What every Premier League team needs to do before transfer window closes

Telegraph Sport’s experts break down what each club should do to strengthen for the season ahead

The transfer window closes on Friday, but there is plenty of work for Premier League teams to do before then.
Telegraph Sport’s experts explain what each team needs to do before the window slam shuts.
Mikel Arteta’s squad still looks a little short in attack and it would be no surprise if Arsenal made a late move to sign a new forward. Their financial firepower could depend on whether they can generate fees for the likes of Eddie Nketiah (who is close to joining Crystal Palace), Aaron Ramsdale and Reiss Nelson. With Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori on board as new arrivals, Arsenal look strong at the back and in midfield.
Unai Emery has been backed significantly by Aston Villa despite concerns over profit and sustainability rules (PSR), and an injury to Matt Cash leaves him short at right-back. Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida is their number one option, but Villa will need to make room in the squad first. Diego Carlos, Enzo Barrenechea and possibly even Jhon Duran could leave this week.
The key positions have been successfully filled in the last week – Brazil striker Evanilson is a replacement for Dominic Solanke and Kepa Arrizabalaga adds to the goalkeeping department. Andoni Iraola insists he is happy with his left-back situation but he is short on cover for Milos Kerkez. Late moves are likely to depend on who goes out, with Philip Billing a possible departure.
The future of Ivan Toney is set to be the main talking point at Brentford. In terms of incomings, 18-year-old Brazilian winger Gustavo Nunes is believed to be close to completing his £10 million move from Gremio, while Brentford are probably short of options at full-back. Fiorentina’s Michael Kayode has been linked.
It has been a remarkable transfer window at Brighton, with more than £170 million already spent on new signings. Turkey international Ferdi Kadioglu is set to become the latest addition if his move from Fenerbahce can be finalised. Brighton’s attack looks well-stocked, so much so that it would not be a surprise to see one of their forwards leave by the end of the week.
As is seemingly always the case under the Boehly-Clearlake ownership, we can expect a busy few days in the transfer market at Chelsea. Firstly on outgoings the question is: will Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and the other outcasts find a move? Then there is the club’s pursuit of a number nine. Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen are both of interest.
At the time of writing, Palace’s pursuit of Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah appears to be heading in the right direction, with a deal expected to be done for around £30 million. The big question at Selhurst Park is whether Marc Guehi will leave for Newcastle, with that saga seemingly set to rumble on until the end of the window. Can Palace afford to lose Guehi in the same window as Joachim Andersen, who has joined Fulham?
Sean Dyche would like a couple of reliable defenders, a robust midfielder or two and definitely two world-class strikers before deadline day. He is probably eager for an audience with Paul McCartney, a private concert from the Rolling Stones and a lifetime backstage VIP pass for Glastonbury too. Sadly, he lives in the real world and Everton will spend the last few days scrambling around for bargains and trying to fend off bids for their biggest assets. The interest in Kieran Trippier underlines the club’s immediate priority. If there is experience to be had at an affordable price, Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell will feel duty-bound to consider it.
Fulham’s most obvious area of need is a new winger, following the departures of Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid this summer. They have strengthened other key parts of the squad but that wide position remains problematic, with Marco Silva saying the club is “working hard” to find the right player.
Kieran McKenna is in the market for a striker after the move for Armando Broja from Chelsea stalled at the medical stage of a deal. Burnley’s Lyle Foster fits the bill. The newly promoted club would take a wide player, with Luton’s Chiedozie Ogbene on their radar. They have been busy this summer, having signed 11 players already, but McKenna will look at any options that adds quality to his squad in the final days.
Steve Cooper is determined to land more attacking options this week and a deal for Genk’s Bilal El Khannouss is close. Leicester still want a proven number nine to alleviate the pressure on Jamie Vardy. Tom Cannon, the Leicester striker, is a target for a number of Championship clubs including Stoke and Sunderland.
Until 48 hours ago, the one position Liverpool did not seem to be considering was their attack. Now they’re trying to sign Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, which is the definition of the “opportunistic” strategy trailed by new sporting director Richard Hughes in July. The club still looks light on centre-backs having failed to replace Joel Matip, and are missing a playmaker after the retirement of Thiago Alcantara. There will also be a shudder if Andy Robertson is injured if a high class left-back is not signed to cover for the Scotland skipper.
Pep Guardiola has been waiting for the final days of the window to see what is available at a price that suits the champions. They have looked at players in the number 10 role who can also play a back-up number nine to Erling Haaland. But there are not many who can fulfil the role of Julian Alvarez – and they would happily stick with their current forwards rather than buy the wrong profile of player.
Erik Ten Hag has managed to sign players in the key areas he targeted at the start of the summer: centre-back (Matthijs De Ligt), right-back (Noussair Mazraoui), centre-midfield (Manuel Ugarte, pending medical), and striker (Joshua Zirkzee). They also pulled off a stunning move for Leny Yoro when he came on the market. Jadon Sancho out and Raheem Sterling in is a possible move in the last few days.
The team’s needs were obvious when the window opened: to keep their best players and sign a centre-back and a right sided forward. Manager Eddie Howe, though, has warned that only one of those positions will be filled with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi the most likely to slot into defence. A winger on loan is not totally out of the question but Newcastle need to move players on first and it is proving difficult. Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford could be a late addition if the Magpies can move one of their five goalkeepers out on loan or a permanent sale. It has been an underwhelming window for many supporters.
A striker is the final piece in the jigsaw for Nuno Espirito Santo, but there have been a number of recent setbacks with bids for Eddie Nketiah and Santiago Gimenez falling through.
Russell Martin will try for a goalkeeper after a deal for Justin Bijlow from Feyenoord collapsed when he failed a medical. Aaron Ramsdale is a target but Arsenal want a permanent deal for the England international. Saints would also take a midfield player in the final days of the window.
Spurs have depth in midfield and on the wings but still look to be a little short of options at the back. Another centre-back or left-sided defender would help to provide more balance, especially with Sergio Reguilon expected to depart.
Paris St-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler, a Spain international, is a target for West Ham. There is an expectation that there could be more departures, starting with centre-back Kurt Zouma who is edging closer to a move to Saudi Arabia. The likes of Maxwel Cornet and Nayef Aguerd could also leave, depending on the interest from elsewhere.
Funds are tight at Molineux and, though Wolves expect to sign goalkeeper Sam Johnstone from Crystal Palace, there may not be enough money for the other key positions such as centre-back and on the wing. Gary O’Neil will hope to offload fringe players to increase his budget.