Soccer Power Rankings: 1 signing each team should make in January

On the first Tuesday of every month during the 2024-25 season, we'll debate which clubs are among Europe's elite in our Soccer Power Rankings. In our January edition, we're picking out one player each of the continent's top teams should sign during the winter transfer window.

Jump to:
ARS | ATA | ATH | ATM | BAR | CHE | FCB | INT | JUV | LEV | LIL | LIV | MCI | MIL | NAP | NEW | NFO | PSG | RMA | SCP

1. Liverpool 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Previous: 1 ⚖️

Antonee Robinson. Losing Trent Alexander-Arnold - either this month or in the summer - would be a huge blow. But at least Conor Bradley is a capable replacement. There's no obvious succession plan on the opposite side, where Andy Robertson has become a defensive liability. Robinson, one of Fulham's standout players, would be an ideal fit at left-back.

2. Inter Milan 🇮🇹

Previous: 3 📈

Sam Beukema. Injuries to Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard have created a need for defensive reinforcements at Inter, where Yann Bisseck has been forced to play more minutes than expected. Bologna defender Beukema could come in and contribute right away thanks to his familiarity with Serie A, which is always a key consideration for January additions.

3. Atalanta 🇮🇹

Previous: 2 📉

Rayan Cherki. Atalanta could benefit from signing a No. 9 to help lighten the load on Mateo Retegui, but Gian Piero Gasperini has a habit of turning forwards who aren't traditional strikers into prolific scorers. Cherki, an attacking midfielder, could thrive under the Italian tactician, and Lyon's delicate financial situation could force them to sell the 21-year-old this month.

4. Atletico Madrid 🇪🇸

Previous: 10 📈

Miguel Gutierrez. Diego Simeone's team is humming right now, and there aren't any obvious deficiencies that desperately need addressing in January. More depth at left-back would be welcome, though. Landing Gutierrez from Girona would be tricky - bitter rivals Real Madrid own 50% of his rights, complicating matters - but worthwhile as Atletico chase a league title.

5. Real Madrid 🇪🇸

Previous: 9 📈

Trent Alexander-Arnold. They're trying. Real Madrid's first attempt to acquire the English right-back in January was swiftly rebuffed by Liverpool. A free transfer in the summer remains a far more likely outcome, but Carlo Ancelotti clearly wants Alexander-Arnold right now as the Champions League holders look to replace injured stalwart Dani Carvajal. This saga isn't going away.

6. Arsenal 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Previous: 5 📉

Bryan Mbeumo. With star winger Bukayo Saka out long term following hamstring surgery, and breakout teenager Ethan Nwaneri also sidelined, Arsenal need to act this month. Mbeumo is having a sensational season at Brentford and wouldn't come cheap, but he's a great fit as an immediate replacement for Saka, and he could also play with him when he returns.

7. Bayern Munich 🇩🇪

Previous: 4 📉

Jonathan David. Bayern Munich, unsurprisingly, aren't the same attacking force when Harry Kane isn't available. Few others offer the Englishman's combination of elite scoring ability and link-up play, but David, the top marksman in Ligue 1 this season, thrives in both aspects. While Lille appear resigned to losing him in the summer, Bayern could accelerate a transfer.

8. Bayer Leverkusen 🇩🇪

Previous: 16 📈

Diogo Leite. The best-run clubs plan ahead to ensure they aren't scrambling when key players depart. Bayer Leverkusen will almost certainly lose impending free agent Jonathan Tah this summer. It's a big hole to fill; the imposing center-back has been at the club for a decade. Union Berlin's Leite, linked with Leverkusen in the past, would be a sensible fit.

9. Barcelona 🇪🇸

Previous: 7 📉

Dani Olmo. That's right. Barcelona's priority in January should be registering their own players before they even think about trying to finagle someone else's. Olmo remains ineligible to play in the second half of the season after Barca's desperate plea to extend his temporary registration beyond Dec. 31 was rejected by La Liga. It's all a big mess of their own making.

10. Napoli 🇮🇹

Previous: 8 📉

Danilo. The Brazilian defender is no longer part of Juventus' plans and will move on in January. Now 33, he's not nearly as mobile as he once was at right-back, but he can still be a solid contributor and veteran leader for a title-chasing Napoli side that needs more defensive cover with Alessandro Buongiorno on the shelf. A nominal fee should get the job done here.

11. Paris Saint-Germain 🇫🇷

Previous: 12 📈

Victor Osimhen. PSG need a central striker. Their top scorers this season are wide forwards (Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele), while Goncalo Ramos has seen limited action and Randal Kolo Muani is expected to leave in January. Osimhen, on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has long been a target for the French giants. Could this finally be the window they bring him aboard?

12. Nottingham Forest 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Previous: N/A 📈

Omar Marmoush. Chris Wood's renaissance was one of the Premier League's best storylines in 2024. But, at 33, Nottingham Forest can't rest on their laurels and expect him to stay hot forever. Marmoush, who Forest pushed hard to land last summer, is enjoying the best season of his life right now at Eintracht Frankfurt. His signing would be a huge statement of intent.

13. Newcastle United 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Previous: N/A 📈

Tyler Dibling. Newcastle should be seeking an upgrade on the right wing this month. Jacob Murphy is a serviceable player, but to keep making serious progress, the Magpies need to balance out an attack that relies heavily on the left side. Dibling is a rising star who won't be available much longer, with Southampton likely to be relegated at season's end. The time to act is now.

14. Chelsea 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Previous: 6 📉

Viktor Gyokeres. Nicolas Jackson is scoring at a decent clip for Chelsea and could yet establish himself as the club's long-term No. 9. No matter how many goals he seems to deliver, though, links with other strikers persist. After 62 tallies for club and country in 2024, Gyokeres is at the top of the list. His transfer from Sporting CP to one of Europe's biggest clubs is imminent.

15. Manchester City 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Previous: 11 📉

Martin Zubimendi. Sometimes the most obvious answer is the correct one. Manchester City are showing some signs of life again after their abysmal run to close out 2024, but Pep Guardiola's team can't operate at its best without someone providing midfield control. Nobody can truly replace the injured Rodri, but Real Sociedad's Zubimendi is the best surrogate out there.

16. Athletic Bilbao 🇪🇸

Previous: N/A 📈

Borja Sainz. Athletic Club, unbeaten since October, strictly adhere to a well-known policy of only fielding players with direct ties to the Basque Country. That makes transfers tricky, but one of their own could fill a need for a team lacking some punch up front. Norwich City's Sainz, who spent five years in the Athletic academy, is the top scorer in the Championship this season.

17. AC Milan 🇮🇹

Previous: 17 ⚖️

Samuele Ricci. Milan have reportedly made "concrete progress" to sign the ascendant Italian midfielder in June. But they shouldn't wait that long. Ricci, 23, is also being eyed by Manchester City. The only way for Milan to ensure the Premier League champions don't have a chance to blow Torino's socks off with a massive offer this summer is to secure his signature this month.

18. Sporting CP 🇵🇹

Previous: 14 📉

Christantus Uche. Sporting signed Conrad Harder last year, in part, to prepare for the eventual departure of Gyokeres. But replacing the Swede's output can't be a one-person job. That's why Sporting should move for Uche, the versatile Getafe forward who, at 21, fits the club's philosophy of scooping up young players with major resale potential.

19. Lille 🇫🇷

Previous: 19 ⚖️

Youssoufa Moukoko. Lille wanted to sign Moukoko last summer, but he eventually ended up at Ligue 1 peers Nice on loan. His playing time in the French Riviera has dwindled as the season has progressed, though, opening up the possibility that Borussia Dortmund could cut his loan spell short and seek another solution for the 20-year-old forward.

20. Juventus 🇮🇹

Previous: 18 📉

Antonio Silva. Some cover for Dusan Vlahovic would also be nice in January, but the club's top priority is help in central defense. The absence of Gleison Bremer, out for the season with a torn ACL, is painfully felt every game. Infamous agent Jorge Mendes is putting public pressure on Benfica to sell the promising Portuguese defender to the Italian club.

Dropped out: Fiorentina, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt
On the cusp: Marseille, Benfica, PSV, Lazio