Football managers speak on January incomings

Premier League bosses have already begun hinting at potential January incomings ahead of the transfer window with over a week to go until it re-opens.

Eddie Howe says his Newcastle side may be forced into action with the Magpies facing a injury crisis at the back with just three senior defenders available for Saturday’s visit of Chelsea, while Fabian Hurzeler revealed he has been in talks with the Brighton hierarchy given Danny Welbeck is the club’s only fit No 9.

Howe said: “We have to make the right decisions. We don’t want to recruit anyone for a short-term need which ends up being a long-term problem.

“We just have to assess the injury situation when it comes to January, which will be with us very quickly.

“It might be that we make decisions based on how the picture looks in the first week.”

Hurzeler has previously suggested he would like to add to his attacking options in January, and when asked whether he had held any discussions with the Brighton hierarchy over potential incomings he  said: “We have ongoing talks – we always have a good exchange.

“We talked about this position so let’s see how we plan in the winter period if we want to replace it and how we want to replace it. “

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa may be flying high and in a rich vein of form but the Villans are not averse to adding to their ranks too.

The head coach said: “The club is working, and we always have one eye on the transfer window in case something can help us.

“You can have an opportunity to sign a player who can add something different to us – quality, experience or something increasing our qualities in the squad.”