Christmas Premier League club manager wishlists part three featuring Mourinho and Moyes

Christmas Premier League club manager wishlists

Christmas is just days away, with the January transfer window only around the corner too, meaning many Premier League managers will be plotting for success in the second half of the season.

As well as chalking up potential transfer targets to be found in their stockings and January sales bargain raids, top tier tacticians will be hoping for other gifts to enhance their respective club’s chances of trophy triumph, European spot finishes or just PL survival.

So, ahead of the festive football feast, Coral take a light-hearted look at what each Premier League manager should want for Christmas, as the midway point of the season approaches. Read on, then, for our Christmas Premier League club manager wishlists part three!

We’re going in alphabetical order, with this section focusing on Manchester United to Sunderland, so don’t forget to read parts one and two to find out what your club’s coach requires…

Jose Mourinho (Manchester United)

Before the Red Devils’ recent impressive run, Man Utd manager Mourinho

(11/10 for a Premier League top 10 finish with the Old Trafford outfit)

could have been forgiven for simply wishing for a slice of luck, as his team continually conceded late goals, hit crossbars and came up against goalkeepers and defences raising their game.

But, after clocking up some promising results, the Portuguese may instead simply ask to keep out of referees’ bad books to put an end to his sideline suspensions. Bottles of water can hopefully breathe a sigh of relief.

While, ‘the Special One’ should also be crossing his fingers that in-form Henrikh Mkhitaryan comes back from injury soon and stronger. Two Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s wouldn’t go amiss either, but one of Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford stepping up to the striker berth in the New Year would be handy if not.

Aitor Karanka (Middlesbrough)

Mourinho’s former lieutenant at Real Madrid, Karanka, meanwhile should certainly be requesting

an end to the injuries plaguing his attacking talents

Boro aren’t doing badly on the fitness front overall, but injuries to key men Cristhian Stuani, Viktor Fischer and Gaston Ramirez have put a dampener on festivities. The Riversiders may well be angling for a new striker recruit then to support goal gobbler Alvaro Negredo as they seek to stay away from the drop zone.

In this regard, a second away win of the season would also go down well, with just one recorded by Boro so far, though they are still odds-on at 1/10 to stay up this season.

Claude Puel (Southampton)

As for Saints, nobody could blame Puel for simply hoping he can

keep his impressive rearguard intact

, as rumours surround the future of top class centre back pairing Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte’s futures with the south coast club.

If no sales are sanctioned for his best and brightest mid-season, then the French boss may think a few more goals may not go amiss either. As despite Southampton’s three scored against rivals Bournemouth last time out, strikes have been hard to come by, with only six in their least eight PL outings, despite a staunch defence.

Mark Hughes (Stoke City)

fully fit defence could be just the tonic

for Hughes this Christmas, with all of Jack Butland, Marc Muniesa, Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron still on the treatment table and Ryan Shawcross only just back.

Though it is a lack of “spark” up top the Welshman has been bemoaning but, instead of dipping into the January transfer market as rumoured, could Hughes hope for recently returned Bojan Krkic to be the attacking catalyst? The attacking midfielder won and converted a penalty last time out and his comeback could help the Potters improve on their paltry 19 PL goals scored.

David Moyes (Sunderland)

Last but not least, it’s Moyes’ turn to ask for a Premier League present. We won’t say he should be

praying for top-flight survival

for Sunderland, as the

Black Cats (6/5 to avoid relegation)

clawed their way out of rock bottom with four victories from their past eight.

Again it is away form mainly responsible for Mackem misery with only win on the road, and a late Christmas present could come on Boxing Day if the former Man Utd manager can get one over his old club by claiming at least at point at Old Trafford.

Anything else at this point, including some winter transfer wrangling, would be a bonus.

See our dedicated Premier League section for more features on your favourite clubs.

Read part one of our Christmas Premier League club manager wishlists.

Check out part two too.

Christmas Premier League club manager wishlists part three featuring Mourinho and Moyes