The Premier League kicks off in two weeks. Some clubs are ready; others are miles off it. We\u2019re ranking all 20 by how catastrophically screwed they are \u2013 from the ones cruising to the one contemplating its very existence.<\/p>\n
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20) Liverpool<\/strong> Even without Isak, Liverpool<\/strong><\/a> are ridiculously strong. Adding him would just take the p*ss quite frankly.<\/p>\n Their ambitious summer transfer window has been enabled by the club\u2019s shrewd transfer business in recent seasons. Before the 2025 summer window opened, they were tenth in the five-year Premier League net spend table<\/strong><\/a>. They\u2019re currently seventh and buying Isak<\/strong><\/a> wouldn\u2019t take them into the top four unless Arsenal sell Bukayo Saka for \u00a3200million before then.<\/p>\n Arne Slot won the title after signing one player for 2024\/25; Federico Chiesa started four times across all competitions and will leave after just one year at Anfield. You can\u2019t blame the club\u2019s hierarchy for not backing the manager heavily last summer, and having gathered the strongest evidence possible, they know they have an elite title-winning head coach and spending big on players he wants makes absolute sense. The Reds have played it to perfection.<\/p>\n Manchester United should be taking notes after giving Erik ten Hag hundreds of millions<\/strong><\/a> in his first transfer window, and going all in on players for Ruben Amorim\u2019s system, knowing that if it goes tits up, they\u2019ll likely appoint a manager who doesn\u2019t want half of the playing squad\u2026again.<\/p>\n TL;DR: Liverpool won the league comfortably and have strengthened like no champion has before. They are title favourites<\/strong><\/a> and signed all of their pre-planned transfer targets weeks before the Premier League season kicks off.<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Liverpool keep or sell: Eight Reds sold as Nunez, Elliott help fund record Isak transfer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 19) Chelsea<\/strong> Joao Pedro and Liam Delap are excellent striker additions, Jamie Gittens is a questionable one for \u00a350m, but we\u2019re not writing him off, Andrey Santos is Like A New Signing, and Estevao is a genuine wonderkid. We like this Chelsea squad and their title credentials.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 18)\u00a0Arsenal<\/strong> Signing Viktor Gyokeres<\/strong><\/a> was the big one for the Gunners, with Martin Zubimendi\u2019s addition in midfield also significant. It\u2019s always been about the need for an out-and-out centre-forward, though. The big Swede made his debut against Spurs in Hong Kong on Thursday, but could not prevent a 1-0 defeat that we are not looking into too much, even if Mikel Arteta\u2019s side were toothless in attack and many of the same issues from last season were on display. Not looking into it, though.<\/p>\n All in all, the club\u2019s transfer activity has been uncharacteristically ruthless, but still well planned out and meticulous. They took their time weighing up their options before picking Gyokeres over Benjamin Sesko, for instance.<\/p>\n If this isn\u2019t Arsenal\u2019s year, then it\u2019s never happening under Arteta, whether it\u2019s in the Premier League or Champions League. Although Arsenal are where they are because of the Spaniard, it does feel like do or die for him<\/strong><\/a>. After so much money spent and five years of his #process, this club needs something tangible to show for their improvement, and it might take a proven winner in the dugout for that to happen.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 17)\u00a0Manchester City<\/strong> They are all set for another season under Guardiola and you wouldn\u2019t put it past them steamrolling to the title<\/strong><\/a>, even if the two clubs who finished above them last term have improved.<\/p>\n Rodri is back, but Kevin De Bruyne is gone, so it\u2019s not easy to predict how City\u2019s year will pan out.<\/p>\n One potential issue is the lack of a right-back signing. Matheus Nunes can\u2019t be the long-term option in that position. Then again, Guardiola is probably planning to make natural centre-back\u00a0Abdukodir Khusanov the best right-back in the league, and there\u2019s nothing anyone will be able to do about it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 16)\u00a0Brighton and Hove Albion<\/strong> For good measure, they added Olivier Boscagli from PSV on a free transfer. He could end up being the bargain of the summer. Let\u2019s not look past Maxim De Kuyper as well. He\u2019s why Pervis Estupinan left without a fuss.<\/p>\n They might have lost Joao Pedro, but \u00a330m wonderkid\u00a0Charalampos Kostoulas and\u00a0Stefanos\u00a0Tzimas have joined. Brighton won\u2019t just be fine, they\u2019ll be looking at the clubs above them who are stumbling through this transfer window, thinking there\u2019s an opportunity.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 15)\u00a0Manchester United<\/strong> This is a huge summer for the club, with Ruben Amorim\u2019s players needing to adapt to his 3-4-2-1 system after over half a season of being unable to do so. This break \u2013 and reset \u2013 was needed.<\/p>\n The Red Devils could obviously add more players to up the expectations even more, but we think the only position they *need* to improve is centre-forward.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 14)\u00a0Sunderland<\/strong> The Black Cats have been ambitious, but so were Burnley, Ipswich and Luton Town over the last two seasons. It\u2019s going to be tough, but this team is becoming well-equipped to survive.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 13)\u00a0Nottingham Forest<\/strong> For Forest, keeping their best players was the most important thing, though bulking up the squad is necessary after Nuno Espirito Santo\u2019s men ran out of steam in their Champions League pursuit last term. They successfully scared off Spurs and extended Morgan Gibbs-White\u2019s contract<\/strong><\/a>, and haven\u2019t been forced to deal with any serious interest in Murillo, Callum Hudson-Odoi or Elliot Anderson.<\/p>\n Last season exceeded every Forest fan\u2019s expectations, but we\u2019re predicting another fun year, especially with a European campaign to look forward to. The City Ground under the lights on Thursday nights will be special.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 12) Tottenham Hotspur<\/strong> Another midfielder is needed, and there are reports of Joao Palhinha coming in. He\u2019d add something different to an energetic midfield, but after missing out on Gibbs-White, we wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see Thomas Frank go for Harvey Elliott, or someone similar.<\/p>\n And on Frank, that\u2019s a top appointment. Getting the managerial situation sorted quickly was vitally important and Daniel Levy did exactly that.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 11)\u00a0Leeds United<\/strong> It will be a long season for the Elland Road faithful, but there are ten clubs, six of which they\u2019d fancy pulling into a relegation battle, who are in a worse position going into it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 10)\u00a0Burnley<\/strong> Whatever happens between now and the start of the season, just know that Scott Parker isn\u2019t making it to Christmas. We don\u2019t make the rules.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 9)\u00a0Fulham<\/strong> This club needs a deep cup run or European push, and they\u2019re going to need to get moving if either is to become a realistic objective.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 8)\u00a0West Ham<\/strong> This is a team lacking top quality and athleticism in forward areas<\/strong><\/a>. There\u2019s only so much Jarrod Bowen can do.<\/p>\n One big positive is that Lucas Paqueta no longer has a potential ban hanging over his head, having been cleared of spot-fixing charges. Hopefully for the Irons, this will relieve pressure, tension and be a huge weight off the Brazilian\u2019s shoulders, and they\u2019ll enjoy watching him back to his best. There is talk of him leaving for as little as \u00a325m, though, which might be off the table following the result of his case with the FA.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 7)\u00a0Crystal Palace<\/strong> Oliver Glasner knows there has to be more transfer activity: \u201cEven though all the players are still here, we haven\u2019t made the most of the transfer window so far. I was promised that we would be more active and bring in the new players earlier this year. As of now, I have 17 outfield players. I hope we don\u2019t lose any more. If that happens and we get four new ones on deadline day like last year, another false start is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Openly discussing a broken promise with the board is an ominous sign<\/strong><\/a>. Of course, the board\u2019s focus is elsewhere, but Glasner\u2019s concentration is fully on getting his team prepared for the season, and that preparation isn\u2019t going to plan. Yes, he\u2019s still got Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi \u2013 but for how long? Palace have reportedly turned down \u00a330m from Atlanta United for Mateta, Arsenal are expected to sign Eze<\/strong><\/a>, and Guehi is a Liverpool target in the last year of his contract.<\/p>\n Another key figure in their final 12 months is Glasner. The club are in discussions, but it\u2019s hard to envision the Austrian head coach agreeing terms if those promises aren\u2019t fulfilled. Palace going down isn\u2019t realistic, but they are threatening to start 2025\/26 very slowly. With a Thursday-Sunday schedule to contend with, they might not get up and running fast enough to make this upcoming campaign half as memorable as the last one.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 6) Bournemouth<\/strong> We don\u2019t think they\u2019re in relegation trouble, but Bournemouth\u2019s defence has been ripped apart, and they\u2019ve only signed a left-back to replace Milos Kerkez. Dean Huijsen still hasn\u2019t been replaced and Illia Zabarnyi is a top Paris Saint-Germain target. For months, we\u2019ve been saying that the Cherries need a right-back<\/strong><\/a> with Adam Smith past his best and Julian Araujo struggling, but now that\u2019s the least of their worries.<\/p>\n Andoni Iraola has, at least, secured the signing of a new goalkeeper after being unable to make Kepa Arrizabalaga\u2019s loan permanent. Djordje Petrovic is an excellent signing and arguably better than Chelsea\u2019s first-choice goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez.<\/p>\n Bournemouth are relaxed. Having made \u00a390m alone from Huijsen and Kerkez, they\u2019re under no pressure to sell Zabarnyi, but the Ukrainian wants to join PSG. He hasn\u2019t stayed at home or gone to train at his old club to force the move, though. Fair play.<\/p>\n The fact of the matter is, they aren\u2019t close to signing a centre-back after failing to sign Lille\u2019s Bafode Diakite, and they need two of them. It\u2019s also been suggested that they want to sign a striker on loan with Enes Unal injured until November.<\/p>\n There\u2019s still plenty to do, but\u00a0Bournemouth have extended Antoine Semenyo\u2019s contract and are expected to keep hold of him, Evanilson and Justin Kluivert.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 5) Wolves<\/strong> There\u2019s a concerning lack of quality throughout Vitor Pereira\u2019s squad, and the man who carried Wolves through most of last season, Matheus Cunha, is long gone. Replaced by Fluminense\u2019s Jhon Arias, Wolves should have plenty of money left over, having made over \u00a360m from the Brazilian\u2019s sale.<\/p>\n Jorgen Strand Larsen joining permanently is a boost, and Arias could be as exciting and influential as Cunha, but this is another transfer window that the Midlands club are failing to take advantage of.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easier said than done to just replace Cunha with someone as good. Unfortunately, that\u2019s not realistic, unless head coach Pereira can bring the absolute most out of someone unexpectedly. We just can\u2019t see it, and the lack of invention in midfield, attack and full-back spells trouble. Oh, and they need a goalkeeper.<\/p>\n Also, we can\u2019t explain why, but Pereira stinks of an acrimonious November exit. We look forward to it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0Everton<\/strong> \u201cThe truth is we\u2019re not getting them over the line at the moment \u2013 that\u2019s a fact,\u201d a frustrated Moyes said to reporters in the United States.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re not getting a lot of the deals done which we\u2019re hoping to do, so we\u2019re continually reassessing and moving on, while maybe things are not coming to fruition\u2026 We\u2019re desperate to get things moving on because we know time\u2019s running out.\u201d<\/p>\n Everton enjoyed themselves (for once) in the second half of last season and had reason for optimism in 2025\/26, especially as they\u2019re moving into a new stadium. With two weeks to go until they open their season with a trip to Leeds United, Moyes needs a winger, midfielder, right-back and centre-back. Not much, then.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 3) Aston Villa<\/strong> The addition of Yasin Ozcan is their only signing for a fee, and only Fulham (\u00a3437k) and Crystal Palace (\u00a32m) have spent less. There have been some striker rumours involving Samu Aghehowa and Lois Openda<\/strong><\/a>, but most of the club\u2019s transfer stories are about sales, not signings.<\/p>\n One sale could be Ollie Watkins, and there\u2019s also a possibility that Morgan Rogers leaves<\/strong><\/a>, while Leon Bailey, Jacob Ramsey and Emiliano Martinez have been linked with exits.<\/p>\n The position the Villans are in is very surprising. This time last year, they were looking forward to a Champions League campaign after unsettling the status quo with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League. Now, they are worried about being dismantled while their rivals strengthen at pace and they remain shackled.<\/p>\n The need for attacking reinforcements was underlined by the loan signings of Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford and the permanent arrival of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund in January. Asensio and Rashford were only on loan and contributed to 29.3% of Villa\u2019s goals scored between February and the end of the season. They also had seven assists. Malen should have a bigger role next season after being cast aside following Rashford\u2019s arrival, being left out of Unai Emery\u2019s squad for the Champions League knockout rounds.<\/p>\n Losing over a quarter of your goals must be addressed, and Villa\u2019s lack of signings emphasises the need for a big sale. Rogers would be a gut-wrenching departure, but you have to break eggs to make an omelette. Getting clarity on players like Rogers, Watkins and Martinez is imperative, and it\u2019s clear that Emery needs reinforcements all over the pitch.<\/p>\n The one positive is that Boubacar Kamara has signed a new five-year contract. Positive Villa fans will tell you that\u2019s more significant than any signing they make this summer.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 2) Brentford<\/strong> Wissa reportedly feels betrayed by the club, who promised him a \u00a326m transfer this summer if he stayed for 2024\/25. He did, yet he\u2019s not been allowed to join Newcastle following Mbeumo\u2019s move to Manchester United.<\/p>\n Too many key figures have departed for Brentford fans to be anything but sceptical of their survival chances this season. Relegation has not been a threat since their promotion in 2021, but with no Frank, Norgaard, Mbeumo and Wissa, it\u2019s looking rather bleak.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 1) Newcastle United<\/strong> The Magpies have botched pursuits of Joao Pedro, James Trafford, Hugo Ekitike, Liam Delap and could miss out on Benjamin Sesko because he\u2019s \u201cscared\u201d he\u2019ll be blocked from a future move<\/strong><\/a>. Losing out on the RB Leipzig striker to Manchester United will be the final straw for some fans.<\/p>\n After winning the Carabao Cup and qualifying for the Champions League, this was supposed to be a monumental summer for the club. Instead, it\u2019s been a monumental disaster. And we haven\u2019t even got into the Alexander Isak ordeal yet\u2026<\/p>\n There\u2019s not much they can do, but the black and white wounds are already well-salted. The biggest question is: why now, Alex? The timing is baffling and the spotlight is on a club in disarray.<\/p>\n Villa might be in a bit of bother, but we fear for Eddie Howe and his players in their first Premier League game of the season away to Emery\u2019s side.<\/p>\n
Not f**ked in the slightest. The reigning champions have strengthened beyond belief in the summer transfer window<\/strong><\/a>, smashing their transfer record for 22-year-old attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong, improving at left-back by signing Milos Kerkez, adding one of the Bundesliga\u2019s best players in Hugo Ekitike, and likely signing Alexander Isak from Newcastle United<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
These guys are set\u2026for the next five years. They can and should relax a bit, but we all know they won\u2019t. They must fuel their transfer addiction.\u00a0Chelsea<\/strong><\/a> have always been erratic and ambitious in the transfer window, but things have been cranked up a notch in the Clearlake era.<\/p>\n
Now that a striker is through the door, it has to be said that Arsenal<\/strong><\/a> are only an elite left-winger away from having the perfect squad. And that signing is more desirable than required, with Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Noni Madueke capable options on that side for now.<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola got the majority of his transfer business done early this summer due to the club\u2019s involvement in the Club World Cup. Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki were all through the door in time to play in the United States, and Norwegian wonderkid Sverre Nypan and goalkeeper James Trafford have since signed.<\/p>\n
For me, Clive, Brighton had to get a new centre-back in early doors, and they did just that with Diego Coppola, who was among Europe\u2019s top aerial duel winners last season<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
So, United<\/strong><\/a> look pretty decent. Their pre-season performances have been promising, and Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are two excellent additions.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re big fans of the business conducted by newly-promoted Sunderland. Granit Xhaka, in particular, is a ridiculously good signing<\/strong><\/a>. He\u2019s a Champions League midfielder, for crying out loud.<\/p>\n
After signing a striker, replacing Anthony Elanga was Forest\u2019s top priority, and they\u2019ve done so excellently with the addition of Switzerland international Dan Ndoye.<\/p>\n
Mohammed Kudus improves an area of the pitch Spurs needed to improve, and some of their depth issues were addressed in January, so the Europa League holders don\u2019t need to do too much.<\/p>\n
Question marks over Daniel Farke\u2019s future were squashed before Leeds\u2019 transfer business started, and their business has been impressive for the most part. Anton Stach is the standout signing, while Lucas Perri and\u00a0Jaka Bijol are savvy additions for a newly-promoted side.<\/p>\n
Burnley haven\u2019t necessarily found themselves in a position where they are, per se, f**ked, but they\u2019re hardly filling us with confidence. Kyle Walker is past it but remains a solid addition; we rate the Marcus Edwards deal, and think Sam Johnstone would be a good replacement for James Trafford.<\/p>\n
Marco Silva\u2019s only summer signing so far is back-up goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte. Not ideal, that. But maybe the Portuguese head coach is happy with his squad. Keeping Rodrigo Muniz seems to be Fulham\u2019s top priority right now, but there\u2019s a definite need for a new wide forward. Raheem Sterling has been mooted and we think it\u2019s a great fit<\/strong><\/a> for the player and club; he wouldn\u2019t even need to move house.<\/p>\n
Graham Potter surely hoped for more of a rebuild at West Ham this summer. So far he\u2019s lost Kudus, been forced to sign Jean-Clair Todibo permanently, added Kyle Walker-Peters on a free, and signed young wing-back\u00a0El Hadji Malick Diouf for \u00a319m.<\/p>\n
The Eagles\u2019 pre-season preparation has been heavily impacted by the ongoing uncertainty surrounding their first-ever European campaign<\/strong><\/a>. It\u2019s contributed to the club only making two signings \u2013 back-up goalkeeper Walter Benitez for nothing and left-back Borna Sosa for \u00a32m.<\/p>\n
This is not based entirely on losing 4-1 to Manchester United in pre-season<\/strong><\/a>, though we couldn\u2019t be blamed if it was.<\/p>\n
There is a serious threat of relegation looming at Molineux, and the fact that fans are furious over Nelson Semedo\u2019s departure says a lot about the state the club is in. No offence, Nelson.<\/p>\n
David Moyes expected more from Everton\u2019s summer transfer window, and he\u2019s not a happy bunny. He\u2019s being left short all over the pitch, with his side struggling in pre-season, drawing against Accrington Stanley and losing to Blackburn Rovers and Bournemouth.<\/p>\n
One of the clubs most restricted by the Premier League\u2019s Profit and Sustainability rules, Villa have been worryingly inactive in the summer transfer window<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
Keith Andrews\u2019 Brentford are firmly in \u2018We fear for them\u2019 territory. The loss of Thomas Frank is gargantuan, and replacing him with a rookie head coach is extremely risky. Then you have the exits of club captain Christian Norgaard and star player Bryan Mbeumo, which was inevitable but still stings, and the Yoane Wissa debacle<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
Shambolic doesn\u2019t begin to cover whatever is going on at Newcastle this summer<\/strong><\/a>. It\u2019s baffling, disgraceful, and everything in between. Some things are out of their hands, but there\u2019s no decisiveness in their transfer pursuits, which has seen several targets slip through their grasp like a lubed-up mini egg.<\/p>\n