Premier League top six still looking to make big-money signings before transfer deadline... here Sportsmail looks at their business so far and who they may still buy

  • The busy summer transfer window slams shut at 11pm on Thursday night 
  • The Premier League big boys are still looking to strengthen their squads
  • It is not a case of business done for any of the traditional top six sides
  • Sportsmail looks at their business so far and who they might still get in  

Transfer deadline arrives at 11pm on Thursday and the Premier League's biggest clubs are still looking to flex some serious financial muscle. 

Even though they have spent close to £700million between them already, it is not a case of business done for any of the traditional top six sides. 

Here Sportsmail looks at what each club has bought already and who they might yet get in the closing hours...

The Premier League's top six clubs will be busy before the transfer window closes 

The Premier League's top six clubs will be busy before the transfer window closes 

 

Liverpool


Who's in?

Liverpool's signings to date have been interesting, if not necessarily explosive. At current prices, Mohamed Salah looks like very good value at £34m from Roma, the former Chelsea winger scoring three goals in five games, while Andrew Robertson and Dominic Solanke should develop well at Anfield.

Who's coming in?

Jurgen Klopp's side threaten to be the busiest movers in the market in the remaining time. Rather than rest on laurels after the blitzing of Arsenal, they are looking to use it as a platform to make another push to create a team capable of challenging for the title and making an impression in the Champions League.

The pursuits of Naby Keita, Thomas Lemar, and Virgil Van Dijk could really send reverberations around Europe. Keita was excellent for RB Leipzig last season, scoring eight goals and assisting another seven in the Bundesliga, as well as keeping the team ticking from central midfield with intelligent passing. The 22-year-old arriving for £55m after a lengthy pursuit is a major statement.

Liverpool are still chasing the big-money signings of Thomas Lemar and Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool are still chasing the big-money signings of Thomas Lemar and Virgil van Dijk

So too would it be if Lemar joins for £75m and Van Dijk for £70m. Monaco have already fended off interest from Arsenal in Lemar and are determined not to lose any more of their players but Liverpool could offer Divock Origi in exchange. A late move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has not been ruled out. The Van Dijk situation is well known.

Any outgoings?

Such an outlay might hint at departures with Barcelona still pursuing Philippe Coutinho. Liverpool insist the Brazilian is not for sale and rejected a £138m Nou Camp bid. But incomings of the scale mooted could grease that outgoing. Liverpool have recouped nearly £18m from sales of Andre Wisdom, Lucas, and Kevin Stewart.

Home-grown quota: Solanke was a signing made with this in mind, while Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold have shown more promise. Captain Jordan Henderson further boosts the numbers.

 

Manchester City

Who's in?

City have already signed Bernarndo Silva, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, Danilo, and Ederson for more than £200m in the aim of making Pep Guardiola's second season much more successful than his first, with a deep Champions League run and title tilt essential.

Who's coming in?

Guardiola has been committing pound coins as if they were coupons with a use-by-date, and has finally launched his expected late attempt to prise Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal with a sensational offer of cash plus Raheem Sterling.

If that seems a little brutal on Sterling, who has scored two crucial goals to win City three points this season, it is also a sign of how highly Guardiola values Sanchez, who he worked with at Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola has made a late attempt to sign Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez

Pep Guardiola has made a late attempt to sign Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez

Whether Arsenal could allow Sanchez to go remains to be seen with hardly any time remaining to replace such an influential player. The Chilean, whose contract runs out next summer, has made clear his desire to leave.

Guardiola also wants a central defender to bolster his back-three system and West Bromwich Albion expect another bid for Jonny Evans. West Brom want £30m for the 29-year-old, who has not played this season due to a hamstring problem.

Any outgoings?

In the opposite direction, City have allowed a number of players to depart, with the most high-profile Kelechi Iheanacho to Leicester for £25m.

Home-grown quota: City paid a premium on Walker because of his English status, while Evans also has that advantage having progressed at United.

 

Chelsea

Who's in?

Antonio Conte's ferocity on the touchline has been equalled by his approach to the transfer market and he is not satisfied at landing Alvaro Morata (£60m), Antonio Rudiger (£34m), Tiemoue Bakayoko (£40m), and Willy Caballero (free). The Italian knows he needs more quality and numbers for domestic and European campaigns.

Who's coming in?

Conte is another elite manager banging the drum for signings, having made it the recurring sound during a summer of discontent. Striking a £35m deal with Arsenal for Oxlade-Chamberlain would represent a neat bit of business for a player who is likely to gain fresh impetus from leaving the Emirates, while deals for Danny Drinkwater (£40m), Ross Barkley (£25m) and Fernando Llorente (£20m) are also in the works as Conte looks to build on his debut season success.

Leicester are driving a hard bargain for Drinkwater, who is open to the move, while Tottenham will rival the bid for Barkley. Chelsea could still move for Danny Rose too, with Juventus driving a high price for Alex Sandro. 

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be on his way to Chelsea before the window closes

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be on his way to Chelsea before the window closes

Any outgoings?

Always a club willing to sell players too, Chelsea have banked more than £70m from the sales of Nemanja Matic, Nathan Ake, Nathaniel Chalobah, and Bertrand Traore, while John Terry has of course departed on a free. There is expected to be a resolution to Diego Costa's stand-off this week, with movement from Atletico Madrid on a potential £40m transfer.

Home-grown quota: The moves for Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley, and Drinkwater show Chelsea are looking to increase their English contingent significantly.

 

Arsenal

Who's in?

Alexandre Lacazette, arriving for £52m, is the only major signing of the summer and he looked promising against Leicester. But he was then replaced at Stoke with the team losing and left out of the starting line-up at Liverpool. All a little confusing.

Who's coming in?

Arsene Wenger already finds himself engulfed in a crisis following defeat at Stoke and utter collapse at Liverpool but the Arsenal manager is also battling transfer assaults off the pitch. He has said that Arsenal need to sell rather than buy and in such circumstances Wenger might fancy City's offer for Sanchez that includes Sterling, who has been in good form and fits the Frenchman's typical profile.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger seems to have stopped his pursuit of Thomas Lemar

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger seems to have stopped his pursuit of Thomas Lemar

Wenger seems to have given up on Monaco's Lemar, but may be tempted to try again given Liverpool's interest and the doubt about his current attack, which has gone two games without scoring and failed to register a shot on target at Anfield.

Any outgoings?

Oxlade-Chamberlain, with a year left on his contract, will be allowed to leave for either Chelsea or Liverpool and now City have come strong for Sanchez. At least nobody is launching a bid for Mesut Ozil, the other player entering his final 12 months, but then again after his listless displays so far maybe that is a shame.

Shkodran Mustafi is another on the verge of departing with discussions at an advanced stage with Inter and it promises to be a defining few days for a club that might be on the brink of drastic personnel change.

Gabriel, who Martin Keown reckoned was the best out-and-out defender at the club, was allowed to go to Valencia, while Wojciech Szczesny went to Juventus for £10m.

Home-grown quota: Wenger seems satisfied with this aspect of his squad, preferring to trim numbers rather than increase.

 

Tottenham

Who's in?

Daniel Levy waited a while to supply Mauricio Pochettino with his first summer signing, but it was a major one in £42m Davison Sanchez from Ajax. The 21-year-old got his first taste of English football as a late substitute against Burnley at Wembley, with Chris Wood scoring to dent the occasion.

Who's coming in?

Pochettino still wants more quality and despite a couple of frustrating results, he is in positive mood on the market. 'Yes I am confident,' said the Spurs manager. 'We are working hard to change the squad and bring more players in. How many signings? Maybe three more.'

A £24m deal is in place for Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier, but the move is being held up by Home Office. The 24-year-old was given a two-month suspended jail sentence last year for assaulting a police officer and was not allowed into the country to play for PSG in their Champions League match with Arsenal. He has appealed and is awaiting the result.

Serge Aurier's £24m move to Tottenham is being held up by the Home Office

Serge Aurier's £24m move to Tottenham is being held up by the Home Office

Everton's Barkley has been high on the radar all summer and Liverpool's Origi has been linked as a possibility to supplement the attack. Paulo Gazzaniga has arrived as third choice goalkeeper.

Any outgoings?

Walker is the big outgoing, while Federico Fazio to Roma and Clinton N'Jie to Marseille have also raised funds. Rose might yet be subject of a bid from Chelsea.

Home-grown quota: Pochettino has forged his reputation on promoting British youth and is not under any pressure to sign based on nationality.

 

Manchester United

Who's in?

Jose Mourinho has been pinpoint in the market again, signing players with clarity and speed. The arrivals of Matic, Romelu Lukaku, and Victor Lindelof addressed three key areas for United and the first two have already started impressively. Centre-back Lindelof is being allowed time to settle after joining for £30m from Benfica.

It was a similar story last season, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan arriving in time for the start of the season and making an impact throughout the following months. Ibrahimovic re-signing after his serious knee injury will provide a timely boost around Christmas time.

Who's coming in?

Mourinho said he also wanted four new players this summer but would be satisfied at getting 75 per cent instead. The move for Inter winger Ivan Perisic has proved problematic and while Mourinho would ideally like another option out wide of strength and speed, the good starts made by Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford suggest it is not essential.

Jose Mourinho's move for winger Ivan Perisic this summer has proved problematic

Jose Mourinho's move for winger Ivan Perisic this summer has proved problematic

Any outgoings?

Wayne Rooney's departure to Everton was done smoothly to suit all parties and underline a slick summer of business.

Home-grown quota: Rashford, Pogba, and Jese Lingard are all United academy graduates, while Phil Jones and Chris Smalling should be first-team considerations throughout the season. 

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