A new striker, short,fast and accurate. We need to improve our conversion rate drastically. Hernandez maybe. Rickie could then drop back into an advance CM role, with Lallana and J Rod either side. We are strong enough in the defensive/holding midfield roles. A centre back and a goalkeeper. These should be able to push Boruc and Fonte but not necessarily replace them. A bit more bench pressure would improve the performance levels of those on the pitch. So, about 3 players if we keep everyone but if anyone leaves then we would obviously need to replace them as well. Catching Everton is a good target although with Barry and Lukaku going back to their parent clubs they will be much weaker anyway. The top six is a massive ask. They will all strengthen in the summer, so we would have to make up the gap between ourselves and them from this season and also try and bridge the gap their own squad improvements would create.
A not so reputable transfer rumours thread has us in the race for an out of contract Kasper Schmeichel. We have been linked to attacking midfielder Aaron Hunt from Werder Bremen. He is out of contract in the summer too. I think we can add decent strength in depth for little outlay
As I've previously said I know nothing about foreign players, but the strikers there look to me to be a list of the top-scorers in Europe... I'm assuming the rest are of similar caliber? I keep banging on about how nice it'd be to get Lukaku, but I don't see it as a realistic prospect (the only slight possibility is in a swap for Shaw). Most of these players are even less likely to come to us (and after the Osvaldo saga, I'm not sure that's a bad thing...) If they do, they'd cost loads - again can we afford it? Having said that, I'd be very happy if we land any of the above...
