Three positions East Bengal must improve in 2025 summer window

East Bengal finished 9th in the ISL 2024-25 and crashed out of the Kalinga Super Cup.

East Bengal had a difficult end to the 2024-25 season, suffering a loss in their first match in defending the Kalinga Super Cup. Indeed, the Kolkata side sustained a loss to Kerala Blasters in the Round of 16 of the Super Cup, summing up a pretty underwhelming campaign for the Torchbearers.

They finished in 9th place in the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) campaign and are yet to reach the ISL playoffs since entering the competition. The reason for East Bengal’s frustrating inconsistency was that they desperately lacked quality talent in some key areas of the pitch.

Unless the glaring issues of the squad can be efficiently fixed, then East Bengal might endure another frustrating campaign in the 2025-26 season. Here we look at the three positions East Bengal must improve in the 2025 summer window to push themselves for a stronger campaign next time around.

3. Foreign centre-back

East Bengal struggled to maintain a first-choice centre-back partnership in the 2024-25 season, mostly because they didn’t have enough fit players for the cause. Hector Yuste and Hijazi Maher struggled with injury troubles throughout the campaign and were not reliable at all.

That is why Anwar Ali also experienced teething problems and had a relatively shaky first season, despite some impressive months of action. It’s important for East Bengal to find a solid partner for Anwar in order to get the very best out of him.

They need to sign a proactive, aggressive centre-back who is not ready to lay in with feisty challenges and can take the initiative of playing on the front-foot, allowing Ali to be the relative calmer cover centre-back. An influential centre-back can do wonders to East Bengal’s backline, helping create more stubborn defensive shape that can regularly churn out clean sheets.

2. Left-Back

East Bengal had major issues in the left-back position in the 2024-25 season, which caused them to constantly play Lalchhungnunga in that role. While he produced some good performances, Nunga is naturally a centre-back and he added very little attacking threat through the left. He was not able to support the wingers properly or add any major creative threat with his crosses or final third passes.

Moreover, Nunga was also sent off three times in the 2024-25 ISL campaign, mostly because he crumbled under the pressure of having to play as a left-back. It’s quite clear that East Bengal desperately need a quality left-back who is capable of holding his own against dangerous wingers and be a proactive threat on the left.

They need an energetic presence who can constantly win back possession on the wide areas, burst forward to help his teammates and also create chances by delivering clever crosses into the box.

1. Centre-Forward

East Bengal’s biggest issues in the 2024-25 season were their goal-scoring problem. They couldn’t score the necessary goals at key intervals of matches, causing them to drop points or be outwitted by their opponents. Their star forward signing of the 2024 summer window, Dimitrios Diamantakos, scored nine goals in 28 appearances across all competitions last season. Out of that, only four came in the ISL.

He was a frustrating figure to watch, often letting emotions get the better of him and missing key chances in front of goal. East Bengal desperately need a consistent, reliable centre-forward who can deliver the goods for them at a regular basis.

They need someone who can clinically finish off chances and take a hold of the match when things get tough. The Kolkata side needs an inspired figure playing for them up-front and someone who can single-handedly win them points consistently for them to enjoy a prolific 2025-26 season.

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