What the Big Clubs are missing

With the majority of the top clubs across Europe well into their summer spending, it is interesting to have a look at where the holes still exist.

Manchester Utd 
Summer Signings: David De Gea, Phil Jones & Ashley Young

Utd's new shot stopper

Still to be filled: Central Midfield.
As soon as the season ended and Sir Alex's side were comprehensively defeated at Wembley Utd set to trying to build a side that could win the Champions League in Munich in 12 months time. Sir Alex has added to the squad with Young and Jones and bought in De Gea to replace the retired Edwin Van Der Saar. The one gaping hole however remains in the central midfield with the retirement of Paul Scholes. Talk initially surrounded Samir Nasri and Luka Modric but the two appear to be set for Manchester City and Chelsea respectively attention has turned to Wesley Sneijder of Inter Milan. Whilst I do not think he is quite the right player for that role, he would be a quality addition to the squad and potentially push the time over the top.

Arsenal 
Summer Signings: Gervinho
Still to be filled: Centre Back, Midfield & Striker
The Gunners need for defensive cover remains as it ever has with at least one new centre half required at the Emirates. Much talk has been around the additions of Christopher Samba (Blackburn) and Gary Cahill (Bolton) but high transfer fees scuppering or at least slowing moves down. Midfield acquisitions will depend on what happens to Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas with a defensive midfielder in the mould of Scott Parker (West Ham United) seeming to be a good addition to Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. As always the Gunners could use a 30 goal plus a season striker with Robin Van Persie's constant injuries and Maroane Chamack struggling in his first season.

Chelsea
Summer Signings: N/A
Still to be filled: Right Back, Central Midfield & Forwards
Chelsea's big summer signing this year was the addition of manager Andre Villas Boas from Porto for about £13million. However an ageing squad needs fresh legs to be added to be able to compete next season. A holding midfielder to cover for the injured Michael Essien especially with John Obi Mikel simply not being good enough. There has been talk of Scott Parker coming in on a season long loan but that would appear a long shot. Luka Modric will join the club eventually and take over the running of the midfield from an injury prone Frank Lampard. The eminent addition of Romelu Lukaku from Anderlecht will see Nicholas Anelka and probably Didier Drogba see the door at the Bridge.

Real Madrid 
Summer Signings: Hamit Altintop, Jose Callejon, Fabio Coentrao & Nuri Sahin
Still to be filled: Striker
Mourinho has added to an already sizeable squad with the additions of some less known players to provide steel and aggression. Sahin provides another option in central midfield whilst Altintop and Callejon both providing cover on the cheap. Mourinho is still looking for his central target striker in the mould of Drogba and Milito that he had at Chelsea and Inter Milan respectively. Given that the central striker is not likely to feature in every game and start on the bench a permanent deal for Emmanuel Adebayour on the cheap could be likely.

Finally Barce bound

Barcelona 
Summer Signings: N/A
Still to be filled: Central Midfield & Forward
The reigning European Champions are looking to add quality to a squad which lacks depth if not quality. The on going Cesc Fabregas saga looks like it is likely to finally come to an end with the Arsenal captain joining the Catalans. A deal for Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez looks to be about to be finalised too. Thiago Alcantara (central midfield) and Andreu Fontas (centre back) have both been promoted from the B side to add depth. The Catalans might try and add defensive depth through the sales of Hleb, Bojan, Maxwell and others and look for a left back.

AC Milan
Summer Signings: Phillipe Mexes, Taye Taiwo & Stephan El Shaaraway
Still to be filled: Central Midfield
The reigning Serie A champions have added to their squad in order to compete in Europe. The additions of Mexes and Taiwo provide defensive cover and quality with the latter in particular covering the problems that the Milanese have had at left back. The strike force looks complete with Alexandre Pato, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho competing for game time. There was talk of Marek Hamsik coming in but Fiorentina captain and Italian international Ricardo Montolivio looks to be joining the squad as a box to box midfielder in the centre of the park. There is even talk of Javier Pastore (Palermo) joining the side playing in the hole behind the front two but he would be pricey.

Much sought after Rossi

Juventus 
Summer Signings: Reto Ziegler, Stepehn Leichsteiner, Andrea Pirlo & Alessandro Matri.
Still to be filled: Midfield & Striker
No side has changed more than the Old Lady this summer with the side in need of a massive overhaul having failed to qualify for Europe. The Swiss pair of Ziegler and Leichsteriner have solved the full back problems with Pirlo providing control in the middle of the park. The club look to be on the verge of signing Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen) and Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal) to provide a box to box midfielder and a finisher of he highest order. A left sided midfielder would make a nice addition.

Inter Milan
Summer Signings: Jonathan, Ricky Alvarez & Yuto Nagamoto
Still to be filled: Centre Back, Centre Midfield & Forward
With new manager Gasperini adopting a 3-4-3 approach, it is all change at the San Siro. The addition of a centre back would relieve the pressure on Lucio, Walter Samuel and Christian Chivu who are all getting older. A midfield creator would take over from Wesley Sneijder who does not really fit into Gasperini's approach and Ever Banega has been thrown about as a possible addition. A third attacker to join Samuel Etoo and Gianpolo Pazzini is needed and Carlos Tevez might be most well suited to fit the need.

Bayern Munich
Summer Signings: Manuel Neuer, Rafinha & Jerone Boateng
Still to be filled: Central Midfield & Forward
The Germans needed desperately to add to their defence and have done so with Neuer, Rafinha and Boateng who alongside Holger Badstuber and club captain Philipp Lahm form a strong defensive line at the Allianz Arena. The club are still looking for a box to box midfielder to play alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger and having missed out on Vidal will have to look elsewhere. A new addition to the frontline to play ahead of the lines of Ribery, Robben and Muller would also be a welcomed addition.