The Premier League season has ended, and now it’s on to the transfer window.
Well…there’s the small matter of the Champions League final and Euro 2020 first, but THEN it’s transfer window season.
20 top-flight clubs go into an important summer, knowing that every move they make could be decisive.
Last year’s window saw Ruben Dias come in and immediately establish himself as one of the best defenders in the league. Will anyone new arrive and have a similar impact this time around?
Ahead of the opening of the transfer window, here is a list of every Premier League club and an area that they need new signings in.
Manchester City – Striker
Title winners by 12 points, most goals scored, fewest goals conceded, most wins, fewest defeats, most clean sheets – how on earth do you improve this Man City side?
Well, with Sergio Aguero set to leave, there will be a huge hole in the striker spot, with a world-class forward expected to take the mantle this summer.
Harry Kane and Erling Braut Haaland have been closely linked. Frankly, if either joins Man City this summer, it’s game over for the rest of the league.
Manchester United – Defensive midfielder
There’s been a lot of talk over where Man Utd’s priorities lie in this transfer window. Many are understandably desperate to seal a move for Jadon Sancho, while a striker and centre-back are also wanted.
A defensive midfielder could be just as useful. The partnership of Fred and Scott McTominay in central midfield has not worked for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season, and Nemanja Matic is only getting older.
If they can bring in someone like Declan Rice, it will be a huge boost.
Liverpool – Centre-back
Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, and Joel Matip all suffered long-term injuries last season, which had a serious impact on the Reds. All three will return this season, which will be a huge relief to Jurgen Klopp.
However, injuries aren’t a new thing for Gomez and Matip, and it would be no surprise to see them back on the treatment table in a few months.
In addition, we’re not sure whether Van Dijk will still be as good when he returns. Without another man at centre-back, they could be back to relying on Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams in defence again.
Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig has been touted for a move to Anfield.
Chelsea – Striker
When Timo Werner arrived at Stamford Bridge from RB Leipzig last summer, many expected him to be the man to fire them into title contention.
This hasn’t worked out, and the German has ended the season with just six league goals.
Seven teams scored more than Chelsea last term – you’re not gonna win a league title with a figure like that. A top-class forward could be the final piece of the puzzle.
Leicester City – Winger
Leicester are reasonably strong in most positions, but they could perhaps do with a bit of beefing up on the wings.
Harvey Barnes performed very well but suffered an injury that forced them to change the system. Ayoze Perez is inconsistent, Kelechi Iheanacho is better through the middle, and Cengiz Under is set to return to Roma from loan.
A new wide man could be vital if they wish to qualify for the Champions League.
West Ham United – Attacking midfielder
The signing of Jesse Lingard was huge for West Ham last season. The England international came in and had an immediate impact, scoring nine and assisting four as the Hammers ended up in sixth.
He will return to Man Utd this summer, leaving a noticeable gap in West Ham’s starting XI. If they can get Lingard back on a permanent deal, it will be a huge boost. If not, they will need a replacement.
Tottenham Hotspur – Centre-back
Tottenham ended the season with two of the league’s top goalscorers, so how did they only finish in seventh? The defence, that’s how.
Toby Alderweireld still has plenty left to offer but isn’t at his best anymore. Eric Dier is unreliable. Davinson Sanchez seems to make a mistake every weekend.
A top-class central defender is needed in north London. Milan Skriniar has been mooted, but whether he’d want to leave a title-winning Inter Milan side remains to be seen.
Arsenal – Attacking midfielder
Arsenal had the third-best defensive record in the league last season, behind only Man City and Chelsea. However, they also only scored 55 goals – the second-fewest in the top half.
And it’s not due to a lack of finishers, either. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have proven in the past that they can get goals with the right service. They haven’t just become bad forwards overnight.
What Arsenal need is a player who can unlock the door through the middle. Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka can do it from the wings, but a central attacking midfielder would also be useful, especially with Martin Odegaard going back to Real Madrid.
Leeds United – Centre-back
Leeds are one of the most entertaining sides in the division. They score loads, and they concede loads. It makes for a great spectacle.
However, if they wish to progress and potentially push for a European spot next season, they may have to tighten things up at the back. A new central defender would go a long way to solving this issue.
Everton – Winger
Much like Arsenal, Everton have players who are capable of scoring goals. What they lack, however, is someone out wide who can create them.
James Rodriguez can be a great playmaker when he’s on it, but his fitness and consistency will be a worry.
Meanwhile, the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Bernard and Alex Iwobi haven’t shown enough. Expect a new wide man to come in at Goodison Park.
Aston Villa – Attacking midfielder
It’s no secret who Aston Villa’s main man is. Jack Grealish has been a star over the past year or so, and his injury took a huge toll on the Midlands club.
What they risk is an over-dependence on the England international for creativity. Bringing in a new playmaker will be useful to help lighten the load on his shoulders.
Newcastle United – Attacking midfielder
When Joe Willock came to Newcastle, they looked like relegation strugglers. The Arsenal man arrived and made an immediate impact, scoring eight goals.
In fact, if he scores in his next five league games, he will break Jamie Vardy’s infamous record.
Of course, Willock may not be around for next season, depending on whether the Magpies can agree a deal with his parent club. If not, a new man will be needed to fill the void.
Wolverhampton Wanderers – Central midfielder
Wolves only have three central midfielders in their squad. Ruben Neves is linked with a move away, and Joao Moutinho turns 35 next summer. This leaves only Leander Dendoncker.
A striker could also be a necessity, depending on how Raul Jimenez recovers from his injury that forced him to miss most of the season.
Crystal Palace – Striker
Crystal Palace have two excellent creative midfielders in Wilfried Zaha and Eberechi Eze. The latter is expected to miss a chunk of next season through injury, but he will be available for the second half of the campaign.
With service like that, a good striker would notch decent numbers and potentially propel the Eagles into the top half.
Southampton – Winger
Southampton can do better than 15th, and they can do better than losing 9-0 once every season. This should be no secret.
Their wide options are seriously lacking. Theo Walcott and Nathan Redmond are solid but are hardly exceptional.
Moussa Djenepo can be good now and then but doesn’t show enough consistency. A new winger would be useful.
Brighton and Hove Albion – Striker
Anyone who pays any attention to expected goals will know exactly why Brighton need a new forward. According to FBRef, only Fulham underperformed their xG by a wider margin last season.
A more clinical set of forwards would go a long way to rectifying this problem.
Burnley – Winger
Burnley’s top scorer last season was Chris Wood with 12. Their next highest marksmen were Ashley Barnes, Matej Vydra, and Ashley Westwood with…three each.
They had a similar problem last season when no one outside their forwards hit more than two goals. If they can add some more goals from midfield, they could climb further up the table.
Burnley have just been taken over by an American investor, so financial backing could be on its way.
Norwich City – Central midfielder
Norwich are something of an unknown quantity, given that they have just gone up. A number of their players have played in the Premier League before, but that was over a year ago. A lot will have changed since then.
A concern for Daniel Farke will be the age of his central midfielders. The likes of Alexander Tettey, Mario Vrancic and Lukas Rupp are in their 30s, while youngster Oliver Skipp is going back to Spurs. No doubt the manager will want a new recruit in the middle.
Watford – Striker
Watford achieved an instant return to the Premier League last season, and it was largely thanks to the defence. They conceded just 30 league goals, which was the best record in the division.
However, five sides were more productive in front of goal. Their top scorers – Ismaila Sarr and Joao Pedro – aren’t natural strikers.
Meanwhile, forwards Troy Deeney and Andre Gray managed just 12 goals between themselves. Expect them to be in the hunt for a new striker this summer.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
