The search for survival – Who the bottom three need to target in January

With the price of survival in the Premier League so lucrative, the three teams which currently occupy the relegation places; Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town and Fulham, will be hoping they can find turn a player in January to turn their season around.

Cardiff City – 18th

The Bluebirds only remain in the relegation places on goal difference after their late win over Brighton at the weekend. They will be hopeful of maintaining some momentum after the international break. With two wins in their last four, they also have the best form out of the bottom three, but may wish to add to their squad to maximise their chances of retaining Premier League status.

The Welsh side recruited primarily from the Championship this summer, with their only signing from a fellow Premier League club that of Harry Arter, on loan from Bournemouth. Therefore, recruiting players with proven Premier League experience may be the difference in the fight to earn a second season in the top flight and avoid the immediate drop back to the Championship.

Goals have been hard to come by for the new boys. Although they have netted more times than four other teams, their total of 11 goals from 12 Premier League games makes for grim reading, as does their 27% shooting accuracy.

A possession midfielder with a creative spark could also be on the list. Cardiff have created just ten big chances this season per the Premier League and have a passing accuracy of 65%. The ability to retain the ball will help their survival bid.

Huddersfield Town – 19th

David Wagner’s terriers are a point behind Cardiff after achieving a mere seven points from their first 12 Premier League fixtures. The Yorkshire based side, enjoying only their second ever season in the top flight, spent almost fifty million in the summer transfer window, but have failed to shake off their pre-season tag as relegation candidates.

The quest to find the back of the net has been the story of their season so far, only netting six times so far. In fact, Alex Pritchard’s goal in their recent 1-1 draw with West Ham represented the first goal scored by a Huddersfield player at The John Smith’s stadium this campaign. The tricky midfielder was brought in by Wagner last January and the German may be looking for a goal scorer this time around as he looks to beat the 37 points Huddersfield achieved last season.

If he is happy with his attacking options then a creative centre midfield player could be on the radar to take some pressure off Australian Aaron Mooy.

Fulham – 20th

The league’s bottom side, ironically out-spent both of the two sides above them combined in this summer transfer window, becoming the first promoted club to spend over £100 million. These signings included World Cup winner Andre Schurrle and former Barcelona target Jean Michael Seri as optimism grew around Craven Cottage for their first top-flight season since the 2013/14 season.

Since a 4-2 home victory over Burnley in late August, Slavisa Jokanovic’s men have picked just three points from nine matches, currently enduring a six-game losing streak.

A minus 20 goal difference, 31 goals conceded and not a clean sheet registered so far this season. The defence will be the area to strengthen in January, this, despite acquiring five defenders in the summer.

Adding more players to the mix may only upset the balance further. Fulham will hope that a number of signings made in the previous window start to deliver as they look to avoid the drop at the first time of asking.

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