The Premier League Clubs With Gaps to Fill

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FT Desk

After a late return and a long international break, it feels like the English Premier League hasn’t really gotten going yet. However, there have been some early trends that point to clear holes that teams have in their squads. This article looks at which sides have these problems and what potential permanent solutions could be sought by the time the January transfer window rolls around.

This doesn’t happen until New Year’s Day, but teams need to plan months in advance before they make a significant signing. The recent documentary following Pep Guardiola and his last two seasons at Manchester City showed how clubs can track players for years before finally getting them on board.

The flip side is that a club can do as much planning as humanly possible, but an injury crisis hits and they need urgent cover. Comparing the Premier League football odds from the start of the season to now, provides some insightful insights into what’s unfolded so far. Here are some of the teams with the most dire need of reinforcements.

Tottenham Hotspur

No club has a more urgent problem than Tottenham. Roberto De Zerbi’s side spent over £300 million during the summer on 10 signings, but still managed to go four games in the Premier League this season without scoring. The goals that did arrive were late consolations in a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

The forward line is the obvious issue. Dominic Solanke, summer arrivals Savio and Omar Marmoush, Mathys Tel, and Mohammed Kudus have all failed to make an impact so far. Richarlison has also been completely frozen out of the squad after failing to get a late move away.

Injuries aren’t helping the squad, as Pedro Porro is out for the next couple of games with a hamstring issue, while Jan Paul Van Hecke was lucky to emerge unscathed after picking up a knock with the Netherlands.

Captain Micky van de Ven also picked up a finger injury during the break. Then there are Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons who are out with ACL injuries. What Spurs need the most is a penalty box finisher who doesn’t need a bedding-in period.

One candidate being talked about is Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey. He’s a powerful player who scored a hat trick last season against Manchester City. Sunderland won’t be in a hurry to sell, but he’s the exact type of forward De Zerbi’s side lacks.

Chelsea

Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea have the exact opposite problem. Joao Pedro has been one of the best attackers this season, scoring five goals and contributing three assists.

Defensively, the team has been a disaster, conceding 13 goals in their first six games, which is more than any other team in the division. They’ve also gone 21 league matches without a clean sheet, which is their worst run ever in Premier League history. A 3-0 loss to Brentford before the break left them without a win in three games.

They did sign Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace during the summer and replaced their goalkeeper with Emiliano Martínez. Alonso has reportedly approved a move for Barcelona’s Jules Kounde, who has the ability to play at centre half and right back, which could be perfect given Reece James’ recurring hamstring issues. Another player on the watchlist is Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov.

If Chelsea wants a proven Premier League defender to slot straight away, two names could be good fits. Everton’s James Tarkowski has three clean sheets, 36 clearances, a goal and an assist to his name after five games. He is a 33-year-old, so it would be a more short-term fix. In terms of a younger player, Leeds United’s Tarik Muharemovic is 23 and has been key to his team’s unbeaten start to the season.

Manchester United

Manchester United’s slow start saw them sit at 12th place going into the break, some fans blame unfinished summer business as a reason for the sluggishness. Left back is the biggest issue, made worse by an injury to Patrick Dorgu during international duty. Benjamin Sesko up front is struggling with a shin problem and being inconsistent.

United spent a lot of the summer trying to land Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde and Newcastle’s Lewis Hall. Balde has barely played so far this season, so he could be an option. Other players in the final years of their contracts are Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell and RB Leipzig’s David Raum. Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic, who has scored five goals in five games is also being linked.

Hall was the player that United really wanted, but he ended up signing a new deal at Newcastle, where he’s been one of the league’s best left-backs so far this season.

Aston Villa

Unai Emery’s side had a tough start to the season before a victory at Spurs, getting them back on track. However, their squad is stretched, as they were forced to sell a significant number of players during the summer to comply with financial fair play rules.

Then there’s the injury concern, most notably Amadou Onana, who will miss most of the season after suffering an ACL injury at the World Cup. Left back Ian Maatsen is out until late November and Matty Cash limped off while playing for Poland during the week. Villa are still trying to find a suitable replacement for Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea during the summer for a British record £117 million.

Pau Torres, Leon Goretzka, and Brian Madjo are all close to returning, but they could really do with another midfielder in Onana’s absence. Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt has been one of the best centre midfielders in recent months, with his passing and defensive work shining through. He’d be a good target for Villa in the January transfer window.

An Uncertain Time

The issue for many of these clubs is that rival teams often don’t want to sell key players mid-season, especially if they’re competing for European places or also in the relegation battle. Prices in January tend to be inflated as a result.

Some of the players who are most in demand, like Hall and King are also tied into long-term contracts. That’s why many of the bigger teams will likely look for loan moves or acquire players in the final year of their contracts to try to plug the gaps.

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FT Desk

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