MANCHESTER, Jan 2 — The transfer window for Premier League clubs is open with sides ready to splash out to win the title, secure a place in next season’s Champions League or just survive in the lucrative English top flight.

AFP Sport looks at five of the clubs likely to be busiest before the window closes on February 2:

Liverpool to splash out again

The Reds spent more than any Premier League side ever has in one window just a few months ago, splurging nearly £450 million (RM2.46 billion) on six new additions.

However, there has been little return on that investment and injuries look set to force the English champions back into the market.

Alexander Isak’s British record £125 million move from Newcastle headlined Liverpool’s summer spending spree, but the Swede is set for at least two months on the sidelines with a broken leg.

Despite splashing out around £300 million on forwards in the summer window, Arne Slot’s attacking options are currently threadbare with Mohamed Salah also absent at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah’s future remains uncertain following his public outburst at being dropped by Slot and should the Egyptian depart, Liverpool will be in the market for a replacement.

Can Villa bolster title challenge?

Villa’s dreams of maintaining a challenge against the might of Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race will depend on what they can do over the next month to strengthen Unai Emery’s squad.

Hampered by financial sustainability rules, Villa were unable to spend freely in the summer.

Yet Emery performed miracles to inspire an 11-game winning run in all competitions prior to Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Despite limited headroom, the Villa hierarchy managed to significantly improve the side in the January window 12 months ago when the loan signings of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio nearly fired them into the Champions League.