Premier League 2026/27: One key position each big team must address
The 2026/27 Premier League season is about to commence, with all teams in the top flight looking to strengthen their squads in the summer transfer window.
While some may need wholesale changes, some sides just need a few signings to be ready for the new campaign. With the transfer market becoming highly inflated, even big clubs are finding it difficult to find reinforcements.
Here, we look at the eight biggest Premier League sides and the one position each of them needs reinforcements in ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Arsenal — Left-winger
The reigning Premier League champions are looking to improve their squad from a position of strength. Going into the new season, Arsenal have a couple of key injuries in midfield and defence. However, they do have quality squad players in both those areas.
That said, with Leandro Trossard having left and Gabriel Martinelli no longer considered a first-choice option by manager Mikel Arteta, the Gunners are definitely in need of a quality left-winger.
There has been recent speculation around Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, with Arsenal prepared to meet his exorbitant wage demands. However, recent news coming from Spain indicates that Real Madrid aren’t willing to part ways with their talismanic Brazilian, who has a huge fan in new manager José Mourinho.
Having lost out on Morgan Rogers, who has moved to Chelsea, there aren’t many top-quality winger options in the market, and if Arsenal fail to land Vinícius, they could be in a pickle come the start of next season.
Aston Villa — Centre-midfielder
Aston Villa had a fine season last time around as they won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League. This summer, they have been at the centre of tremendous transfer activity.
The Villans have sold Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Donyell Malen, while bringing in Alejandro Garnacho, João Gomes, and Johan Manzambi so far. However, they still lack a central midfielder who can provide the kind of line-breaking passes Tielemans is known for.
Manager Unai Emery will be well aware of the taxing schedule that awaits his team this term, with Champions League football to deal with as well. Having lost key creative players, his squad is in dire need of a physical presence in midfield, someone who can also contribute in attack. Last season, Villa struggled and conceded goals consistently, with injuries somewhat derailing their campaign towards the end. However, they managed to ensure Champions League qualification in part due to inconsistent performances from other competing sides.
Villa needed players in wide areas, and the addition of Manzambi and Garnacho could solve that issue. Their main concern now remains in the centre of the park. They need someone who can help both in attack and defence. If they want to step up and be counted as league title contenders, then Villa will need to bring in an elite central midfielder, possessing pace, great technical skills, and top defensive attributes.
Chelsea — Goalkeeper
Chelsea ended last season in a dismal tenth place, out of European spots yet again. For a club of their stature, this was another underwhelming season, leaving them trying to course-correct with some important signings.
This summer, the Blues have already signed Morgan Rogers, Marco Palestra, and Geovany Quenda thus far and are in contact with Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck, and Maxence Lacroix to add leadership and experience while bolstering squad depth. They are also pushing for a midfielder in Alex Scott as well as a left-back, with Marc Cucurella moving to Real Madrid.
Given their issues at the back last season, an experienced centre-back was also a priority, so they have brought in Lacroix from Crystal Palace. However, they are also in need of a world-class ball-playing goalkeeper. Robert Sánchez has been their first-choice option between the sticks, but he simply isn’t good enough: he is prone to frequent errors, not good enough on the ball, and overall highly inconsistent.
Although he improved last season, Chelsea do not have the luxury of affording Sánchez any more chances. If new boss Xabi Alonso opts for a back-three formation at Stamford Bridge, an elite goalkeeper will become even more of a necessity for the 2016/17 Premier League champions.
Manchester City — Right-back
Manchester City have failed to win the Premier League for two consecutive seasons now, and after the departure of the legendary Pep Guardiola, their job has only become that much harder.
That said, the Cityzens still possess one of the best squads in the league; with a top-quality first XI and a high-quality bench, they’ll still start the season as contenders for the league title. However, recent news suggests that one of their most important players, Rodri, could leave for Real Madrid this season. With experienced operators like Bernardo Silva and John Stones having also left this summer, while Manuel Akanji effectively departed last year, City need control in midfield.
While they do have González, Tijjani Reijnders, and have bought the highly rated Elliott Anderson for a record £116 million, they are still looking to add a defensive midfielder and are interested in bringing in young Ayoub Bouaddi from Lille to the Etihad.
However, one can argue that it’s out wide where their needs are more pressing. The right-back position is one they have not addressed since last season. Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes played in that position last term, and even Abdukodir Khusanov had to deputise when there were injuries, but none of them provide the kind of quality required of an out-and-out full-back. This is one area City have overlooked so far, one where they need genuine quality if they want to make a successful push for the league title this time around.
Manchester United FC — Defensive midfielder
Manchester United made massive strides last season ensuring a Top five finish and qualifying for the Champions League this season. The appointment of Michael Carrick worked wonders for the Red Devils as he guided them to a third-place finish. However, this season is going to be tougher with a demanding schedule with Champions League games to play as well.
United made some top forward signings in Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko but failed to sign a defensive midfielder and it showed in their games. Man United were far easier to bypass through the midfield and even though Bruno Fernandes had an exceptional season in attack, United missed a proper 6 deep in midfield.
They were looking to add Carlos Baleba to their squad last season but they weren’t willing to pay the exorbitant asking price from Brighton and Hove Albion. Although they have a young Kobbie Mainoo who could fill in but considering the number of games they will play, they do need another starting defensive midfielder. As per reports, they are still pushing for Baleba and may get their man this summer.
Liverpool FC — Right-winger
Liverpool FC had an abysmal season last year after winning the title in the previous season. Although they made some really good signings in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, they sold a lot of players as well and didn’t add squad depth which cost them with multiple injuries last season.
Liverpool has several key positions to address this season but none more important than the right-wing position vacated by possibly the best winger in Premier League history – Mohamed Salah. Liverpool was earlier linked with Yan Diomandé of RB Leipzig but the deal didn’t go through. Liverpool have also entered negotiations with Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain who can play both left wing and right wing but he is a predominantly left winger. Although they have signed Spaniard Victor Munoz as well who is another versatile winger but not a right-winger.
Of course, it’s challenging to replace someone as elite as Mohamed Salah and with the market being so inflated and fewer high-quality options, Liverpool might struggle to find that right wing signing they so badly need and may have to rely on the versatility of the wingers they sign.
Tottenham Hotspur — Striker
Spurs have struggled massively for the past two seasons, avoiding relegation both times. Hence, it was imperative for them to make transformative signings.
Spurs have done most of their signings before the World Cup and strengthened their midfield with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes while also bringing in defensive reinforcements in Andrew Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi.
They have all but fixed their midfield and defence but the striker position is the one area they are lacking. Currently they have Dominic Solanke and Richarlison in their squad but Solanke is injury-prone and Richarlison hasn’t been as consistent as expected.
Finding a high-quality finisher will be a massive challenge for Spurs as there is serious dearth of elite strikers right now and most of them are either too expensive or untouchable from their club’s perspective. Hence, the Lilywhites need to be shrewd and rely on their scouts to find them a potential world class talent for a reasonable transfer fee who can help provide the goals they need to win games.
Newcastle United — Centre-midfielder
The Magpies played in the Champions League last season but ended their league campaign in dismal fashion, finishing outside the Top 10 places. Newcastle have been rattled by losing not only key players like Anthony Gordon and quite possibly Bruno Guimarães (impending move to Arsenal) but also their head-coach Eddie Howe departing St James’ Park this summer.
Newcastle’s style of play under Eddie Howe depended on their midfield controlling the opposition with physicality, reclaiming the ball and starting counter attacks. Although they have added some young players in Bouzamana Touré, Sean Steur, Ewen Jaouen and Aladji Bamba to strengthen their squad depth, they need quality starting players to compete in the league. If Guimarães leaves though, Newcastle would have to find not only a high-quality midfielder but also an experienced player who could instantly become a part of the leadership group as well.
Additionally, with German coach Matthias Jaissle in advanced talks for the head-coach position, Newcastle might have to wait for the new head-coach to come in and provide recommendations for the kind of profile he would like in his system. The clock is ticking for them with the league to begin on August 22nd, 2026 and if the Geordies do not want a repeat performance of the previous season, they need to act soon and get a replacement for their outgoing captain.
