The beginning of the 2025-26 Premier League season is simply two weeks away and the summer time switch window is about to enter its ultimate month, which suggests the stress is starting to crank up on the gamers who’re confronted with two choices: transfer or sit on the bench. Though it has been a busy summer time window to date, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester Metropolis and Manchester United all spending greater than £100 million — champions Liverpool have left the remaining of their wake with a £250 million-plus spending spree — many high-profile gamers are nonetheless dealing with an unsure future.
If these gamers select to stay the place they’re, the possible state of affairs is a season on the substitutes’ bench — or worse — but when they transfer, a drop right down to much less glamorous or profitable membership might be the most suitable choice.
However as we put together to enter the decisive month of August, listed below are the Premier League gamers who really want to maneuver.
The Liverpool ahead began simply eight Premier League video games for Arne Slot’s staff final season and was final within the beginning line-up simply as soon as — towards relegated Southampton — since Jan. 1, which reveals the writing has been on the wall for the 26-year-old for a while.
Liverpool’s attacking choices have modified dramatically because the finish of final season with the big-money arrivals of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, plus the exit of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich and the tragic demise of Diogo Jota. With the membership nonetheless wanting to tug off a possible £150m deal for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, it’s clear that Nunez doesn’t determine in Slot’s plans, however having arrived in an £85m deal from Benfica three years in the past, Liverpool will want and need to recoup a giant chunk of that charge.
After simply 40 objectives in 143 appearances for the Reds, Nunez is struggling to discover a membership keen to fulfill Liverpool’s valuation.
Rasmus Hojlund
Manchester United are making no secret of their dedication to signal a confirmed goalscorer earlier than the switch deadline, which is unhealthy information for Rasmus Hojlund.
The 22-year-old, a £72m signing from Atalanta in 2023, has scored simply 14 objectives in 62 Premier League video games for United and has struggled to fulfill expectations ever since arriving at Previous Trafford. With United already including Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to their ahead line this summer time and makes an attempt underway to signal RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Hojlund will wrestle for beginning alternatives.
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United nonetheless consider he can develop right into a constant scorer, so a mortgage transfer might be an choice to keep away from United making a major monetary loss on the Denmark worldwide.
At 22, the Liverpool midfielder is dealing with an important choice. Having starred for England U-21s throughout their Euro U21 success this summer time, Elliott has an opportunity of breaking into Thomas Tuchel’s senior squad for the 2026 World Cup, however to do this, he has to play extra usually than he does for Liverpool, the place he made simply 18 league appearances in 2024-25.
Elliott made simply two begins (18 whole appearances, with one aim and two assists) in Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning season, however there’s curiosity from West Ham, Tottenham and Galatasaray within the former Fulham teenager. And with Liverpool needing to recoup some cash following their massive summer time spend, a transfer for Elliott would possible swimsuit each events.
The Manchester United winger was omitted from Ruben Amorim’s squad for the preseason tour of the USA and been informed that he can discover a new membership this summer time. However whereas Chelsea have maintained an curiosity within the 21-year-old following an try and signal him in January, United have but to discover a membership ready to fulfill their £40m valuation.
Aston Villa and Napoli are monitoring Garnacho’s state of affairs, however whereas Amorim mentioned final week that he’s ready reintegrate the likes of Garnacho and Antony to his squad in the event that they fail to seal a transfer, the truth for Garnacho is that he shall be manner down the pecking order and desires to go away Previous Trafford to relaunch his profession.
The Chelsea ahead began simply seven Premier League video games on mortgage at Arsenal and did not full 90 minutes as soon as within the competitors for Mikel Arteta’s staff. To underscore his minimal affect on the Emirates, Sterling managed only one aim all season – within the Carabao Cup towards League One Bolton Wanderers.
Sterling is now again at Chelsea and has two years to run on his contract, however with no prospect of game-time underneath Enzo Maresca, the 30-year-old must make a transfer. Nevertheless, final season at Arsenal and his excessive Chelsea wage have mixed to go away Sterling with few apparent exit routes.
Andy Robertson
The Liverpool left-back is a cast-iron Anfield legend after serving to the membership to win each main honour no less than as soon as since arriving in a discount £8m switch from Hull Metropolis in 2017. However the £40m signing of Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez this summer time has left Robertson, 31, combating for his future towards the highly-rated 21-year-old.
Along with his Liverpool contract because of expire subsequent 12 months, Robertson might determine to sit down tight and transfer as a free agent in 12 months’ time. Nevertheless, with Scotland chasing World Cup qualification for the primary time since 1998, Robertson might decide to hunt a transfer as a way to be match-ready for the nationwide staff in the event that they make it to the match.
The Chelsea ahead hit 10 objectives in 30 Premier League appearances final season, however it wasn’t sufficient to persuade the membership that he was ok to guide the road for Enzo Maresca’s staff, who’ve since signed João Pedro and Liam Delap.
With each new forwards impressing throughout Chelsea’s FIFA Membership World Cup triumph in the USA this summer time, Jackson has fallen to third-choice centre-forward, so his alternatives shall be restricted at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea usually are not actively looking for to dump the Senegal worldwide, however the membership is at all times open to a deal, so Jackson, 24, might be moved on earlier than the deadline, with Newcastle a possible vacation spot if Alexander Isak leaves St James’ Park.
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What does the longer term maintain for Jack Grealish?
Rob Dawson assesses Jack Grealish’s future at Manchester Metropolis.
The Manchester Metropolis winger has been informed by Pep Guardiola that he can discover a new membership, however regardless of his availability being identified because the finish of final season, Grealish is again on the Etihad and not using a transfer in sight.
The 29-year-old began simply seven Premier League video games final season and was solely capable of register one aim and one help in 20 appearances general. Having moved to Metropolis for a then-British document £100m in 2021, Grealish’s potential charge and wages shall be a deterrent for many golf equipment, however Everton and Newcastle are each contemplating a mortgage transfer for the England participant, who has two years remaining on his Metropolis contract.
The Arsenal ahead has been a dependable and productive possibility for Mikel Arteta’s aspect since arriving from Brighton in January of 2023, scoring 28 objectives and registering 23 assists in 124 video games in all competitions. However with the Gunners including Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke to their already well-stocked ahead line this summer time, the 30-year-old has grow to be surplus to necessities on the Emirates.
Borussia Dortmund are concerned about taking the Belgium worldwide to Sign Iduna Park, so Trossard might get a high-profile transfer earlier than Arsenal begin their Premier League season away to Manchester United on Aug. 17.
The Manchester Metropolis defender has endured a nightmare time on the Etihad since finishing a £33.6m switch from Lens in January, simply eighteen months after the French membership signed him for £84,000 from Belrusian aspect Energetik-BGU. A mistake-ridden debut towards Chelsea was adopted by extra detached performances, and the Uzbekistan worldwide did not make a single look for Pep Guardiola’s staff past the tip of March.
At 21, Metropolis are nonetheless hopeful that Khusanov will come good, however a mortgage transfer — doubtlessly to a different staff throughout the Metropolis Soccer Group — might allow the teenager to develop away from glare of the highlight on the Etihad.
The France ahead earned his transfer to Chelsea in 2023 by scoring 47 objectives and registering 43 assists in 119 Bundesliga appearances for RB Leipzig, however his time at Stamford Bridge has been a story of accidents and lack of type.
Nkunku, 27, has scored simply six objectives and delivered two assists in 38 Premier League video games, leaving him obtainable for switch this summer time if a membership is ready to take a bet on him having the ability recreate his Leipzig type. Manchester United thought of a transfer for Nkunku in January, however opted towards it because of issues over his health and that very same consideration is more likely to make it tough for the participant to seal a everlasting transfer earlier than the deadline.