With the football season largely concluded, the focus inevitably shifts to the heart of the sport`s commercial side: player transfers. While winning the Premier League is the ultimate goal, it also serves as a catalyst for attracting even more expensive and coveted talent. Similarly, achieving a strong league finish or reaching the latter stages of domestic cups can unfortunately turn successful teams into targets for larger clubs seeking to acquire their key players.
Of course, the strategic acquisition of players is genuinely important. Liverpool`s successful title challenge was bolstered by significant early recruitment. Conversely, despite being Europe`s biggest spenders last summer, Brighton`s performance didn`t necessarily reflect that outlay, did it? Perhaps not as clearly as anticipated.
Nonetheless, the appetite for transfer news remains insatiable. The prospect of new signings offers a potent sense of hope, and there`s nothing quite like the excitement of imagining the potential impact of a player arriving from, say, the German second tier. So, if you`re looking for transfer content, prepare yourself for a comprehensive look at the needs of all 20 Premier League teams. And yes, you have to read about the smaller clubs too – no skipping!
1. Arsenal — Elite Attacking Talent
Arsenal`s overall situation appears stable. Their defensive structure and Mikel Arteta`s system for controlling games are effective. Adding a player like Martin Zubimendi, expected to join soon, would strengthen their base. Now, the priority is to enhance their title-winning probability by recruiting top-tier attackers – potentially the most challenging task in the current market. They likely need reinforcements both centrally and on the left wing, positions where current players like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are good but perhaps not world-class game-changers. Pursuing players like Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko for the No. 9 role represents a significant and potentially costly gamble with no guaranteed success.
2. Aston Villa — Integrating Key Loanees or Alternatives
Missing out on the Champions League could put Aston Villa and their sporting director Monchi closer to the Financial Fair Play limits than desired. This is unfortunate given the positive impact of their high-profile January loan signings. Securing someone like Marcus Rashford on a permanent deal with his current Manchester United salary might be beyond Villa`s reach, despite his impressive output (0.88 non-penalty expected goals + expected assists per 90) after moving to the Midlands. Marco Asensio seems a more attainable option, while youngster Zepiqueno Redmond from Feyenoord represents a longer-term prospect.
3. Bournemouth — Replacing Outgoing Stars
Bournemouth faces a tricky transfer window. They already need to replace Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez is also likely to depart, and speculation surrounds the futures of Antoine Semenyo and Ilia Zarbanyi. These four players were acquired for around $80 million combined, much of which was recouped when Huijsen left for Real Madrid, demonstrating their market acumen. However, constantly having to rebuild to maintain the previous season`s talent level is a challenging position to be in.
4. Brentford — Midfield Stability
Thomas Frank once again adapted his team effectively last season, leveraging the strengths of Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and Kevin Schade (one to watch for 2025-26) through a strategy heavy on long balls and wide attacks. While Mikkel Damsgaard showed promise, the team`s style suggested they were compensating for a midfield that wasn`t as dominant as in previous years. Strengthening central control is a key need.
5. Brighton — A Period of Calm
Brighton`s squad certainly has areas for improvement. They lacked consistent goal threats beyond Danny Welbeck, and the defense conceded concerningly easy chances. Furthermore, it wasn`t always clear if Fabian Hurzeler was maximizing the potential of his players. However, some turbulence is understandable given the significant changes in coaching staff and players over recent seasons. While defensive reinforcements, particularly younger players, could be beneficial, the most impactful outcome for Brighton might simply be a summer and autumn free from coaching upheaval or protracted transfer sagas.
6. Burnley — More Attacking Power
Last season, the three promoted teams combined for only 95 goals in 114 games. While a high-scoring attack doesn`t guarantee Premier League survival, it significantly improves the odds. This highlights a key issue for Burnley, who had only the 10th-best expected goals (xG) in the Championship last season, relying instead on a strong defense and the outstanding James Trafford for promotion. Only one Burnley player averaged over 0.3 non-penalty xG per 90 (Zian Flemming), and none created more than two chances per game. This attacking output must change for them to compete in the top flight.
7. Chelsea — Experienced Defensive Presence
Clearlake Capital`s $1.3 billion project is largely on track. Chelsea secured Europa League qualification and comfortably won the Conference League, a competition they were favored to win. Enzo Maresca will hope this squad develops a winning mentality, as their focus over the next two to three years should be closing the gap on the Premier League`s top teams and ensuring this young group reaches its peak with a taste for success.
While their strategy centers on nurturing elite young talent, an exception is needed, particularly in defense, where experience is invaluable. Chelsea are looking for a center-back to provide depth and ease the burden on Wesley Fofana. Why not target a veteran who can also mentor younger players? Thiago Silva`s impact over his four years at the club serves as a prime example. Could someone like Mats Hummels or perhaps even John Stones, if available, fill this role?
8. Crystal Palace — Squad Depth
Following their impressive finish to the 2024-25 season under Oliver Glasner, the best strategy for Crystal Palace might be keeping their core starting lineup intact. Getting the team going took time last season, especially without Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen early on. If they can fend off interest from larger clubs this summer, Palace has the potential to make a significant impact in either the Europa League or the Premier League. To excel in both, they need greater squad depth, particularly to cover for Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell, who would struggle to add Thursday night European football to the extensive minutes they played as wing-backs domestically last season.
*On a side note, after discussing eight clubs, we haven`t reached a team starting with `D`. When will the independent football regulator address the ludicrous alphabetical imbalance of the Premier League?
9. Everton — Numerous Player Additions
On a positive note, David Moyes inherits a relatively blank slate as he begins his first full season back at Everton. As many as 11 players could leave this summer on free transfers or at the end of loans. While new owners The Friedkin Group have financial issues to sort out, there should finally be funds available to strengthen the squad.
After Moyes` appointment, Everton`s expected goals (xG) began to improve, ranking 12th in the league at around 1.3 per game. A right winger capable of beating opponents and delivering crosses would boost this xG, but finishing remains an issue. This suggests it might be time to move on from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose large sample size indicates he`s likely to remain a sub-xG finisher, and bring in a new striker capable of challenging and ideally surpassing Beto, who is perhaps still too raw for a 27-year-old.
10. Fulham — A High-Quality Striker
Despite deploying numerous attacking players, Marco Silva managed to build a surprisingly solid defense for Fulham last season. Ultimately, what was missing in a campaign that briefly offered hope of European qualification was game-changing talent in the final third. Fulham were good at getting into dangerous areas, ranking sixth for touches in the final third, but only 12th for touches in the penalty box. While Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz have contributed in recent years, if Fulham wants to break into the top half, a better striker who can act as a reliable focal point would significantly help the players behind him.
11. Leeds — Goalkeeping Upgrade
As the season concluded, what had been clear to most outside Elland Road finally became apparent to Daniel Farke: Illan Meslier was not providing sufficient shot-stopping, despite his ability with the ball at his feet. While goalkeeper statistics can fluctuate over small periods, Opta`s post-shot xG data indicates Meslier has conceded 34.6 more goals than expected during his time at Leeds. No club can afford to allow six or seven extra goals per year. Caoimhin Kelleher seemed an ideal target for Leeds, but Brentford also showed interest. Aaron Ramsdale had a decent season despite Southampton`s relegation, while Nick Pope might become available if Newcastle recruits a new No. 1. Securing a reliable goalkeeper would significantly boost Leeds` chances of survival.
12. Liverpool — A Defensive Midfield Anchor
This transfer strategy is complex due to the speed of Michael Edwards` recruitment. Jeremie Frimpong is expected to arrive, and Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz may follow. Acquiring this level of talent requires effective integration, a particular challenge given that Liverpool seems to be signing two full-backs whose main strength is attacking forward. Balancing this forward drive might fall to last season`s midfield pivot of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, but both are more effective at ball progression than winning possession back. While they aren`t poor defensively, an upgrade on Wataru Endo would be beneficial for games where Liverpool doesn`t dominate possession, providing a Fabinho-esque anchoring presence.
13. Manchester City — Signing Florian Wirtz
This is somewhat awkward. If you needed to replace Kevin De Bruyne, the Premier League`s standout playmaker of the last decade, you would logically target the player already recognized as the potential leading playmaker of the next decade. And if you are a club with the highest revenues in football, perhaps you could justify the significant investment needed to secure that truly exceptional, `can`t miss` acquisition?
Wirtz and Cherki Comparison (Last Season Stats)
| Per 90 stats, domestic leagues | Florian Wirtz | Rayan Cherki |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0.38 | 0.35 |
| Assists | 0.46 | 0.48 |
| Expected goals | 0.38 | 0.22 |
| Expected assists | 0.36 | 0.52 |
| Shots | 2.98 | 1.98 |
| Chances created | 2.18 | 3.3 |
| Take-ons attempted | 6.54 | 4.53 |
| Passes into penalty area | 2.49 | 3.39 |
| Progressive passes | 6.59 | 9.41 |
| Progressive carries | 10.59 | 11.3 |
Instead, it seems City are likely to pursue Rayan Cherki, a much more affordable option, even if the rumored $25.7 million release clause is inaccurate. Perhaps the gap between the Lyon player and Wirtz isn`t worth an extra $100 million-plus, particularly as their combined xG and xA last season were similar (though Ligue 1 stats might be easier to accumulate). However, when you possess City`s financial power, is it truly prudent to shy away from signing the very best available?
14. Manchester United — Strikers Who Outperform Expected Goals
Manchester United correctly identified the need for forwards, given their low average Premier League goals over the past two seasons. Considering Jim Ratcliffe`s comments about their analytics department, this represents a basic step forward. However, there`s a concern they might be focusing purely on goals scored rather than underlying data. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are improvements on current options, but anyone expecting a repeat of their combined 35 Premier League goals should consider their expected goals (xG) figures: 12.28 for Mbeumo and 8.65 for Cunha. These two had the second and fourth-largest xG overperformances in Europe`s top five leagues last season, and neither is Lionel Messi or peak Heung-min Son. Given United`s recent recruitment track record, it wouldn`t be surprising to see them target players like Patrik Schick or Chris Wood. Manchester United, prove me wrong! Try to revive Tammy Abraham`s career, acquire Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, or bring Alvaro Morata back to the big leagues!
15. Newcastle — A Star Right Winger
Apologies to Jacob Murphy – his second-place finish for assists in the Premier League last season was impressive. However, the most obvious area for improvement in the final two-thirds of the pitch is a right winger capable of consistently delivering close to 20 combined goals and assists each year. Bryan Mbeumo seemed a tempting option in this regard but appears headed for Manchester United. Newcastle has also been linked with Francisco Trincao, a potentially effective, though more purely creative, alternative.
16. Nottingham Forest — A Left-Back
Similar to Crystal Palace, there aren`t many changes you`d necessarily want to make to Nottingham Forest`s starting XI. A realistic assessment of Chris Wood suggests he won`t be competing for the Golden Boot next season, but between him and Taiwo Awoniyi, they should provide adequate center-forward play for 90 minutes. The left-back position was similarly functional last season, but given that much of the playing time went to Neco Williams out of position, strengthening this area is perhaps a more pressing priority.
17. Sunderland — Maximizing Recruitment
This youthful Sunderland team may have reached the Premier League slightly ahead of schedule. A young squad with underlying metrics typical of a team challenging for playoff spots will struggle to survive in the top flight without significant investment. This becomes even more critical if they lose key players like Jobe Bellingham to the Bundesliga. While it`s sometimes frustrating to see clubs use Premier League revenue primarily to fund a future promotion push, in Sunderland`s case, focusing on acquiring the best young talent available might be a pragmatic approach to survival.
18. Tottenham — Improved Midfielders
This is perhaps the most straightforward need. Regardless of who is in charge, Tottenham should treat their midfield as a blank canvas this summer. Their experienced midfielders offered little last season, while promising youngsters like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray (who performed well enough at center-back to suggest he could play higher up) are versatile enough to fit around any new signings. A significant upgrade in quality in central midfield is essential.
19. West Ham — Another Striker for the Carousel
Signing a striker for West Ham is always unpredictable, but a consistent trend is that they rarely succeed. Their greatest Premier League era scorer is out of contract, and Michail Antonio`s form after his injury is uncertain. Niclas Fullkrug didn`t work out, nor did Evan Ferguson impress on loan. Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek appeared to be the only players consistently finding the net last season, and this struggle might continue in 2025-26 given the financial constraints at the London Stadium. They need to keep throwing options into the mix hoping one finally sticks.
20. Wolves — A New Left Flank
Once again, Wolves face a season having lost key players. Matheus Cunha has moved to Manchester United, and Rayan Ait Nouri is likely heading north to join Manchester City. This means an entire side of the pitch needs rebuilding with reliable Premier League performers. With over $100 million generated from these sales, the successor to Matt Hobbs should have funds to spend. Pablo Sarabia also needs replacing, and defensive depth is required. It`s no surprise Wolves are reportedly leaning on agent Jorge Mendes again. Despite questions about the close ties with Gestifute, this relationship previously brought players like Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota, and Raul Jimenez to Molineux – the type of significant talent injection they desperately need once more.
