From Celtic to Dundee United: what Ladbrokes Premiership teams need in the transfer window

Given the shambolic European campaign, the latter half of the season needs to be a stellar display from Ronny Deila’s side who will now focus their ambitions on a domestic Treble.

There have been only three occasions in the club’s 128-year history when that has been achieved but if they are to be successful in realising that then they will look for a greater degree of consistency in their performances.

All eyes now will turn towards the critical UEFA Champions League qualifiers this summer and it is all about laying the foundations of a team that can successfully negotiate them.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

A creative playmaker in the middle of the park would be nice as would a reliable central defender; they have been looking at Eibar's Aleksandar Pantic. The jury is still out on Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic. Another striker will also be on the wish list.

Aberdeen

Derek McInnes has more than steadied the ship at Aberdeen after the blip in which they threatened to fall significantly off the pace. However, they need to maintain a level of consistency between now and the end of the season – and McInnes will really feel that the Pittodrie side need a decent run in the Scottish Cup after being put out of the League Cup so early on.

The forthcoming tie against Hearts this Saturday will provide a strong indication of whether the Scottish Cup is a viable target for the Dons this term. Certainly, it would provide a tangible indication that the club are indeed making significant progress.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

Hard to see what business Aberdeen might do in the window. This time last year the acquisition of Kenny McLean from St Mirren was an astute one but in all likelihood it may well be that there is a pre-contract signed with someone with a view to the summer.

Hearts 

It has been a solid start for Hearts to the season after coming up from the Championship and Robbie Nielson will feel that he can push Aberdeen for that second spot. The Tynecastle club will also eye up a decent run in the Scottish Cup to supplement their season but all-in-all they will be satisfied that they have re-acclimatised to life in the top flight after their time out of it. They play Aberdeen in the next round of the Scottish Cup which will provide an interesting marker of where they are.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

Have been some rumours about a return to the club for Ian Black but finances will dictate what, if anything, they can add in the current window.

St Johnstone

Tommy Wright, the St Johnstone manager, continues to quietly lead the Perth club into league positions that they have no right to be in. It has been an impressive campaign to date for Saints who made club history last month when they clocked up their sixth successive away win of the season. Their consistency under Wright sees them as a reliable top-six team and if they continue to play in the same vein they will expect to push once out-perform teams with greater financial clout. A cannily-assembled squad who have a manager getting the very best out of them ensures a decent finish.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

Could really do with a solid centre-half and maybe a forward but neither of these things come cheaply. Holding on to Michael O’Halloran will be a priority.

Hamilton Accies

Martin Canning has successfully found his feet after a difficult opening tenure in management last season. Having managed to survive in the top flight, Accies are currently well away from the relegation zone but whether or not they can successfully stay mid-table remains to be seen, especially if their squad is plundered in the coming transfer window. With Ali Crawford and Ziggy Gordon linked with other clubs, the big test for the Lanarkshire side now is keeping their squad in place as they try to kick on over the latter half of the campaign.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

It might be a case of what they need when it closes. Michael McGovern is out of contract this summer and has yet to sign a new deal. If the club opt to cash in on him now then Accies could be on the hunt for a new keeper. However, given that the stopper will be off the European Championships with Michael O’Neill this summer he may opt to stay put and showcase himself there.

Ross County 

Jim McIntyre’s side have improved on last season and managed to remain in the top six for this opening half of the campaign. However, the challenge they face is one of consistency – of performance and of result. Jackson Irvine has had a decent opening half of the season and while the Highland side have a relatively small squad their budget suggests that they ought to be in a decent league position.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

They have scored a respectable number of goals but the problem for the Highlanders is that they have conceded almost as many. Bringing some cover in defensively could be high on the priority list.

Dundee 

Paul Hartley’s side have been up and down this season. There has been an imbalance at times in the side, partially due to the fact that Kevin Thomson has been in and out of the team with injury. If the Dens Park side can keep the midfielder fit it would be a considerable enhancement to the squad as they seek to consolidate their place in the league. The priority this term would have been simply surviving but Hartley himself will feel that a top six finish is within reach, assuming he can keep the bulk of his squad free from injury.

And he has just lost captain James McPake for a year.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

Jim McAlister’s departure to Blackpool in the summer left a void for the kind of hard-tackling midfielder who is capable of breaking up play and Dundee could do with a player of that ilk. A replacement for McPake would not go amiss.

Inverness Caley Thistle

John Hughes will find it tough to replace Ryan Christie who has undergone his rehabilitation following a knee injury with Celtic. It is unlikely that the striker will be loaned back to the Highlanders, meaning that Inverness are desperately short of options up front. Last season’s Scottish Cup winners are still in danger of finding themselves pulled back into a fight at the bottom of the table .

What do they need in the January transfer window?

At least one striker. Caley fans would welcome a permanent move for Miles Storey who has impressed during his loan spell from Swindon.

Partick Thistle

League position has been affected by what was a dreadful start to the season, although there has been solid signs of improvement recently. Alan Archibald’s side were more or less written off in October as the team that would be sliding down, yet they have managed to find a strong foothold which could keep them in the top flight. Kris Doolan has slowly came back into a bit of form.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

Doolan is out of contract at the end of this season so is free to discuss a move to other clubs now. Getting him onto a new deal could be a positive result for Thistle while Archibald has also spoken of bringing in one or two new attackers.

Kilmarnock

A season of complete inconsistency in which it has repeatedly been one step forwards by a couple of leaps back the way. Gary Locke’s men have toiled for any real form and when they have shown glimpses of solidity – such as the industrious displays against Celtic that earned them a couple of draws – they have immediately undone the good work in the resultant weeks. Locke has been under increasing pressure due to the lack of perceived organisation throughout the Killie side and he might find that time starts to go against him in the latter stages of the season if results do not improve.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

Out of contract trio of Craig Slater, Rory McKenzie and Greg Kiltie tied to new deals

Motherwell

Mark McGhee’s second spell at the club has been something of a slow burner as he looks to find the form that will move the Fir Park side up the table. The Fir Park side have looked like a more organised unit this season that they did last term but they remain worryingly close to the wrong end of the table. David Clarkson’s second spell at the club has not been particularly beneficial for either the player or the club and it is this area of the park where McGhee could do with a few reinforcements if Motherwell are to climb the table.

What do they need in the January transfer window?

Louis Moult has been in decent goalscoring form this season but should he pick up an injury there is no-one else whom Motherwell could look to for goals. Another attacker could ease the pressure on him.

Dundee United

It has been a catastrophic season so far for the Tannadice side who have never got over the loss of a number of key players last season, most notably Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Nadir Ciftci who was far more prolific at United than he has been at Celtic. Given the precarious nature of their position now as they sit anchored to the foot of the league table, it is very difficult to envisage Mixu Paatelaainen being able to lead them away from the drop.

Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima has signed at long last, but will they be able to keep John Souter?

What they need in the January transfer window?

Strengthened all over the park. Other than that a minor miracle if they are to avoid a relegation play-off.