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During the 2014 summer transfer window, Premier League teams spent an incredible £835 million on new players. Can we expect more of the same this year and could this number be surpassed?
Here are five clubs who will be busy reshaping their squads this summer:
Manchester City
Manual Pellegrini faces the prospect of chasing a Chelsea team that is only set to improve under Jose Mourinho next season. The squad has aged another year and, after visibly regressing from their title winning campaign in 2013/14, the Manchester City manager will be hoping that the club are able to secure several new signings to freshen things up.
With doubts lingering over the futures of Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure and Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko, alongside James Milner’s snubbing of a new contract, City are set for a busy summer just to keep pace with champions Chelsea. Having to work within the confines of Premier League’s home-grown rules, this should see them target young English players such as Liverpool contract-rebel Raheem Sterling and potentially even Tottenham left-back Danny Rose.
The centre of defence still remains an issue; time is catching up with Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala is yet to settle in England. This may be an area Pellegrini will look to strengthen, however, more likely is two or three established European names to upgrade the spine of the team. After another disappointing showing in the Champions League, players who arrive as the finished article are absolutely vital if they are to contest on all fronts next season.
Liverpool
Although Brendan Rodger’s position as manager is not yet completely safe, the club will be bracing themselves for another busy summer in the transfer market regardless of who takes their place in the dugout. There has been no tangible return on the signings made from the proceeds of Luis Suarez’ sale to Barcelona, and the lack of goals resulting from this and Daniel Sturridge’s injury problems will need to be addressed during the forthcoming window.
After news of his £32 million release clause broke, Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke looks likely to be approached. As does Danny Ings, who, despite Spurs’ interest in getting a deal for the Burnley striker done early, reportedly prefers a switch to Anfield.
Analysing Liverpool’s performances this season, it is difficult to point out an area of the team that wouldn’t benefit from improvement, with perhaps only Simon Mignolet and Philippe Coutinho able to come out of the season with any degree of credibility. With free agent James Milner also heavily linked with the club, it looks as though a strategy of considering players with Premier League experience is being actively adopted.
After the failure of their transfer business this time last year, the club’s owners FSG are under increasing pressure to improve the squad.
Tottenham Hotspur
A football club not shy of a hectic transfer window, this should continue for manager Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs this summer. Having made an approach for Danny Ings and already announcing the signing of Austrian defender Kevin Wimmer from FC Koln, they appear to be keen to do their business early.
There are players the manager didn’t sign who the club will try to move on. After failing to impress at White Hart Lane, there won’t be too many upset should the likes of forward Roberto Soldado or midfielder Paulinho leave.
Spurs will be looking to add some quality to supplement the young players of whom Pochettino has built his team around. Without being able to offer Champions League football, they may struggle alongside Liverpool to secure the more established talents in Europe.
It is shaping up to be a busy few months at the club, with Spurs also already close to securing a deal with relegated Burnley for right-back Kieran Trippier, alongside a reported challenge to rivals Arsenal for Porto striker Jackson Martinez.
Newcastle United
Considering Newcastle have been notoriously thrifty under the stewardship of owner Mike Ashley, they aren’t an obvious selection when listing the clubs expecting to be busy in the upcoming weeks. But that may be about to change; after becoming unexpectedly close to relegation this season with a new managerial appointment on the horizon, there could be a flurry of activity on Tyneside.
Ashley has vowed he wants to win a trophy and is committed to giving the new manager the resources to invest in the team. Most supporters will approach his latest comments before the West Ham game with some trepidation, but if they are to secure the services of a decent manager any new appointment will surely demand freedom to mould the team his own way.
With a number of the recent signings yet to show promise, the squad is in need of bolstering. The backlash from supporters could surpass that of this season if Ashley goes back on his word again, so we could be about to see a small shift in attitude from an owner who has maybe been shocked into action following recent events.
Significant transfer activity could be financed, in part, by the sales of sought-after names such as Moussa Sissoko or Tim Krul, but even discarding this we can expect it to be a summer of changes at St James Park.
Manchester United
City are likely to renew their rivalry with neighbours United before the season even kicks off, with both expected to go head-to-head over any big names that may become available over the summer. After securing European football by finishing fourth, the Red Devils will hope to build on this, and have already done so with the signing of Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven for £25 million.
Should Real Madrid make a formal approach for goalkeeper David De Gea, United will have to decide whether they are happy with current back-up Victor Valdes or whether they wish to enter the market for a ready-made replacement. Considering the Spaniard’s form this season, where he made a series of match-winning displays that earned him the club’s player of the year award, he will be a big miss if he left for Madrid.
Elsewhere, there are clearly players in the squad Louis Van Gaal doesn’t trust. Despite the transfer activity the club have undertaken since his arrival at Old Trafford, this is an opportunity for the Dutchman to finally stamp his identity on the squad. Although central defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have begun to settle into the manager’s style of play, reinforcements will be sought.
Also, Antonio Valencia has filled in admirably at right-back with Rafael out of favour, but a top class starter will surely be targeted. Central defensive options are Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi, with Nathaniel Clyne from Southampton linked for the right-back spot.
