The January transfer window is officially open and Telegraph Sport’s team of football experts look ahead with a club-by-club guide on what business to expect this month.

Arsenal

What do they need?

Arsenal usually prefer to do their business in the summer window, rather than in January, but the long-term absence of Bukayo Saka has raised serious questions about their depth in attack. The fitness of Raheem Sterling, who is also injured, could have a significant impact on their plans in this area of the squad. Fans are hoping a new winger will arrive.

Which players could they target?

Arsenal have long been planning to add another high-quality forward player to their attacking options – they were keen on Benjamin Sesko last summer, and they admire Wolves forward Matheus Cunha – but the issue is whether the players they really want will be available at this midway point of the campaign. Perhaps a short-term loan is more likely (do not forget that Martin Odegaard initially joined the club on a January loan). With Edu Gaspar gone, interim sporting director Jason Ayto will be leading Arsenal’s recruitment efforts.

Who may leave?

Defender Jakub Kiwior has numerous admirers in Italy and has never been able to establish himself as a reliable regular at the Emirates Stadium. His future could depend on the fitness of Arsenal’s other defensive options, as they have suffered a series of injuries in this department so far this season.

Aston Villa

What do they need?

Finances will be tight, with profitability and sustainability rules still at the forefront of Villa minds, but Unai Emery will aim to make a few additions. Right-back cover and a new winger will be the priorities, with injuries leaving Villa short of depth in key positions.

Who may leave?

Villa will look to offload a number of players to make room for new signings, with Diego Carlos and Jaden Philogene-Bidace facing uncertain futures. Villa will recall loanee Louie Barry from League One Stockport and intend to loan him to a club in the Championship.

Bournemouth

What do they need?

To keep hold of their best talent. Bournemouth are one of the success stories of this Premier League campaign and there are plenty of players who are attracting admiring glances from bigger teams.

Which players could they target?

Bournemouth are looking for talented youngsters with room to grow. American teenager Matai Akinmboni, for example, will join from DC United. There may be other similar signings to come.

Who may leave?

The likes of Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo are all exciting talents who look destined for transfers. Telegraph Sport understands, though, that none of these key players will be leaving this month. Bournemouth do not anticipate any major departures.

Brentford

What do they need?

Do not expect a busy January at Brentford, unless their lengthy injury list forces them into the market. They have suffered horrendous luck defensively, especially at full-back, so it is possible that they look to use January to add short-term cover.

Which players could they target?

Brentford signed Sergio Reguilon on loan from Tottenham last year and, once again, they are in need of more options in his position. It is possible that they look to bring the full-back back to the club.

Who may leave?

Bryan Mbeumo is catching the eye of a number of top clubs, including Newcastle United, but Brentford would demand an enormous fee to sell him at this stage of the season. It is unlikely any of their big players will be sold now.

Brighton and Hove Albion

What do they need?

Brighton have moved early to strengthen their squad, with the club announcing in December that the Paraguay international midfielder Diego Gomez is joining from Inter Miami.

Will there be more arrivals beyond that? Considering that Brighton spent almost £200 million last summer, it seems more unlikely than likely.

Which players could they target?

If Brighton do choose to invest in a first-team player again, then a defensive reinforcement is perhaps the most obvious need. Brighton have previously been interested in PSV defender Olivier Boscagli.

They were also keen on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before he moved from Leicester City to Chelsea. The midfielder has barely featured in the Premier League season and could be available during this window.

Who may leave?

Young striker Evan Ferguson could depart on loan after a difficult few months. Aside from him, there could be loan moves for some of their younger talents on the fringe of the first-team squad.

Chelsea

What do they need?

In terms of incomings, never say never with Chelsea, but it would only be a case of seizing an opportunity.

Who may leave?

Sales and loans out will be Chelsea’s priority. Ben Chilwell has played only 45 minutes so far this season and the left-back desperately needs to find a new home. Other players who could go are midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei, while new Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has already made enquiries about taking some of Chelsea’s young players on loan. Among the youngsters who could head out on loan are Harvey Vale. Summer signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could also be targeted by clubs.

Crystal Palace

What do they need?

Palace are expected to target another attacking player this month, and they are also believed to be considering options at left wing-back.

Which players could they target?

They admire the exceptionally talented Lyon forward Rayan Cherki, who has also been of interest to Fulham in the recent past, although it is unclear whether the 21-year-old would want to make the move to England. A left wing-back would provide competition for Tyrick Mitchell.

Who may leave?

Palace have no interest in allowing the highly rated Adam Wharton to leave the club in January. They would also want to keep hold of Eberechi Eze but that could depend on how serious the interest is in the England attacking midfielder.

Everton

What do they need?

Aside from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, there is no position at Everton that could not be massively improved. Sean Dyche has lacked goals and “X-factor” attackers capable of turning losses into draws and draws into wins. But the resources to sign such players have not been available.

Which players could they target?

Everton have exploited the loan market in recent times to ensure they still comply with the profitability and sustainability rules – an ongoing issue despite the recent takeover. Dyche would have been watching Chris Wood for Nottingham Forest on December 29 and wishing he still had his former Burnley striker. A player of a similar profile would be perfect.

Who may leave?

Everton resisted bids for Jarrad Branthwaite last summer and, with their new financial stability, are in an even stronger position to keep him in this window. It is unlikely Dyche will sanction any senior departures without having direct replacements lined up.

Fulham

What do they need?

Fulham are a little short in attacking positions following the long-term injury to Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson. Looking further ahead, the winger situation becomes even more pressing: Nelson returns to Arsenal at the end of this season and Adama Traore is out of contract in the summer.

Which players could they target?

Brighton’s Evan Ferguson is a potential option on loan, while Lyon’s Rayan Cherki is a player that they targeted last summer. They have also been linked with Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn.

Who may leave?

Fulham might have to fend off interest in full-back Antonee Robinson, who has enjoyed a spectacular campaign so far and seems to be improving with each season. Robinson is a key part of their plans and they would hate to lose him now.

Ipswich Town

What do they need?

Kieran McKenna is in the market for players to bolster the right side of his team.

Which players could they target?

Scottish midfielder Jordan Holsgrove, who is playing for Portuguese side Estoril.

Who may leave?

Liam Delap has attracted interest from other clubs after an impressive start as a Premier League regular, offering unique attributes that would give managers a different way of attacking. He was signed from Manchester City and they have a buyback option on him – and a need for support up front for Erling Haaland – but there is genuine hope that Delap will see out the season, which will boost Ipswich’s chances of survival.

Leicester City

What do they need?

Leicester are another club with PSR concerns, but money will be made available to Ruud van Nistelrooy. A new No 2 goalkeeper, centre-back and forward will be the priorities. A winger could also be a target because Abdul Fatawu is out for the season.

Who may leave?

Odsonne Edouard will have his loan deal scrapped prematurely and will return to Crystal Palace, but there is no prospect of fellow loanee Facundo Buonanotte going back to Brighton as he has passed the required number of appearances.

Liverpool

What do they need?

Not much. A versatile defender who can play full-back and centre-half would be useful, especially given the recent injuries to Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Conor Bradley. But as Liverpool showed when stepping away from the pursuit of Leny Yoro last summer, they are not looking to spend big on those who will initially be a squad player. Elsewhere, the question is whether Arne Slot still believes he needs a midfielder.

Which players could they target?

Liverpool bid and pencilled in a medical for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi six months ago. But even if Zubimendi changed his mind, the ship may have left the port. Ryan Gravenberch will not be vacating the No 6 position any time soon.

Who may leave?

Youngsters in need of a loan spell. Highly rated young striker Jayden Danns could do with games after missing the first half of the season injured – but Slot may prefer to keep him in and around the first-team squad. Do not expect high-profile exits in January, despite the much publicised contract situations of the “big three”.

Manchester City

What do they need?

Primarily a No 6. The loss of key defensive midfielder Rodri has been central to City’s extraordinary collapse in form. But Pep Guardiola would also like reinforcements in defence and more support for striker Erling Haaland.

Which players could they target?

City like Atalanta’s Ederson but feel there is little chance of getting the Brazil holding midfielder in mid-season. The champions have distanced themselves from January moves for Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is still out injured. Everton do not want to lose key defender Jarrad Branthwaite in mid-season.

Who may leave?

Despite his pivotal role in Haaland’s goal at Leicester, England Under-21 midfielder James McAtee has become frustrated by his lack of playing time. Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Fiorentina and Bologna are all interested.

Manchester United

What do they need?

An awful lot but in the immediacy reinforcements in the wing-back positions, particularly the left side, a deeper lying midfielder and better options up front. Yet United are operating on a limited budget and there is not much expectation of big signings in January.

Which players could they target?

They are poised to buy teenage left-back/left wing-back Diego Leon from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno, but the 17-year-old is more a signing for the future. United are not in a position to meet Everton’s demands for Jarrad Branthwaite. Like Manchester City, they are admirers of Atalanta’s Brazil midfielder Ederson, but he is not an option this month. United continue to be linked with a host of players who played under Ruben Amorim at Sporting, but most would be very costly.

Who may leave?

The big question surrounds the future of unsettled forward Marcus Rashford, who has not played since announcing he was ready for a “new challenge” after his omission from the Manchester derby. United are open to offers for Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen, both of whom are out of contract in the summer, and Antony. Joshua Zirkzee, who was hauled off in embarrassing fashion against Newcastle, has been linked with a return to Italy.

Newcastle United

What do they need?

The needs have not changed since last summer, with the club scouring the market for either a right-sided centre-back or a right winger. Sources have indicated if anyone does arrive, it will be a younger project player rather than an established name.

Which players could they target?

Newcastle are being linked with a number of targets, who all seem to be out of their price range, from Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov as well as AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori to wingers such as PSV’s Johan Bakayoko and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo. Without a player sale first, incomings are unlikely.

Who may leave?

Miguel Almiron is the most likely to leave, with the Paraguay international available for around £12 million. There is interest from South America and Major League Soccer. Sean Longstaff, Kieran Trippier and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka could also depart, but there has only been firm interest shown in the latter. A shock exit would be winger Harvey Barnes, but he will cost in excess of £45 million and not many clubs have that sort of money to spend in January.

Nottingham Forest

What do they need?

Nuno Espirito Santo is seeking a new striker to provide depth and competition for Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi.

Which players could they target?

Forest considered Santiago Gimenez at Feyenoord, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush and Eddie Nketiah last summer and they are targeting a certain profile. Brighton’s Evan Ferguson has been floated to the club as a potential loan signing by intermediaries.

Who may leave?

Forest intend to keep many of their core players yet there could be interest in winger Anthony Elanga and a big bid could force a reluctant decision. Republic of Ireland international Andrew Omobamidele is poised to go out on loan, with Leeds a possible destination.

Southampton

What do they need?

Where to start… Southampton are on course for the lowest points tally in Premier League history and have so far scored just 12 league goals. They also have the third-worst defensive record in the division, but that feels easier to fix with a more pragmatic playing style and so it is a Premier League-class striker they most urgently require.

Which players could they target?

The likelihood of finding an instant answer feels negligible unless one of the bigger clubs in Europe would consider a short-term loan for an emerging player. More realistically, Southampton will be thinking further into the future and how to rebuild a squad that has been so ill-equipped this season. They are among the clubs interested in the Rennes midfielder Glen Kamara.

Who may leave?

Lesley Ugochukwu and Maxwel Cornet, who were loaned in last summer respectively from Chelsea and West Ham United, are both expected to return to their parent clubs. Ronnie Edwards, who has played just once in the Premier League, may depart on loan and is of interest to Sheffield Wednesday.

Tottenham Hotspur

What do they need?

Ange Postecoglou is in desperate need of reinforcements, following an unprecedented injury crisis that has left him short of central defenders. At least one new defender would appear to be an absolute priority, while Postecoglou has made it clear that he would still like to have more forward options at his disposal. Tottenham will certainly strengthen their midfield at some stage, but that may be the area where Postecoglou feels he can get through the rest of the season.

Which players could they target?

Tottenham’s head coach has already held transfer meetings with sporting director Johan Lange, who prides himself on keeping things quiet. Spurs signed Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin in quick succession in January 2024, so it may be that Lange has something up his sleeve this time around.

West Ham United

What do they need?

Julen Lopetegui is short of strikers with Jarrod Bowen fracturing a foot against Liverpool and Michail Antonio only just released from hospital after his horrorific car crash. Niclas Fullkrug has only recently returned from an Achilles injury and clearly needs time to get up to speed. While Lopetegui’s position has been questioned, the summer transfer business has also put pressure on technical director Tim Steidten, who must get it right if West Ham dip into the market in January. Lopetegui could also do with more energy in midfield, but the likelihood is the club will try the loan and free transfer market before they commit to spending any more cash.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

What do they need?

A new centre-back is regarded as the No 1 priority, as it was for Gary O’Neil before his dismissal. Wolves will consider targets in the Premier League and abroad.

Which players could they target?

Brighton’s Adam Webster and Villa’s Diego Carlos were targets last summer and could come under consideration again.

Who may leave?

Wolves are in contract talks with the outstanding Matheus Cunha and insist he is not for sale in January. A surprise exit could be goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, signed from Crystal Palace last summer.