Come 11pm UK time on Thursday 1st September, Premier League teams will have their squads to see them through until January, and a busy summer transfer window will finally come to a close.
Premier League sides have already broken the record for most money spent in a transfer window, having splashed out more than £1.5bn, more than the previous record set in 2017.
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But, looking up and down the league table, very few sides will consider themselves in a perfect place to achieve their goals for the season, and almost all of the top-flight clubs will remain in the market right up until deadline day.
We take a look at what every club needs in the coming days.
📰 Table Of Contents
- 1 AFC Bournemouth: Left-back
- 2 Arsenal: Right Winger
- 3 Aston Villa: Central defender
- 4 Brentford: Central midfielder
- 5 Brighton: Striker
- 6 Crystal Palace: Central Midfielder
- 7 Chelsea: Striker
- 8 Everton: Striker
- 9 Fulham: Striker
- 10 Leeds United: Centre back
- 11 Leicester City: Centre-back
- 12 Liverpool: Central Midfielder
- 13 Manchester City: Left back
- 14 Manchester United: Striker
- 15 Newcastle United: Winger
- 16 Nottingham Forest: Left Back
- 17 Tottenham: Centre back
- 18 Southampton: Striker
- 19 West Ham: Central midfielder
- 20 Wolves: Striker
- 21 Read more:
AFC Bournemouth: Left-back
David Brooks’ welcome return will offer the Cherries more options further up the pitch, but it is in the wing-back areas that Scott Parker’s side look light, with Ryan Fredericks signed to bolster the right side and no new addition on the left.
While Marcus Tavernier could play the role, his attributes are far better utilised in the other direction, and adding a left-sided defender would allow him to push further forwards.
Arsenal: Right Winger
As a result, a winger seems a must, and links to Pedro Neto suggest that the club feel that is the case too. Neto may be too expensive, with the Wolves man under contract until 2027, but the Gunners will need another body in the wide areas to combat the inevitable fixture congestion.
Aston Villa: Central defender
Having signed Diego Carlos at the beginning of the summer, Villa have been rocked by his injury, with the Brazilian set to miss a significant chunk of the season, and it means that Steven Gerrard’s side will be forced back into the market for his replacement before deadline day.
Brentford: Central midfielder
The bees have invested plenty in the wide areas this summer, adding a left back and a pair of wingers, but still look a little short in central midfield. It is perhaps a case more of technical quality than numbers, with Christian Eriksen’s departure leaving a large gap in the middle of the pitch. It is unlikely, however, that they head back into the transfer market.
Brighton: Striker
Every season at Brighton, people are left asking “what if they actually had a goalscorer”, and this season looks as though it will be little different. The Seagulls have let Neil Maupay join Everton, and while Denis Undav and Julio Enciso are exciting talents, relying on Dany Welbeck is a major gamble.
Another striker wouldn’t go amiss, and could propel the Seagulls up the table this season.
Crystal Palace: Central Midfielder
Though they have signed Mali international Cheick Doucoure, Patrick Vieira’s side still look a man light in central midfield, and could do with a Conor Gallagher type in their engine room. Whether the Englishman becomes available is unclear, but it may be a deal done late if he does.
Chelsea: Striker
With a deal for Wesley Fofana now complete, Chelsea could in truth do with additions at right back, in midfield and at striker, but it is the latter that is the most pressing.
The Blues have parted ways with Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku, while Hakim Ziyech also looks set to leave this summer. And Thomas Tuchel’s side look toothless earlier in the season, suggesting that more firepower in the final third is an absolute must.
Everton: Striker
The sale of Richarlison left the Toffees without a reliable source of goals, made worse by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury woes. While they have added Neil Maupay to their side, he is historically not a prolific goalscorer and Frank Lampard will undoubtedly be keen to add a guaranteed source of goals before the end of the summer, or risk another long and perilous campaign.
Fulham: Striker
Fortunately for Fulham, they have a capable goalscorer in the form of Mitrovic, but he is the only recognised forward at the club, and adding another body to provide cover for the Serbian in case of injury or suspension would be a wise decision.
Though they have wide players that could operate centrally, another striker would not go amiss.
Leeds United: Centre back
Leeds have invested heavily and under Jesse Marsch look better than they did last season despite losing two key players in Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips. They have replaced the pair well, but could do with another option in the heart of their defence to truly push their top half ambitions this season.
Leicester City: Centre-back
Plenty could still happen at the King Power Stadium, with Wesley Fofana’s departure potentially followed by those of Youri Tielemans, Boubacary Soumare and even James Maddison (though that is less likely).
For now, however, their priority has to be in the heart of defence, with Fofana set to leave a gaping hole in Brendan Rodgers’ backline. Should the deal go through, the Foxes could be the busiest side in the final week of the window.
Liverpool: Central Midfielder
“You were all right and I was wrong. Now we are going for a midfielder”. Having resisted the urge to add to his options in the middle of the park all summer, Liverpool are set to be thrust into the chaos of the end of the transfer window as they look to bolster their midfield.
Plenty of names continue to be linked, and it is by no means certain that the Reds complete a deal, but their target is well known.
Manchester City: Left back
Manchester City have had a very strong summer but lost out to Chelsea for Marc Cucurella, leaving them scrambling before eventually settling on Anderlecht’s Sergio Gomez at left-back.
In an ideal world, they would likely look for a more established option, but in the final week this seems unlikely and of all 20 sides they seem the most settled.
Manchester United: Striker
Manchester United have been on the hunt for a striker all summer, and have set their sights on a versatile option that can also play in the wide areas if necessary.
For now, it is Antony in their crosshairs, but Ajax have turned down a third bid for the Brazilian. It is unclear whether they will return with another bid, while the likes of Cody Gakpo and Marco Asensio remain in the wings.
One thing is clear, however. Manchester United need a striker.
Newcastle United: Winger
Having solved their striker issue, and made shrewd additions in goal and at centre-back this summer, the only position that would turn this window from a good one ot a great one for Newcastle would be the addition of another winger to take the pressure away from Alan Saint-Maximin.
Whether, after spending £60m on Alexander Isak, they have the financial muscle to bring one in remains to be seen, but it would only further enhance the feel-good factor around Tyneside this summer.
Nottingham Forest: Left Back
Having brought in a whole squad of new signings this summer, it is hard to predict what Steve Cook’s side need. Injury to Richards, however, may force them back into the market for a left-back, with rumours of a move in the pipeline for Atletico Madrid’s Renan Lodi.
Tottenham: Centre back
Cristian Romero’s latest injury, though minor, showed that Tottenham’s defence could definitely still do with improvement. They added Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona, but it was far from the World Class central defender that it was anticipated that they could bring in at the beginning of the summer.
Should one become available, the Lilywhites would be fools to say no.
Southampton: Striker
Like most of the sides on this list, Southampton are crying out for a goalscorer, and will be hoping that Sekou Mara will in the long run be that answer. A young side with James Ward-Prowse able to pop up with goals from midfield, it is whether they have enough firepower in attack that will determine if they can survive in the top flight this season.
West Ham: Central midfielder
Even with the arrival of Lucas Paqueta, West Ham’s midfield still looks a body light, especially when it comes to alternatives to Declan Rice and Thomas Soucek. The Brazilian likes to operate further forward, but another rotation option further back would certainly be useful to combat fixture congestion that European football brings.
Wolves: Striker
Having scored just once in their opening three games, Bruno Lage’s side are in desperate need of an alternative to Raul Jimenez, having plenty of wide options but very few that can comfortably play through the middle.
In talks with Sasa Kalajdzic from Stuttgart, they could soon have their man.
