Where the big four will look to spend
Window watchNew owners expected to lead way in close-season buying boom
Manchester United
What they want
Owen Hargreaves and perhaps two or three others (Oliver Kay writes). Hargreaves has been the priority since last summer and the spineless nature of their defeat by AC Milan in the Champions League semi-final has only increased Sir Alex Ferguson’s desire to sign the tough-tackling midfield player, with talks resuming with Bayern Munich this week. Ideally, Ferguson also wants a top-class centre forward, a young full back or two and a left winger who can eventually replace Ryan Giggs.
What they need
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To strengthen the weak (or weakening) links in their squad. Most obviously a destructive midfield player in the Hargreaves mould and a centre forward to ease the goalscoring burden on Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Ferguson, though, is equally aware that time may soon start catching up on Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Giggs. Neville’s contribution over the past two seasons has been hampered by injury, which may be one reason why rumours persist of a bid for Micah Richards, of Manchester City.
Realistic targets
Whether realistic or not, Dimitar Berbatov is attracting covetous glances after an impressive season with Tottenham Hotspur, putting him ahead of Fernando Torres (Atlético Madrid), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) and Michael Owen on Ferguson’s wanted list. Nani, Ronaldo’s successor at Sporting Lisbon, is a contender for the left-wing berth. Gareth Bale, Southampton’s young left back, is a target, but not a priority.
Budget
Only the Glazers can answer that. The Americans allow for a net annual transfer budget of £25 million, but Ferguson has not got close to that over the past two summers, never mind seeing the extra £25 million reserved for a “superstar” signing. Following a season that may prove to be the most successful in the club’s history in financial terms, will they give Ferguson £50 million-plus or will they look only to reduce their interest payments?
Departures
Only months after signing a new long-term contract, Louis Saha’s relationship with Ferguson is suffering, with the France forward’s mental (as much as physical) fragility infuriating the manager in recent weeks. Gabriel Heinze or Mikaël Silvestre may also be allowed to leave. Youngsters such as Phil Bardsley and Chris Eagles may be sold with a view to creating opportunities for even younger players, such as Jonny Evans, Craig Cathcart and Darron Gibson.
Chelsea
What they want
José Mourinho’s biggest desire is to be granted control of the club’s transfer policy, but given that he has only just held on to his job, such autonomy will not be granted (Matt Hughes writes). The impending arrival of Avram Grant as director of football is likely to mean that Mourinho will have even less freedom.
What they need
The lack of depth in the squad has been badly exposed in recent weeks so the club’s first task is to ensure that next season’s version has enough quantity and quality. With only two competent centre backs and a weakness at right back, strengthening the back four is the biggest area of concern. The African Cup of Nations is likely to deprive Mourinho of the services of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Gérémi for at least a month, increasing the need for back-up in midfield.
Targets
Chelsea’s standard practice is to line up two players for every vacancy before making their minds up, but such tactics may not be needed this summer as several obvious solutions are available from within the club. Glen Johnson, the right back, will return from his loan spell with Portsmouth and Alex is expected to arrive after a three-year loan with PSV Eindhoven. They could choose to reignite their interest in Micah Richards, the Manchester City right back, and Tal Ben Haim, the Bolton Wanderers defender. With Steve Sidwell, the Reading midfield player who is available on a free transfer, identified as midfield cover, the real money will be spent up front and an intriguing battle with Liverpool over Fernando Torres, the Atlético Madrid forward, and David Villa, of Valencia, could lie in store.
Budget
Limitless in theory, but Chelsea are trying to curb expenditure, hence recalling loan players and moving for free agents.
Departures
Paulo Ferreira and Khalid Boulahrouz, the defenders, have been offered around, although there is unlikely to be a rush of bidders. Claude Makelele may be allowed to leave after rejecting a one-year contract extension. Mourinho would also like to see the back of Andriy Shevchenko, the Ukraine forward.
Liverpool
What they want
Quality, quality, quality. Three years into a five-year plan, Rafael BenÍtez has led his team to two Champions League finals, but they lack the quality to challenge for the Barclays Premiership title (Oliver Kay writes). A top-class centre forward (or two) is the most obvious of the Spaniard’s requirements, which is why he is considering players such David Villa (Valencia), Fernando Torres (Atlético Madrid) and, less realistically, Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona).
What they need
A top-level striker or two would make a big difference to a team that has not scored enough goals, but there is also a need for greater quality on both wings. Morten Gamst Pedersen, the skilful left winger at Blackburn Rovers, is a potential target.
Targets
Two arrivals are already confirmed, Andriy Voronin, the Ukraine forward, on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, and Sebastián Leto, a young Argentine winger, from Club Atlético Lanús for £1.85 million. Eto’o, Torres and Villa may prove too expensive, leaving BenÍtez to look at the likes of Darren Bent, Jermain Defoe, Michael Owen or Carlos Tévez.
Budget
Hard to tell. BenÍtez has been promised “every support” in the transfer market by George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, the new owners, but that is unlikely to mean investing Chelsea-like sums. A net outlay of about £30 million has been mooted, but, with new contracts for Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, José Manuel Reina, Steve Finnan, Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso in the pipeline, money may be a little tighter than imagined.
Departures
Jerzy Dudek will leave when his contract expires, with Boudewijn Zenden and Robbie Fowler likely to follow. Florent Sinama Pongolle last week made his loan move at Recreativo Huelva permanent, while Antony Le Tallec is expected to do the same at Sochaux. Djibril Cissé, on loan to Marseilles, and Harry Kewell will be urged to find new clubs. Sami Hyypia may depart, while Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch will be deemed surplus to requirements if BenÍtez can find better players to replace them.
Arsenal
What they want
Arsenal have had many flaws during an inconsistent season, but the one Arsène Wenger appears most keen to address is the lack of width and the subsequent absence of goals from midfield players (Matt Hughes writes). Tomas Rosicky, Alexander Hleb and Cesc Fàbregas do not score enough goals, with only the penalty-taking Gilberto Silva contributing regularly this season. With Abou Diaby, Denilson and even Fàbregas filling in on the flanks in recent weeks the Frenchman’s priority is to sign a genuine winger.
What they need
Arsenal could also do with a goal-poacher to partner Thierry Henry, but since Francis Jeffers’s failure at Highbury this is not Wenger’s way. Robin van Persie can look forward to plenty of matches on his return from a broken foot, while Emmanuel Adebayor will be expected to continue his recent improvement. Nicklas Bendtner is likely to be handed a new contract and the Denmark striker may be given greater opportunities to impress after a successful season-long loan at Birmingham City.
Targets
Having narrowly failed to sign Franck Ribéry last summer, Wenger will return for the Marseilles winger, with the fleet-footed Ryan Babel, of Ajax, representing a decent insurance policy. The club are hoping that Theo Walcott’s limited progress will not dissuade Gareth Bale from joining from Southampton, but fear the 17-year-old would prefer to sign for Manchester United. Craig Gordon, the Hearts goalkeeper, has been identified as a long-term replacement for Jens Lehmann.
Budget
Given £10 million annual interest repayments on their £260 million mortgage, money remains tight at the Emirates and Wenger will be limited to two or three modest signings. The Frenchman is confident his squad can continue to compete, but would welcome the greater funds that would follow from further investment by Stan Kroenke.
Departures
Lehmann signed a one-year contract extension last week, but several other long-serving players are likely to leave in the summer. Fredrik Ljungberg has been told he can leave and will seek a transfer after nine years at the club, while Jérémie Aliadière finds himself in a similar situation. Mathieu Flamini may also be moved on following the emergence of Denilson and Diaby, and Júlio Baptista will return to Real Madrid after an indifferent season on loan
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