As deadline day looms, fans of Premier League clubs should brace themselves for their annual dose of mayhem, where last-minute deals, car window interviews, fax machine fiascos and car park sagas take centre-stage on one of football’s wildest days. Premier League clubs have already spent more than £2.6bn this summer – surpassing the record set two years ago – but, with managers chasing urgent reinforcements, that figure could rise substantially.
Newcastle are in a hurry to sign a striker given that Alexander Isak is pushing for a move to Liverpool; Manchester United are chasing a goalkeeper as André Onana’s form falters; West Ham are scrambling for midfielders as they seek to stop the rot; and Tottenham are pursuing a No 10 after missing out on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White.
History shows that late business can redefine a club’s season. As the clock ticks down to 7pm on Monday, every Premier League club will be hoping to unearth some last-minute gems. Here are 10 potential transfers to look out for this weekend.
Alexander Isaac
Isak has dominated headlines this summer, with speculation on his future intensifying throughout the window. The 25-year-old scored 27 goals for Newcastle last season, capturing the attention of Europe’s heavyweights. Premier League champions Liverpool emerged as frontrunners for his signature, lodging a bid of £110m plus add-ons, which was rejected by Newcastle outright.
Tensions have flared since, with Isak refusing to play for Newcastle and rejecting attempts to reconcile with the club. Eddie Howe has tried to hold firm, ordering Isak to train alone and even banning him from a barbecue at the training ground.
With Isak insisting: “Promises are broken and trust is lost,” Newcastle have been backed into a corner. Howe says the club “can’t go through the season with no recognised striker”, so they need to sign a replacement before Isak is allowed to leave. This transfer saga feels destined to go right down to the wire.
Jørgen Strand Larsen
The answer to the Isak saga may just lie with the Wolves forward Strand Larsen. The 25-year-old joined the club permanently from Celta Vigo for £23m just last month after a successful loan spell last season, when he scored 14 goals.
He is a tall, strong forward with a proven record of scoring in the Premier League so should be an ideal fit in Howe’s direct attacking setup. Despite Wolves rejecting two offers of £50m and £55m, Vítor Pereira’s comment that “every player has his price” suggests that a breakthrough is possible and perhaps soon to happen.
Yoane warned
While Newcastle fans have been critical of Isak’s behaviour, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that their potential new forward has adopted a similar approach in seeking a move from Brentford. Brentford rejected Newcastle’s initial £25m offer for Wissa, who reacted by flying home early from pre-season, refusing to train and wiping Brentford from his social media accounts.
Newcastle have since returned with a £40m offer, which was also swiftly rejected by Brentford, who value him at closer to £60m. With relations fractured, an exit for Wissa may be inevitable. He scored 19 goals in 35 appearances last season, all from open play, so it’s clear why Newcastle want to sign him – and why Brentford want to keep him.
Kobbie Mainoo
Much to the despair of Manchester United fans, Kobbie Mainoo is keen to leave the club after being dropped for the first two league matches of the season. The 20-year-old academy graduate looked like a star a year ago, having scored the winning goal for United in the FA Cup final and then started the Euro 2024 final for England. But, like fellow academy graduates Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, his career has stalled under Ruben Amorim.
Amorim’s preference for Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte in his 3-4-3 system, and United’s interest in signing Carlos Baleba from Brighton, has only intensified speculation. The head coach “believes a lot in Kobbie” but he has also said Mainoo is fighting for the same place in the team as Fernandes, the captain, so an exit looks likely. His destination is not clear, but the youngster wants to play Champions League football.
Lucas Paquetá
West Ham’s disastrous start to the season – two defeats in the league and a cup exit that ended with their captain bickering with a fan – could get worse, with Paquetá linked to Tottenham. Thomas Frank’s side have struggled to find a suitable replacement for the injured James Maddison, with late collapses in the transfers of Eze and Gibbs-White leaving a glaring gap in the squad.
Spurs need a creative No 10 and the 28-year-old Brazilian would bring some technical ability and flair to the side. West Ham are understandably reluctant to part with their star player, having already lost Mohammed Kudus to Spurs this summer, but Tottenham may table an offer that’s hard to refuse.
Xavi Simons
With Christopher Nkunku on his way to Milan for £36.2m, Chelsea can now sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. With 10 goals and seven assists in only 25 appearances last season, he has plenty of suitors, with Chelsea leading the chase for some time.
If Chelsea go elsewhere – they have also been linked with the Barcelona player Ferran López and are expected to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United – that may open the door for Spurs to move in and sign the 22-year-old Dutch midfielder.
Hayden Hackney
Middlesbrough are probably looking forward to the transfer window closing as they try to hold on to Hackney. The 23-year-old has started their first three games in the Championship this season and has already contributed a goal and an assist in the side’s perfect start.
With West Ham desperate for midfield reinforcements, Middlesbrough may face a tough fight to keep him. The Englishman has been compared to Declan Rice thanks to his box-to-box energy, passing range and defensive prowess. Middlesbrough insist he is not for sale, but interest from a Premier League side could tempt him to consider a move.
Marc Guéhi
Liverpool’s defensive frailties have been exposed this season, conceding two goals in each of their opening two games as well as losing the Community Shield to Crystal Palace. With Real Madrid reportedly keen to sign Ibrahima Konaté, whose contract is nearing its end, Guéhi has emerged as a prime target to strengthen their backline. The Palace captain looks tailor-made for Arne Slot’s high-possession system.
Palace do not want to lose Guéhi but would rather sell him now than lose him next summer for nothing. Liverpool have already spent £265m on players this summer, but they are expected to lodge another bid before the window closes.
Kevin
Premier League clubs have spent more than £1.4bn on forwards this summer, but Fulham are yet to bolster their attack. Marco Silva says he needs at least three players before the deadline and one of those may be the Shakhtar Donetsk winger Kevin.
Fulham may have to spend £40m to sign the Brazilian, which would eclipse the £34m fee they paid for Emile Smith Rowe in 2024. After losing Willian and Reiss Nelson in the summer, Fulham need reinforcements. Kevin, who was voted Shakhtar’s player of the season, could prove a smart addition.
Senne Lammens
Onana’s woeful display in Manchester United’s defeat by League Two side Grimsby may prove the final nail in the coffin for the goalkeeper, who is rapidly falling out of favour with Amorim.
Lammens, Royal Antwerp’s 23-year-old goalkeeper, has emerged as a transfer target for United. They have been tracking him for some time, with personal terms already agreed. The deal is being held up by a minor disagreement over the transfer fee between the clubs but the loss to Grimsby may convince United to budge.
This is an article by WhoScored
