We look at transfer activity of Big Six EPL clubs and what they still need to challenge for the title
FROM big-spending Chelsea to quiet City - we track the transfers of the big EPL clubs and the players they need to challenge for silverware.
THERE’S still plenty of time before the transfer window closes on August 31, but with the Barclays Premier League season kicking off in less than three weeks, the race is on for managers to secure the world’s top talent.
Arsenal has signalled its intent by taking Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona and Jose Mourinho has invested heavily in Spanish duo Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa at Chelsea.
Manchester United is rebuilding under new boss Louis van Gaal, while Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has already signed five players, with more expected.
At the other end of the spectrum, Manchester City and Tottenham have hardly made a splash in the market, but that’s sure to change soon.
From big-spending Chelsea to quiet Manchester City - we track the transfers of the big six Premier League clubs and the players they still need to challenge for domestic dominance.
ARSENAL
In: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona) £35m, Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle) £12m, David Ospina (Nice) Undisclosed, Calum Chambers (Southampton), Undisclosed, Elias Chatzitheodoridis (Kallitheakos) Undisclosed, Hugo Keto (HJK Helsinki) Undisclosed,
Out: Bacary Sagna (Manchester City, free), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea, free), Nicklas Bendtner (released), Park Chu-young (released),
The July arrivals of Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona, Newcastle defender Mathieu Debuchy and Southampton teenager Calum Chambers are great signings by Wenger, but the Gunners are still a couple of players away from being considered real title challengers.
What they need: Top of Wenger’s wishlist is a central defender, a box to box central midfielder and one more striker.
Dream signing: William Carvalho
More realistic: Sami Khedira, Lars Bender, Matija Nastasic, Nani
Transfer rating so far: 4/5
CHELSEA
In: Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona, £30m), Diego Costa (Atletico Mdrid, £32m), Mario Pasalic (Hadjuk Split, undisclosed), Filipe Luis (Atletico, £16m), Didier Drogba (free agency)
Out: David Luiz (Paris Saint-Germain, £50m), Ashley Cole (Roma, free), Samuel Eto’o (released), Frank Lampard (released), Henrique Hilario (released), , Bertrand Traore (Vitesse Arnhem, loan) Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach, loan), Demba Ba (Besiktas, undisclosed)
Jose Mourinho moved swiftly to complete Chelsea’s transfer business, and the Blues manager says the club won’t be bringing in any additional players. Cesc Fabregas is a world class midfielder, Diego Costa’s scoring form took Europe by storm last season, while his Atletico teammate Felipe Luis was on the cusp of World Cup selection for Brazil. Star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is virtually a new signing after returning from an extended loan period and returning hero Didier Drogba will provide a huge lift to the dressing room.
What they need: Not much really, besides to sort out the futures of strikers Romelu Lukaku and Fernando Torres.
Dream signing: Cristiano Ronaldo
More realistic: Hoffeinheim starlet Roberto Firmino
Transfer rating so far: 4/5
LIVERPOOL
In: Adam Lallana (Southampton, £23m), Lazar Markovic (Benfica, £20m), Emre Can (Bayer Leverkusen, £9.8m), Rickie Lambert (Southampton, £4m), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), £20m
Out: Luis Suarez (Barcelona, £75m), Luis Alberto (Malaga, loan), Michael Ngoo, Stephen Sama (both released), Iago Aspas (Sevilla, loan), Andre Wisdom (West Brom, loan)
Brendan Rodgers has strengthened his squad significantly with the signings of Southampton trio Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren, as well as Lazar Markovic and Emre Can, but there’s still the small matter of replacing Luis Suarez.
The Reds need a world class signing following the Uruguayan’s departure to Barcelona and Rodgers will be working around the clock until the close of the window to get his man.
What they need: A world class attacker and a left-back
Dream signing: Karim Benzema, Marcos Reus
More realistic: Ryan Bertand, Jay Rodriguez, Wilfried Bony, Divock Origi
Transfer rating so far: 3.5/5
MANCHESTER CITY
A quiet window by City’s lofty standards, but Manuel Pellegrini still has the best squad in England, and hence won’t be too worried about the lack of action in the window.
In: Fernando (Porto, £12m), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal, free), Willy Caballero (Malaga, £6m)
Out: Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland, free), Joleon Lescott (West Brom, free) Gareth Barry (Everton, free), Alex Nimely (released), Rony Lopes (Lille, loan)
Manchester City has been uncharecteristially inactive this transfer window, but when you have the best squad in England, you can afford to be. Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala should move before the close of the window, while Bacary Sagna’s signing from free agency is an astute move.
What they need: A striker to cover the loss of the injured Alvaro Negredo and a central defender.
Dream signing: Lionel Messi
More realistic: Isco, Eliaquim Mangala
Transfer rating so far: 2.5/5
MANCHESTER UNITED
In: Luke Shaw (Southampton, £31.5m), Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao, £29m), Vanja Milinkovic (FK Vojvodina, undisclosed)
Out: Alexander Buttner (Dinamo Moscow, £5.6m), Rio Ferdinand (released), Nemanja Vidic (Inter Milan, free), Federico Macheda (Cardiff City, free), Jack Barmby (Leicester, free), Ryan Giggs (retired), Patrice Evra (Juventus, £2.5m)
Louis van Gaal’s biggest challenge is whether he can convince the world’s top talent to move to Old Trafford. Plenty has been spent on Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera, and while early signs are good, the Red Devils are still three top players away from competing for silverware, with a couple of defensive signings key. The Arturo Vidal rumours just won’t die, and the Chilean would no doubt provide real quality to the Red Devils’ much maligned midfield.
What they need: Where to start? A central midfielder, a cover for left back and two central defenders.
Dream signing: Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal, Angel Di Maria, Mats Hummels
More realistic: Daley Blind, Kevin Strootman
Transfer rating so far: 3/5
TOTTENHAM
In: Michael Vorm (Swansea) Undisclosed, Ben Davies (Swansea) Undisclosed
Out: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea) Undisclosed, Jake Livermore (Hull, £6m), Heurelho Gomes (Watford, free), Cameron Lancaster (released), Alex Pritchard (Brentford, loan)
It’s been all quiet on the north London front, with just Swansea duo Vorm and Davies the only incoming players to date. New manager Mauricio Pochettino will be wary it’s about quality not quantity after seeing Spurs’ seven recruits last year struggle to adapt to the rigours of England.
What they need: To replace Gareth Bale
Dream signing: Gareth Bale (some dreams come true, but not this one)
More realistic: Ron Vlaar, Jay Rodriguez, Morgan Schneiderlin
Transfer rating: so far: 2/5
Originally published as We look at transfer activity of Big Six EPL clubs and what they still need to challenge for the title
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