Biggest transfer needs, ideal signings for Premier League's top clubs

The Premier League transfer window is open for a second time this summer, giving clubs until Sept. 1 to revamp their squads. Seven of the league's best teams have massive holes to fill and the money to do it. Below, theScore offers these heavyweight outfits potential solutions to their biggest problems.

Arsenal

Biggest need(s): Striker
Target(s): Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres

In case you haven't heard, Arsenal need a striker. Their failure to sign one during the last couple of transfer windows has widely been criticized and blamed for the club's second-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Would Arsenal have been able to catch up to Liverpool had they pulled the trigger on a deal for a top-class striker? Doubtful, but we'll never know. In hindsight, it might've helped cut into Liverpool's lead, considering that Arsenal were left without a true striker when they lost Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury right after the January window closed. But don't expect the north London club to stand idle this summer when the opportunity to strengthen its attack arises.

Arsenal have already been linked with a host of elite forwards. But now it looks as though they've narrowed their search down to RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko or Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres. Gyokeres is fresh off another strong season in Portugal, while Sesko offers a younger option with tons of potential.

Chelsea

Biggest need(s): Forward, center-back, goalkeeper
Target(s): Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Marc Guehi, James Trafford

Chelsea ended the season on an encouraging note by winning the Conference League after booking their return to the Champions League. But there's still plenty of work to be done to ensure that coach Enzo Maresca's squad can compete in both the Premier League and Europe's most revered club tournament. They've won both competitions in the last decade, but now it's about staying competitive in them.

The capture of striker Liam Delap is likely to be followed by the arrival of another attacking reinforcement. Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens has been heavily linked with a move to west London, with reports suggesting the winger could cost €50 million. Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho may be an alternative if Gittens doesn't sign.

Chelsea will also hope to bring Marc Guehi back to Stamford Bridge after multiple failed attempts. Despite Maresca's apparent faith in unconvincing netminder Robert Sanchez, a new face between the sticks is another possibility; Chelsea tried, and failed, to land Mike Maignan from AC Milan earlier this month. Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford is considered a target despite Newcastle's rumored interest in him.

Liverpool

Biggest need(s): Left-back, winger, forward
Target(s): Milos Kerkez, Bradley Barcola, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool moved quickly to address their biggest need, signing right-back Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen shortly after Trent Alexander-Arnold left his hometown club for Real Madrid. Their reported club-record deal for Florian Wirtz is also near completion. So the Reds are already better than they were when they took the Premier League by surprise and won their record-tying 20th English top-flight title.

Should everything proceed as expected, Liverpool will unveil Milos Kerkez as Andy Robertson's heir apparent for a reported £45 million.

All they'll really need to enter the 2025-26 season as a multi-competition juggernaut is a greater goalscorer than Darwin Nunez and a left-winger to replace Luis Diaz. Both South Americans could yet leave Anfield this summer. Newcastle United's Alexander Isak is Liverpool's No. 1 choice up front, with Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike as a backup and PSG's Bradley Barcola as a potential luxury signing. Isak, of course, finished second to Mohamed Salah in Premier League scoring with 23 goals in 34 appearances.

Manchester City

Biggest need(s): Goalkeeper, right-back
Target(s): Gianluigi Donnarumma, Diogo Costa, Tino Livramento

Pep Guardiola has been ruthless following Manchester City's first trophyless season in eight years. He allowed Kevin De Bruyne, one of his most trusted midfield lieutenants, to leave on a free transfer and left underperforming £100-million signing Jack Grealish out of City's Club World Cup squad.

Kyle Walker is set to return from a short-term loan spell at AC Milan, but he no longer has a place in the team. Guardiola wants to both freshen up his side and reduce the total number of players under his watch.

With Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Tijjani Reijnders all joining City over the last week, Guardiola has already managed to achieve the necessary turnover. He could angle for a new goalkeeper, and PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma is a candidate given his contract standoff in Paris. If Donnarumma ends up renewing his deal, Porto's Diogo Costa feels like a nice alternative. City also need a long-term solution at right-back after shoehorning midfielder Matheus Nunes into that position this past season, and while Newcastle would try their best to keep Tino Livramento, the reliable 22-year-old fits the bill.

Manchester United

Biggest need(s): Forward, striker, goalkeeper
Target(s): Bryan Mbeumo, Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres, Emi Martinez

Manchester United might not be able to attract the type of talent they need to get them back into the Champion League conversation. After a historically poor Premier League campaign, they're left trying to sign players without the promise of playing in Europe next season.

After finishing 15th, you could argue the Red Devils need to improve every area of their squad, but more firepower up front is a clear priority. They've already strengthened their attack with the arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolves. Bryan Mbeumo looked set to join the Brazilian forward, but now there are doubts given that the Brentford winger has been rumored to reunite with former Bees coach Thomas Frank at Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United will likely now need to consider alternatives who can boost a lowly attack that only scored 44 times in the Premier League last term. Strikers like Victor Osimhen and Gyokeres could help solve that issue, but their respective price tags present an issue.

The situation isn't much better at the back, where confidence in goalkeeper Andre Onana has dwindled after numerous costly blunders. Surprisingly, Emi Martinez has emerged as a possibility. The World Cup-winning Argentine appears likely to leave Aston Villa this summer.

Newcastle United

Biggest need(s): Forward
Target(s): Justin Kluivert, Joao Pedro, Anthony Elanga

It'd take a huge offer for Newcastle to allow Alexander Isak to leave, especially now that the club's financial situation is in better condition following Champions League qualification. But Isak's backup striker, Callum Wilson, hasn't scored a Premier League goal since May 2024, and youngster William Osula is yet to be trusted with a start in England's top flight. Winger Anthony Gordon also suffered a dramatic dip in form following his red card in the FA Cup loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in March.

Newcastle need to strengthen their attack to successfully navigate their domestic and continental commitments next season.

It's no surprise that the Magpies are reportedly plotting swoops for frontmen who are proven in the Premier League, like Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert and Brighton's Joao Pedro. The one concern about those players? Kluivert scored 12 times and Pedro netted 10 in the 2024-25 Premier League term, but both players struck half of their goals from the penalty spot. Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga would be a clever signing to improve Eddie Howe's wide options.

Tottenham Hotspur

Biggest need(s): Forward
Target(s): Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, Antoine Semenyo

Mathys Tel's loan from Bayern Munich was made permanent, and Manor Solomon should be given another chance in the first team after an impressive season-long spell at Leeds United. Nevertheless, Tottenham Hotspur's attack still needs work, especially if Son Heung-min decides to leave the club after an iconic 10-season stay in north London.

Mbeumo, a standout Premier League forward with 20 goals and seven assists last season, would be an excellent acquisition. Frank was Mbeumo's boss at Brentford for six seasons, which makes the arrival of the Cameroonian international seem much likelier.

Yoane Wissa, who hit 19 goals and provided four assists last term, could also be plucked from Frank's former club, while Antoine Semenyo's reputation has skyrocketed since he's slotted seamlessly into various attacking roles at Bournemouth.