Worried managers bring in goalscorers in bid to avoid drop

The revolving doors at Anfield may still be spinning, but Blackpool’s new acquisitions could turn out to be more valuable than a £35m novice striker could ever be.

Staying in the top flight is worth an estimated £40m to a club, and the sides at the wrong end of the Premier League have been bargain-hunting in a bid to retain their Premier League status.

Blackpool have lost their way a little after an incredible start to the season and the Tangerines are now 11/4 to be relegated having lost five of their last six Premier League matches.

But in James Beattie the Tangerines have signed a striker whose goals kept Stoke up in the 2008-09 season, and in Segei Kornilenko, Ian Holloway has an international striker who converted 27% of his chances in last season’s Russian Premier League.

Eidur Gudjohnsen has returned to West London and could prove to be an invaluable asset to Fulham who are 11/2 to go down.

Gudjohnsen’s Stoke career may not have taken off, but the former Chelsea star will enjoy a return to his former haunts, and Mark Hughes will find a resurgent Gudjohnsen a huge asset to his squad.

Obafemi Martins managed 28 goals in 88 games for Newcastle United, and the Birmingham faithful will be hoping their new striker can fire them away from the relegation zone as Alex McLeish prepares for a run-in he wasn’t expecting – Birmingham are 3/1 to do down.

West Ham looked in real trouble at Christmas and are 4/7 to be relegated after capturing Robbie Keane on loan, but 17 starts in the last 18 months has left Robbie Keane rusty and the Hammers are still strong candidates for relegation.

Wigan (4/9) have signed Conor Samman from Kilmarnock and West Brom (3/1) captured Carlos Vela on loan.

Wolves missed the transfer boat and a strong bet at 8/13 to go down, and Andy Carroll’s departure leaves Newcastle 10/1 to be relegated.

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