EPL Transfer Window: The Top 6 with 2 weeks to go!

With two weeks remaining in the Barclay’s English Premier League truncated summer transfer window, I take a look at how the Top 6 have fared in their player pursuits. The combination of a World Cup summer and the new August 9^th deadline have created some interesting storylines as the 2018-2019 EPL season approaches.

(In alphabetical order)

IN:          Unai Emery (Manager – Paris St. Germain)

    Lucas Torreira (Midfielder – Sampadoria)

                Bernd Leno (Goalkeeper – Bayer Leverkusen)

                Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Defender – Borussia Dortmund)

                Stephan Lichtsteiner (Defender – Juventus)

                Matteo Guendouzi (Midfielder – Lorient)

Arsenal fans have long complained about the spine of the team, and new manager Unai Emery has moved quickly to address that area of pitch. Lucas Torreira looks to be the defensive midfielder Gooners everywhere have been shouting for and could provide the back four with the appropriate cover while the Arsenal attack is pouring forward in search of goals. Bernd Leno arrives to with the hope to rebuild his slightly tarnished star and provide stiff competition to Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal. Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Stephan Lichtsteiner inject a healthy dose of veteran calm across the backline while Emery waits on Laurent Koscielny to return from a long-term Achilles injury. Matteo Guendouzi is more midfield prospect than teamsheet regular at this point, but he has looked very composed in Arsenal’s early friendly matches.

OUT:      Arsene Wenger (Manager)

    Jack Wilshere (Midfielder – West Ham)

                Santi Cazorla (Midfielder – Villarreal)

Arsenal’s long tenured manager and two fan favorites have departed, and the fate of the three seem inexorably intertwined. Wilshere and Cazorla were the two players most capable of expressing the manager’s vision on the pitch. It’s no coincidence that Arsenal’s inability to stay in the top four and challenge at the top of the table dropped as both suffered through long-term injury problems.

WORK TO DO:   Aaron Ramsey contract

At the top of the ‘to do list’ is Aaron Ramsey’s contract situation. The Welsh midfielder has one year remaining on his contract and Unai Emery is anxious to tie him to a long-term deal. Ramsey has provided Arsenal with an indefatigable box-to-box runner and midfield presence. Losing him would be a huge blow to the Gunners both on the field and with fans. There will be several outgoing players – Danny Welbeck, Joel Campbell, Carl Jenkinson lead the list – on permanent transfers and loans. How the club handles the goalkeeping situation will also be telling as the club won’t carry three top-flight keepers. David Ospina seems most likely to leave, but Petr Cech may look for playing time assurances elsewhere if new signing Bernd Leno overtakes him as first choice.

GRADE:                B+

After years of neglect, the Gunners look poised to improve defensively. No Top 6 squad leaked as many goals as the Arsenal back line (51 goals conceded – Chelsea and Liverpool were next closest at 38) and if the red half of North London wants to return to the top four this will have to improve. Tying up Ramsey to a long-term contract would likely end the Gunners’ pursuit of additional players, but it also would not be surprising to see a late addition if Unai Emery identifies a weakness in the team set-up. Success for the Gunners would be a return to the top four, but the logistical difficulties of the Europa League may prevent them from returning this season.

IN:          Maurizio Sarri (Manager – Napoli)

   Jorghino (Midfielder – Napoli)

   Robert Green (Goalkeeper – Huddersfield)

As soap operas go, the managerial change at Chelsea ranks right along the best long-running sagas of the summer. Antonio Conte – winner of a Premier League title in 2016-2017 and FA Cup in 2018 – was finally dismissed in mid-July after falling out with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Maurizio Sarri was tipped to be next in Chelsea’s long line of managerial appointments and was handed the reigns on July 14^th. The Blues’ summer signings have been sparse with Jorghino the only newcomer of note. Jorghino is a very versatile midfielder but will most likely be used in a deep lying playmaker role next to N’golo Kante. Who Jorghino will be setting up remains to be seen, but if Chelsea manage to hold on to Eden Hazard this duo could terrorize Premier League defenses. While rumors continue to swirl around Thibault Courtois, Robert Green was coaxed out of retirement to be an emergency goalkeeper.

OUT:      Kenedy (Defender – Newcastle United)

The Blues will once again loan thirty-plus players from their enormous roster, but Kenedy’s second loan to Newcastle United includes an option to buy next summer. Kenedy has never been able to break into the Chelsea starting XI and should be good business for both clubs if he repeats his Tyneside form from last season.

WORK TO DO:   The futures of Eden Hazard, Thibault Courtois, Willian

Rivaled only by Chelsea’s managerial saga are the fates of Hazard, Courtois and Willian. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United have circled all summer and comments made by each have done nothing to squelch the rumors. If all three were to leave, the Blues would be forced into a last minute scramble to replace arguable their three most important players. While each would bring enormous transfer fees, finding players of their quality late in the transfer window would be a tall ask. Several other players with uncertain futures – Gary Cahill, David Luiz, Michy Batshuay, Davide Zappacosta top the list – will most likely depart along with the loan exodus across Europe of younger players.

GRADE:                 C-

The questions surrounding the Blues make any grade difficult to determine. Maurizio Sarri had success in Italy and if Hazard and Courtois can be convinced to stay, then Chelsea has the talent to challenge for the Premier League title. Willian has provided Chelsea an offensive spark for several season, but losing him would not damage Chelsea’s chances like losing Hazard and/or Courtois. Money isn’t usually an issue for Roman Abramovich, so the Blues are always buyers in the transfer market. With a few shrewd pick-ups, Chelsea could find themselves in the thick of the title fight.

IN:          Fabinho (Midfielder – Monaco)

                Naby Keita (Midfielder – Red Bull Leipzig)

                Xherdan Shaquiri (Winger – Stoke)

                Alisson (Goalkeeper – Roma)

Jurgen Klopp is synonymous with pressing, counter-attacking football and his three outfield signings reflect this. Fabinho and Keita are both dynamic central midfield players who are equally adept at defending and attacking. With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out for the majority of the season, both will see a lot of action in the center of the park and be expected to harass the opponent relentlessly. Of course Klopp’s preferred strategy only works if you have offensive players able to exploit the opponent at speed on the counter – something Shaquiri should do. The Swiss international is coming off a great showing at the World Cup and will join Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto “Bobby Chompers’ Firminio in the Liverpool attack. Klopp’s nightmare between the sticks – Champion’s League final anyone? – looks to be solved by Alisson. Alisson didn’t concede a home goal in the Champion’s League last season until the semi-final match against ….. you guessed it …. Liverpool when Roma crashed out. Both Klopp and the Kop hope Alisson will provide the Reds with a trusty set of hands at the back to push them toward the top of the table.

OUT:      Emre Can (Midfielder – Juventus)

Can is the only notable departure, though many fringe squad players have made the trek north to Rangers and linked up with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in Scotland. This list is sure to grow with both Loris Karius and more likely Simon Mignolet, Alberto Moreno, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings seemingly on the way out of Anfield.

WORK TO DO:   Very little

Liverpool got their work done early in the window and are probably finished in the market. Several players will be sold or leave on loan. Otherwise Klopp’s side is set.

GRADE:                A

The Champion’s League final showed how important Mo Salah is to Liverpool’s chances in the Premier League. While his shoulder should be fully healed by Matchday 1, Salah’s health is the most important factor in the Reds’ chances at the league title. With a healthy Salah, a relentless press and some solid goalkeeping, Jurgen Klopp’s squad has all the tools it needs to challenge Manchester City at the top of the table. The knock against Klopp has been consistency and the new signings should allow him to rotate players with no drop-off throughout the season. The Kop should be rocking at Anfield as the Reds will continue scoring goals at a frenzied rate.

IN:          Riyad Mahrez (Winger – Leicester City)

After running roughshod over the Premier League last season, City added another dynamic attacking talent in Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian winger scored 42 goals and provided 27 assists during the past four seasons with the Foxes and will be keen to improve those tallies as a Cityzen. Backed by an entire nation’s oil wealth, there is no price too high for the Sky Blues so this list may well grow before the transfer window closes.

OUT:      None

Manchester City’s record breaking form doesn’t show any signs of letting up in 2018-2019. The squad returns virtually intact with no first or second choice players moving on. Several fringe or previously loaned players may finally find their way off City’s books in the form of Joe Hart, Jason Denayer and Oleksander Zinchenko. The most likely scenario is that this list stays as it is.

WORK TO DO:   World Cup Recovery

Sixteen of City’s first and second choice players participated in the World Cup. If there can be a negative to buying as many of the best players in the world as possible, this is it. While Pep Guardiola doesn’t seem to see this as a problem, the toll of playing so many games over a 24 month span does come at a high mental and physical price. Guardiola will need to manage each player carefully as they return to training over the next several weeks to insure they are ready for the demands of the Premier League season.

GRADE:                A

Hard to argue with City’s approach when you consider the achievements of last season and the talent already in the squad. There are very few players capable of making an impact or improving what currently resides inside the Etihad Stadium. Some teams have a letdown following a championship season, but Guardiola is not the type of coach to lower his standards and expectations regardless of previous success. All that remains for this team to do is chase the Invincibles of Arsenal and make it through an entire season without defeat.

IN:          Fred (Midfielder – Shakhtar Donesk)

                Lee Grant (Goalkeeper – Stoke)

                Diogo Dalot (Defender – Porto)

The Red Devil’s have, as usual, been linked with the biggest names in football this summer. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale topped the wishlist in the red half of Manchester, but neither arrived. Instead the Special One dipped into the Ukrainian Premier League and delivered Fred, the Brazilian midfielder. Yes, Lee Grant (insurance in the unlikely event David De Gea leaves for Spain) and Diogo Dalot (one for the future) arrived as well, though neither are seen a critical to United’s success this season. Fred could be the key to the Red Devil midfield problems under Jose Mourinho. He is equally adept with both feet, is a true box-to-box midfielder and is a very capable dribbler. While he has not yet shown a knack for goal scoring, Fred should knit the Red Devils’ backline and attack together in ways few of their current squad can. This list could grow soon – Leicester City/England Defender Harry Maguire’s name is being bandied about as a potential transfer target following his immense showing in the World Cup.

OUT:      Daley Blind (Defender – Ajax)

Blind had become a bit part player under Mourinho so it is no shock to see him off to Ajax. Few would be surprised to see Anthony Martial’s name added to the outgoing list – neither he nor Mourinho make any secret of their dislike for each other. Luke Shaw is another who may soon join this list.

WORK TO DO:   Find Paul Pogba’s best position

Fresh off his World Cup victory, Paul Pogba will get some much needed rest before resuming his training for the upcoming season. Upon his return, the Red Devil’s first order of business should be determining Pogba’s best position under Mourinho. At Juventus Pogba had a free license to roam the midfield, while for the French national team he showed how he could track back defensively with aplomb.  The answer may be that his talents do not dovetail with Mourinho’s philosophy (see De Bruyne, Kevin) and Pogba will need to be sold.  What is not in question is that the Red Devils have not gotten the best out of him yet. If Manchester United wants to catch Manchester City, Pogba must perform at the highest level.

It is difficult to see how Manchester United have addressed any of the offensive issues which plagued them last season. Their 68 goals scored only exceeded Chelsea’s 62 among the Top 6 and were 38 goals behind the title winners across town. The squad’s offensive output should be much higher with Lukaku, Sanchez, Rashford, Herrera, Lingard and – for the time being – Martial, but something doesn’t balance in this team. By finding the proper role for Pogba and using Fred to weave defense and attack together, Jose Mourinho may be able to unleash a title winning side. Without additional signings that appears more as a pipe dream than a plan.

IN:          None

Nothing to see here folks, kindly move along.

OUT:      None

Nothing here either, although Fernando Llorente and Mousa Dembele will depart before August 9^th.

WORK TO DO: Keep the band together

All the excitement on the Seven Sisters Road this summer has surrounded the construction of a new White Hart Lane. No players in, no players out. The hardest work Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy will have to do is keep the squad together until the financial benefits of the new stadium kick in. Mauricio Pochettino, Harry Kane, Delle Alli, Christian Eriksen and Hugo Lloris continue to draw interest from teams across the continent – especially where it rains on the plains in Spain. Daily new rumors appear of interest from Barcelona or Real Madrid for the Spurs’ quintet and the lucrative offers will eventually turn one of their heads. While Spurs did blast their existing wage structure in signing Harry Kane, the top clubs in Europe far exceed the £100000 a week wages most of Tottenham’s main cogs are paid. The new White Hart Lane will need to pay off sooner rather than later if Spurs and their fans are going to enjoy Champion’s League football much longer.

There are times when standing pat is your best option, and Manchester City played from virtually the same sheet music as Daniel Levy. The difference is City accumulated 23 more points and scored 32 more goals than Tottenham. Spurs best hope to stay in the top four is the continued struggles of the teams around them, most notably Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. Liverpool should leapfrog Tottenham this season, while Arsenal seems the most improved on paper. Will Chelsea struggle after their summer of managerial drama and want-away players? Will United suffer from Mourinho Year Three Syndrome that followed the Special One from Inter Milan to Chelsea? Hoping for three of your closest rivals to stumble at the same time does not usually lead to the Premier League top four. In Tottemham’s case it would only take two to stumble for Spurs to keep the European nights dancing in their new stadium.