Let's look through the transfer window

The January sales begin on Thursday, so which top-flight managers are most desperate to wheel and deal?

ARSENAL

What they need: Maybe a centre-half, definitely a midfield player now Cesc Fabregas is out for months.

Fantasy buys: Pato (Milan), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool).

Possible buys: Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Yaya Touré (Barcelona), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), Brede Hangeland (Fulham).

ASTON VILLA

What they need: Cover in midfield and attack as long season including a Uefa Cup campaign wears on.

Fantasy buys: Paul Scholes (Manchester United), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea).

Possible buys: Craig Bellamy (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Stephen Appiah (free agent).

BLACKBURN ROVERS

What they need: Access all areas, especially defence and midfield, with Sam Allardyce tempting his former Bolton boys.

Fantasy buys: Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Didier Drogba (Chelsea).

Possible buys: Nicky Hunt, Tal Ben Haim (both Bolton), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City), Marc Janko (Red Bull Salzburg).

BOLTON WANDERERS

What they need: A winger to supply Kevin Davies and the improving Johan Elmander.

Fantasy buys: David Beckham (LA Galaxy).

Possible buys: Kieran Richardson (Sunderland), Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool), Mark Beevers (Sheffield Wednesday).

CHELSEA

What they need: A striker unless Didier Drogba knuckles down, a centre-half if Alex goes and a better wide player than Florent Malouda.

Fantasy buys: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).

Possible buys: Luis Fabiano (Seville), Orlando Sa (Braga).

EVERTON

What they need: A proper winger and cover all round.

Fantasy buys: Michael Owen (Newcastle).

Possible buys: Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool), Roger Johnson (Cardiff), David Nugent (Portsmouth), Eljero Elia (Twente).

FULHAM

What they need: A more defensive midfielder than Danny Murphy and a striker to help Andy Johnson.

Fantasy buys: Claude Makelele (Paris St-Germain), Didier Drogba (Chelsea).

Possible buys: Rasmus Elm (Kalmar FF), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Luis Boa Morte (West Ham), Tore Reginiussen (Tromso).

HULL CITY

What they need: A striker to take some weight off loanee Marlon King.

Fantasy buys: Fraizer Campbell (Manchester Utd).

Possible buys: Darius Vassell, Ched Evans, Dean Sturridge (all Manchester City).

LIVERPOOL

What they need: A full-back, and experienced back-up in attack.

Fantasy buys: David Villa (Valencia).

Possible buys: Emile Heskey (Wigan), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea).

MANCHESTER CITY

What they need: A centre-half or two, left-back, defensive midfielder and striker instead of Jo.

Fantasy buys: Where does fantasy end? Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United).

Possible buys: Kolo Touré (Arsenal), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn), Emile Heskey (Wigan).

MANCHESTER UNITED

What they need: Replacements for Ryan Giggs and probably Owen Hargreaves, plus Carlos Tevez to make his loan permanent.

Fantasy buys: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool).

Possible buys: Zoran Tosic (Partizan Belgrade), Carlos Tevez (on loan).

MIDDLESBROUGH

What they need: To keep to their best players and sign a central midfielder.

Fantasy buys: Frank Lampard (Chelsea).

Possible buys: Ben Watson (Crystal Palace), Hayden Mullins (West Ham), Mark Randall (Arsenal, loan).

NEWCASTLE UNITED

What they need: A centre-half as a minimum and to hold on to Michael Owen after this summer.

Fantasy buys: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Michael Owen (new contract).

Possible buys: Matthew Upson (West Ham), Alex (Chelsea), Michael Turner (Hull).

PORTSMOUTH

What they need: An all-round midfielder to replace Real Madrid new boy Lassana Diarra; and not to answer any phone calls from a certain Harry Redknapp.

Fantasy buys: Patrick Vieira (Inter).

Possible buys: Marvin Elliott (Bristol City), Gary O'Neil (Middlesbrough), Jimmy Bullard (Fulham), Didier Zokora (Spurs), Blaise Matuidi (St Etienne).

STOKE CITY

What they need: A centre-half, and a winger to supplement long throws to their big strikers.

Fantasy buys: John Terry (Chelsea), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth).

Possible buys: Calum Davenport (West Ham), Danny Shittu (Bolton), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), Aruna Dindane (Lens), Andre Bikey (Reading).

SUNDERLAND

What they need: To get a few players off the wage bill and find a solid centre-half.

Fantasy buys: Charlie Hurley (formerly of Sunderland), Roy Keane (unattached).

Possible buys: Calum Davenport (West Ham), Elano (Manchester City).

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

What they need: Goalkeeping back-up, full-backs, centre-half, wide-left midfielder, striker.

Fantasy buys: Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).

Possible buys: Any Portsmouth player plus Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea), Steve Finnan (Espanyol), Nicky Shorey (Aston Villa), Michael Turner (Hull), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Joe Ledley (Cardiff), Craig Bellamy (West Ham).

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

What they need: A goalscorer to help them forget ghastly error in allowing Kevin Phillips to leave.

Fantasy buys: Kevin Phillips (Birmingham), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth).

Possible buys: Jay Simpson (Arsenal, loan), David Nugent (Portsmouth).

WEST HAM UNITED

What they need: Some genuine width, and a striker while Dean Ashton finds some fitness and Carlton Cole some confidence.

Fantasy buys: Adriano (Inter).

Possible buys: Stephen Appiah (free agent), Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool), Kevin Doyle (Reading).

WIGAN ATHLETIC

What they need: A midfielder and striker, depending on whether they manage to cash in on Emile Heskey, Wilson Palacios or Luis Antonio Valencia.

Fantasy buys: Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes (both Manchester United).

Possible buys: Darius Vassell (Manchester City), Marcus Bent (Birmingham), Dave Kitson (Stoke), Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool), Hugo Rodallega (Necaxa).