Arsene Wenger said in 2012 he was in favour of scrapping the January transfer window.
"I would leave it completely open all year, or close it for a whole year. But [the window] is in between” moaned Arsenal's manager.
“Everybody becomes nervous [from] November until January. Then players maybe think, 'if I don't play then I will leave in January'. They are already less committed to the cause, it gives them an opening."
It's not a view shared by all of his colleagues, however, and with the January window less than two months away, Premier League managers can begin the process of addressing squad weaknesses.
So, which position does each top flight need to focus on? MirrorFootball identifies the area each team should strengthen in 2017.
Arsenal
Position: Striker
After failing to land their actual attacking targets, Arsenal settled on a summer move for Lucas Perez. His arrival has been under-whelming and it's questionable whether the Spaniard, while useful, is what the club really needs. Yes, Alexis Sanchez is playing well in a a central role, but if he picks up an injury - as he did this week - then Arsenal are back to Olivier Giroud as their primary goal threat. Is he enough for a team with title ambitions?
Suggestion: Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan)
Bournemouth
Position: Centre-back
The Cherries look good to stay up but could do with a central defender to carry them through. Simon Francis, a converted full-back, has survived so far but they're not protecting leads well or stopping opponents from creating chances. That's potentially troublesome.
Suggestion: Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool)
Burnley
Position: Striker
Only Middlesbrough and the clubs in the relegation zone have scored fewer league goals than Burnley. A striker who can challenge Andre Gray and Sam Vokes for a starting spot would be a worthy addition for a side in the top half who look likely to be getting another dose of that TV money next season.
Suggestion: Tammy Abraham (Bristol City/Chelsea)
Chelsea
Position: Centre-back
The Blues have looked really good under Antonio Conte but with the switch to three at the back and John Terry's inevitable departure, another central defender is probably still needed at Stamford Bridge.
Especially so when you consider that next season's schedule is likely to include Champions League football and a hell of a lot more games to play.
Suggestion: Niklas Sule (Hoffenheim)
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Crystal Palace
Position: Full-back
Full-back was a major need that didn't get addressed in the summer. Then Pape Souare, the club's only passable left-back, broke his femur in a car crash and has (fairly understandably) not played since.
With Joel Ward's form having dipped, the Eagles could do with strengthening both flanks of their back four.
Suggestion: Jonny (Celta)
Everton
Position: Goalkeeper
For a brief moment — just after the second penalty save against Manchester City — fans started to believe Maarten Stekelenburg really was good enough for a team of Everton's ambition. The weeks that followed, however, have dispelled that fantasy and, again, the Toffees need a new goalkeeeper.
Suggestion: Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea)
Hull
Position: Striker
The worst defence in the division needs reinforcing but more than that they need goals. Robert Snodgrass is their leading goalscorer with four and nobody beyond him has more than one. No goals leads to no wins. No wins leads to no hope... and relegation.
Suggestion: Max Philipp (Freiburg)
Leicester City
Position: Centre-back
Imperious last season, Robert Huth has struggled at the heart of Leicester's defence amid an increased workload. Leicester have, less than a third of the way through the season, already conceded half as many goals in the league as they did in the whole of last year's title-winning campaign.
A solid, developmental central defender to back up the pair of 32-year-old starters feels like it would be a valuable investment with their Champions League progression almost certain.
Suggestion: Mattia Caldara (Atalanta)
Liverpool
Position: Left-back
James Milner has done a passable impression of a left-back but you feel Jurgen Klopp would prefer a specialist if this side is going to be playing huge, potentially title-deciding games down the home straight of this season.
A central defender would be an equally understandable acquisition, especially given Mamadou Sakho's ostracism.
Suggestions: Alex Grimaldo (Benfica)
Manchester City
Position: Centre-back
Pep Guardiola wanted two central defenders in the summer and only got one in John Stones. It has meant a lot of Aleksandar Kolarov playing through the middle and City have been one of the worst defences in the league at defending through balls.
Nico Otamendi is a good player but not really a Guardiola one and you feel they need another centre-back who can start attacks and bring the ball out of defence.
Suggestion : Stefan De Vrij (Lazio)
Manchester United
Position: Centre-back
Jose Mourinho is known to be privately very perplexed as to how a club as rich as Man United could have such a dearth of defensive quality. With Eric Bailly injured, Antonio Valencia still masquerading as a right-back and Luke Shaw the latest victim of Jose's rifle scope, they need new blood in the backline.
A central defender from the top drawer is much needed.
Suggestion: José María Giménez (Atletico)
Middlesbrough
Position: Striker
Not just any striker, though. Alvaro Negredo and Jordan Rhodes are both good enough to keep a team in the Premier League, if a manager plays to their strenghts. But that's not what Aitor Karanka is doing. Boro are trying to play on the counter but with no pace in their midfield and even less up front. They need a forward to solve that problem.
Suggestion: Andrea Belotti (Torino)
Southampton
Position: Winger
It's unrealistic to expect Southampton to be able to replace Sadio Mane with a player of equal quality, no matter how much money they received for him. What they should have done in the summer, however, was buy a player who could offer the same width he did. Saints spent £16million on Sofiane Boufal but he's a different type of player to Mane, and prefers operating centrally. It's time they spent the rest of Mane's fee.
Suggestion: Samu Castillejo (Villarreal)
Stoke City
Position: Striker
Wilfried Bony has not lived up to expectations and is being outshone on the goal front by Joe Allen. Stoke have plenty of attacking talent in their midfield, and plenty of pace too. What they need is an experienced forward who can convert their chances.
Suggestion: Robin van Persie (Fenerbahce)
Sunderland
Position: Goalkeeper
Sunderland could do with new players in almost every position but their re-build needs to start from the back. With Vito Mannone injured and David Moyes unimpressed by Mika, the responsibility of being No.1 has fallen to 22-year-old Jordan Pickford. For a club with Sunderland's problems, more experience is needed.
Suggestion: Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea)
Swansea City
Position: Striker
Fans are divided over the appointment of Bob Bradley, whose reign has begun with three defeats and a draw. Ultimately, though, any manager would struggle to __win games with Swansea's forward line. They lost Andre Ayew in the summer and have failed to replace him. Fernando Llorente is a shadow if his former self while Borja Baston has scored just once in eight appearances. The Swans need a bigger goal threat, they must sign a striker in January.
Suggestion: Tammy Abraham (Bristol City/Chelsea)
Tottenham
Position: Striker
Harry Kane is a hugely effective front man and is finally back from injury, but Spurs need more depth up front. Vincent Janssen is evidently not good enough to play for a club like Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino recognised this early on and was using midfielder Son Heung-min (who was almost sold during the summer) in his place.
Suggestion: Jamie Vardy (Leicester)
Watford
Position: Striker
The Hornets have started very well under Walter Mazzarri but one area they need to strengthen is up front. Troy Deeney is the most unselfish striker you will find, however, that often means he finds himself some distance away from goal - it's partly why he's struck just three times this season. Odion Ighalo's confidence is at rock bottom, summer signings Stefano Okaka and Jerome Sinclair have managed one substitute appearance between them and while Isaac Success has impressed, it would be a big ask for the 20-year-old to score consistently in the top flight. What the Hornets need is a poacher. Someone who'll play off Deeney and finish the chances he creates. If they can find that in January, then Watford should comfortably stay up once again.
Suggestion: Tammy Abraham (Bristol City/Chelsea)
West Brom
Position: Creative midfielder
Darren Fletcher and Claudio Yacob's partnership provides the Baggies with a protective wall in front of the back four. They're diligent ball-winners who can read play, but that's where their talents end. Tony Pulis team or not, they need a a creative fulcrum at the back of the midfield starting moves. Matty Phillips, Nacer Chadli and Salomon Rondon are all talented players, but they're not getting the support they deserve.
Suggestion: Conor Hourihane (Barnsley)
West Ham
Position: Striker
To anyone who watched Simone Zaza play last season it was pretty clear he wouldn't succeed at West Ham. Lo and behold, that prediction has born fruit and Slaven Bilic is, once again, left searching for a striker. Yes, West Ham's defence has been awful but that seems more an issue of organisation than personnel. Up front, however, is a different matter.
Suggestion: Andrea Belotti (Torino)
