Five Premier League clubs who need to spend big in 2020

It is going to be an interesting summer transfer window.

Due to the season being extended all around Europe, the summer transfer window will be an unusual one. It’ll probably open after the current campaign ends until sometime after the start of the 2020-21 season. The impact of Covid-19 on every major or minor team around the continent means the transfer window won’t be as spectacular as before. Indeed, teams will need to crunch down on transfer fees, swap deals will be encouraged and a lot of free agents will be sought after. The Premier League sides always spend the most amount of money on transfers every season, but even they’ll have to tone down their aggressiveness.

With broadcasting fees, matchday revenue and more affected, teams need to be careful. However, the demand and supply chain won’t be effected and a few teams that lack firepower in certain departments will be desperate for the window to open. Here are the five Premier League sides that need to buy players in the summer.

5. Chelsea

Frank Lampard has revolutionized Chelsea’s system by becoming the first manager in ages to give youth a priority. Indeed, as a result, he’s promoted many youth academy products into the first-team to delight fans. But the inexperience factor has come to bite the Blues back on many occasions. They need more experienced, efficient players to challenge for the title again. In doing so, they need a stronger backline as Fikayo Tomori or Kurt Zouma both are still very young.

Lampard needs to hunt for a mature, composed defender who can maintain a strong defensive shape to counter potent attacks. He also needs a better left-back with both Marcos Alonso and Emerson struggling for consistency. Moreover, Tammy Abraham’s vulnerability on the big occasions means Chelsea could hunt for a top-class striker as well. Yet, after recording a big loss in finances last year, it’ll be interesting to see how Roman Abramovich’s side conjures the find for their busy window.

4. West Ham United

The Hammers need to save themselves from the Premier League relegation first, but if they manage to do so, they’ll need to open the chequebooks again in the summer. Their transfer business last summer was vast but ineffective. Sebastien Haller, Pablo Fornals and Albian Ajeti all failed to make the impact they were required to. Even though their finances have been affected by the current scenario, the Hammers need to plan their signings better going forward.

They need more creative midfielders, stronger defenders and a proper back-up goalkeeper to Lukasz Fabianski as well. Moreover, they must keep Declan Rice to ensure their midfield is rock-solid. West Ham’s long-term goals are to qualify for Europe and to do so, they need to buy in the coming window.

3. Tottenham Hotspur

It doesn’t feel like very long ago when Tottenham Hotspur were competing in the UEFA Champions League final. But things have changed in the last year. Mauricio Pochettino left and in came Jose Mourinho. Now to thrive under the Special One, Spurs need to give him the signings he wants. Of course, the financial impact will mean the already money-crunching Daniel Levy won’t spend much, but they could be clever with their transfer dealings.

Be it swap deals or cut-price ones, Spurs need a revamp in many areas to compete at the top again. Indeed, they need more prolific centre-midfielders, a proper Christian Eriksen replacement, a defensively able right-back and younger, faster centre-backs to complement or replace their current lot. Mourinho will need to be cunning with his business, but once the window opens, he knows that the Premier League side must buy new players.

2. Arsenal

The Gunners went through a slew of new managers in the last year, with Unai Emery leaving the hot seat mid-way through the season. Now Mikel Arteta is planning on reforming them into playing like the Arsenal of old. To do that, he needs a stronger structure to his side. More importantly, he needs better defenders. The Gunners need stronger, more composed and consistent centre-backs that won’t make timely errors or get injured all the time.

William Saliba’s coming in, but they still need at least one experienced defender to create an unbreakable line. They also need a better defensive midfielder to sniff out attacks and a more creative, efficient attacking midfielder to replace the underperforming Mesut Ozil. If Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaves, they need a world-class striker to replace him and bring the goals. Arsenal are going through a redevelopment process under Arteta and to make that a success, they need to buy in the summer despite the current scenario.

1. Newcastle United

Newcastle United might become the newest rich boys in the Premier League if their reported takeover is completed. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could become the Premier League’s richest owner if the deal gets through. If it really goes through, the Magpies will come up with serious money in the summer transfer window.

Of course, the financial fairplay rules mean they can’t splurge unimaginable funds, but they’ll still be in a stronger position than many Premier League heavyweights. Newcastle need a complete revamp to their squad, with additions all around. They need a prolific striker who can guarantee 15+ goals a season, a creative, pacy winger and more efficient, stylish midfielders. Moreover, they also need a better left-back, one experienced centre-back to hold their own. If the Magpies want to fast-track their rise to Europe from Premier League, they’ll need to invest heavily in the summer window.

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