Six for the super six

1)ARSENAL- DIEGO COSTA

Position: Forward

Age: 25

Current club: Atletico Madrid

Estimated transfer fee: £32 million ($66.9m)

The over-reliance on striker Olivier Giroud may return to haunt Arsenal, who headed into the new year as Premiership leaders.

The Gunners will certainly run into trouble should the Frenchman go down with injury, as the cover looks wafer-thin.

Nicklas Bendtner looks incapable of leading the frontline, and while Lukas Podolski can play as a striker, manager Arsene Wenger prefers to stick him out wide.

Diego Costa is in the form of his life at Atletico Madrid, who are level on points with Barcelona at the top of the Spanish La Liga table.

The Brazilian's 19 league goals in 17 matches, which put him top of the scorers' chart, is the main reason for that.

2)CHELSEA- RADAMEL FALCAO

Position: Forward

Age: 27

Current club: Monaco

Estimated transfer fee: £60 million ($125.5m)

Chelsea's three strikers, Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto'o, have scored a mere six league goals between them. Given the urgent need for someone to lead the line, the Blues need a striker who is ready-made, in order to give their title challenge an immediate lift.

The highly-coveted Radamel Falcao, whose relationship with Monaco has soured, fits the bill.

The Colombian is one of the most sought-after strikers in the world, having flourished at Porto and Atletico Madrid before his move to Monaco last year.

His eligibility to play in this season's Champions League is a huge bonus.

It's January, and a chance for the English Premier League clubs to make up for the mistakes made and opportunities missed during the previous transfer window. GARY LIM lists the six players whom the Premiership Super Six must lay their hands on, whatever it takes.

3)LIVERPOOL- ARDA TURAN

Position: Attacking midfielder

Age: 26

Current club: Atletico Madrid

Estimated transfer fee: £33 million ($69m)

The Reds remain very much in the hunt for a Champions League spot.

But, as their defeat by Chelsea showed, they need a lot more creativity in midfield.

Arda Turan, who has said before that Liverpool are his "dream team", will give the Reds a big boost in the flair department.

He can operate on the flanks or behind the striker.

The likes of Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez could certainly do with a teammate who is capable of sharing the attacking burden.

4)MAN CITY- SERGIO RAMOS

Position: Defender

Age: 27

Current club: Real Madrid

Estimated transfer fee: £20 million ($41.8m)

At times, Manchester City's central defence resembles a one-man operation.

Skipper Vincent Kompany deserves a more reliable partner than Joleon Lescott or Martin Demichelis.

Sergio Ramos has had differences with his club and manager in recent times, and this may be a good time to swoop in for the Spaniard.

His robust defending, versatility and excellent technique make him one of the best defenders in the world.

While he provides a potent offensive thrust as a right back, he is equally comfortable playing in the middle.

5)MAN UNITED- KOKE

Position: Attacking midfielder

Age: 21

Current club: Atletico Madrid

Estimated transfer fee: £30 million ($62.7m)

Manchester United's search for a creative midfielder is no secret.

At the moment, there is no one to do a consistently-good job for manager David Moyes in the middle of the park.

Reports suggest that United are close to securing Koke's signature.

The Spaniard has emerged as one of the most exciting players in Europe.

An intelligent midfielder who can play in the middle or out wide, he has eight league assists this season, level with Neymar and just one behind assist leader Cesc Fabregas.

6)TOTTENHAM- ALEXANDRE PATO

Position: Forward

Age: 24

Current club: Corinthians

Estimated transfer fee: £12 million ($25.1m)

Tottenham Hotspur have scored only 22 goals this season, some 32 goals fewer than Man City, so it's easy to see where reinforcement is needed.

Striker Roberto Soldado has struggled to adapt to the Premiership, and while Emmanuel Adebayor is in good form at the moment, he is prone to long spells without goals.

The expected departure of Jermain Defoe will not help things.

Alexandre Pato burst into the scene at AC Milan as one of the world's most highly-rated forwards not too long ago, until his rise was thwarted by a spate of injuries.

Spurs reportedly failed to tempt him from Corinthians to White Hart Lane a few months earlier, but the Brazilian is definitely worth another try.

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