6 teams who can't wait for the January transfer window

January has traditionally been the perfect stop-over for teams to refuel, recharge and rediscover their groove coming into the second half of the season. Before the season began different expectations were lain at the feet of one club or another, but as we all know things do not always go according to plan even for the very best of the best.Between one thing or another, it is not always feasible for even the most prestigious of teams to fulfill their objectives. Whether it’s through tactical failings, too many injuries or just plain misfortune, some teams come undone along the way. Fortunately, however, the New Year can come to the rescue to avoid the free-fall or bad times from persisting.By making the right transfers, keeping hold of the best players until the end of the season and taking the time to look at and learn from the mistakes of the few preceding months, improvements can be made and new beginnings can be kick-started.So, join us in casting our eye over a few clubs who need the window to open up sooner than most, and why.

#6 Liverpool

Klopp is certain to get the backing of the owners to pursue players in the transfer window

Jurgen Klopp’s arrival as the manager at Anfield signalled the return of the good times for Liverpool. Despite their recent 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United, it looks as though the good vibes have returned to the Merseyside club, and the fans will feel confident some new silverware will adorn their cabinet soon.

The Reds have been getting the necessary results in the Premier League and are now considered as title contenders by many fans and commentators of the beautiful game.

That said, the season is a long and arduous one at the best of times, so they are going to need plenty of reinforcements to back their claim. Klopp has been doing the best he possibly could with the resources he adopted from Brendan Rodgers' reign, but the re-opening of the transfer market will allow him the chance to put a more Klopp-like look to proceedings.

Drafting in a proven goal-scorer should certainly be a top priority. Their top Premier League scorer this season is Philippe Coutinho who has bagged five goals. However, he is not a striker and as good as it is to have goal-scoring midfielders, every serious challenger at the top of any league needs to have a recognised forward who can lead the line and, most importantly, rattle the back of the net.

Whoever they decide to bring on board, they need to be a no.9 or at least a natural finisher comfortable with taking on defenders as the main line of attack.

#5 Juventus

The transfer window might be just what the doctor ordered for Allegri and Juventus

The Bianconeri might not be the most underwhelming reigning champions across the board in Europe as they have started to pick up a few key wins over the course of the last month, but they have certainly been without their usual sheen at times.

Having dominated the Italian Serie A last season on their way to securing the Scudetto at a canter, it was surprising to see them floundering in mid-table for a number of weeks this time around. Many of their key players went missing for a long time at the beginning of the campaign, failing to turn up in some important games, as Inter Milan and Napoli tore away from the rest of the chasing pack.

Now, some stability has returned with five wins from five, but January would provide them with the opportunity to keep that momentum going by securing a few marquee names.

The future of Paul Pogba remains as uncertain as ever so the Old Lady might just be glad to see that situation resolved come 2016. Obviously the majority of fans would like to see the youngster stay, but regardless what happens at least they will be able move on and to concentrate on stringing together a series of more coherent, entertaining team displays.

Also, they will be confident of wrapping up a more permanent deal for Juan Cuadrado, too, who is still on loan from Chelsea.

So far, Paulo Dybala has been their star performer, challenging at the top of the scorers’ list with seven league goals to his name already, but he could do with some assistance, so if they can entice some long-term targets to the club, they might just be able to salvage their campaign from mediocrity.

#4 Arsenal

Arsenal are presently down with the dreaded injury bug

Arsene Wenger has come under a great deal of scrutiny in recent weeks for the way his squad has been severely depleted by a number of injuries – what’s more, it has been the particular players affected which has stirred the ire of most Arsenal fans.

So far, most of the absentees have been really key cogs in the Gunners’ machine with Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Laurent Koscielny (all injured against Norwich City), Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere all spending some considerable time in the treatment room.

None of this bodes well for the remainder of the season because although the north London club have been by far the most afflicted team in the country (per ESPN’s Ben Dinnery), they have perhaps received the biggest hammer blow in one fell swoop and it could happen again.

Simply put, they need two or three skilful midfielders capable of adding equilibrium to a normally offensive side and could also do with an experienced defender to ease fan worries.

A world-class striker has been on the wish-list for some time, too, and it's something they definitely need if they are to stay in the title race right up until the end. Olivier Giroud has rarely been the striker the team has needed, and despite his decent haul of eight league goals this term he’ll need a capable understudy to fill in when necessary – after all, the recently returned Theo Walcott is superb on his day but injury follows him like a spectre and he cannot be relied upon either.

In terms of transfer targets, Wenger has been linked with all sorts of players and the Telegraph has compiled a list of 10 players he might be tempted to chase after, with Ilkay Gundogan, Adrien Rabiot and even Karim Benzema all making an appearance.

#3 Barcelona

Barcelona need reinforcements to deal with potential injuries during the season

For months, Barcelona have lived with the restrictions of a hefty transfer ban, but January will finally see the end of that long wait. Of course, Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan are already scheduled to slot straight into the first-team squad but Luis Enrique has hinted that they could make yet more splashes in the transfer market.

At present, the Blaugrana are sailing on the domestic and European front, so their fans could be forgiven for not feeling too much of a hurry to raid any clubs, but any Spanish football correspondent worth their salt will tell you that they need to bring in another striker or two as well as a few extra bodies in midfield and defence.

Yes, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Luis Suarez are playing with flair and look as though they could better the total of 121 goals they scored between them last season, but there is still a long way to go and back-up should definitely be sought in case any more injuries occur.

If they intend on becoming the first club to ever retain the Champions League trophy as well as successfully defending their league and Spanish Cup crowns, they will have to ensure they possess a bulky core group capable of holding the strain.

Fears of a paper-thin squad may well have disappeared into the background to a certain extent amidst all the feel-good factor of their top-quality performances, but the reality is that they still possess one. So, not much has changed and the transfers still need to be made.

Not only that, but they’ll need to recruit players who can jump straight into the style of play that they are currently exuding with such class, precision and skill. Not an easy feat for Enrique.

#2 Real Madrid

Benitez might receive Florentino Perez’s backing to splash the cash in January

Playing catch-up with Barcelona is never an enviable task, but despite the fact we’re not yet at the half-way point in the season, that’s precisely what Real Madrid are already doing in La Liga. Following their embarrassing 4-0 defeat at home to Luis Enrique’s charges, the pressure is on for Los Merengues to make up for lost ground, but it’s not going to be easy.

Drafting in some new faces come the New Year is one strategy the 10-time Champions League winners could engage in, but they'll have to be careful how they go about their business. Their current situation is nothing short of a crisis with the team's spirit once again being called into question as it has so many times in the past.

Additionally, a conservative approach inspired by Rafa's appointment over the summer continues to permeate through their style of play and it hasn't won many fans over as yet. Persisting with a style so opposed to Madrid’s identity is a huge gamble to take as they look less and less likely to score goals and win matches. To put this into context, they had scored 51 goals after their opening 14 league games last season compared to just 32 this time out.

Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't played to the level the fans are used to witnessing while reports of a player-manager rift with James Rodriguez have persisted despite claims to the contrary. Not only this, but their early dismissal from the Copa del Rey as a result of fielding an ineligible player has only added to their woes. Expecting to find a quick-fix solution in the January transfer window is naive to say the least but by plucking a few top stars from the manic market they could steady the ship considerably.

#1 Chelsea

Mourinho will be eager to add fresh blood to the side to ressurect their dismal season

It has been one heck of a bumpy ride for Chelsea fans this season, and that’s putting it mildly. Struggling to put points on the board, the Pensioners have been a disappointment under Jose Mourinho, and they’ve not lit Stamford Bridge up with the sort of football they’re used to producing under the “Special One”, especially following their shock defeat to Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth at the weekend.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has rarely been short on funds, so he might just be tempted to splash the cash a little bit by the time January rolls into view, because while Mourinho has always been looked to as the voice of the club, it’s the Russian billionaire who can become the saviour this time out.

So far, no department of the team has worked to its potential, but it has been their underwhelming forward line that has garnered the most recent attention. Recalcitrant frontman Diego Costa has not pocketed the necessary goals as well as being benched in a potential fallout with the management, leading to Eden Hazard being forced to lead the line.

In short, the reigning champions have paled in comparison to even some of the teams below them in the league, scoring the same or less than the Cherries, Norwich City and even Sunderland.

Their defence has also looked suspect with the rearguard letting slip 24 goals which is the sixth-worst in the league (and is just eight goals shy of the total amount they conceded during the entire 2014/15 campaign). Often left exposed by an unproductive midfield, there have been so many examples of why one problem has often led to another.

Clearly, they need to bolster in more than one area. But who will want to join with their ranks in such disarray and pressure rising from week to week?