Transfer news: What all 12 Scottish Premiership clubs want from Santa for Christmas

We take a look at what each team in Scotland’s top flight needs in the January transfer window:

Aberdeen

Fortunes have picked up for Jimmy Thelin. Nevertheless, he could do with a couple of quality additions if Aberdeen are to trouble the European spots.

The Dons are crying out for a strong, defensive-minded midfielder. Further up the pitch, strikers Marko Lazetic, Kevin Nisbet and Kusini Yengi are far from prolific. Thelin wouldn’t say no to another No 9.

With a new sporting director in Lutz Pfannenstiel, outgoings are anticipated too.

Celtic

Wilfried Nancy better hope he’s been a good Bhoy this year because the new Celtic manager certainly needs a few toys to play with.

Centre-half remains an area of concern, as does the wing-back areas. Celtic remain well-stocked in midfield but further forward, there is a glaring need for a new striker given Kelechi Iheanacho is always injured and Johnny Kenny hasn’t been ruthless enough. Arguably he needs two.

Oh, and he’d rather keep key forward Daizen Maeda for the rest of the season. The Japanese is bound to attract interest.

Dundee

Steven Pressley wasn’t adequately backed in the summer window and Dundee are paying the price. Fans aren’t happy and they are flirting with relegation.

Goalkeeper Jon McCracken hasn’t convinced and further up the pitch, central midfield remains light and Simon Murray is their only reliable striking option.

Outgoings appear unlikely - Pressley needs every player he can get right now.

Dundee United

Jim Goodwin went on a signing splurge over the summer and it is hard to envisage many more players coming in during the January window.

One area that is causing fans concern is goalkeeper - neither Yevhen Kucherenko or Dave Richards have been particularly reliable. Some would love a loan move for Hearts back-up Craig Gordon.

In terms of outgoings, making sure striker Zach Sapsford isn’t prised away is probably the main goal.

Falkirk

John McGlynn doesn’t need much for Christmas. His Bairns have acclimatised smoothly to life in the top flight and look a cut above the teams below them.

The only area of concern has been in attack against some of the better sides in the league. McGlynn admitted that his squad is not yet ready to bloody the noses of the Old Firm, Hearts, Hibs and Motherwell.

With that in mind, perhaps a cheeky request has been made for another striker to help out the evergreen Brian Graham and Co.

Hearts

Derek McInnes’ wish to Santa will be this: don’t let any of my star players get injured. Hearts are top of the league and flying right now, and his squad has been kept in rude health for much of the season.

Two new signings are already on the way in Dutch right-back Jordi Altena and Kazakh winger Islam Chesnokov. Another striker might be required to cover for any injuries to Lawrence Shankland or Claudio Braga.

Hearts’ squad is bloated so don’t be surprised to see some fat trimming.

Hibs

Head coach David Gray has surely asked the big fella for a striker. Kieron Bowie, Martin Boyle and Thibault Klidje all look good on paper, but Hibs continue to miss chances.

Scotland star Lyndon Dykes so nearly joined them in the summer and a January loan move makes sense for both parties if they can get over the financial issues that thwarted the move.

Out the door, perhaps this will finally be the window that Elie Youan gets his move as he enters the final six months of his contract.

Kilmarnock

Killie don’t actually have a manager to give gifts to, so owner Billy Bowie really needs to be good to himself and find a new head coach to replace recently axed Stuart Kettlewell.

Kris Doolan is currently holding the fort. Alan Archibald and Peter Leven have all been linked with the role. There’s not a vast array of candidates.

Once a new man is installed, the playing squad does need replenished - especially out wide and in attack. Dan Armstrong and Kyle Vassell still have not been adequately replaced.

Livingston

Santa’s sleight must get to West Lothian before anywhere else, as manager David Martindale already has a new player coming in.

Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Danso is joining from Norwegian club Stabaek after his contract expires. The 25-year-old midfielder will officially join on New Year’s Day.

Currently bottom of the table, the Lions probably need more than just him if they are to escape relegation.

Motherwell

Christmas came early for Motherwell fans this year. New manager Jens Berthel Askou has revitalised the club and they sit third on an attractive brand of football.

There aren’t too many holes in this Motherwell squad and it’s all about finding that final piece of the jigsaw to make it a season to remember at Fir Park.

Striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (try spelling that after a few sherries) is handy but doesn’t score enough. A marksman could make all the difference.

Rangers

Danny Rohl won’t get everything he wants this time around but chairman Andrew Cavenagh will permit more additions.

Centre-half, left-back, central midfield and another forward look the most obvious areas to start as Rangers try to recover from their abject start to the season.

In the other direction, carol singers in Govan will rejoice at the news that Joe Rothwell is set to leave. The poor midfielder has struggled to adapt to Scottish football. He’s not the only one ...

St Mirren

Do St Mirren need any more presents? The Premier Sports Cup triumph was enough to tide them over for the next five Christmases!

Stephen Robinson has assembled a competitive, well-drilled squad and only minor tweaks are required to motor back towards the top six.

Irish midfielder Killian Phillips continues to catch the eye. The Buddies would not entertain bids for him.