One key signing every Premier League club needs to make this summer - Kane, Phillips, Haaland...
- Graeme Bailey
- 6 April 2022
Whether it be for a title push or to aid a survival fight, we select the big players who could make a huge difference in the Premier League next season.
We have assessed every Premier League club and granted them a dream addition for 2022/23. We haven't included the bottom three as it stands but to even it up we have included their likely replacements from the Championship.
We've also thrown in the estimated fees, too, so the CEOs can start counting their pennies.
Arsenal - Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Estimated cost: £75million
A new top-line striker is needed by Mikel Arteta to establish his side as real top-four contenders and there are few better on the market than the Uruguayan superstar.
He did sign a new deal at the San Siro last year but that was to maintain his market value. With Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala both linked with moves to Inter, this one is not too far-fetched.
Aston Villa - Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United)
Estimated cost: £60million
Villa will be doing business this summer, no doubt about that and let's presume they have already bagged Philippe Coutinho. Next on their wishlist is a holding midfielder.
They have been linked with Yves Bissouma but the chance to land one of England's finest could be too much to turn down. If Leeds do allow Phillips to leave you can fully expect Villa to be in contention.
Brentford - Christian Eriksen (Brentford)
Estimated cost: Free
Okay, yes this is a cheat but you ask any Brentford fan if they want Christian Eriksen back next season and you are not going to find anyone who says no.
He has been brilliant in recent weeks and suddenly the Bees look to have a world-class performer on their hands.
Rival clubs are circling but Eriksen staying put would be quite the coup for Thomas Frank's side.
Brighton - Ben Brereton Diaz (Blackburn)
Estimated cost: £20million
Brighton are in real need of striking reinforcements. They already have a deal in place for Deniz Undav in Belgium but they need to make a splash and signing Bereton-Diaz - one of the Championship's top performers - would do just that.
The Chilean international, who has notched 20 goals in his breakout season, would not come cheap but at just 22 he represents a sound investment.
Chelsea - Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco)
Estimated cost: £65million
Chelsea could very well be in the market for strikers, midfielders and defenders but they do have a long-term target in mind in the shape of Tchouameni.
They went for him last summer and probably wished they had pushed ahead as his value has rocketed after a stunning year. He is now one of the most wanted young midfielders in the world and won't come cheap at around £65million - but wow, he would be worth it.
Crystal Palace - Conor Gallagher (Chelsea)
Estimated cost: Loan
Now let's not get silly, Crystal Palace are not going to be able to prise Conor Gallagher away from Chelsea on a permanent deal.
The recent England call-up has been brilliant for Patrick Vieira's side this season but there are no guarantees there will be space for him at Stamford Bridge. With that in mind, there is a good chance he could go out on loan again, and if he does then where better than back to Selhurst Park?
Everton - Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Estimated cost: Free
Everton are not going to have millions to spend this summer, so they need to be realistic and Lingard is a player who would add huge amounts of quality to the Toffees going forward.
This is a deal that makes a lot of sense for Everton and one they should be looking at, especially as he is available for nothing.
Leeds United - Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg)
Estimated cost: £25million
New Leeds boss Jesse Marsch isn't going to be obsessed with signing Americans, but Aaronson is a player the club tried hard to sign in January.
He is a player Marsch knows and is a top performer. He looks a perfect fit for Leeds going forward, but again he won't be cheap.
Leicester City - Charles De Ketelaere (Club Brugge)
Estimated cost: £40million
Leicester have gone backwards this season but injuries have hit them hard and they are ready to go again.
Wesley Fofana has signed a new deal which shows their ambition. They also want Youri Tielemans to stay and signing his fellow countryman Charles De Ketelaere could help. The Club Brugge forward is a future superstar and looks a nice fit for Brendan Rodgers.
Liverpool - Antony (Ajax)
Estimated cost: £60million
Liverpool pull the trigger when they need to and we saw that when they snapped up Luis Diaz in January.
With Sadio Mane and Mo Salah's contract situations still not resolved, the Reds are looking at options beyond their star pair and they have already done their homework on Brazilian star Antony, who is starring for Ajax.
Manchester City - Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Estimated cost: £75million
Pep Guardiola does not need much, that is fair to say. However, his squad lacks a front-line striker.
Guardiola still wants one and that man is Haaland, who was actually a City fan as a youngster. Will he follow in the footsteps of his father and play in the Sky Blue of City? Chances are he will.
Manchester United - Declan Rice (West Ham)
Estimated cost: £120million
The England star is one of the best midfielders in Europe - he has been sensational for club and country over the past two years.
Having missed out on the likes of Jude Bellingham in recent times, United will get it right this summer with the club record signing of Rice.
Newcastle United - Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Estimated cost: £150million
So, we are thinking more marquee than bargain buy for Newcastle here. They are not going to be breaking record after record but Newcastle and their fans like nothing better than a No. 9 and they are not averse to breaking records to land them as they did with Alan Shearer.
If Kane is on the market, then why not Newcastle? Who better to lead their charge into a new era.
Southampton - Armando Broja (Chelsea)
Estimated cost: £25million
Another Chelsea loanee impressing hugely in the Premier League this season. Broja is attracting a lot of interest but does he have a future at Stamford Bridge? Southampton will hope not so they can bring him back to St Mary's.
It does look a real possibility given the relationship between the clubs, which also helped them land Tino Livramento last summer.
Tottenham - Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
Estimated cost: Free
Antonio Conte knows all about Dybala, who will surely be one of the most desirable free transfers anywhere this summer. Dybala is a top-class performer and would be a huge signing for Tottenham if they could get him.
They are very interested and this one has a chance if the Argentine does decide to come to the Premier League this summer.
West Ham - Darwin Nunez (Benfica)
Estimated cost: £65million
The Uruguayan star was a big target for West Ham in January and they are set to return for him, but they are not alone as Nunez has emerged as one of the most wanted strikers in Europe. Currently top of the scoring charts in Portugal, he would be a brilliant signing for David Moyes.
Wolves - Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle)
Estimated cost: £35million
Wolves are going to be losing Adama Traore permanently this summer - whether he remains at Barcelona or goes elsewhere - but what does Bruno Lage do? Wolves need pace and unpredictability so who better than Saint-Maximin, who may not be part of Eddie Howe's long-term plans for Newcastle.
Promoted clubs...
Fulham - Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain)
Estimated cost: Loan
Fulham are likely looking to upgrade on Marek Rodak and who better to come in than Areola? Fulham had Areola previously in the Premier League and he loved his time at Craven Cottage. He is currently on loan at West Ham but not playing.
Bournemouth - Nathan Ake (Manchester City)
Estimated cost: £30million
Scott Parker will be aiming high when Bournemouth return to the top flight and defence could be key, so why not a return for Ake? The Dutchman was outstanding for the Cherries during his previous tenure with the club and it is unlikely City would stop him leaving.
Huddersfield Town - Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
Estimated cost: Loan
Huddersfield are currently in third and could very well make a return to the Premier League. But even if they do, millions are not likely to be spent. Indeed they are likely to be straight on the phone to Chelsea to beg them to keep hold of Colwill who has been brilliant during his loan spell in West Yorkshire. The only issue might be that Chelsea have plans to use him next season.
