<p style="text-align: justify;">It's <em>that </em>time of the year again. It's a time when football players become the commodities and clubs become the traders - the summer transfer window is here. A few clubs enter the <em>market</em> to strengthen their squad, to make a marquee signing for increasing their fan-base/shirt-sales; while others enter to auction their prized possession to the highest bidder. The other <em>players </em>part of this highly lucrative game, apart from the usual suspects, are the negotiators (read agents) and the speculators (read media).</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">TheHardTackle tries to look beyond the hype and find just the right player needed by the four English clubs, before the world forgets about this intriguing aspect of football, dons its national colours and focuses on South Africa. Here are the missing pieces of the <em>Jigsaw Puzzle</em>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Puzzle One: Chelsea</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The English Champions from West London do not need to break the bank, at least not now. With <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/755/europe/2010/05/27/1945943/uefa-approve-financial-fair-play-regulations">UEFA's directive</a> pertaining to the Champions League participation looming large and the club overshooting its 2010 deadline for achieving self-sustainability, it needs to show some restraint. That's exactly what has been the philosophy for the past few seasons - Chelsea has not been the big bull of transfer market ever since the 30 million Ukrainian failed in the premier league. They are now even looking to cut down on their wage-bill. All these developments point to a reasonably calm summer.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Carlo Ancelotti has won the double in his first season in English football, so the monkey is off his back. The club will be patient with him, ergo he can try-out the youngsters at his disposal, for an year. Depending upon how Kakuta, Borini, Sturridge, Stoch, Matic, Bruma and Van Anholt fair in the coming season, a plan can be drawn on restructuring the team. Everyone's in a dilemma regarding Chelsea's priority now - an attacking midfielder or a striker. After an year, the club would be in a better position to take a call - if a young midfielder successfully graduates to the first team, then the club can purchase a striker or vice-versa.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">TheHardTackle's Missing Piece(s): Two invaluable signings - Patience and Persistence (<em>No high-profile signing, but the scenario can change if a first-team player is sold).</em></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="For how long can Roman resist digging into his deep pockets?"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/john-terry-and-roman/image/7259964?term=roman+chelsea" target="_blank"><img title="John Terry and Roman Abramovic" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/7259964/john-terry-and-roman/john-terry-and-roman.jpg?size=500&imageId=7259964" border="0" alt="BOLTON V CHELSEA 30/04/2005 (0-2) PREMIER LEAGUE CHELSEA CHAMPIONS John Terry and Roman Abramovic best of mates as Chelsea wrap up the Premier league title in 2005.After weeks of speculation about a move to Manchester City, Terry today committed his future to Chelsea. Photo Roger Parker Fotosports International" width="500" height="NaN" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Puzzle Two: Manchester United</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">When Karim Benzima turned down Sir Alex Furguson's offer and moved to Real Madrid last summer, not even in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that it would cost him a place in France's World Cup squad. If one wrong decision derailed his career, a right one can put him back where he belongs. Last season, in the absence of Wayne Rooney, Man United's attack looked toothless. The other options in their armoury are not <em>United </em>material - one is an eternal crook and the other has failed to take his chances.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Players like James Milner and David Silva have being linked with a move to Manchester, but Karim Benzema should be a priority this season. Giggs and Scholes can support others like Gibson, Fletcher, Nani and Valencia in the midfield for at least another year. Benzema and Rooney can form a devastating partnership and the young Frenchman can also operate on his own, in his partner's absence.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Moreover, by giving Higuain a contract extension, Madrid have made their intentions known and they may offload Benzema to United at a discounted price.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">TheHardTackle's Missing Piece: <em>Karim Benzema</em></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Will he do the right thing this time?"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/soccer-2010-champions/image/7985101?term=benzema" target="_blank"><img class=" " style="border: 0px initial initial;" title="SOCCER 2010 - Champions League Lyon Beat Real Madrid 1-0" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/7985101/soccer-2010-champions/soccer-2010-champions.jpg?size=500&imageId=7985101" border="0" alt="Feb 16, 2010 - Lyon, France - Real Madrid's KARIM BENZEMA during Lyon's 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League." width="500" height="NaN" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Puzzle Three: Arsenal</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">It's time Le Professeur realises that even if he manages to convince his captain to stay put at the Emirates, he would just be delaying the inevitable - Cesc Fabregas' home-coming. The Spaniard would leave, if not now, then in a couple of years, to reunite with his childhood sweetheart.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Arsenal should extract as much cash as possible from Barcelona and utilise the money for strengthening its team. They have Nasri, Ramsay and Wishere to take over from Cesc, so Arsene Wenger should ideally invest in a young and talented goalkeeper like Lyon's stopper Hugo Lloris. He wouldn't come cheap as is the case with all good things in life. Moreover, Arsenal's <em>French Connection </em>will help here.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">TheHardTackle's Missing Piece: <em>Hugo Lloris</em></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Hugo Lloris - The Answer to Gunners' Miseries"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/france-goalkeeper-lloris/image/8960474?term=hugo+lloris" target="_blank"><img title="France's goalkeeper Lloris is seen during friendly soccer match against Tunisia near Tunis" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8960474/france-goalkeeper-lloris/france-goalkeeper-lloris.jpg?size=500&imageId=8960474" border="0" alt="France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is seen during a friendly soccer match against Tunisia in Rades stadium near Tunis May 30, 2010. REUTERS/Charles Platiau (TUNISIA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP)" width="500" height="NaN" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Puzzle Four: Liverpool</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Rafa Benitez has left, but if Liverpool are to challenge for silverware next season, the club has to ensure that no Anfield icon - Torres, Gerrard, Reina or Mascharano - follows him out of Merseyside. This should be the top priority of the management, other than finding a decent manager and signing a striker of considerable quality.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">There's a striker who was once rated as the next big thing in world football, when he used to score goals for fun while playing for Ajax. He moved to Real Madrid but as is the case with majority of recent Madrid signings, he had to move to AC Milan, to salvage his declining career. He still has a decent goals-to-matches ratio and a move to Liverpool may just reignite his career. Liverpool should <em>hunt </em>The Hunter.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">TheHardTackle's Missing Piece: <em>Klass-Jan Huntelaar</em></p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Is it time for the Premier League to be Hunted?"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-april-2010/image/8622049?term=huntelaar" target="_blank"><img title="Sports News - April 25, 2010" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8622049/sports-news-april-2010/sports-news-april-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=8622049" border="0" alt="Apr. 25, 2010 - 05813835 date 24 04 2010 Copyright imago Gribaudi ImagePhoto CI Palermo 24 04 2010 Campionato Tue Calcio Series A Palermo Milan Photo Carmelo Imbesi Image Sports Nella Photo Jan Klaas Huntelaar PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA Football men ITA Series A 2009 2010 Palermo Action shot Vdig 2010 horizontal premiumd." width="500" height="333" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;"></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">These are not predictions, nor are they the only signing required by the clubs in question, but they certainly are the most critical pieces missing from the puzzle.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Chelsea may still sign Kun Ageuro, but the best way would be to hold Real Madrid to ransom if they come looking for Ashley Cole. The important point here is <em>sell to buy. </em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em> </em>Man United may decide to persist with Berbatov as Rooney's partner and sign David Silva, which would not be such a bad move, only if the Bulgarian can force himself to finish the chances their midfielders are bound to create.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Arsenal may not buy Lloris and settle for a lesser alternative, but this again would be a compromise and may hurt them in the long run.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Liverpool may still lose Torres, Gerrard or Mascharano to the Spanish Armada; if that happens, then not even Rijkaard and Huntelaar can guarantee Champions League to them.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Here's hoping better sense prevails and the English teams utilise this transfer window to good effect, rather than shooting themselves in the foot. After all, who wouldn't want the Premier League to regain its lost aura?</p>