Premier League Summer Transfer Needs: A Club-by-Club Guide

The football season has concluded, making way for the true highlight for many fans: the transfer window. While winning trophies is the goal, the excitement of signing new, potentially game-changing players often dominates the summer narrative. A strong league position or cup run can inadvertently make smaller clubs targets for larger ones seeking talent.

Transfers are undeniably crucial. Success stories like Liverpool`s title run after acquiring several key players illustrate this. However, it`s not always straightforward; Brighton`s significant spending last summer, for example, didn`t necessarily translate into expected results.

Nevertheless, the transfer market captivates the football world. The anticipation surrounding a new signing, even from lower leagues, fuels optimism. So, let`s delve into the transfer requirements for all 20 Premier League teams this summer. Don`t even think about skipping the less glamorous clubs – every team`s moves matter!

Club-by-Club Transfer Rundown

Arsenal — Attacking Reinforcements

Things are generally positive at Arsenal. Adding a player like Martin Zubimendi to last season`s squad could see them seriously challenge for the title. Mikel Arteta`s defensive structure and game control system are effective; the focus now is increasing their chances of finishing first by recruiting elite attackers – one of the toughest tasks in the current market.

They likely need top-tier options at both center forward and left wing. While Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are good, they aren`t consistently world-class. Signing a new No. 9 like Viktor Gyokores or Benjamin Sesko would be a significant, expensive move with no guarantees.

Aston Villa — Managing Loan Returnees

Missing out on the Champions League might leave Villa close to financial limits, which is unfortunate given the success of their high-profile January loan signings. Affording Marcus Rashford`s Manchester United salary for a full season might be difficult, despite his impressive form (0.88 npxG+xA per 90) after joining. Marco Asensio could be a more realistic target, while youngster Zepiqueno Redmond from Feyenoord represents a long-term prospect.

Bournemouth — Replacing Key Departures

Bournemouth faces a potentially challenging summer. Dean Huijsen needs replacing, Milos Kerkez will likely leave, and speculation already surrounds Antoine Semenyo and Ilia Zarbanyi. The club has a good track record in the market, having signed these four for around $80 million (much recouped from Huijsen`s move), but having to constantly rebuild just to maintain the previous season`s talent level is a difficult position.

Brentford — Midfield Stability

Thomas Frank once again maximized his squad last season, utilizing Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and Kevin Schade (a future prospect) through a direct style focusing on the flanks. Mikkel Damsgaard also showed promise. This approach seemed partly designed to leverage their forwards` strengths but also to compensate for a midfield that wasn`t as dominant as in previous years. Strengthening central control could be key.

Brighton — A Calm Summer

Brighton has areas for improvement: they were too reliant on Danny Welbeck for goals, the defense conceded concerningly easy chances, and it`s unclear if Fabian Hurzeler fully maximized player potential. However, some instability is understandable given recent managerial and player turnover. While refreshing the defense could help, the most significant positive impact might simply come from a summer without major coaching changes or protracted transfer sagas.

Burnley — Boosting Attacking Power

Last season`s relegated teams scored very few goals collectively. While a high-scoring attack doesn`t guarantee survival, it significantly improves the odds. Burnley`s xG in the Championship was only 10th best, relying heavily on a strong defense and an exceptional goalkeeper, James Trafford. Only one player averaged over 0.3 npxG per 90 (Zian Flemming), and no one created more than two chances per game. This attacking output needs a significant upgrade for the Premier League.

Chelsea — Adding Veteran Experience in Defense

The club`s plan under Clearlake Capital is broadly on track, securing European football and winning a competition they were expected to. Enzo Maresca will hope the squad builds on this winning experience, focusing on closing the gap to the Premier League elite over the next few years while their young squad develops. While nurturing young talent is the core strategy, an exception is needed, particularly in defense, where experience is invaluable.

Chelsea seeks a center back to manage Wesley Fofana`s minutes. Adding a veteran who can mentor younger players would be ideal, similar to Thiago Silva`s impact. Could players like Mats Hummels or perhaps even John Stones fit this role?

Crystal Palace — Enhancing Squad Depth

Given their strong finish to the previous season, keeping Oliver Glasner`s starting XI together would be ideal. The team took time to gel earlier without key players like Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen. If they can retain their stars this summer, Palace has the potential for a strong impact in either the Europa League or Premier League. Competing in both requires significant depth, especially to cover for wing-backs Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell, who would face increased demands from Thursday night football in addition to domestic duties.

*Eight clubs covered, and no team name starts with `D`? The alphabetical disparity in the Premier League truly is something!

Everton — Bolstering the Squad Significantly

On a positive note, David Moyes begins his first full season back with a relatively blank slate, as up to 11 players could leave on free transfers or end of loans. While new owners The Friedkin Group must address financial issues, funds should finally be available for squad strengthening. Everton`s xG improved after Moyes` appointment, trending towards 12th in the league (around 1.3 per game). A right winger capable of beating players and delivering crosses would boost xG further. Conversion is also key, suggesting a need to move on from Dominic Calvert-Lewin (whose sample size indicates he consistently underperforms his xG) and recruit a new striker to challenge or replace Beto, who at 27 is perhaps still too raw.

Fulham — A Clinical Striker

Despite deploying numerous attackers, Marco Silva built a respectable defense for Fulham last season. What was missing in a campaign that briefly hinted at European qualification was game-changing presence in the final third. The team often reached dangerous areas but lacked cutting edge, ranking sixth for touches in the final third but only 12th for touches in the box. While Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz have contributed, a higher-quality forward would serve as a better focal point for the players behind him, potentially helping the Cottagers push into the top half.

Leeds — Goalkeeper Upgrade

Towards the end of the season, it became obvious that Illan Meslier wasn`t providing enough as a shot-stopper, despite his ability with the ball. According to Opta`s post-shot xG data, Meslier has conceded 34.6 more goals than expected during his time at Leeds. No club can afford to let in six or seven extra goals per year. Caoimhin Kelleher seemed perfect, but Brentford also wanted him. Aaron Ramsdale had a solid season despite Southampton`s relegation, and Nick Pope might be available if Newcastle finds a new No. 1. A reliable goalkeeper could significantly boost Leeds` survival chances.

Liverpool — A Defensive Midfield Anchor

This area is complex due to Michael Edwards` rapid transfer activity. Jeremie Frimpong is reportedly arriving, with Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz possibly following. Integrating this influx of talent is the next challenge, especially as they seem to be signing full-backs known for their attacking runs. Balancing this could fall to last season`s double pivot of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch, but both are more effective ball progressors than defensive winners. While they aren`t poor defensively, an upgrade on Wataru Endo would be beneficial for games where Liverpool don`t dominate possession, providing a Fabinho-like anchoring presence.

Manchester City — The Florian Wirtz Question

Replacing Kevin De Bruyne, the Premier League`s dominant playmaker of the past decade, ideally means signing the player poised to become the next decade`s great playmaker. For a club with the highest revenues in football, pushing for and potentially overpaying for a seemingly guaranteed acquisition like Florian Wirtz seems justifiable.

Comparing Wirtz and Cherki Last Season (Per 90 stats, domestic leagues):

However, City appears likely to pursue Rayan Cherki, a more reasonably priced option, although reports of a low release clause may be inaccurate. Perhaps the difference in cost (potentially over $100 million) between Cherki and Wirtz isn`t seen as worth it, despite Wirtz`s higher expected goal contribution (though Ligue 1 might be an easier league to rack up attacking numbers). Yet, for a club with City`s financial power, is settling for less than the absolute best an optimal strategy?

Manchester United — A Striker Who Outperforms xG

Manchester United correctly identified the need for forwards in a team that has underperformed in goal scoring over the past two seasons. While their analytics department might be improving, there`s a fear they`re focusing purely on past output. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are better than their current options, but expecting them to replicate their combined 35 Premier League goals is optimistic given their significantly lower combined xG (12.28 for Mbeumo, 8.65 for Cunha). They were among the top xG overperformers in Europe`s top five leagues last season, and neither is comparable to Lionel Messi or peak Son Heung-min. Given United`s recent recruitment history, signing players like Patrik Schick or Chris Wood wouldn`t be surprising. Can they prove doubters wrong? Could they revive Tammy Abraham`s career, sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea, or bring Alvaro Morata back to the Premier League?

Newcastle — A Star Right Winger

Apologies to Jacob Murphy (who finished second in Premier League assists last season), but the most obvious area for improvement in the final third is the right wing. Newcastle needs a player capable of contributing close to 20 combined goals and assists consistently. Bryan Mbeumo seemed like a tempting option but appears headed for Manchester United. Francisco Trincao, a potentially effective creative player, has also been linked. Finding a top-tier right winger is a priority.

Nottingham Forest — Reinforcing Left Back

Similar to Crystal Palace, significant changes to the starting XI might not be necessary. While Chris Wood probably won`t challenge for the Golden Boot, he and Taiwo Awoniyi provide solid center-forward options. The same was largely true at left back, but given that Neco Williams, a naturally right-sided player, covered most left-back minutes last season, finding a dedicated left-back seems a more urgent priority.

Sunderland — Maximizing Investment Potential

This youthful team might be reaching the Premier League slightly ahead of schedule. A young squad with underlying stats typical of a playoff contender is unlikely to survive in the top flight without substantial investment, especially if key player Jobe Bellingham departs for the Bundesliga. While some clubs have used Premier League revenue simply to fund subsequent promotion pushes, for Sunderland, strategically investing in the best young talent available might be the most sensible approach.

Tottenham — Midfield Overhaul

This is straightforward: Tottenham needs a complete midfield refresh this summer, regardless of who is in charge. Their experienced midfielders offered little last season, while promising talents like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray (who showed enough at center back to potentially play higher up) are versatile enough to fit around any new additions. A significant upgrade in central midfield is essential.

West Ham — Another Striker Gamble

Signing a striker at West Ham is always unpredictable, and rarely successful. Their greatest Premier League era scorer is out of contract, and Michail Antonio`s form after his injury late last year is uncertain. Niclas Fullkrug hasn`t worked out, and Evan Ferguson didn`t impress on loan. Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek seemed like the only players consistently finding the net last season. Given the financial constraints, 2025-26 might not see significant improvement unless they hit gold in the transfer market.

Wolves — Rebuilding the Left Flank

Once again, Wolves enter a season having lost key players. Matheus Cunha is moving to Manchester United, and Rayan Ait Nouri is likely heading to Manchester City. This leaves a void on the left side of the pitch that Vitor Pereira must fill with reliable Premier League performers. With over $100 million expected 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. While the close ties to Gestifute raise questions, it previously brought talents like Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota, and Raul Jimenez to Molineux – the kind of talent injection needed once more.