The post-pandemic transfer window has been as busy as experts predicted, but there are still some big issues to be solved in the five remaining weeks.
Here are seven of the biggest problems clubs are wrestling with.
Manchester United playing the Frenkie de Jong long game
There’s a very plausible school of thought that the tortuous Frenkie de Jong saga reflects badly on Manchester United and their transfer power brokers Richard Arnold and John Murtough. So far the considerable air miles and time expended on this one deal have amounted to not-very-much – and time is ticking down until the season starts, with De Jong intended to be the engine that drives this new-look Red Devils side on.
But the persistence around De Jong tells another story: that they are finally listening to the football experts that they have employed.
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But Erik ten Hag has made it clear that De Jong must be the priority and the hierarchy has demurred. i understands the deal has been agreed with Barcelona over a fee as well as its structure – but De Jong’s unpaid wages at the Nou Camp are part of the problem. Contrary to some reports, sources in the Netherlands say the player is open to the move and would welcome being reunited with Ten Hag.
The smart money remains on this deal getting done eventually, whatever the outside noise and however long it takes. But after a week when Ten Hag’s early influence has made for a pleasing start to pre-season, a dose of urgency in this deal certainly wouldn’t go amiss.
The ‘final piece of the jigsaw’ at the Etihad
Did anyone see this summer of revolution coming at Manchester City?
The incomings were obvious: Erling Haaland’s signing was a genuine coup, Kalvin Phillips a piece of transfer market sorcery that adds ominously to the squad depth, and many think Julian Alvarez may prove the shrewdest move of the lot in the long-term.
But Raheem Sterling’s exit, selling Gabriel Jesus and the soon-to-be rubber stamped Oleksandr Zinchenko switch have enabled the club to make a profit while also revealing a hierarchy so confident in their own strength that they don’t object to improving their rivals.
It also arms them with a considerable war chest to go shopping for a replacement left-back who could act as an upgrade on what they have, with the impressive Marc Cucurella of Brighton right at the top of their list. He is valued at £50million by Brighton.
They are understood to have been one of several Premier League clubs offered Alejandro Grimaldo, the Benfica left-back, as an alternative option.
Everton need more quality
Frank Lampard is making all the right noises and a summer of restructuring at the behest of Kevin Thelwell has prompted enthusiasm about on-field matters at Goodison Park. The club has a fresh feel about it and insiders speak about Lampard having overseen a rise in standards and application this summer.
There’s genuine enthusiasm about some of the club’s younger players too, with midfielder Lewis Warrington a potential pre-season “bolter” who could establish himself in the first-team group.
But there also needs to be a dose of realism injected – this is a team that came within a couple of games of an ignominious relegation. They need at least three new players to add to the savvy signing of James Tarkowski and the time is nigh to wheel and deal.
Maxwel Cornet was not at the top of the list entering the summer but is gettable. Morgan Gibbs-White would be a genuine coup if Everton can make an offer Wolves won’t resist. But they also need more goals – and given financial constraints and competition in that area, perhaps they will need to dip into the loan market.
After Farhad Moshiri made his intervention with an email to supporters about the club’s ownership last week, it really requires a similar statement in the transfer market before the season starts.
Newcastle’s final two signings – and the FFP dilemma
From the world’s richest club to the reality of the situation. Newcastle have been hemmed in partly by rules brought in by the Premier League to regulate spending but also by their sobering circumstances. They are not yet enough of a draw to bring in every single one of the players they are targeting – as Reims forward Hugo Ekitike’s snub highlighted. With Moussa Diaby also committing to Bayer Leverkusen, two offensive targets have been missed out on.
So far, the new ownership group have barely missed a beat but they now face a genuine headache. For their lofty ambitions to become reality, they need more threat up front but there are few available options who better them and fall into their budget of around £50million.
Of course the club has rich backers and could spend more and blow the wriggle room they have with regards to Financial Fair Play. But the risk of establishing a highly-paid squad now on long-term contracts is huge – just ask Everton how extending themselves unduly has worked out.
What is likely to happen is that they will play the loan market and look at up and coming options across Europe. A link to Red Bull Salzburg’s 19-year-old Benjamin Sesko – a Slovenian striker dubbed the new Erling Haaland – felt about right for the profile of player they’re looking at.
Leicester and Bournemouth need to get going
Such are the constraints of previous years of investment, the only club in the Premier League yet to sign a striker probably need to resolve Youri Tielemans’ situation before making their own foray into the market.
Thanks to FFP and previous years’ investment, Leicester must sell to buy – but it’s not so simple with the club looking for big prices for their own players. The risk of going stale is one that Brendan Rodgers will want to guard against – there were times last year when grumbles of discontent were heard despite the team finishing in 8th and going deep in the Europa Conference League.
At Bournemouth, two low-key signings don’t look like enough to protect them from the risk of a relegation fight. Granted, they spent big in January to guarantee promotion but it is asking a lot of Scott Parker to go into the season with what he has. The loan market may provide some salvation.
West Ham and Leeds United need a striker
The mid-tier market for strikers is brutal, even when clubs have resources. No club knows that more than West Ham, who have struggled to add the sort of firepower required to take them to the next level.
They are now in advanced talks with Chelsea over Armando Broja, gazumping Newcastle and Everton. That would be their most significant deal of the summer by a distance.
Leeds, meanwhile, have funds thanks to the sales of Raphinha and Phillips. Charles De Ketelaere of Club Brugge is an obvious target but they’re waiting on Milan to show their hand.
i has been told they do not intend to sell Jack Harrison, despite some overtures from Newcastle.
Liverpool’s midfield gamble
It seems churlish to offer a critique of a club who so often get it right in the transfer window. But for a club that operate in the highest echelons of club football, is Darwin Nunez enough to maintain their position at the apex?
Saido Mane’s departure brings fresh questions about their hitherto peerless recruitment policy that would be answered by another marquee signing. But Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool transfer team seem satisfied enough to sit and wait for Jude Bellingham to become available.
It is probably the right move, but they will be aware that if standards slip they will be left prone to criticism.
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