Premier League: John Scales expects Tottenham and Liverpool to strengthen

John Scales believes Liverpool and Tottenham need to strengthen in the current transfer window if they are to challenge for honours this season.

Scales spent time with both clubs during a 16-year career and expects Brendan Rodgers and Mauricio Pochettino to have added new faces before the end of the month.

He told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's difficult for Liverpool. You look at past January transfer window and the transfer policy generally and there have been one or two hits and one or two misses.

"In the last year, Adam Lallana has started to come good, Markovic has shown the talent and skill that he has got, Coutinho has come in and done very well and Sterling has had a fantastic couple of years.

"Then you have players who are still trying to settle in; Lovren, Sakho, they have been a bit disappointing, defensively they have been a bit all over the place. It's difficult to rebuild the team in January to go in the market and spend a lot of money.

"If Balotelli goes, do they bring Origi back from Lille or do they go into the market and get Berahino? We are going to be in for an interesting second half of January but they will certainly dip into the transfer market if they can.

"It is a similar situation for Spurs. They have got so many games that is the problem. I think they have played 32 games already and they have got League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League games to come.

"So the demands on that squad are great. Pochettino will be looking for Daniel Levy come back into the market and strengthen their squad and add numbers as much as anything and you want to add quality if you can as well."

Scales is also a fully paid-up member of the Harry Kane fan club - and is tipping the man of the moment at White Hart Lane to make a lasting impression at the very top of the game.

He said: "Harry Kane has been fantastic this season he has burst on the scene scores a few goals and you wonder whether he can sustain it. But he has, and he has kept going, showing great maturity and he looks the real deal. He's got all the attributes to make it at the highest level."

Scales is also spearheading a campaign to bring AFC Wimbledon back to the borough of Merton a quarter of a century after they left their original home. 

Scales, who spent seven seasons in SW19, said: "It's 24 years since I was playing and we left and went to Selhurst Park but it has been great journey as AFC Wimbledon have fought their way back up the leagues, culminating in their promotion to the Football League in 2011.

"Now I am supporting their aim to get back to Merton, very close to the original ground at Plough Lane just down the road at the dog track. It's a fantastic redevelopment plan for a proper club, it's great area and it would see the club coming full circle again."