Arsenal

Based on his form against us, I certainly wouldn’t kick Cavani out of bed, but the scarcity of genuine world-class goal poachers is evident in Man Utd’s willingness to speculate almost twice the price of Sánchez on the unproven talents of Martial. Plenty of Gooners might be pleased to see no further spending, since presumably Arsenal will only loosen the purse strings if Wenger has committed to his own two-year extension … In an ideal world I’d like to see Matuidi or Dortmund’s Weigl in red and white, but Arsène’s not about to concede that Xhaka was a £35m ricket. As a statement of the club’s intent, the most crucial signings are those of Sánchez and Özil on new contracts.

Bernard Azulay goonersdiary.co.uk, @GoonerN5

Bournemouth

There are three areas we need to look at. First, a solid, experienced keeper. Artur Boruc has played well but back strains are a problem, and Adam Federici doesn’t fill the goal as much – so someone like Joe Hart would make a huge impact. Second, an attacking midfielder like Wilfried Zaha: a fast, creative talent who can change a game. And third, a striker with the energy of Divock Origi. Not much to ask?

Peter Bell afcbchimes.blogspot.co.uk, @CherryChimes

Burnley

Kamil Grosicki, in action for Poland at Euro 2016, came close to joining Burnley in the summer. Photograph: Petr David Josek/AP

We’ll be focusing on squad strengthening as much as anything, but I’d specifically like to see another central midfielder, and a wide player with a bit of pace. We were close to filling both those gaps at the end of August with Brighton’s Dale Stephens and Polish winger Kamil Grosicki from Rennes, but the deals fell through. It’d be no surprise to see Stephens back on the winter shopping list, though: he’s out of contract in the summer – that’ll put Brighton under pressure this month.

Tony Scholes uptheclarets.com, @utcdotcom

Chelsea

As things stand, we’re looking great – but you do have to wonder how many injuries we are away from a serious problem. The defence is certainly vulnerable: we have two war-horses on the bench but they’d struggle to play in a three, so Conte has to look for more resources. It’s a shame that Leonardo Bonucci signed a new Juventus deal. Elsewhere, and this may not be a popular view, but I also think we need to start a search to replace Victor Moses. He’s played better than most expected but he has his limitations. I also wonder whether we’ll be searching for a striker as Batshuayi didn’t get his chance despite Costa being suspended. Conte has stressed that his time will come, but will the youngster be willing to wait? And finally, as important as buying new options is retaining the talent we have – Cesc Fàbregas specifically. It’s difficult to buy that sort of quality these days.

Trizia Fiorellino chelseasupportersgroup.net

Crystal Palace

We have all sorts of problems but a striker is probably the most urgent given Connor Wickham’s long-term injury. As it stands, Fraizer Campbell is the only back-up to Benteke, which isn’t a good place to be. The defence needs a proper overhaul too, with Pape Souaré out injured and the rest of the backline having looked fairly clueless. At a minimum, by the end of January we need to have a new attacking left-back ready to go – Kieran Gibbs, Charlie Taylor or Neil Taylor? And it seems like Allardyce is also after a midfield enforcer, with the club’s scouts busy in Ligue 1.

Chris Waters palacetrust.org.uk, @Clapham_Grand

Everton

The way we faltered after that strong start shows we need to strengthen all over the pitch if we’re going to make progress. A new keeper would be an obvious place for Ronald Koeman to start: ideally Pickford from Sunderland or Heaton from Burnley, but most of the talk at the moment is about outfield players, including Charlton’s Ademola Lookman and United’s Morgan Schneiderlin. Whatever happens, we need some options to replace Barry and Jagielka: they’ve been great servants, but it’s a young man’s game.

Steve Jones @bluekippercom

Hull City

Brentford’s Scott Hogan would be a good investment for Hull. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

There isn’t a single outfield position that doesn’t need improving – but a proper right-back and someone to put the ball in the net are key. With his nous and obvious threat, Peter Crouch would be useful – and Scott Hogan at Brentford is a good finisher who’d be a better long-term investment. Elsewhere, if we’re going to continue to play with three centre-halves, we need another one – like Sunderland found in Lamine Koné. And all this is assuming we keep hold of Snodgrass, Robertson and other players linked with moves. We just can’t go through what we went through in the summer again when we lost Mo Diamé, despite already being critically short of players.

Rick Skelton boothferrytowembley.blogspot.com, @HullCityLive

Leicester City

We desperately need a new centre-back to offer some decent cover in case Morgan or Huth get injured. Michael Keane has been touted, and we could do worse. Similarly, we need another winger to compensate for Riyad Mahrez’s Africa Cup of Nations duties. But most importantly, we need a ball-winning midfielder to try to fill the N’Golo Kanté hole – thankfully, it sounds like a deal is pretty much done for Wilfred Ndidi from Genk. Hopefully, we’ll have time to find a new head of recruitment too.

Chris Whiting thechriswhitingshow.wordpress.com, @ChrisRWhiting

Liverpool

Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles (left) has been linked with Liverpool. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Even though we’ve been scoring freely we do need a top striker. Coutinho is likely to get knocked about and miss games throughout the season, Mané is off to the Africa Cup of Nations and we can’t rely on Sturridge. Celtic’s Moussa Dembélé has been linked, but not only with us, and there’s talk about PSG’s Jesé Rodriguez. We could also do with a defender: Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles was linked before Christmas – Rafa won’t be happy – and a left-back, with Ricardo Rodríguez from Wolfsburg and Cologne’s Jonas Hector mentioned. Elsewhere, our keepers have struggled, but Karius is young and can hopefully learn and improve. Quickly, with luck.

Steph Jones Observer reader

Manchester City

Our defence is a mess - the problems won’t be solved in one window, but signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton would be a big step in the right direction. Meanwhile, Ilkay Gündogan’s injury is a massive blow, so a move for another midfielder could be on the cards. It sounds like we’re close on Sevilla’s Steven N’Zonzi, but I hope we’re also serious about Mahmoud Dahoud. He’s undoubtedly a star in the making and has impressed whenever we’ve played Mönchengladbach.

Lloyd Scragg mcfcwatch.com, @lloyd_scragg

Manchester United

We haven’t been scoring enough. There’s been some encouraging talk about a big bid for Antoine Griezmann, who’d be one of the final pieces in José’s jigsaw, but that won’t happen this month. So Mourinho may go for another option – possibly young Kasper Dolberg from Ajax – given that Martial, Rooney and Rashford haven’t been delivering. To do that, though, he’ll probably have to offload some fringe players such as Fellaini, Memphis and Schneiderlin – particularly if he’s also serious about spending big money on Benfica defender Victor Lindelof.

Shaun O’Donnell Observer reader

Middlesbrough

Could a loan move to Middlesbrough get the best out of Gerard Deulofeu? Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

We have to try to strengthen in attack and midfield, and focus on bringing in experience – we look so vulnerable whenever Ramírez and Negredo are missing. We’ve not been shy to add quality players in previous January windows, and I think we’ll see a bold survival strategy emerge this month. It has taken us seven years to get back to this level and we’ll throw everything we can at staying in the top-flight. Rudy Gestede would give us another option, though I think most fans would prefer some more dynamic signings. Could we have the manager to realise the untapped potential of Everton’s Gerard Deulofeu? We’d then have former Barça youth players attacking down both flanks.

Robert Nichols fmttm.com, @rob_fmttm

Southampton

What do we need this month? A striker who scores goals. Literally any striker who scores goals. Spend all the money we have on Daniel Sturridge if he’s willing and available. Add a fit and clinical goalscorer to the mix – and keep hold of Virgil van Dijk at the back – and we’re a potential top-six side again.

Steve Grant saintsweb.co.uk, @SteveGrant1983

Stoke City

Lee Grant and Bruno Martins Indi should be first in on permanent deals: they’ve been instrumental. Beyond those two, we all thought Bony was going to be the answer to our scoring issues but that really hasn’t worked out – so expect interest in Saido Berahino (again), RB Leipzig’s Davie Selke, or Napoli’s Manolo Gabbiadini. Elsewhere, if there’s a player out there who could challenge Erik Pieters at left back we should be looking at him. As good as Eric is he does suffer from having no competition for his place whatsoever. And Jack Butland’s ongoing injury problems mean another keeper, alongside Lee Grant, could be on the cards.

Rob Holloway Observer reader

Sunderland

A big month for David Moyes coming up. We’re told there’s a limited budget but we need at least two more defenders. Carl Jenkinson has been mentioned, but we’ll need another centre-back too as Koné will be missing one way or the other – either sold, or off on Africa Cup of Nations duties. Elsewhere we have to do whatever it takes to hang on to Jermain Defoe – we could do without Sam Allardyce and Slaven Bilic distracting him. Other than that, I guess we’ll be checking to see if there are any out-of-contract former Everton players knocking around – and it wouldn’t come as a big surprise if Peter Crouch pitched up. But not Dimitar Berbatov – far too pricey for a low wage economy like ours.

Pete Sixsmith SalutSunderland.com

Swansea City

The first half of the season was a disaster; to turn this round the new manager has to make multiple changes. Among the most urgent needs are a centre-back to replace Ashley Williams, at least one full-back and a winger – but we could also do with a decent central midfielder to replace the substandard Ki Sung-yueng. Realistically, though, it’s hard to imagine us managing to land more than three players this month, given the state we’re in.

Kevin Elphick Swansea.vitalfootball.co.uk

Tottenham Hotspur

Wilfried Zaha: on Tottenham’s radar. Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters

Pochettino talks about how we need “more quality” even though our squad is very strong, with a tight wage structure. We could use some extra creativity, pace and goal threat – but then who couldn’t use those qualities? Wilfried Zaha would be interesting – but to improve what we already have is a tall ask with a new stadium to finance.

Dave Mason Observer reader

Watford

Our squad is as strong as it’s ever been, and the signings of Okaka, Success and Pereyra giving us an attacking armoury we didn’t have last term. However, Pereyra’s injury – combined with the impending losses of Amrabat and Guedioura to the Africa Cup of Nations – mean that we need at least temporary cover in attacking midfield positions.

Matt Rowson bhappy.wordpress.com, @mattrowson

West Bromwich Albion

We still lack strength in depth and we’re a couple injuries away from relying on players who would struggle. There’s been lots of talk about Morgan Schneiderlin, but the biggest concern is cover for Salomón Rondón. That’s the key area that needs strengthening. We were linked with Rudy Gestede but it sounds like he’s off to Boro.

Richard Jefferson wbaunofficial.org.uk/forum, @richbaggie

West Ham United

A proven Premier League striker who can remain fit is essential this month – Christian Benteke would have done the job, but as it is we’re apparently after loan options. Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Michy Batshuayi have all been mentioned. We’re also after another right back – Carl Jenkinson from Arsenal? – and, if Payet goes, another creator, too. We’d love a fit Santi Cazorla in exchange, but Gylfi Sigurdsson of Swansea always strikes me as an underrated player.

Pete May Author of Goodbye to Boleyn; blog: hammersintheheart.blogspot.co.uk