Players Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool have to sign in January

Traffic jams, player fatigue, injuries and a wide-open race for the 2021 Premier League title mean the temptation – and the need – to spend big money in the January transfer window has never been so great.

However, successful recruiting in the middle of winter is notoriously difficult. Recall that Liverpool signed Andy Carroll for £ 35m in January 2011 for the ultimate panic buy.

The goal is not only to relieve those on the front lines, but also to force the final urge to glory so new recruits have to jump right into the action. Carroll, for example, didn't play until March or didn't score until April.

So whoever plays Liverpool, Manchester City, Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal – which despite some bad (or in the case of the Gunners case, sad) campaigns remain the established Big Six clubs of the Premier League – is now buying for their titles and Maintain Champions League challenges or, in the latter case, simply save their season?

Who can be back for Harry Kane, replace Virgil van Dijk, repeat Sergio Aguero's successes or relieve Bruno Fernandes, and who can make a decisive contribution to making a meaningful contribution immediately?

So far, the answer to the last question has been a matter of judgment and intuition. But not anymore.

Clubs are starting to go beyond simple player data and use artificial intelligence to calculate which players will pass and shoot from day one.

"People always talk about chemistry between players, but until now it was just words," says Ramm Mylvaganam, founder of Ai Abacus, a company that uses artificial intelligence to find the perfect match between players and clubs "Chemistry" that a player will have with his new teammates.

& # 39; We found a way to define these criteria. We want to find out how people will play on another team. This enables clubs to make recruiting decisions. & # 39;

Mylvaganam may not be a household name outside of boardrooms and analytics suites in top clubs, but its influence on football is legendary.

The former Mars Marketing Director is the man who started Prozone almost 25 years ago. It's why we now know how many kilometers a player runs, how many passes they make, where they are going and with what success.

He and his new company want to go one step further.

To go beyond the numbers and allow the computers to battle their way through millions, if not billions of data points, and then offer the best options for clubs in the transfer market that deliver players who can pass and fight on the field the moment they go through the door.

The Ai Abacus model is based on identifying potential options in terms of skills, individual strengths, and price, and then evaluating a player's suitability in terms of play style and potential chemistry with new teammates.

The best options are those talented players who do very well in terms of both aptitude and chemistry (see the table below for further explanation).

Using the Ai Abacus system, can reveal Whoever shows the data will make the difference in this year's race for the title and Champions League places.

Tottenham: Secure yourself for Harry Kane

Pep Guardiola described Spurs as the "Harry Kane Team" in 2017. It wasn't quite right then and it's not true anymore as Jose Mourinho's side grinds out the results like a well-oiled machine.

And yet, Spurs' successful attack on the title to date depends on keeping Kane fit or at least having a credible replacement. After all, Kane and Son Heung-min have scored 31 goals together. This is the second highest sum in Premier League history, but it also proves that the team depends on the duo.

25-year-old Brazilian Carlos Vinicius, who was loaned out by Benfica for one season in October, has yet to impress outside of the Europa League. Why should Mourinho and Chairman Daniel Levy take the risk of missing out on this golden opportunity to win the Premier League for them? Do you want a little more firepower?

So who can they get at a price Levy is willing to pay?

IDEAL GOAL: BREEL EMBOLO

Other options: Borja Mayoral, Ivan Toney

Breel Embolo may not be a name to wow Spurs believers, but the Borussia Mönchengladbach striker could be invaluable if Kane is out – and in the last four seasons he has missed 51 games due to injury and illness.

Embolo, 23, is a player Spurs targeted two years ago when he was in the market for £ 8m. Tottenham eventually paid £ 3m on a one-year loan for Vinicius, but with the option to buy for £ 40m at the end of the season.

Now Spurs could expect to pay £ 28m for the Gladbach striker. He may have only scored three goals and has assisted twice in 15 games this season, but his profile suits Kanes.

Embolo chose the Ai Abacus model because he plays in a formation similar to Spurs. He falls short and connects well with runners who walk past him. He also fits the full back well and is known for good movement in the box.

Embolo is a great choice when it comes to considering transfer goals that could fit in at a reasonable price from the start.

The Roma Spanish striker, Borja Mayoral, 23, on loan from Real Madrid, could also be considered if Levy is looking to limit spending.

He's less suited to the Spurs game plan in terms of aptitude and chemistry as the Roma prefer two up front, but a £ 18m price tag slightly toggles the model in his favor by improving the cost-benefit ratio .

The third option that Ai Abacus offers is Ivan ToneyThe 24-year-old Brentford forward who took the championship by storm and scored 16 goals in 21 games in his first season.

He tends to play in a 4-3-3 formation in west London.

Toney was selected as a potential recruit to Spurs by scout David Pleat this summer when he scored 49 top division goals for Peterborough in two seasons just to keep a deal off the coronavirus pandemic.

The striker moved to Brentford for a fee of up to £ 10m, including add-ons, and has now fetched a price of £ 18m.

The increase of a relatively unproven, albeit exciting, player could turn Spurs away from the champions.

Manchester City: Aguero mk II

City has lost its pace by their standards, but they are still well placed to go on strike after Christmas.

Her at times indifferent form this season has been attributed to a number of factors including a decreased ability to hold midfield while Fernandinho helped on defense, the departure of magician David Silva and a lack of distance after Leroy Gesund was eliminated the persistent problem is a lack of goals.

After beating Burnley 5-0, City have only scored 18 goals in 12 Premier League games this season. The frustrating 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday underscored the lack of firepower and must make Guardiola even more determined to find a striker who can take her back to the top.

At 32, Sergio Aguero, who has had a knee injury since June, has had no impact this season and will have to be replaced in the long term. With 256 goals in 375 games for City, Aguero is a big part of the club's success.

23-year-old Gabriel Jesus is a good striker who has scored 71 goals in 162 games in the city but lacks the Argentinean's scoring instinct.

Those who come in now have to go online in January, but could also be the club's talisman for years to come, which requires serious investment.

IDEAL GOAL: ERLING HAALAND

Other options: Darwin Nunez, Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala

If City wants to invest and benefit from a turbo-charged boost, Erling Haaland, 20, is her husband.

Of course he is an extremely successful goalscorer who scored 17 times in 14 games for Borussia Dortmund this season, but look a little deeper and no wonder Guardiola is interested.

Haaland was signed by RB Salzburg after Dortmund met their £ 17m buyout clause in January and he was instantly successful.

Since then, its value has skyrocketed. His £ 65m release clause won't go into effect until 2022, and it's likely that the German club will charge a hefty fee – more than £ 100m – to let him go mid-season.

The city could save some money by targeting the less established Darwin Nunez21st

The Uruguayan striker, who joined Benfica last year for £ 22million, is believed to be on Guardiola's list of long-term options to replace Aguero but is not seen as an immediate candidate.

Dutch Donyell Malen, 21, is another option.

The PSV Eindhoven striker was in the Arsenal Academy from 2015 to 2017 but failed to impress despite 27 goals in 67 games. He's now grown up and has scored 14 goals in 20 games this season.

The cost-benefit analysis of these players will depend on the fee their respective clubs charge for their assets.

Arsenal was linked to Malen earlier this year with a potential £ 48m fee reported. That could put City off.

Even with a staggering price tag in January, the prospect of instant results makes Ai Abacus Haaland a close favorite.

He can play as a lone striker, supported by talented midfielders who play in, much like City.

According to analysis, Dortmund can be combined particularly well with Eden Hazard's younger brother Thorgan, who plays as an attacking midfielder and winger and has scored three goals and three assists this season.

In addition, Hazard has a similar profile to Riyad Mahrez. The numbers suggest that there is likely a close connection with Kevin De Bruyne, who was a key target giver for Aguero.

In the meantime, take a look at another high profile option, Argentine Paulo Dybala, 27. Ai Abacus' data at the bottom right of the graph suggest that Dybala is not a good fit with City, although his capabilities are undisputed.

At Juventus he plays in a front two and comes deeper to receive the ball than a traditional No. 9. With a pre-season prepared, Guardiola could undoubtedly shape Dybala to his liking, but in January he doesn't have that time and he looks for short-term Impact less attractive.

Liverpool: ideal replacement for Van Dijk

Liverpool's youngsters have been stellar since the injury shortened Virgil van Dijk's season after Jordan Pickford's desperate Merseyside derby failure.

Since then, Joe Gomez has had a serious knee problem in a catalog of injuries, James Milner and Thiago Alacantara, as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold, were sidelined due to a muscle injury. Joel Matip limps through games.

The academy's alumni have strengthened, nowhere more than in defense, where center-backs Rhys Williams, 19, and Nathaniel Philips, 23, and right-back Neco Williams, 19, do exceptionally well.

But the opportunity doesn't knock often and Liverpool have a fantastic chance to get a better grip on English football and usher in a period of domination they haven't enjoyed since the 1970s and 80s.

Does Jürgen Klopp risk relying on the children, wonderful as they are, to bring the title back to Anfield for a second year?

Or does he go all-in, secure the backline and invest in a player who not only sees the Reds over the line this year, but also improves them for years to come.

IDEAL GOAL: DAYOT UPAMECANO

Other options: Jonathan Tah, Jules Kounde

Ai Abacus analysis supports the view that Dayot Upamecano should be the No. 1 target in the transfer window with a high aptitude rating based on the style of play and chemistry of the Liverpool players.

In the Ai Abacus analysis, it is a more attractive option than either Jonathan Tah, 24, the defender of Bayer Leverkusen, or Jules Kounde, 22, who plays for Seville.

Tah was linked to Liverpool in 2016 when the club decided to sign Matip and Ai Abacus Modeling narrowly favored him before. But he has only played six Bundesliga games this season after staying on the bench for the first few weeks.

Kounde was part of a group of center-backs linked to Liverpool following Van Dijk's likely injury at the end of the season. His contract in Seville, where he played 14 games this season, including five in the Champions League, runs until 2024.

However, it is believed that Klopp had hoped to move to Upamecano at the end of the season. The 22-year-old has a clause in his contract that runs until 2023, allowing him to leave for £ 38million in the summer.

Liverpool may have to pay more in January but, on the flip side, Upamecano's wages are “only” £ 40,000 a week below those of the established Premier League stars.

The good fit with Liverpool results from the similar style of RB Leipzig, where both use a press. So Upamecano comfortably plays a high line of defense with space behind it. He's also a ball player, which makes him a strong match.

A comparison of the combinations of Upamecano with teammates in Leipzig and the player profiles in Anfield suggests that he will enjoy a strong pairing with Andy Robertson, Fabinho and Matip. So he can jump right in.

But perhaps the kicker, and further justification for paying a higher fee, is that Upamecano does best for its pairing with Van Dijk himself. So when the Dutchman is fit again, he could form an impressive partnership for any title defense next season and beyond.

The pair have complementary styles, Upamecano wins more one-on-one duels, and Van Dijk is more effective in the air. This could be the basis for the period of reign that Reds fans crave.

Manchester United: If Not Sancho, Who Will?

So confident was United that Jadon Sancho, the 20-year-old Dortmund aviator, was vital to this year's title challenge that it would seem remarkable if they didn't re-examine the option, or at least an alternative, in January.

United may not be buying to support a title boost – but who knows this bizarre season? – but more likely to secure a spot in the Champions League and build a squad that can return to battle for domination another day.

The first question for United is, do they still want most to invest upfront? The Red Devils are losing goals at an alarming rate in big games and appear to benefit from defense and midfield recruitment as well.

Assuming the tactical analysis that led them to Sancho is still solid (which, admittedly, is a pretty big assumption), and the price that would be north of £ 100million for the fee alone is still too high ( a minor assumption) where should United go?

IDEAL GOAL: JULIAN BRANDT

Other options: Marcus Thuram, Emiliano Buendia

If the goal is to unleash more creativity and reduce reliance on Fernandes, who has scored 16 goals this season and assisted in 17 games for United, then Borussia is Dortmunds Julian Brandt, 24, and Borussia Mönchengladbachs Marcus Thuram, 23, are both contenders.

Brandt is a winger who was pushed into an attacking midfield role last season, often in United's favored 4-2-3-1 formation.

He has a great influence on the Dortmund team and scored 13 assists and seven goals in 42 games last season.

In terms of combinations, it seems like one reason Brandt scores very well as a potential target for United is that Ai Abacus analysis suggests he will mate particularly well with Paul Pogba.

However, Pogba is widely expected to leave Old Trafford after his agent Mino Raiola announced his departure this month.

The model also predicts great connections with Alex Telles, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, and Fernandes.

One of the goals of signing new players is to get the most out of what you already have. Brandt therefore sets many standards. The German international would probably also cost far less than Sancho.

An interesting option highlighted by Ai Abacus is the attacking Norwich midfielder. Emiliano Buendia, 23,

Buendia was highlighted as a potential recruit by many commentators after United Sancho failed to land that summer, but the Old Trafford hierarchy never maintained that move.

The Argentine has been a revelation since arriving from Getafe in 2018 and impressed last season despite his side's relegation from the Premier League. This season he has completed 14 games for the Canaries in the championship with four goals and six assists. It would also be a cheaper option than Sancho and Brandt.

Die künstliche Intelligenz legt nahe, dass Thuram, der in dieser Saison in 18 Spielen vier Tore und sieben Vorlagen erzielt hat, nicht nur eine gute Verbindung zu Fernandes, Rashford und Telles hat.

Mönchengladbach ist taktisch flexibel und hat die bevorzugte Formation von United, 4-2-3-1, gespielt, sodass Thuram, der Sohn des französischen Weltcup-Siegers Lilian, direkt einsteigen konnte.

Arsenal: Szoboszlai ist möglicherweise nicht die Antwort

In der Vorsaison hatten Arsenal-Fans möglicherweise einige Bedenken hinsichtlich der Optionen ihres Vereins in der offensiven Mittelfeldabteilung, waren jedoch auch der Ansicht, dass es anderswo dringlichere Prioritäten gab.

Es ging um die Notwendigkeit, die Unterschrift von Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang für einen neuen Vertrag zu sichern, und um den Wunsch, mit der Übernahme von Thomas Partey die Mitte des Feldes zu versteifen.

Nach 12 Spielen und nur 10 erzielten Toren ist Kreativität mittlerweile ein wichtiges Anliegen.

Willian, der für einen kostenlosen Transfer von Chelsea unterschrieben wurde, muss noch liefern. Nicolas Pepe kämpft; und Mesut Ozil ist so gut wie weg. Im Durchschnitt erzielt Arsenal weniger als 10 Schüsse pro Spiel, wobei kaum mehr als drei Treffer erzielt werden.

Die Notwendigkeit, das unbestrittene Talent von Aubameyang, der in 123 Spielen für Arsenal 74 Tore erzielte, und Alexandre Lacazette, der in 141 Spielen 52 Tore erzielt hat, freizusetzen, ist klar.

IDEALES ZIEL: FLORIAN NEUHAUS

Andere Möglichkeiten: Dominik Szoboszlai, Lorenzo Pellegrini

Arsenal wurde bereits mit verbunden Dominik Szoboszlai, 20, der talentierte Ungar, der für den österreichischen Verein RB Salzburg spielt.

Und die chemische Analyse von Ai Abacus legt nahe, dass er gut zu einer Reihe von Spielern in den Emiraten passt und sich mit ihnen verbindet.

Sein Positionsprofil, das oft links von einem Mittelfeld-Vier spielt, und Stilunterschiede zwischen RB Salzburg und Arsenal sprechen jedoch gegen ihn.

Für wen auch immer Arsenal im Januar wechselt, Arteta hat möglicherweise das Gefühl, dass er einen Spieler braucht, der direkt einsteigen kann.

Borussia Mönchengladbachs Florian Neuhaus könnte die Antwort sein.

Der 23-Jährige wurde mit der Legende von Bayern München und Deutschland, Thomas Müller, verglichen, der für sein Land 100 Länderspiele bestritten hat.

Neuhaus 'Positionsbewusstsein und seine Fähigkeit, zwischen die Verteidigungs- und Angriffslinien der Opposition zu wechseln, werden hoch gelobt.

Er ist schwer zu fassen, hat in 89 Spielen für Gladbach 12 Tore erzielt und 16 Tore erzielt. Er spielt gerne hinter einem oder zwei Stürmern.

Neuhaus hat von der Notwendigkeit gesprochen, ein gutes Verständnis mit Teamkollegen zu haben, um die Grenzen zu durchbrechen. Und seine chemische Analyse ist besonders stark. He is expected to pair well with Pepe and Willian, and could be a creative option alongside Partey.

Roma’s Italian midfielder, Lorenzo Pellegrini, 24, is an equally strong match, who pairs well with Aubameyang and Granit Xhaka, although after the latter’s sending off against Burnley that might not be in his favour.

Pellegrini’s cost-benefit analysis is less attractive than Neuhaus, however. He is valued at £30m, whereas Neuhaus could cost around £10m less.

Chelsea: The final piece of the jigsaw – a holding midfielder?

It’s hard to imagine that Chelsea need any more players after an extraordinary, and highly effective, spending spree that racked up a bill of well over £200m in the summer.

However, the one ‘gap’ Blues boss Frank Lampard is believed to have an eye on is in defensive midfield.

On the face of it, Chelsea look well covered with N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, and Mateo Kovacic.

However, it appears Lampard does not see Kante as a holding player and, since Chelsea often play with two defensive midfielders, he is thought to want more cover.

So, what are the options?

IDEAL TARGET: ADRIAN FEIN

Other possibles: Manuel Locatelli, Boubacar Kamara

Manuel Locatelli, 22, is credited with being a driving force in the upward trajectory of the unfashionable Serie A team, Sassuolo, who currently sit fifth in the table.

He may be just what Lampard is looking for.

Schooled at AC Milan, Locatelli is disciplined and talented. He sits deep, holds his position, is effective at breaking up play and noted for being good in transition, launching attacks with trademark switch passes.

The Ai Abacus model predicts Locatelli, who has been capped by Italy six times, will link up brilliantly with the Chelsea defenders as well as Hakim Ziyech, which should help him hit the ground running.

The chart above shows that Locatelli is the top match for the chemistry he is expected to have with Chelsea players, but the model suggests the playing style at Sassuolo is different, which impacts his suitability for a January move.

Well-matched for style and chemistry is German Adrian Fein, 21, who is currently on loan at PSV Eindhoven with an option to buy from Bayern Munich.

A Bayern academy graduate, Fein played on loan in Bundesliga 2 last season, helping Hamburg to a fourth-placed finish. This term he has made 10 appearances for PSV and scored once and has two assists.

The Ai Abacus model credit PSV and Chelsea with a similar playing style, so he should fit into the system well.

He is also expected to pair strongly with Ziyech, Jorginho and left back Ben Chilwell. And he is a cheaper option.

Meanwhile, Boubacar Kamara, 21, is establishing himself as a defensive midfielder at Marseille, where he came through the youth ranks.

Kamara was linked with both Manchester City and West Ham earlier this year, the former reportedly considered him as a centre back. Kamara has strong chemistry with Chelsea players, but compared to the other options he looks a less attractive buy.