Premier League Transfer Plans: Arsenal, Villa, and More

The Premier League’s heavyweights and hopefuls are already deep in the trenches of a summer that will reshape dressing rooms from London to the North East. Some are trimming to satisfy the accountants. Others are gambling to stay in the division. A few are quietly plotting the next big statement.

This is where it stands.

Arsenal: champions, but still hunting upgrades

Winning the title has not dulled Arsenal’s edge. The plan is clear: invest again in the starting XI, not just the squad, and do it while staying within a stricter financial framework.

Left wing and central midfield sit at the top of the list. Arsenal want players who walk straight into the team, not projects. But to keep their push for financial sustainability on track, there will have to be sales.

Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid has been one of their preferred options over the past year. The admiration at the Emirates is genuine, yet Atletico have mocked away interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid and remain determined to keep him. If Alvarez moves, his preference is Barcelona. Arsenal, barring a late twist, will have to move on.

The search for a left-sided attacker has pushed them towards Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. Interest is growing, but his future will not be decided until after the World Cup with England. Arsenal also like Anthony Gordon but let him go to Barcelona without a fight, and the dream option, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, is expected to stay at Paris Saint-Germain.

Scouts have been busy. Arsenal have watched PSG’s Bradley Barcola, RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Jean-Matteo Bahoya and Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi.

In central midfield, they are in the conversation for the top names: Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson – who is closing in on a move to Manchester City – Adam Wharton and others. A clear first-choice target has not yet emerged. Any further moves will depend on who in the current squad attracts serious bids and pushes for more game time elsewhere, though a young, versatile defender remains on the agenda regardless.

Aston Villa: Champions League return, big decisions

Champions League football is back at Villa Park, but so is the reality of UEFA’s financial rules. Villa need numbers, they need freshness, and they may need to sacrifice a star.

Right now, that player is most likely Morgan Rogers. Valued at a minimum of £80m, he has Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG circling. Emi Martinez is another who could go. Juventus are increasingly confident of landing the World Cup-winning goalkeeper, while Ollie Watkins will always have suitors if the price is right.

If Martinez leaves, Villa will move for a new No 1, with James Trafford at Manchester City among the leading options. Alongside that, they are looking at another central midfielder, wingers and a striker. Harry Wilson, out of contract at Fulham, is firmly on their list.

Bournemouth: hold the jewels, reshape the spine

On the south coast, Bournemouth’s best young talents are under siege from Europe’s elite. The message from the club is blunt: Rayan, Alex Scott and Junior Kroupi are not for sale.

Rayan has an £86.6m release clause that activates next summer. Kroupi, tracked by Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester City and Arsenal, does not. Scott is on the radar of Manchester United, Liverpool and others, and Bournemouth are already in talks to extend his contract.

While they fight to keep their core, Bournemouth are targeting a left-sided centre-back to replace Marcos Senesi, who has joined Tottenham on a free, and a new striker. The goalkeeping department is under review, with work ongoing to sign Lazio’s Christos Mandas permanently after his loan. The future of right-back Alex Jimenez, suspended by the club, remains uncertain.

Brentford: rebuilding around Thiago, hunting creativity

Brentford have started early with the signing of young centre-back Jannik Schuster from Red Bull Salzburg. The next phase is more delicate.

Left wing and central midfield have been problem areas for several windows. The Bees tried to solve the wide issue with Said El Mala from FC Koln, but talks stalled when his family pushed for the club to also sign his older brother. Attention has shifted to other targets, including Feyenoord’s Leo Sauer. Over the last year they have also explored deals for Max Beier at Dortmund and Omari Hutchinson, now at Nottingham Forest.

In midfield, Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney, PSV’s Joey Veerman and Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr are among the names they like.

Outgoings could reshape the project. There is uncertainty over Mathias Jensen and Rico Henry despite option years being triggered, with interest from elsewhere testing Brentford’s resolve. Fabio Carvalho, close to full fitness after a long lay-off, has admirers, but the club expect him to play a big role next season. Centre-back Ethan Pinnock is more likely to leave.

Then there is Igor Thiago. The Premier League’s second-highest scorer last season behind Erling Haaland is not for sale in Brentford’s eyes. They value him at well over £100m. Speculation will come. Whether anyone meets that figure is another matter entirely.

Brighton: another reset on the south coast

Brighton are used to change. This summer brings another reshuffle.

They have already moved for AIK winger Zadok Yohanna and want a right-back, centre-backs, central midfielders and a striker. Olympiakos’ Costinha is on the radar at right-back.

At centre-half, Adam Webster has gone and Jan Paul van Hecke is likely to follow. Tottenham are in talks for Van Hecke, and Brighton have responded with a £30m bid for Spurs defender Luka Vuskovic. They may need two centre-backs, with Charlie Cresswell of Toulouse a major target after a failed January move.

Carlos Baleba remains a long-term target for Manchester United and others, while Matt O’Riley is wanted by a cluster of Champions League clubs including Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. One midfielder Brighton have tracked as a potential Baleba replacement is Caleb Yirenkyi at FC Nordsjælland.

Joel Veltman is out of contract but in talks over a new deal. Even if he stays, Brighton intend to add another right-back. Up front, they still hope last year’s signing Charalampos Kostoulas comes good, yet they are open to new ideas with Danny Welbeck approaching the twilight of his career.

Chelsea: Alonso trims the project, targets proven class

Xabi Alonso walks into Cobham with a clear view: Chelsea’s squad is strong, but it needs sharpening, not bloating.

The club want fewer “maybes” and more established players with standout talent and character. A goalkeeper, centre-back, central midfielder and left-winger are the main priorities.

Chelsea are serious contenders for Morgan Rogers, battling Arsenal and Manchester United. In goal, Mike Penders will be given a chance after his loan at Strasbourg, but the club are also studying other options. In midfield, they admire Adam Wharton.

Enzo Fernandez’s future hangs over the whole plan. Real Madrid rate him highly. Chelsea value him at more than £100m and are not actively trying to sell. Manchester City, despite reports, are not in for him.

Marc Cucurella’s agreed move to Real Madrid means Chelsea must find a replacement at left-back, though Jorell Hato is a contender to take the starting role. Up front, Emmanuel Emegha arrives from Strasbourg and Nicolas Jackson returns from Bayern Munich, raising doubts over Liam Delap’s place in a squad suddenly rich in strikers.

Right-winger Geovany Quenda is set to join from Sporting CP, and Alonso will want to assess every option before signing off on more changes.

Coventry: the champions now fighting to survive

Coventry have climbed out of the Championship as champions. Now comes the brutal part: staying up.

Recent history shows promoted clubs often spend more than £100m just to give themselves a chance. Whether Coventry can, or will, go that far is unclear. What is certain is that Frank Lampard needs reinforcements across the pitch.

Left-back, centre-back and the wings are current priorities. Goalkeeper is another problem. Last season’s No 1, Carl Rushworth, has returned to Brighton after his loan, and Coventry have already seen a £20m bid for him rejected.

They have been linked with Porto left-back Francisco Moura and Brazilian winger Matheus Martins as they try to assemble a squad capable of lasting more than one season in the top flight.

Crystal Palace: Europe, a new coach and a delicate balance

Crystal Palace are preparing for a Europa League campaign and the arrival of Pierre Sage as head coach. The job is twofold: keep the core, then add smartly.

Adam Wharton is central to that. He is on the radar of all the major Premier League clubs, and at least one is expected to bid this summer. Ismaila Sarr and Maxence Lacroix are also key figures Palace want to keep.

In midfield, they will try to convince Daichi Kamada to stay after their Conference League triumph. Jefferson Lerma’s option year has been triggered to keep him for another season.

Sage’s preference for a 3-4-2-1, mirrored from his Lens side, shapes recruitment. Palace want another right wing-back, a centre-back, potentially two central midfielders and an attacking midfielder. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future remains uncertain after his January move to AC Milan collapsed. If someone meets Palace’s valuation for the 28-year-old, who is entering the final year of his deal, they will go to market for a replacement.

Everton: Moyes chases power on the flanks and up top

David Moyes knows exactly where his Everton side need help. A right-back has been on the wish list since before last summer, and the striker department needs an upgrade. Both positions remain high on the agenda, along with a defensive midfielder.

Idrissa Gana Gueye is out of contract. Everton would consider keeping him, but they have already made at least one offer for Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney, Boro’s player of the season. They face competition from Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and potentially Tottenham.

There is also long-standing interest in Jarrod Bowen. Moyes wanted him last summer and was prepared to pay £60m after West Ham’s relegation. A renewed move is on the table.

Everton were in for Liam Delap before he joined Chelsea and are now exploring a loan, with his future at Stamford Bridge unclear. At right-back, a January shortlist included Emile Holm, Brooke Norton-Cuffey, Zak El Ouadhi and Omar El Hilali. Whether those names remain active targets is to be seen. Ben White is admired but financially out of reach.

Beyond that, Everton want another deal for Jack Grealish from Manchester City, another winger, and potentially a backup goalkeeper and left-back.

Fulham: new coach, new attack

Fulham’s plans hinge on one appointment. Talks are progressing with Alvaro Arbeloa to replace Marco Silva, and whoever takes over will have strong views on how to reshape the squad.

The gaps are obvious. They need at least one striker, with Raul Jimenez back at Wolves and Rodrigo Muniz returning from a long-term injury. Teenager Jonah Kusi-Asare, on loan from Bayern Munich last season, saw limited minutes. Fulham want to renegotiate his £10m option to a lower figure.

On the flanks, Samuel Chukwueze’s loan from AC Milan has ended and Harry Wilson is out of contract and attracting interest. A winger is a must. Fulham are also keen on Celtic midfielder Arne Engels and are looking at Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder Luka Stojkovic. Right-back is another position they want to strengthen.

Hull City: smallest budget, biggest challenge

Hull City arrive in the Premier League with what is expected to be the smallest budget in the division. The task is brutal, but the strategy is clear: add depth without tearing up the squad that won promotion.

They want quality, athleticism and speed across the pitch. Every position is under review, yet the focus is on supplementing rather than dismantling what worked in the Championship.

Ipswich: managerless, but not drifting

Kieran McKenna’s departure has complicated Ipswich’s summer, but not their ambition. Back in the Premier League, they are ready to spend to stay there.

As many as 10 new players could arrive. The plan is to strengthen all over the pitch, giving the new head coach a platform to avoid another immediate drop. Ipswich are working to appoint McKenna’s successor within a week to unlock their recruitment drive.

Leeds: Premier League security, but holes to fill

Leeds want to move from survival mode to stability under Daniel Farke. To do that, they need more individual quality.

Goalkeeper is a pressing issue. Talks continue with Karl Darlow, out of contract on July 1. If he leaves, Leeds will likely need a new No 1, with doubts over Lucas Perri after he was dropped. A striker is also on the agenda. Leeds bid for Jorgen Strand Larsen in January but refused to match the £48m Crystal Palace paid Wolves. Relying on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, both with patchy injury records, would be a risk.

Facundo Buonanotte is unlikely to return after a flat six-month loan from Brighton. A forward who can play as a No 10 and out wide has been a target for two windows, especially after Leeds missed out on Harry Wilson on Deadline Day.

Up front, Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto both face uncertain futures. Piroe stayed in the last window despite strong Championship interest and from Celtic. Gnonto is wanted by Freiburg. On the left side of defence, Leeds are thin. Gabriel Gudmundsson and Pascal Struijk are the only natural options, and while Farke leaned on the versatility of James Justin, he may seek another similarly adaptable defender.

Liverpool: replacing Salah, rebalancing the back line

Liverpool are bracing for life after Mohamed Salah. The plan is bold: sign two wingers, with Yan Diomande at the top of the list.

Diomande, valued at more than £86m by RB Leipzig and currently at the World Cup with Ivory Coast, can play on both flanks and fits the versatility Liverpool crave. They want a rebuilt forward line that gives Andoni Iraola more flexibility than his predecessor enjoyed.

Right-back is another pressing concern. Conor Bradley’s knee injury in January and Jeremie Frimpong’s struggles to nail down the role have exposed the position, while Joe Gomez’s future is uncertain. Despite Ibrahima Konate’s departure, Liverpool are not prioritising a centre-back after the £60m arrival of Jeremy Jacquet and the return of teenager Giovanni Leoni from an ACL injury. Yet the lack of Premier League experience in that pair may force a rethink later in the window. A defender who, like Gomez, can cover right-back and centre-back would solve several problems at once.

On the left, Kostas Tsimikas’ return from Roma could reduce the urgency to replace Andy Robertson if he impresses Iraola. Everyone, from Curtis Jones to Harvey Elliott, gets a clean slate under the new manager.

Ryan Gravenberch’s emergence as a No 6 under Arne Slot pushed the need for a holding midfielder down the list, but last season’s performances have underlined the need for reinforcements in that position.

Manchester City: Anderson chase, Diomande watch and right-back search

Manchester City still have to finalise compensation for Enzo Maresca to take over as head coach, but the transfer machine has not slowed.

Their marquee move is aimed at Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Forest want a British-record fee, in the region of the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak. City are pushing, but there is work to do.

Once Anderson is secured, City want a striker and a right-back. They are looking for another forward to support Erling Haaland, with Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi on the list. They also like Yan Diomande, though competition for the Leipzig winger is intense.

At right-back, Feyenoord’s Givairo Read is being closely monitored to provide competition for makeshift defender Matheus Nunes. Newcastle’s Tino Livramento is another full-back City have admired.

James Trafford’s future is unresolved. He played mainly in cup competitions last season after Gianluigi Donnarumma’s Deadline Day arrival. If Trafford pushes for a first-team role elsewhere, City will need a new backup goalkeeper.

Manchester United: midfield overhaul and Rashford decision

Manchester United are ready to reshape their midfield. A £38m deal is in place for Atalanta’s Ederson, with the move expected to be completed after the World Cup following his late call-up for Brazil. At least one more midfielder will come in to replace Casemiro.

Elliot Anderson is admired at Old Trafford, but United are wary of a bidding war with Manchester City already prepared to go beyond £100m. A bid for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes is planned, and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is another high-priority target.

If Manuel Ugarte leaves, United could bring in a third midfielder. They hope his World Cup performances will boost his value, as he is among several first-team players they are ready to move on.

Marcus Rashford’s future needs resolving. Barcelona chose not to trigger their £26m option to buy but are open to another loan. United, though, are confident they can find a permanent buyer.

Joshua Zirkzee may depart after a peripheral season under Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick, which could open the door to a versatile forward. Benjamin Sesko is currently the only natural senior striker in the squad.

United are also considering a left winger and are in the pack chasing Yan Diomande. Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is another player they like, though Patrick Dorgu is set to operate in a more attacking role, which could push a new left-back up the list. Newcastle’s Lewis Hall and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson are being monitored as potential long-term successors to Luke Shaw, who is entering the final year of his contract.

Newcastle: back to smart deals, big reset under Wilson

Missing out on Europe has forced Newcastle into a different kind of summer. New sporting director Ross Wilson will oversee a rebuild with Eddie Howe, focusing on younger, more affordable talent, particularly from abroad.

Six to ten new signings are possible. The early move for Osasuna winger Victor Munoz, 22, is a template – more in line with the signings of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali than the recent big-ticket domestic buys.

Newcastle want a striker, a left-winger, a defender in each position across the back line, another goalkeeper after Ewen Jaouen’s arrival and a defensive midfielder. James Trafford, their first-choice goalkeeper target last summer, remains high on the list after slipping down the order at Manchester City.

This window offers Howe the chance to build a new version of his side. Newcastle intend to take it.

Nottingham Forest: Anderson money and the next step

Everything at Nottingham Forest this summer revolves around Elliot Anderson. If, as expected, he leaves – with Manchester City leading the chase – Forest will suddenly have serious money to spend.

They plan to sign two central midfielders regardless. With Anderson’s fee, they can go bigger. Offers for other stars such as Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Nikola Milenkovic are expected to be rejected. Murillo has just signed a new contract and is also expected to stay.

Alongside midfield reinforcements, Forest want a goalkeeper and a central defender to cover potential departures of John Victor and Morato. Goalkeepers Stefan Ortega and Angus Gunn will leave when their contracts expire, along with veteran defender Willy Boly and likely full-back Nicolo Savona.

If a strong bid comes for Taiwo Awoniyi, Forest will move for a replacement striker. The same applies to attacking midfielder James McAtee, who has attracted plenty of interest since arriving last summer.

Sunderland: Europa League demands and defensive work

Sunderland’s spectacular £180m window a year ago, which brought in 13 permanent signings, propelled them to seventh on their Premier League return and into the Europa League. Matching that level of transformation is unlikely, but the workload remains heavy.

Dan Neil, Dennis Cirkin, Bertrand Traore and Niall Huggins are leaving on free transfers. Talks continue over Luthsharel Geertruida after the option to buy in his RB Leipzig loan expired. If they cannot agree a permanent deal for the versatile Dutchman, Sunderland will need cover at right-back and holding midfield.

Defence will be a focus regardless, and Traore’s exit leaves them light on the left wing. Expect activity there as Regis Le Bris prepares for a season of three games a week.

Tottenham: De Zerbi’s rebuild, tug-of-war with Brighton

Tottenham have wasted no time backing Roberto De Zerbi. Centre-back Marcos Senesi has arrived on a free, with Andy Robertson set to follow. Spurs still want another defender and are pursuing Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

Brighton, in turn, have made a £30m bid for Spurs teenager Luka Vuskovic, who shone on loan at Hamburg and is keen on the move. Tottenham are unlikely to accept the current offer, and the stand-off underlines how both clubs see the 19-year-old’s future.

De Zerbi’s brief is to raise the technical level of the squad to suit his style. A central midfielder who can dictate play is crucial. Spurs have also been searching for a winger to replace Heung-Min Son for a year, failing with moves for Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo. Manchester City’s Savinho is now on their list.

A striker who can operate across the front line is another target, giving De Zerbi flexibility if injuries strike again. In goal, a new signing may be required if Guglielmo Vicario returns to Italy. Juventus are assessing him, with Inter previously interested. Antonin Kinsky finished the season as No 1 under De Zerbi.

And then there is Joao Palhinha. A permanent move from Bayern Munich is still possible if Spurs can agree a fee after the set option price expired. Sporting are also in the frame.

Across the division, the themes repeat: balance the books, chase the next star, protect what you have. The money will move, the squads will shift, and by the time the window closes, the Premier League’s hierarchy may look just a little different. The question is who will have done enough – and who will realise, when the games start, that they came up one signing short.