelsea really need to improve their squad. The players they need to buy have to be the best players on their team, what I mean by this is that they do not need more squad players who will never play. They need someone who can sit in for Matic, Costa & Hazard if they are injured or suspended, preferably players who will play besides them, instead of in rotation with them. If Chelsea buy these players then they will have had a very successful season, they will be on the up and with the young talent developing in their U21 & U19 squads they could usher in an era of dominance. If Chelsea fail to do this, it is almost a statement of resignation to the standard they are now. Sure they are Champions but other teams will get better. Chelsea will not, and they will never compete with Europe’s best. If Chelsea are happy with this then this has been a bad season for them as it means it is a good as they are ever going to get.

Arsenal

Arsenal still seem to be suffering from the same problem. They lack a core spine to their team and, after all these years, they still miss Thierry Henry. Of course Wenger always addresses these issues by suggesting that 'Coquelin will now suffice', forget the fact he has only had one half decent season and is yet to join their injured list. Arsenal have a very strong squad and over the last decade have really made a habit of signing new players in a sort of stubborn stance on believing they are already the best. This could happen again. Chelsea have shown that with a core few players, you can become the Premier League champions. Arsenal could make do with their team but they need to also buy better players, world beating players, like they have done with Ozil & Sanchez. Another of these could be the difference. However, it is fairly unanimous that they need another defensive midfield and that ultimately as a big a fan of Giroud as I am, they could do with a world-class striker. Arsenals intentions to win the league will be showcased in the market. Similar to Chelsea, if they buy big, then they can consider this a good season because they know they aren’t quite good enough yet. If they don’t then it’s a stubborn statement that suggests this season is as strong as they are going to get as a team.

Manchester City

City supporters should be happy in the knowledge that their club knows that they have had a bad season. They are not in the predicament of Arsenal and Chelsea where there is a feeling that they could have reached their peak. City want to dominate the world and they will pay to do it. There is a lot of dead weight in their team and this is a club that really needs an overhaul. With Aguero, Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany & Silva they have players to build their team around. (Although they need Kompany to get fit and find form) The hardest job will be replacing Yaya Toure who seems to have lost some interest. It is an ageing squad that has won two premier league titles so it is time for the City owners to reach into their pockets and start again, and hope that this time they can be even more successful.

Manchester Utd

I can’t tell if Van Gaal knows what an earth he is doing. It has become clear, to most, that Carrick is the key man and he needs to be replaced in the future and for when now he is not fit. With him, United are a far more formidable side. They could do with a new striker to back up Rooney (presuming Van Persie & Falcao go) but Rooney should be left up top. They need a right back too and of course, in my opinion, two central defenders. This is where they aren’t as strong as their rivals. If they can build a strong defence next season, they have an abundance of quality going forward and while they could do with adding one or two young attackers to the mix, their priority is definitely defence. At this point, however,  I’m not sure Van Gaal agrees.

Liverpool

Liverpool need a striker. They could also do with a midfielder to join Henderson & another centre back. They need to buy quality over quantity, as that is not what they did last season. They could do with keeping their team together and making the key additions instead of overhauling their squad.

Tottenham

They made the same mistakes Liverpool did the previous season. Whatever Spurs do, it never quite seems to be good enough. They have a good group of players currently; a good pre-season with Pochettino and one of two exciting young prospects could improve their squad. They do not need to buy many. They probably will though.

Southampton

They will want to keep the squad together as best they can. Replace all they lose and buy bargains when they find them. They have a strong youth set up which they will endeavour to push through. 

As previously mentioned, how these clubs move in the transfer window really is an indication of how they believed there last season went and how they see their club progressing in the future.