The one position your Premier League club needs to sign a player in during this transfer window

Sports

add

We might only just be coming around to the end of the first week of the transfer window, but already fans of clubs — and managers — will be desperate to see business being done.

But which position does each Premier League side need to prioritise this window? Where, if necessary, should the bulk of the budget be spent?

The Athletic’s club experts have weighed in with their thoughts below.

Arsenal

A striker is the absolute priority for Mikel Arteta — and that is exactly what it should be. Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are two players they admire in the position, and either of them would immediately add to the quality of Arsenal’s starting XI.

Arsenal have finished second in the last three Premier League seasons, and the hope is that a goalscoring forward will finally get them over the line and secure their first title win since 2003-04.

Dan Sheldon

Aston Villa

Aston Villa are targeting a couple of positions — namely right-back, centre-back and a versatile attacker — but strengthening in the wide areas is needed.

Leon Bailey is expected to leave in this window, with Saudi Arabian clubs expressing an interest. This would leave Villa without an archetypal wide player — other players tend to operate centrally in Unai Emery’s system.

Sources, kept anonymous to protect relationships, say that senior figures acknowledge that having an outlet on the right flank is key to adding dimensions to the attacking approach.

Jacob Tanswell

Bailey is expected to leave this window (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Bournemouth

With Dean Huijsen departing to Real Madrid so early in the window, Bournemouth should have ample time to replace him in central defence.

This position should be a priority, especially in light of increasing uncertainty over Huijsen’s defensive partner last season, Illia Zabarnyi and a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Even managing to keep Zabarnyi, Bournemouth are short in defence, with Marcos Senesi and James Hill the only other options.

Jacob Tanswell

Brentford

Although nothing is official yet, it feels like Bryan Mbeumo is destined to leave Brentford this summer. The 25-year-old has attracted interest from Newcastle United and Spurs but favours a move to Manchester United.

The Cameroon international scored 20 times for Brentford last season, and they will need more firepower up front when he leaves. Club-record signing Igor Thiago missed most of the 2024-25 campaign with separate knee injuries but will hopefully be fully fit and make a big impact next season.

After Thiago, Yoane Wissa and Kevin Schade, Brentford look light on options. Keane Lewis-Potter prefers to play on the left wing but has been exceptional at full-back. Talented 19-year-old winger Gustavo Nunes might be Mbeumo’s long-term replacement on the right wing, but it would be unfair to expect him to step up straight away.

Brentford need a multi-functional forward who can offer Thomas Frank’s replacement different options.

Jay Harris

Brighton

Another full-back, preferably comfortable playing on the right or left side.

Ferdi Kadioglu fitted the description when he signed last summer, but he has been out since November following toe surgery.

Joel Veltman will be 34 next season. Tariq Lamptey, who has signed a new one-year deal, has suffered a lot with injuries.

That leaves regular left-back Pervis Estupinan as a specialist in the position.

Andy Naylor

Burnley

As with all three promoted sides, Scott Parker’s squad needs upgrading in a number of positions if they hope to survive this season and finding a No 9 ahead of the new campaign will be crucial.

Burnley’s surge to promotion was built on the foundations of an excellent defence, but goals were not always free-flowing. Their attacking numbers improved in the second half of the campaign, but they remain light in the striker department, so a goalscorer has to be a priority.

With that being said, goalkeeper James Trafford remains a Burnley player, but that is unlikely to be the case come the end of the window. Replacing him will be high on the priority list too.

Andy Jones

There’s a risk Trafford might not be at Burnley come the end of the window (David Rogers/Getty Images)

Chelsea

A right-footed left winger is a major priority and for good reason. Chelsea are short of options there right now.

Firstly, they decided against turning Jadon Sancho’s season-long loan move from Manchester United into a permanent transfer, and he has left. Secondly, the Football Association have now charged Mykhailo Mudryk, and he could face a lengthy ban.

Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto can play on the left flank, while 19-year-old Tyrique George was promoted from the under-21s to the senior squad this season.

But Chelsea’s pursuit of Jamie Gittens — they have agreed personal terms with the player but are yet to finalise a fee with Borussia Dortmund — shows a desire to add another wide man to the ranks.

Simon Johnson

Crystal Palace

Palace’s most pressing need is for another centre-back, especially if Marc Guehi departs this summer. Chris Richards has come in and impressed after Trevoh Chalobah returned to Chelsea in January, and Maxence Lacroix has been excellent, but behind them there is a lack of depth.

Nathaniel Clyne is an adequate option in an emergency and Jefferson Lerma has proven more than capable of dropping back from centre-midfield, but with Chadi Riad missing almost the entirety of last season through injury, Palace would benefit from adding a centre-back of starting quality to their squad.

They could also do with adding another left and right wing-back as cover for Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz, but both have proven extremely reliable and available.

Matt Woosnam

Everton

Position? Try positions. With so many players out of contract this summer, many of whom are not being retained, Everton will need to strengthen across the board this summer.

Things can change quickly in football, but they look particularly light on the right wing, with loanees Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom having returned to their parent clubs, and Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil better suited elsewhere.

A pacy, goalscoring option there is much needed and would give David Moyes’ side a chance of kicking on.

Patrick Boyland

Fulham

Injuries, ill-discipline and the departure of Joao Palhinha left Marco Silva short in midfield at times last season.

The Fulham head coach’s options could diminish further over the coming weeks, with Tom Cairney’s contract expiring and doubts around Andreas Pereira’s future.

Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic put in some strong displays last season, controlling the middle of the park against the Premier League’s best sides, but ahead of them, Emile Smith Rowe and Pereira often struggled to break down defences.

A more creative midfielder could be just what Silva needs to nudge Fulham into European contention next season.

Justin Guthrie

Silva and Fulham would benefit from a creative midfielder (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Leeds United

In a summer after promotion, Leeds have reason to sign players in every position. However, goalkeeper stands out to me as the one, above all others, they need to nail this summer.

Illan Meslier has been the club’s first-choice keeper since 2020, but the errors have begun to grow more frequent and more egregious over the past three seasons. He was dropped by Daniel Farke with seven matches still to play last term.

It’s hard to see how the Frenchman recovers from that nadir, while back-up Karl Darlow will not be good enough to start regularly in the top flight. In a campaign when their goal will be severely tested, Leeds need someone reliable to keep the ball out.

Beren Cross

Liverpool

It’s the summer for Liverpool to sign a new centre forward.

Time is up for Darwin Nunez, who has had three seasons at the club and failed to prove that he’s cut out to lead the line. With Diogo Jota’s concerning injury record — and his struggles in front of goal last season — Liverpool need a reliable goal-getter to help defend their title.

No doubt the arrival of Florian Wirtz will help strengthen the attacking line, but the German is expected to play as a No 10, so there’s still room for improvement.

Although Luis Diaz did well when he played in a central position last season, Liverpool need a more recognised middle man in their ranks.

Gregg Evans

Manchester City

Having brought in a specialist left-back for the first time since 2017 and strengthened the midfield with two new arrivals ahead of the Club World Cup, City still need a new option on the right side of the defence, with Kyle Walker likely to move on this summer.

Matheus Nunes made a decent fist of playing there in the final weeks of the season, and Rico Lewis will remain another option despite his usefulness in a functioning midfield. But neither should be regarded as viable long-term options that are capable of holding down the fort week in, week out.

A move for Newcastle’s Tino Livramento continues to be mooted despite, in the same breath, everybody talking about how difficult it will be to prise him away from St James’ Park, but that is the kind of player that could quite possibly cap City’s summer business.

There is an argument that they need a winger with a more polished end product than Jeremy Doku and Savinho, especially as Omar Marmoush has scored all of his goals at the Etihad and nobody can be quite sure how Phil Foden will bounce back. Oscar Bobb generally gets far more assists than goals, too, but with those five players, as well as Rayan Cherki, City certainly have enough numbers for the wide roles, even if goals are not yet assured.

Sam Lee

Manchester United

Forty-four goals was Manchester United’s lowest tally in a single Premier League campaign and together, their two strikers signed over the two previous summers — Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee — contributed just seven to that total.

Even after spending a combined £100million on Hojlund and Zirkzee, United are exploring the centre-forward market once again. There has been contact with Eintracht Frankfurt regarding Hugo Ekitike and Amorim would welcome a reunion with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Neither will come cheap, though, and funds have so far been prioritised for the No 10 positions, with United hopeful that Bryan Mbeumo follows Matheus Cunha through the door.

Both Cunha and Mbeumo have experience of playing up top, and could theoretically serve as the focal point of a reconfigured front line, but United’s summer’s business will feel incomplete if it concludes without the arrival of an out-and-out No 9.

Mark Critchley

Contact has been made with Frankfurt over Ekitike (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Newcastle United

A first-XI signing of any form is long overdue, given Newcastle have gone three consecutive windows without making any, but at least one frontline attacker is required.

Ideally, that would be an out-and-out right winger to compete with Jacob Murphy, who has just enjoyed the season of his life, and to fill the absence vacated by Miguel Almiron’s departure in January. Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo was the top target, but Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo have long been admired.

However, with Callum Wilson’s future uncertain and an exit appearing possible for the striker, a versatile forward may take precedence: someone who is adept at playing out wide and through the middle. Brighton’s Joao Pedro was almost acquired in 2022, and he appears to fit that mould.

Chris Waugh

Nottingham Forest

It has been obvious for some time that Forest need more choice in attack. The impending arrival of Igor Jesus, a Brazil international, from Botafogo will provide direct competition for Chris Wood, who will be 34 later this year and cannot be expected to play every week.

But there is still room for another forward now that Forest also have to factor in Europa Conference League games. That is why Yoane Wissa of Brentford remains a target, among others. Yes, Forest also have Taiwo Awoniyi, but last season was a miserable one for the Nigerian and upgrades are needed.

Danny Taylor

Sunderland

Trying to choose where Sunderland should prioritise this summer is a bit like selecting your favourite child: it depends what day of the week it is and picking just one leads to unacceptable neglect elsewhere.

Regis Le Bris’ young squad was underestimated a year ago too, but Premier League survival is a different kettle of fish (more like a tankful of piranhas) to challenging for Championship promotion. If pushed, improving the core of the side looks most key to Sunderland’s chances.

Jobe Bellingham’s inevitable departure has opened a hole in a midfield which already needed reinforcing, even as Enzo Le Fee’s loan deal turned permanent on promotion. An experienced head in there, one capable of both supporting counter-attacks and helping Dan Neil in his deeper role, looks essential — and probably expensive.

Behind Neil, Sunderland currently have no centre-backs with any Premier League experience (Leo Hjelde’s two starts at left-back for Leeds United in 2022 are as much as they can muster). That’s hardly unique for this team but rectifying it is imperative; Le Bris’ side were well organised last season but will need to upgrade their ability to withstand long spells of pressure this year.

Chris Weatherspoon

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham’s defence conceded 65 goals last season, but that was partially because first-choice centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both struggled with injury. New head coach Thomas Frank should instantly tighten things up at the back.

They have a lot of different options out wide, including Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and Son Heung-min, but they could do with another peak-age player in that position as they look to make an impact in the Champions League.

The biggest area for concern is defensive midfield. Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur struggled on and off the pitch last season, and both only have a year left on their contracts. Frank wanted to sign Archie Gray at Brentford, but it will be a huge task for the 19-year-old to start every game as the No 6. Frank needs to quickly decide whether to upgrade on Bissouma and Bentancur or not.

Jay Harris

Frank will have to make a decision in defensive midfield (Luke Walker/Getty Images)

West Ham United

There are three things guaranteed in life: death, taxes and West Ham needing to sign a striker.

Head coach Graham Potter has a shortage of attacking options. Michail Antonio looks set to depart when his contract expires at the end of June, Evan Ferguson has returned to Brighton & Hove Albion following his uninspiring loan spell, and Niclas Fullkrug has an uncertain future, despite joining for £27million from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

Striker is once again a priority position.

Roshane Thomas

Wolves

After selling Matheus Cunha to Manchester United early in the summer window, Wolves have made a start in filling the void by agreeing a deal for the talented Fer Lopez from Celta Vigo, but he is only 21 and is not regarded as an immediate like-for-like replacement.

It is unlikely that they will be able to replace their talismanic Brazil international with one player. They will need a number of players to improve the team in attacking areas, and that will mean adding more players to operate as one of Vitor Pereira’s dual No 10s, preferably at least one who is already tried and tested over a longer period of time than Lopez.

Steve Madeley

(Top photos: Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

Share on

email

Previous

trending_flat

Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford make Piers Morgan squirm as they threaten his life

Boxing - English

Next

trending_flat

The Business of Football: Why Tottenham have not been bought, and how much are Wrexham worth?

Sports