Premier League Transfer Window: Teams Prepare for Final Week
The first weekend is in the books. The table has its first shape. But the real scramble is only just beginning.
With the Premier League transfer window closing at 23:00 BST on Tuesday, 1 September, clubs have seven days to fix what opening weekend brutally exposed: soft centres, thin benches, gaping holes out wide and, in some cases, the simple absence of a reliable No 9.
Some have almost finished. Others are only getting started.
Arsenal: Champions still hunting a finisher
Arsenal have already reinforced every line of the team: Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, Christos Tzolis on the flank, Ezri Konsa in defence. The spine looks stronger, the depth deeper.
But the champions are still short of one thing Mikel Arteta craves – a forward who can turn control into trophies, particularly in Europe.
Julian Alvarez remains the long-term target. The deal is complicated on several fronts and far from straightforward, but Arsenal are keeping their powder dry. If an opening appears, they are ready to move.
For fans like Watson, the appeal is obvious: a World Cup and Champions League winner, Premier League proven, and one of the few elite forwards realistically in play. In their eyes, Alvarez is the kind of signing who could finally drag Arsenal over the European line.
Aston Villa: Holes everywhere after summer exodus
What don’t Aston Villa need?
A summer of high-profile exits has left Unai Emery’s side exposed across the pitch. The Ollie Watkins saga, with Al-Hilal pushing hard, means Villa are already looking at replacements. Nicolas Jackson is on the list.
They also want a winger and another defender after Ezri Konsa’s move to Arsenal. Talks have opened with Club Brugge over centre-back Joel Ordonez, while bids for Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis have been knocked back.
Supporters can see the issues. Amy Finley believes a striker is non-negotiable, but Villa’s display against Brighton has also sharpened concerns at centre-back, even with Victor Lindelof and Pau Torres on board. Midfield, she feels, will be fine once Johan Manzambi is fit and Leon Goretzka settles.
The clock is ticking, and Villa still have too many gaps.
Bournemouth: Hanging on to their stars
Bournemouth’s priority is survival of a different kind: getting to deadline day without losing key men.
Big clubs are circling Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott. The Cherries insist neither is for sale, and their window in terms of incomings is largely done as they close in on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
This is about resisting predators, not chasing blockbusters.
Brentford: Almost complete, just one more spark?
Brentford have recruited smartly and early. They can afford to be picky now.
A left-back has been on the radar, with El Hadji Malick Diouf of West Ham heavily linked, but it is not a crisis position. Keane Lewis-Potter can operate as a wing-back, with Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey also available.
Callum Wilson provides experienced cover up front, and Keith Andrews finally has the depth he lacked last season. Do not expect late-window chaos in west London.
Still, some fans want one last flourish. Michael Johnston believes another forward option off the left would turn a nine-out-of-10 window into perfection. Mykhailo Mudryk’s name refuses to go away, and Brentford’s long-standing interest is no secret. Land a player of that profile and Andrews’ rebuild would look close to flawless.
Brighton: Replacements needed as key men edge away
Brighton’s model is clear. Stars leave, data leads the way, and new ones arrive.
Yankuba Minteh is expected to join Liverpool, which could free up space for another forward. Carlos Baleba is on the brink of joining Manchester United, a move that may force Brighton to dip back into the midfield market.
Chairman Tony Bloom’s message before the 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa was simple: evolve, invest, innovate – but stay true to the principles that built the club.
Supporters know what is missing. Maz Mirzadeh wants a physically dominant defensive midfielder and a proven winger, especially with European football stretching the squad. If Brighton want another top-10 finish while juggling Europe, they cannot afford to be light in key areas.
Chelsea: Too many players, one glaring position
Chelsea fans might dream of a marquee forward or a new goalkeeper, but Xabi Alonso is broadly satisfied with his squad.
The real problem is quantity, not quality. Thirty-nine players need to become roughly 25 in just over a week. The club cannot afford a bloated dressing room full of frustrated fringe players.
Savage Dan speaks for many supporters: outgoings must come first, especially with no European football to offer regular rotation. If there is one position to address, he argues, it is goalkeeper. Robert Sanchez has not convinced, and a top-level No 1 would change the entire feel of the team.
Coventry City: Mudryk gamble and defensive cover
Coventry’s window has taken an unexpected twist. They are in the race for Mykhailo Mudryk, as the Chelsea winger looks to restart his career after serving a 20-month suspension for testing positive for meldonium.
Frank Lampard also wants extra defensive cover, while players such as Luke Woolfenden could head out on loan.
For fan Conna Chahal, the job is largely done. The goal is simple: stay up. He believes the squad is already strong enough to do that.
Crystal Palace: New era, same defensive worries
Crystal Palace have changed manager, lost Maxence Lacroix and stepped into a Europa League campaign under Pierre Sage. The squad is evolving, but it is not complete.
Sage wants a senior centre-back, and Chadi Riad’s injury on the opening weekend against Everton may force Palace to bring in another defender on top of that.
Supporter Ollie Thomas sees Riad’s absence as a flashing red light. Axel Disasi is a start, but he wants a bigger, permanent move at centre-back plus a central midfielder. With those two pieces, he believes Palace are ready for the season’s extra demands.
Everton: The right-back saga that has dragged on too long
Everyone at Everton knows the problem. They still do not have a recognised right-back.
It has been an obvious weakness for more than a year, yet no deal has been done. Midfielder Merlin Rohl had to fill in against Crystal Palace, with Jake O’Brien and James Garner also used there in the past.
At some point, the club has to stop debating and sign one. David Moyes may also consider another striker, with doubts lingering over Beto and Thierno Barry. Liam Delap, out of favour at Chelsea, is a name that keeps coming up.
Everton cannot afford to let another window close without addressing a position that has been crying out for a specialist.
Fulham: Balance over blockbuster
Alvaro Arbeloa is broadly content with Fulham’s work so far, but he knows the squad is not perfectly balanced.
The club explored a move for Rennes defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal two weeks ago and could yet return for another central defender. Fulham do not operate at the very top of the market and have a history of late, opportunistic deals.
Supporter John Charles wants more threat on the right wing, whether that means trusting Oscar Bobb or bringing in serious competition to replace Harry Wilson’s goals. He also has doubts about Joachim Anderson’s suitability for Arbeloa’s new system and wants a right-sided centre-back to cover that concern.
Hull City: Ambitious, busy, and not done yet
Hull have already had a hectic summer, but they are not slowing down.
The club are working on deals for two forwards, Mohamed Ali-Cho and Ilyas Ansah, while also holding interest in Real Betis winger Pablo Garcia. That move has stalled after Betis raised their price, and Stoke’s Sorba Thomas has emerged as another option.
A goalkeeper, a midfielder and a right-back could also arrive before the deadline.
Fan Ryan Frankish is thinking big. Add a left winger, another striker on top of Ali-Cho, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder and a right-back to challenge Lewie Coyle, and he believes Hull will be well placed to compete hard this season.
Leeds United: Spending done, fine-tuning left
Leeds have already pushed the budget with the signing of James Trafford from Manchester City. Any late business is likely to be more restrained.
They are keen on taking Mykhailo Mudryk on loan but have yet to find an agreement with Chelsea, who are exploring other options on the left. Leeds are also weighing back-up forwards to support Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, and have been linked with Frankfurt goalkeeper Michael Zetterer if Lucas Perri, as expected, heads to Torino on loan.
For supporter Lewis Deighton, the priority is clear: another left-footed left-back to cover Gabriel Gudmundsson. Beyond that, a forward or creative midfielder to compete with Harry Wilson, Brenden Aaronson and Noah Okafor would round off a strong window.
Liverpool: Wings and a missing anchor
Liverpool’s plan has been consistent all summer: fix the wide areas.
At least one winger, possibly two, is expected in the coming days. Targets such as Bradley Barcola, Ibrahim Mbaye and Yankuba Minteh have all been on the radar.
But Sunday’s match at Newcastle exposed another issue. Rio Ngumoha struggled on the right, and the space between defence and midfield looked huge when Liverpool were countered. Andoni Iraola has insisted the personnel in defensive midfield is not the problem, yet the performance suggested otherwise.
Fan Nahyan Chowdhury believes Liverpool still have not replaced Fabinho properly. With only a week left, he fears the club may again go into a season without a true specialist to lock down that critical zone.
Manchester United: Left-back decision time
Carlos Baleba’s imminent arrival will complete Manchester United’s midfield rebuild. The spotlight now swings to left-back.
The club have long admired Newcastle’s Lewis Hall and are also looking at Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde, with Jorge Salinas of Racing Santander another heavily linked option. A new forward could arrive too, but only if one of the existing attackers departs. Joshua Zirkzee is the most likely candidate to make way.
For supporter Jay Motty, a left-back is non-negotiable. This is not, he insists, a knee-jerk reaction to the defeat at Hull City. Luke Shaw cannot be expected to play every game, and there are still doubts about Michael Carrick’s faith in Patrick Dorgu as a defensive option.
United know the problem. The question is whether they move decisively enough to solve it.
Newcastle United: Youthful promise, experienced help
Newcastle’s youngsters handled their Premier League debuts against Liverpool with impressive calm. The future looks bright.
But after selling Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, Matthias Jaissle still needs another midfielder with proven top-flight experience. Talks are progressing over Manchester City’s Nico Gonzalez.
A mobile, versatile forward who can ease the load on William Osula and Yoane Wissa is also on the wish list. Newcastle’s rebuild is not complete yet, but the foundations are clear.
Nottingham Forest: Thin squad, clear targets
Three signings is all Nottingham Forest have managed so far, and that is not enough for a long Premier League campaign.
A striker and a full-back are the priorities. Talks are under way with Chelsea for Liam Delap, while Fiorentina right-back Dodo is another serious target.
Oliver Glasner has played down the need for more midfielders despite Elliot Anderson’s move to Manchester City, but the numbers elsewhere demand action.
Sunderland: Right wing and one more striker
Sunderland have moved early to land French full-back Dayann Methalie from Toulouse and midfielder Jules Ahoka from Antwerp. The next step is obvious: they need a right winger.
Geny Catamo of Sporting is the leading name. Coach Rui Borges insists Catamo is “happy” in Portugal, but history shows that such statements do not always mean a deal is off.
With Eliezer Mayenda gone, Brian Brobbey and Wilson Isidor are the only senior strikers at the club. One more centre-forward feels essential.
Tottenham Hotspur: Attacking edge still missing
Tottenham have spent heavily and reshaped the squad, but one question hangs over Roberto de Zerbi’s attack.
If Dominic Solanke is not going to be the main striker, what next? Richarlison started in the defeat at Brentford, while a deal for Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush is moving forward. Yet doubts remain over whether this is Marmoush’s best role.
Supporter Kish Patel sees the problem clearly. Spurs can play through pressure, but they lack the ruthless forwards to turn those situations into goals. He wants a winger and a striker who can finish De Zerbi’s quick attacks with conviction.
The first weekend has laid everything bare. Now comes the hard part: seven days, dozens of decisions, and one last chance to get the season right.
