Part two of Daniel Storey's transfer window guide, and it's the turn of Everton, Hull, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City. How will Liverpool continue to spend their Luis Suarez money?
Thursday 17 July 2014 12:02, UK
EVERTON
WHAT THEY NEED
Much like West Bromwich Albion last season, Everton now have the pressure of replacing Romelu Lukaku's goal tally, which will surely prove a mightily difficult task. If you could offer Roberto Martinez an identical squad to last season (with Lukaku, Gareth Barry, Gerard Deulofeu and Lacina Traore all available for selection) he would shake your hand and thank you profusely. This is a club that is also forced to consider the demands of European football this season, and yet their strikeforce currently consists of just Arouna Kone, Kevin Mirallas, Steven Naismith and Conor McAleny.
WHAT THEY’LL PROBABLY GET
Martinez's business is again likely to be filed under 'shrewd', with loan signings and bargains from abroad the obvious expectation. The signing of Barry on a permanent deal is fine business, but the significant doubts over Lukaku's return provide an obvious headache. Fitting the cliché of the 'selling club' mentality, holding on to the likes of Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley may be the biggest priority, with the Irish full-back already tied down to an extended deal.
WHAT’S BEEN SAID
"The right characters need to come to the club. It is going to take until the last day of the window to finalise the squad. It is a World Cup year and things will get delayed and certain situations will be worth us waiting until the last second to see if they happen or not and that is something we are well in control of" - Roberto Martinez, 19th May.
HULL CITY
WHAT THEY NEED
With Robert Snodgrass and Jake Livermore (now permanently signed) already through the door, Steve Bruce probably requires only a central defender and full-back for him to consider his summer business complete, and he will be wary of making wholesale changes to a content squad. The chance to sign a third forward would not be spurned, however, with Matty Fryatt already out of the door, especially with a Europa League campaign to deal with.
WHAT THEY’LL PROBABLY GET
Shola Ameobi is expected to join, almost the dictionary definition of that 'third forward', while Thomas Ince's arrival from Blackpool will fail to seem good value if Hull City are forced to stump up £8million in compensation. Michael Dawson and Costa Rican Cristian Gamboa are two rather contrasting defensive names that have also been mentioned in more than passing. Hull just seem to have the handy knack of opting for the sensible over the sensational.
WHAT’S BEEN SAID
"I am delighted to be joining Hull City on a permanent basis. I thoroughly enjoyed my season here on loan and I firmly believe that this club will keep on going from strength to strength. I made my feelings known that I wanted to come here permanently" - Jake Livermore, 25th June.
LEICESTER
WHAT THEY NEED
Nigel Pearson already feels that his squad is capable of escaping relegation, with experience in defence from former England internationals Matthew Upson and Paul Konchesky and some exciting young talent in more attacking areas. Jack Barmby and Marc Albrighton have already arrived, while in Anthony Knockaert and Jeffrey Schlupp, Leicester City have two wide players with the capability of causing damage in the top flight. As ever, there will be doubts about the capability of strikers David Nugent and Jamie Vardy to score goals at the highest level, but finding a proven goalscorer without spending the big bucks is a difficult game.
WHAT THEY’LL PROBABLY GET
Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha made grand promises of £180million spending in order to break into the top five, but such wild statements have been tempered over the course of the last few months, and Leicester will instead look to play clever, using an effective scouting system to bring in young players from abroad, as with Schlupp, Knockaert and Riyad Mahrez. Leonardo Ulloa (Brighton) would appear to be the Foxes' obvious striker target. Nick Powell joining on loan from Manchester United also makes a good deal of sense.
WHAT’S BEEN SAID
"We want to stay in the EPL as long as possible, but we will not take the huge leap to challenge the league's top five clubs immediately. Do we have a chance to beat them? Yes, we have, but I think we need to establish our foothold in the league first and then we think about our next step" - Owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 13th May.
LIVERPOOL
WHAT THEY NEED
Less and less as each player arrives from Southampton on an almost weekly basis. Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert have joined, with Dejan Lovren publicly stating his desire to follow them. The funds from the Luis Suarez transfer will surely be reinvested on Lovren, and a left-back at the least, but Brendan Rodgers must beware of following Spurs' error in failing to adequately account for the loss of one departing star. Any more incoming players would ideally have Champions League experience, too, as there exists very little of that within Liverpool's current crop.
WHAT THEY’LL PROBABLY GET
Alongside Lovren, Benfica's Lazar Markovic has joined to follow £10million midfielder Emre Can. As for Suarez's replacement up front, Mario Balotelli, Wilfried Bony and Klaas Jan Huntelaar have been mentioned, with Divock Origi probably loaned back to Lille should he join. Without wanting to seem pessimistic, none seem a remotely adequate replacement for Suarez's goals.
WHAT’S BEEN SAID
"I think there has been a lot of work that has been done. If you look at us as a club and recruitment, we have not been resting over the course of the off-season - a lot of great work has gone on. We have targeted players, we have signed some and we will have more signings to come over the course of the pre-season. The idea is by the end of August we will have the squad together and it will be a really exciting time for us next season" - Brendan Rodgers, 30th June.
MANCHESTER CITY
WHAT THEY NEED
Manuel Pellegrini is unlikely to add to his forward line unless the club receives a 'too good to turn down' offer for Alvaro Negredo, meaning that defensive midfield and central defence remained the only priorities at the start of the window. With Fernando already arriving from Porto and Bacary Sagna joining from Arsenal, there is not an awful lot still to do. The back-up goalkeeper situation has now also been resolved.
WHAT THEY’LL PROBABLY GET
City appear to have been days away from announcing the £32million signing of Eliaquim Mangala from Porto for about six months. It will surely finally go through in the near future, thus completing the expected business. If not, expect Mehdi Benatia to join from Roma for a similar fee.
WHAT’S BEEN SAID
"I am so happy to finally be joining Manchester City. I know there was talk of me possibly signing last January so I am delighted that the deal has now been done and that I am a City player" - Fernando, 26th June.
