Brief analysis of the Premier League丨Guide for the top 20 Premier League summer window signings: What players do each team need?

With the 2025 summer transfer window officially open, Premier League official football columnist Alex Cable analyzed the signing focus of each Premier League team one by one, from tactical gap to lineup structure, and see which type of players will be the market focus this summer.

Arsenal: Center

Arteta is eager to introduce a center with strong scoring ability. RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesco has entered Arsenal's signing radar.

This is well known: Havertz became the Premier League scorer champion in the Gunners with 9 goals last season, and this number is only tied for 26th in the entire league. In addition, Arsenal's expected goal (xG) is only 61.6, ranking sixth in the Premier League, just slightly higher than Crystal Palace's 61.3. This is far from enough for a championship team.

Arsenal needs a striker with killer instincts who can seize sporadic opportunities when facing intensive defense, use running to tear open the defense line, break the rhythm of passing and control, and bring direct threats.

Aston Villa: Right back

Aston Villa tried to introduce a right back as early as last summer. The missed Champions League qualification at the end of the season highlights the shortcomings of this position.

Disassi's defensive mistake in facing Doku allowed Manchester City to score the winning goal in April, and Marty Cash's mistake at Old Trafford in the last round led to Martinez's red card and a loss.

Vera's defense line has obvious loopholes on the right side, and 39% of the attacks come from the opponent's area. Compared with left-back Digne, the right-side defense is weak.

Bornemouth: Central defender

Dean Huyson transferred to Real Madrid for £50 million, leaving a clear vacancy for Bournemouth's defense. At the same time, Zabarni was also chased by multiple teams.

Andoni Iraola needs to make up for at least one central defender. The team did not know defense last season, ranking 11th in 11 clean sheets, and xG conceded 49.31 goals, ranking eighth.

Huyson performed well on the defensive end, ranking second among the Premier League central defenders with 1.89 interceptions per 90 minutes. More importantly, he has the ability to pass in depth, and it is difficult to find a substitute.

Brentford: Right wing

Brentford's current priority is to find a potential replacement for Brian Mbeu. The player may transfer to another Premier League team this summer.

Mbeu scored 20 goals and contributed 7 assists last season, accounting for 41% of the team's total 66 goals. If Visa is lost again, Brentford's attack power will be greatly reduced.

They need a right-wing player who is good at dribbling, can create kills in counterattacks, and has scoring and assists. Last season, 39% of their offenses came from the right, with only three teams in the Premier League, which is even higher.

The Premier League team with the most offenses on the right in the 2024/25 season: Center

Although Brighton has signed 18-year-old star Charlarambos Costuras, he is a little immature and is difficult to be a first-line center for the time being.

He made 22 appearances for Olympiacos last season, which is not enough to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the forward line.

Although 34-year-old Welbeck scored 10 goals, he is getting older and Brighton cannot rely on him for a long time. Once absent, the team's forward firepower will be severely limited.

Burnley: Center

Burnley's defensive performance in the Championship last season was a legend - conceding only 16 goals in 46 games, setting a record for the lowest goal conced in the English league and tied the historical record with 30 wins.

But the offensive end still needs to be strengthened. Midfielder Brown Hill became the team's scorer with 18 goals, but it is difficult to replicate this achievement in the Premier League. Dutch striker Fleming scored 12 goals last season.

Burnley urgently needs a pure scorer, preferably with Premier League experience.

Chelsea: Goalkeeper

Chelsea's doubts about Robert Sanchez have long existed, and he has not been convincing in goal line control, positioning and outgoing.

Although it has good save ability, it ranks tenth in xG save ability, only +2.1. And the five fatal mistakes he made in the Premier League tied for first place.

Chelsea needs a more stable and commanding goalkeeper.

Crystal Palace: Central defender

Crystal Palace actually conceded 51 goals last season, while the expected concedes was only 50.38, exposing the instability of the defense.

Chelsea suspended Trevo Chaloba's loan, further weakening the depth of the lineup. As Mark Guy enters his final year of contract, the defense line becomes more urgent.

Oliver Glasner urgently needs at least one new central defender to support the three central defender system.

Everton: Right back

Moyes tried to get center back Jack O'Brien to be the right back, but it was a stopgap measure after all. Ashley Young, 39, played 32 games last season, obviously no longer a long-term plan.

data shows that 40% of the opponent's offense comes from Everton's right. They urgently need a full-time right-back with a strong sense of position.

Fulham: The core of the winger

Fulham's tactical core is high-quality crossing, but the lack of speed-type wing players leads to a single offensive method.

2024/25 season, Fulham tied for the last number of straight passes (43 times), and ranked third from the bottom in the number of attempts (542 times).

They need a winger with agile skills, strong breakthrough ability, and able to hold the ball to create opportunities to increase offensive methods.

Leeds United: Central defender

promoted Leeds United need to strengthen multiple positions, but central defender should be the primary goal. It is reported that the club is close to signing Jaka Bjor.

Joe Rotton and Struyk lack top experience. More importantly, when coach Daniel Fark coached Norwich, he conceded 75 goals in the 2020 season, making the most of the Premier League..

To gain a foothold in the top league, Leeds must enhance the stability of the middle defensiveness.

Liverpool: Leftback

replaced Alexander Arnold with Flynnon on the right, Arne Slott's next step is to find a contender for Robertson. Milos Kolkz is a name mentioned.

31-year-old Robertson is no longer as fast and physically as before, and only once participated in the offensive participation at a deeper position last season. The team urgently needs a younger left-back to take over.

Robertson's Premier League goals + assists in the past four seasons: The reconstruction of right back

Guardiola is still continuing, and the right back is the focus area.

Kyle Walker may leave the team, while alternatives such as Rico Lewis and Nunes are more like midfielders. The two made only 10 offensive contributions last season.

Compared with offensive data, the more important thing is defense. Manchester City needs a fullback with the speed of recovery like Walker to turn the defense into offensive rhythm.

Manchester United: The center

Red Devils' actual goals last season were 10.6 less than xG, making it the second largest gap in the Premier League. This shows that the problem lies in ending ability, not opportunity creation.

Hoilen scored only 4 goals in the league, and Zilkze only 3 goals. Manchester United created 406 opportunities and 524 shots, ranking sixth in both statistics.

With a creative midfielder like Fernandez, an efficient striker is a necessity.

Newcastle United: Right wing

Although Jacob Murphy performed well with 8 goals and 12 assists last season, the outside world still questioned his right winger position.

It is obvious during the game that Newcastle often stagnates when advancing on the right, lacking the sharpness of Gordon's left.

Even if Murphy continues to start, Newcastle needs a competitive right-hand attacker.

Nottingham Forest: Midfielder

Considering that we still have to compete in the European Union, the Forest needs to strengthen in multiple positions, especially the midfielder.

Nuno's team will no longer have the advantage of a "dark horse" and need to transition to a more proactive ball-handling style.

But at present they do not have a suitable metronome-type midfielder. Last season, the pass success rate was 87.3%, ranking fifth from the bottom in the Premier League, with as many as 563 mistakes in possession, making only three teams worse.

Sunderland: The transfer of midfielder

Yobe Bellingham to Dortmund was undoubtedly a heavy blow, and the difficulty of relegation was doubled.

Sunderland rose to the Premier League with 58 goals, setting a record low in recent years, indicating that they must place more emphasis on defense.

Need a tough defensive midfielder to sweep the backcourt. Bellingham Jr. won 244 ball rights last season, the seventh highest in the Championship.

Tottenham: There is uncertainty about the future of winger

Son Heung-min, and the club has a scandal with Mbeu, indicating that the new coach hopes to supplement the firepower on the wing.

Solank scored only 9 goals last season, but what Tottenham really lacks is the pass and dribbling support. In too many games, they lack breakthroughs in the frontcourt.

A more direct and efficient winger can help the team open up.

West Hammers: Center

Harm Gang Legion once again faces a center famine.

Fulkruger, Antonio, Ince and Ferguson scored only 5 goals last season, far below xG (7.2).

West Ham scored only 46 goals in the whole season, fifth from the bottom in the Premier League. Porter's transmission and control system has always been weak in offense, which further highlights the importance of a reliable shooter.

Wolves: Leftback

Ren Ait Nuri's departure is a major loss, and Matthews Cunia has also transferred to Manchester United, which means that the entire left side is lost.

The two of them contributed 19 goals and 13 assists last season, accounting for 59% of the team's total goals. 40% of Wolves' offense comes from the left, and Vittor Pereira must quickly find two substitutes, otherwise the tactical center of gravity will be forced to adjust.

Conclusion:

This summer, the recruitment strategies of each team are revolving around actual weaknesses. Whoever can accurately strengthen the lineup will be more likely to stand out in the 2025/26 season. The game in the transfer market has just begun.