There’s always a focus on the Premier League‘s ‘big six’ whenever the transfer window opens, as all six clubs look to strengthen their squads. Breaking their transfer records comes as no surprise as they try to ensure they are ready to battle for major honours.

Tottenham Hotspur, in particular, were under pressure to splash the cash this summer after finishing 17th last season. A relegation battle wasn’t on the cards, and Roberto De Zerbi’s transfer chiefs have spent a fortune ensuring they are competing for Europe this time around.

Manchester City have got their checkbook out at the start of the post-Pep Guardiola era and Chelsea are finally turning to experience. Last season’s title winners Arsenal and the dethroned Liverpool are still chasing a new attacker while Manchester United‘s transfer business has gone quiet.

With that said, here is how each member of the Big Six ranks when it comes to wheeling and dealing in this summer’s transfer window.

Ranking Factors

• Money Spent – Overspending or refusing to pay up
• Players Signed – Will their new arrivals make an impact
• Squad preparation – Timing of transfers and if new signings are a good fit

6

Manchester United

Reuters/Anne-Marie Sorvin

Many would have placed Manchester United at the top of this list after Youri Tielemans’ shock transfer. The Aston Villa midfielder’s acquisition came out of nowhere when the club triggered a £35 million release clause.

Tielemans followed Andrey Santos to Old Trafford following a £50m arrival from Chelsea and they could prove to be excellent additions to Michael Carrick’s midfield. But with just days until the Premier League starts, only two new signings are laughable and a slap in the face to Carrick, who sealed Champions League qualification.

United’s decision to wait until late in the window to explore a deal for Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall seems misjudged. It became clear that the Magpies were going to lose several star players, so plotting a move after Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Anthony Gordon had departed is extremely ill-sighted.

5

Liverpool

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Sam Navarro

Maybe the Anfield chiefs were waiting for Jeff Bezos’ minority share deal to be completed before tackling a squad rebuild, but it has been a quiet summer for Liverpool. That shouldn’t have been the case with Andoni Iraola arriving as Arne Slot’s replacement and clear issues that arose during last season.

The Reds have signed Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Getafe and Ronald Araujo from Barcelona on loan. Other than that, there has been no marquee signing to address Mohamed Salah’s exit.

Bradley Barcola remains a top target, and if they can sign the French winger, that could prove to be a game-changer. While the Merseysiders did break their transfer record twice last summer, a new central midfielder and left-back should have been sorted out.

4

Man City

REUTERS/Chris Radburn

It’s hard to judge Manchester City’s transfer business given that their only first-team addition has been Elliott Anderson. That will change now that Barcelona have agreed on a deal to sign Rodri, which is a massive setback for Enzo Maresca.

Replacing Rodri is an impossible task and City are eyeing LOSC Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Moroccan certainly impressed at the World Cup, but he has a long way to go in becoming an elite midfield anchor.

Anderson is undoubtedly one of the most talented midfielders in England but at £116m he is under pressure to reach Declan Rice’s level and put Maresca’s team on his back. It’s mid-table for now as Jeremy Monga is an exciting long-term signing, but there are some glaring issues in the squad.

3

Chelsea

Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

When nearly every Premier League fan advised BlueCo to target more experience, they didn’t mean to sign two players over the age of 35. That’s not a slight on Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, but rather a question of why Chelsea’s recruitment staff can never quite figure out how to build a squad ready to compete.

That said, signing Morgan Rogers is an ambitious move that might get Cole Palmer back to his best. At £117m, he has to deliver and bring the form that helped Villa win the Europa League to Stamford Bridge.

Signing Maxence Lacroix is a wise call, and at 26 fits into the age range that the experience factor has been all about. Youth has remained a focus, though, as Marco Palestra, 21, and Valentin Barco, 22, have arrived to give Xabi Alonso options at full-back, while Pep Chavarria has replaced Marc Cuccurella.

2

Tottenham

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

While you can question the profile of players that Tottenham have decided on, you can’t fault how they’ve gone about a rebuild. The argument that it takes years to refresh a squad is nonsense and the Lilywhites have proven you can overhaul a team in one window.

Six players have been signed thus far for £237 million, including the club-record arrival of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m. That’s a lot of money but it’s where the market is at, and the Italian has proven himself as one of the best midfielders in the top-flight.

Mateus Fernandes is another huge statement signing at £85m but he’s one of the biggest midfield prospects around. The Andy Robertson signing is a shrewd one, bringing a Premier League winner to North London for free.

The Lilywhites aren’t done there as their plot moves for Savinho and Cody Gakpo. There’s much to like about Gakpo but paying the reported £85m for Savinho would be a massive overpay.

1

Arsenal

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Mikel Arteta missed out on Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers but Arsenal haven’t needed to make many changes to a squad that won the title. The additions made have been well-thought-out, swooping for Bruno Guimaraes who cost much less than the likes of Tonali and Anderson.

Selling Leandro Trossard raised eyebrows but the Gunners may have found themselves a gem in Christos Tzolis. If Arteta and Andrea Berta can land a world class attacker, they will have enjoyed yet another fantastic transfer window.

The latest name on the North Londoners’ radar is Victor Osimhen, and they have held talks with Galatasaray for the Nigerian. Should they sign the prolific goalscorer, they might just be going one step further in next season’s Champions League.

All fees via Transfermarkt – correct as of 17.08/2026

Tottenham Hotspur have been busier than ever before in this transfer window and six new players have arrived in North London.

As it stands, the Lilywhites have spent £237 million to give Roberto De Zerbi a squad that can compete for Europe next season. Sandro Tonali (£100m), Mateus Fernandes (£85m), Jan Paul van Hecke (£52m), Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka (all free) have joined the club.

The main goal for De Zerbi and his players is to return to the top four or five but some of his squad are now under pressure to prove their worth. The Lilywhites’ transfer business doesn’t look to be finished amid links with Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Manchester City’s Savinho.

Should the attacking duo arrive, that will only further leave several Spurs players battling for their futures. Here are four members of De Zerbi’s squad who need to shine or risk heading for the exit door this time next year.

Rodrigo Bentancur

There has already been talk of Tottenham looking to sell Rodrigo Bentancur during this summer transfer window, let alone next year. The Uruguayan midfielder endured an injury-ridden season last time out, making 26 league appearances.

With Spurs splashing the cash on Tonali and Fernandes, Bentancur is now at risk of falling down De Zerbi’s pecking order. On his day, he was a marvelous footballer, but fitness struggles have been all too constant, and he hasn’t exactly become one of the best midfield talents in the top flight.

Tonali is set to anchor the midfield, handing Bentancur a rotational role that he’ll have to make the most of. The 29-year-old’s days in North London look numbered unless he can win De Zerbi over ahead of the final year of his contract.

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

2026-27 Prediction: Bentancur is sold next summer after coming in and out of De Zerbi’s team.

James Maddison

Spending the majority of last season on the sidelines, it’s been a tough year for James Maddison, who watched his teammates nearly suffer relegation. The English attacking midfielder only appeared three times due to a cruciate ligament tear but he’s back ahead of a fourth season with Spurs.

Maddison could be handed the captain’s armband following Cristian Romero’s move to Atletico Madrid. He is a hugely popular figure at the club and now 29 will be a leader in De Zerbi’s squad.

That said, if the former Leicester City man doesn’t quickly get back to his best he might lose his place in the starting XI. Xavi Simons will be desperate to take the number 10 role, and it could lead to the Englishman bidding farewell next summer.

2026-27 Prediction: Maddison does enough to earn another year with Spurs but loses his starting berth.

Dominic Solanke

As it stands, Dominic Solanke looks likely to be De Zerbi’s starting number nine this season, but he needs to prove he can deliver prolific numbers. With just three goals in 15 league games last season, his availability is a concern, as is his consistency.

Spurs spent £65m on Solanke in the summer of 2024, bringing him to North London from Bournemouth. They seem keen to pull off a similar deal for one of the Premier League’s rising stars Junior Kroupi.

Fortunately for the English frontman, the Lilywhites have reportedly shelved their pursuit of Kroupi until next year due to his pre-season injury. That gives him the opportunity to impress De Zerbi and fire his side back into Europe, but his future will be thrown into doubt if he doesn’t soon replicate his form shown at the Vitality.

2026-27 Prediction: Solanke rotates with Gakpo and Mathys Tel and is sold with Kroupi replacing him summer.

Richarlison

Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

One of English football’s most villainised players, Richarlison gets too much flak compared to other attackers and that’s because of his larger-than-life personality. The Brazilian registered a decent tally of 11 goals in 32 league games last season but it will have to be a special season for him to still be at the club next summer.

Richarlison’s contract is up next year and there’s been no indication that an extension is on the way. There’s been more talk of a possible exit this summer, with Everton continuously linked with their former forward.

The 29-year-old left the Toffees for the Lilywhites in the summer of 2022 for £60m. De Zerbi could benefit from his versatility, but with Gakpo and Savinho on the club’s radar, he could face an uphill battle for game time and a new contract.

via Reuters

2026-27 Prediction: Richarlison struggles for game time and either moves abroad in January or leaves as a free agent in the summer.

All stats courtesy of Transfermarkt – correct as of 17/08/2026

Manchester United’s pre-season campaign has now come to an end after six games in five different countries, and Michael Carrick has got a much better idea about what to expect from his team.

The team started their preparations for the new season with a clash against Wrexham in Finland, with a very different-looking team considering the World Cup was still taking place, and a number of first-team stars were still on their holidays.

Young defender Leny Yoro was tasked with filling in at right-back with both Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui not around, while summer signing Andrey Santos was the only arrival to feature, playing alongside Mason Mount in midfield. But the team lacked a creative spark, and fell to a 1-0 defeat, despite Joshua Zirkzee, Patrick Dorgu, and Bryan Mbeumo all featuring.

But Man Utd responded well with a similar squad in their next game, as they thrashed Rosenborg 5-0 thanks to goals from Shea Lacey, Joshua Zirkzee, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams. Ayden Heaven once again stood out in the centre of defence alongside Harry Maguire, while Zirkzee scored what was arguably the best goal of pre-season.

United then travelled to Sweden to take on La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, and despite falling 1-0 behind early on, they fought back to win 2-1 thanks to a Bryan Mbeumo double, as Carrick handed out extra minutes to some senior stars, with Mason Mount, Yoro, and Heaven all playing 90 minutes, and also welcomed back Amad from the World Cup.

European champions PSG were the next opponents in Sweden, and an early Ibrahim Mbaye goal made it look as though United could have a tough day at the office. But an Mbeumo equaliser was enough to earn a draw, as Carrick also welcomed back the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Diogo Dalot to the fold, while Youri Tielemans made his first appearance as a substitute.

That game was marred by an injury suffered by Mason Mount, who limped off after less than 20 minutes and hasn’t returned to action since.

United followed it up with a trip to Dublin to take on Premier League rivals Leeds, and despite a fine strike in the first half from Zirkzee, the team were held to a 1-1 draw in a decent outing, as they controlled possession and looked threatening throughout.

They were credited with the victory on penalties, with Leeds missing two including one that was saved by youngster Dermot Mee.

Carrick’s side then finished up pre-season with a trip to Poland to take on former boss Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan side. A more senior outfit, which also included the returning Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, and Marcus Rashford.

Goals from Maguire and Dorgu had Man Utd 1-0 and 2-1 up at different stages, but the team ultimately fell to a 4-2 defeat, in a performance that Carrick described as ‘not good enough’.

Man Utd’s Pre-Season in Numbers

REUTERS

United’s pre-season has been less than exceptional when it comes to results, winning two, drawing two, and losing two of their six games.

The team managed 11 goals in their 6 fixtures, while they conceded a rather disappointing 8 goals in six games, keeping just one clean sheet in the process. Mbeumo was the team’s top scorer, netting three times, while Zirkzee scored twice.

When it comes to minutes, nobody played more than new signing Santos, who featured for 359 minutes across his six games. Closely behind him were Patrick Dorgu (349), Heaven (347), Shaw (346), Maguire (343), and Mbeumo (341). Interestingly nobody registered more that one assist across the six games, although 10 players were credited with an assist.

With two weeks remaining of the transfer window, Man Utd have learnt plenty about their squad and what they need for the rest of the season if they want to be successful, and now all attention will turn towards their opener on Saturday lunchtime.

Carrick is now well aware of the depth his squad has, having been without some key first-team stars for almost the entirety of the preparation for the new season.

Heaven has shown that he is more than ready to step in when necessary, while new signing Santos has made himself undroppable in the opening weeks of the season with his performances and profile. It also means that Carrick shouldn’t feel like he needs to rush Mainoo back too quickly, despite his importance last season.

It’s clear that more depth is needed, however, if the team is going to be successful this season, and with two weeks remaining of the transfer window, they are running out of time to get it done.