Tuesday’s briefing: Premier League clubs get ready to spend

The new year is looming and Premier League clubs are already starting to flex their financial muscles ahead of the reopening of the transfer window.

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal to splash the cash to combat an increasing defensive crisis, while at the other end of the pitch – and the table – West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is in the hunt for striking options.

Wilfried Nancy’s resurrection as Celtic boss could be complete if his side sink Motherwell to move top of the William Hill Premiership, while Ipswich breathed fire into the Championship promotion chase with their win at leaders Coventry.

Gunners ready to dip into transfer market

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says the club are prepared to ease their injury problems by “actively looking” at signing new players when the transfer window reopens next month.

Arteta could be without as many as four defenders for his side’s pivotal Premier League match against Aston Villa at the Emirates on Tuesday.

Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera were all unavailable for the nervy win over Brighton on Saturday.

And Arteta said: “The window is there and I mean we are Arsenal and we have to be looking at it – ‘OK, what do we need?’ And we have to be actively looking and then, whether we can do it or not, that’s a different story.

“But our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen, so hopefully it’ll be very positive.”

West Ham desperate to arrest slide into drop zone

Embattled West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is looking to
“rebalance” his struggling squad in January.

The Hammers are languishing in the relegation zone, five points adrift of safety, ahead of Tuesday’s critical clash with Brighton.

“(January) is very important,” said the Portuguese coach ahead of Tuesday’s match in east London. “We need to rebalance our squad.

“Now it’s time to focus on Brighton. After that the club is working and the transfer window is open, we’ll make decisions.”

West Ham will target a striker to replace AC Milan-bound Niclas Fullkrug, while midfielder James Ward-Prowse is also set to leave having been frozen out of the first-team picture.

Nancy looking to lead Celtic to further improvement

Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy stressed he will not be satisfied if his side beat Motherwell at Fir Park on Tuesday to move to the top of the William Hill Premiership.

Leapfrogging leaders Hearts would further settle the initial drama around Nancy’s start but the Frenchman knows there will remain improvements to make.

“If we win the game and this is the situation, yes, for sure we’re going to be happy,” said Nancy.

“But the idea is to keep the momentum. The idea is to improve regarding the game that we had on Saturday. To be able to get better.”

Ipswich emerge as serious Championship promotion hopes

Ipswich continued to shape up as serious contenders for a swift return to the Premier League after winning 2-0 at Championship leaders Coventry.

Coupled with Middlesbrough’s shock home loss to Hull, Kieran McKenna’s men are now two points off the automatic promotion places after goals from Jack Clarke and Wes Burns.

McKenna said: “It was a really good performance. In the first half there was a real confidence, a composure. We took the game on, controlled the game and had some really good chances.

“We knew at half-time that the whole game wouldn’t be like that against a team this strong with the home record they have.”

What’s on today

Premier League action returns to centre-stage with six top-flight games including Arsenal’s clash with third-placed Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.

Wolves look for some belated post-Christmas cheer when they travel to Old Trafford, while West Ham will be looking to arrest their alarming recent slide when they host Brighton.

Elsewhere, Chelsea face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, Newcastle travel to struggling Burnley, and Sean Dyche faces his former club again as Nottingham Forest host Everton.