Arsenal have the majority of their transfer business still to complete after securing Christos Tzolis for £34 million as a replacement for Leandro Trossard and adding Illan Meslier as a third‑choice goalkeeper on a free transfer following his exit from Leeds. While the Gunners have already bolstered their squad in the forward line and between the sticks, the summer window is far from finished for the defending champions, who are eager to turn their league triumph into sustained dominance. The club’s hierarchy has outlined an ambitious plan to reinforce the left wing and central midfield, areas they consider vital for maintaining momentum.
Early in the window, Arsenal explored the financial implications of a possible move for Real Madrid’s Brazilian winger Vinícius Junior. However, recent reports from Sky Sports suggest that Madrid are confident the 23‑year‑old will renew his contract, meaning a summer departure is unlikely.
Vinícius, now in the final year of his deal, remains on Arsenal’s radar alongside Paris Saint‑Germain’s rising talent Bradley Barcola and Atlético Madrid’s prolific forward Julián Álvarez, especially after the club’s pursuit of Morgan Rogers fell through due to Aston Villa’s high valuation. In midfield, Arsenal are keen on signing Brazilian international Gabriel Guimarães, who has reportedly told Newcastle United he wishes to join the Gunners. Negotiations have been conducted through intermediaries, but Newcastle have signaled they are not prepared to part with the player. Meanwhile, the North London side are also looking to generate funds by off‑loading players, a task that has historically proved tricky for them.
The futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are still uncertain; both are entering the final year of their contracts, with Jesus valued at roughly £18‑£20 million. Martinelli’s deal includes a club‑held option for an additional year, protecting Arsenal from losing him for free if a sale does not materialise before the window closes. Defensive options are also under review. Centre‑back Ben White has attracted interest from Everton, but injuries to Jurrien Timber and William Saliba could force Arsenal to retain the England defender.
Saliba’s back problem is expected to keep him sidelined for an extended period, prompting the club to explore other centre‑back solutions. John Stones was a potential target before his move to Inter Milan, and a valuation gap with Aston Villa over Ezri Konsa remains an obstacle. Aston Villa themselves are navigating UEFA’s financial fair‑play regulations, which may compel them to sell one or two high‑profile assets.
Recent departures of Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers for a combined £152 million illustrate this pressure. Villa have added Johan Manzambi, João Gomes and Alejandro Garnacho to Unai Emery’s squad ahead of their Champions League campaign, yet further reinforcements are required, particularly given the uncertain futures of Leon Bailey and Emiliano Martínez. Hull City are reportedly close to securing Bailey, who has a year left on his contract, while Juventus continue to monitor Martínez, though a valuation mismatch has led them to consider alternatives such as goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Chelsea, the Premier League’s biggest spenders this summer, are still active.
They have secured striker Danny Welbeck from Brighton and have also added left‑back Pep Chavarría from Rayo Vallecano after protracted negotiations over his valuation. In addition, Valentin Barco arrived from Strasbourg, offering versatility across midfield and left‑back. Yet the Blues still have a surplus of forwards, with Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap among those likely to depart to balance the books following the club’s UEFA settlement.
Brighton are focusing on strengthening their attacking options after Danny Welbeck’s exit to Chelsea. They aim to add a left‑winger to cover for the injured Kaoru Mitoma and to find a suitable No 9 to replace Welbeck’s goal contributions.
While they have identified several promising strikers, the club acknowledges that finding a direct replacement for Welbeck’s productivity will be challenging. Additionally, they are monitoring the situation of midfielder Carlos Baleba, a long‑term target, and are prepared to add depth for Fabian Hürzeler ahead of their European commitments. Further down the table, Brentford have made a club‑record signing of Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangaré, a defensive‑oriented player capable of recycling possession and initiating attacks from deep. The Bees are also keeping an eye on a more advanced midfield option, having previously scouted PSV’s Joey Veerman.
With the departure of Jordan Henderson, Brentford’s midfield restructuring has become a priority, and they are prepared to act if the right opportunity arises. Bournemouth, after securing centre‑back Antonio Silva from Benfica, are not in a rush to overhaul their squad but are considering adding a No 6, a No 10, and possibly a winger. Goalkeeper Marco Rose is satisfied with the current options behind Djordje Petrović, and the club does not anticipate any major exits in the near term. In the north, Liverpool are still hunting a left‑winger, with PSG’s Bradley Barcola emerging as a prime target despite his hefty £145 million price tag.
Barcola has expressed dissatisfaction at Paris, and the French side may be willing to negotiate if a suitable offer materialises. Liverpool also need to address depth on the right, where Jeremie Frimpong has struggled to cement a regular spot, and they may look to deploy him in a more advanced role. Central defence remains a concern after Joe Gómez’s injury, though the club does not view signing a new centre‑back as an immediate priority.
Manchester City, after splashing £116 million on Elliot Anderson, are now contending with the possibility of Rodri leaving for Real Madrid. While the club is preparing a new long‑term contract for the Spanish captain, they have also identified young talents such as Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille and are keeping tabs on left‑wing options like Pedro Neto.
A striker to develop behind Erling Haaland is also on their wish list, with Eli Junior Kroupi being mentioned, though his injury makes a move unlikely. Everton’s manager David Moyes is concentrating on bolstering the right‑back position, with reports that the club have approached Celtic for Canadian international Alistair Johnston. In midfield, the departure of Idrissa Gana Gueye has left a gap that the club hopes to fill, while the search for a reliable striker continues after Thierno Barry and Beto have failed to deliver consistently.
Liam Delap, previously linked with Everton, remains a potential target. In the Championship, Hull City’s owner Acun Ilicali has been vocal about a busy transfer agenda, aiming to bring in up to a dozen players before the window shuts. The club have already secured free‑agent Hidemasa Morita to strengthen their holding midfield, and are close to finalising deals for Australia defender Lucas Herrington and winger Leon Bailey from Aston Villa.
They are also pursuing defender Nobel Mendy and midfielder Mert Komur. Ipswich Town, under new boss Gary O’Neil, are looking to add experienced Premier League talent, with a focus on midfield. They are close to signing Burnley’s Florentino Luis for around £16 million and are also monitoring Serbia’s Saša Lukić, who has one year left on his contract and could provide a final chance for a profitable sale.
Leeds United, after missing out on Julian Brandt, are turning their attention to other attacking options. They are reportedly close to a club‑record £40 million deal for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, which would see Lucas Perri head to Torino on loan. The club also need to reinforce central midfield, with Shea Charles from Southampton still on the table, and are scouting for a versatile full‑back capable of playing on both flanks.
Overall, with just a month left in the summer market, clubs across the Premier League and the Championship are juggling the need to strengthen key areas while managing financial constraints and contract expiries. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and others will continue to negotiate, monitor player valuations, and seek the right deals to ensure they enter the new season with squads capable of competing on domestic and European fronts.