There is now less than a month remaining in the summer transfer window and the brows of many a Premier League boss continues to furrow.
The likes of Mikel Arteta are cutting relaxed figures having secured their top targets nice and early, but Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham feel like they have plenty still to do.
With that in mind, Mail Sport looks at who every team is chasing.
AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Andoni Iraola is preparing for his first season in charge after succeeding Gary O’Neil and with an ambitious owner like Bill Foley in his corner he won’t lack for backing.
Bolstering in midfield is the immediate priority with the Cherries re-entering talks with Bristol City this week over a £25million deal for Alex Scott.
They bid £15m last week, which was rejected because Bristol City want at least £25m before parting ways with one of their brightest prospects.
Scott is still only 19, and had an impressive campaign at Ashton Gate last season, making 42 league appearances.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth are also showing interest in Southampton academy star Will Smallbone.
Iraola is also keen to bolster his options at goalkeeper, with Bournemouth closing in on Inter Milan goalkeeper Andrei Radu as they look to provide Neto with competition for the No 1 jersey.
So far the new faces on the south coast include Hamed Traore (Sassuolo, £20m), Milos Kerkez (AZ Alkmaar, £15.5m), Romain Faivre (Lyon, £12.8m), and Justin Kluivert (Roma, £9.5m).
Bournemouth have re-entered talks with Bristol City over a £25m deal for Alex Scott
ARSENAL
Mikel Arteta made his splashes very early in the window by acting swiftly to get Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz.
Two new midfielders – the main focus – and more depth defensively has covered a lot of the bases the Gunners boss wanted tackling in the off season.
It appears now the chance at potentially landing Brentford goalkeeper David Raya could be one that is simply too good to turn down.
Bayern Munich also interested in the £40m-rated Spaniard but it has been reported that Raya is keen to stay in England and has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal.
Talk of a move for Raya raised questions as to the future of Aaron Ramsdale but it appears Raya would be arriving as back-up, rather to displace the England international.
Not much else is expected before the season begins in terms of incomings at the Emirates.
Arsenal want to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya as back-up to Aaron Ramsdale
ASTON VILLA
Unai Emery’s men have traded smartly this window, strengthening throughout the squad with defender Pau Torres (£31m from Villarreal), attacker Moussa Diaby (£45m from Bayer Leverkusen) and midfielder Youri Tielemans (free) – but this is just the start.
Under billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, Villa have big ambitions.
Don’t be surprised at a late move for Joao Felix if Atletico Madrid’s out-of-favour forward has still not found a new club.
Villa are also looking for a wide player, a full-back and possibly a goalkeeper.
They would have been prepared to listen to offers for Emi Martinez but no club has come close to meeting the likely asking price.
Villa also need to shift some squad players meaning Steven Gerrard-era signings like Leander Dendoncker and Philippe Coutinho could also move on.
Lucas Digne may also consider his options if he is to have only a bit-part role, though with Villa involved in the Europa Conference League, Emery will need plenty of cover.
Aston Villa remain keen on an audacious swoop for Joao Felix, who is unhappy at Atletico
BRENTFORD
Losing Ivan Toney to his betting ban through until January has left a gaping hole up top for the Bees.
Thomas Frank wants Brennan Johnson to fill that void, but Forest have so far played hardball.
There was interest in Viktor Gyokeres before he headed to Sporting in Portugal and so a striker will be the top priority between now and the close of the window.
Expect Brentford to be hitting the phones to see who is available.
Kevin Schade (Freiburg, £20m), Mark Flekken (Freiburg, £11m), Nathan Collins (Wolves, £23m), Romeo Beckham (Inter Miami, undisclosed), Erion Zabelo (Oxford, undisclosed), and Ethan Brierley (Rochdale, undisclosed) have all arrived so far.
BRIGHTON
Roberto de Zerbi has spent most of this summer fielding calls from rivals wanting to steal his players.
Chelsea want Robert Sanchez and Moises Caicedo, while refusing to sanction Levi Colwill’s switch from Stamford Bridge to Brighton.
Keeping hold of Caicedo, who has made no secret of his desire to leave, will be no mean feat, particularly given De Zerbi has already seen World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister leave for Liverpool.
A Caicedo departure with a fee in the Declan Rice region would see Brigthon needing – and seeking – central midfield additions.
Moves have already been made for Joao Pedro (Watford, £30m), Bart Verbruggen (Anderlecht, £16.3m), Igor Julio (Fiorentina, £15m), Jacob Slater (Preston North End, undisclosed), James Milner (Liverpool, free) and Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia Dortmund, free).
BURNLEY
New boys Burnley will be eager to hit the ground running in the top flight – but boss Vincent Kompany is acutely aware of the need to add experience to his side.
Burnley have offered a contract to free agent Andros Townsend, while they are also believed to be front runners for Arsenal’s Albert Sambi Lokonga, with Kompany keen to secure a loan deal for the midfielder.
Townsend is a former England international who has a vast amount of Premier League experience having played over 200 times in the division.
He has been without a club since his departure from Everton earlier this summer, and the winger has featured for Burnley during pre-season.
Talks have been also held with Troyes over youngster Wilson Odobert.
Burnley have offered a contract to winger Andros Townsend, who is a free agent
CHELSEA
Todd Boehly may have spent to the tune of £600m but the revolving door at Chelsea is back in action this summer.
The keys to the window now rest with the ongoing saga around £105m-rated Moises Caicedo, while the Blues are also keen on getting a new goalkeeper, with Brighton’s Robert Sanchez admired.
Chelsea have also been maintaining contact with Southampton over Romeo Lavia and Tino Livramento, although Caicedo remains the immediate priority.
Moves already done for Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig, £53m), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal, £32m), Lesley Ugochukwu (Rennes, £23.5m), Angelo Gabriel (Santos, £13m), Ishe Samuels-Smith (Everton, £4m), Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle, undisclosed), Diego Moreira (Benfica, free) and Alex Matos (Norwich, free), highlights how busy it has been at Chelsea, although many of those are future-proofing moves, rather than players to help in the here and now.
Brighton have rejected a bid worth £80m from Chelsea for midfielder Moises Caicedo
CRYSTAL PALACE
The best move Crystal Palace could make this summer is keeping hold of star man Michael Olise.
Losing Wilfried Zaha to Galatasaray stung but they are closing in on completing their long pursuit of Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca following his medical on Monday.
Jefferson Lerma has arrived on a free but this has been a very difficult window to this point for Palace.
Safe to say, boss Roy Hodgson knows more than most that Palace need to put their hands in their pocket between now and deadline day.
‘We’ve lost five senior players from last season and brought one in – Jefferson Lerma; he’s good and we’re happy to have him in – but there is still that hole of five senior players in the squad, two of whom were two of the real stars of the team,’ he said this week.
‘There’s a bit of work for the chairman and sporting director to do between now and the end of August, because the team we put out today was in our opinion, at this moment in time, our best team, but we don’t have the strength behind that team that we had last year.’
Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca is finally closing in on a summer switch to Crystal Palace
EVERTON
Bluntly, Everton could do with wholesale changes – and quality ones at that.
Narrowing it down and they have agreed a deal to sign 6ft 4ins Sporting Lisbon teenager Youssef Chermiti.
He’s promising but won’t be breaking into the first team all that regularly it is hard to see.
Strikers are the immediate focus for Sean Dyche with the fitness and reliability of Dominic Calvert-Lewin there to be questioned.
They are looking at a few – Che Adams and Kelechi Iheanacho have been mentioned, while the Toffees are exploring a deal for Southampton’s Kamaldeen Sulemana as they grow frustrated in their attempts to sign Wilfried Gnonto from Leeds.
The Ghanaian forward only joined the St Mary’s outfit in January from Rennes, but was powerless to stop the Saints’ plummet into the Championship.
The player had been of interest to Everton in January, with Southampton seemingly fending off advances from the Toffees , but Dyche and Co could be set to at last get their man, albeit after a circuitous route.
Gnonto was previously subject of a £15m bid from Everton in July, but Daniel Farke’s side are unwilling to sell.
Eleswhere, another centre back to sit alongside James Tarkowski would be a welcome addition and fans would also like to see a creative midfielder arrive.
But Dyche knows he needs to be resourceful and he needs to add goals if this season is to be much more comfortable than the last.
Kamaldeen Sulemana has emerged as a transfer target once again for Everton this summer
FULHAM
Marco Silva’s decision to reject the millions thrown at him from Saudi Arabia means there are now no distractions over his future in west London.
Strengthening in attack is an area of importance, even with ex-Wolves striker Raul Jimenez through the door.
Fulham have made a £4.5m offer for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. That’s below Chelsea’s asking price but with the Blues acutely aware that he needs game-time, a resolution could well be found.
Interest in Joao Palhinha – who Fulham want £90m for in a bid to ward of suitors – has seen interest in other central midfielders, just in case.
Manchester United’s Fred knows Silva well and there is interest there from Fulham’s side.
Callum Hudson-Odoi spent last season on loan with Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen
LIVERPOOL
Heading into the summer the talk was a midfield overhaul was front and centre of the agenda.
Unexpected departures to Saudi Arabia for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho has only brought that into even sharper focus, in spite of moves for Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
There is a sense Liverpool need a defensive midfielder – two if possible – and a centre back would also be of value with Jurgen Klopp at risk of finding himself short should either Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate suffer a long-term injury.
While moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield full-time is an option, a move for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia is intensifying.
The Reds saw their first approach of £35m plus add-ons turned down by Saints, with the Championship club wanting £50m.
Klopp was able to laugh off links with PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe but midfielders are nothing to laugh out right now, with Cheick Doucoure, Kalvin Phillips and Khephren Thuram all being looked at during this window.
At the younger end of the spectrum, the Anfield club are closing on another midfield prospect in 16-year-old Trey Nyoni from Leicester City.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are interested in Saints midfielder Romeo Lavia
LUTON TOWN
Ever since edging out Coventry City at Wembley to secure promotion, boss Rob Edwards has been hard at work finding players to slot into their current group.
Odds will be stacked against Luton staying up but the likes of Brentford have shown a way to build organically to establish yourself in the top flight.
The Hatters have already added Tahith Chong, Mads Andersen, Chiedozie Ogbene and Marvelous Nakamba, as well as Issa Kabore on loan from Manchester City.
Ryan Giles is expected to be next, with the 23-year-old due to have a medical on Thursday before completing a £5m move from Wolves.
Giles, who can play anywhere on the left flank, developed at Molineux but has made only one first-team appearance, instead having seven different loan spells and Edwards knows him well from his time coaching Wolves’ youngsters.
Ryan Giles is poised to leave Wolves and move to Premier League new boys Luton this week
MAN CITY
Win the Treble and still Pep Guardiola is searching for ways to make his team even better.
City’s priority at this moment is trying to push through a deal for RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol before Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal.
Tuesday brought fresh encouragement of an agreement being reached between the two clubs, with Red Bull supremo Oliver Mintzlaff – who heads up the energy drink giant’s entire sporting partnerships – leading the talks.
Mail Sport understands the fee for one of the most highly-regarded young central defenders in Europe is likely come in at below Leipzig’s quoted £86million valuation.
City’s business has been a slow burner this summer, with a focus on potential departures.
There is interest in Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva, while Riyad Mahrez has already left for Saudi Arabia.
Jeremy Doku of Rennes had been mentioned by sources as a possible target earlier in the year but talk surrounding the winger had quietened until the 21-year-old was again linked with the Premier League champions on Tuesday.
City have existing options in the squad to cover the departure of Mahrez, who joined Al-Ahli for £30m, but had already been looking for wide men before the Algerian left.
Manchester City want to complete a deal for Josko Gvardiol before the Community Shield
MAN UNITED
Moves for Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund saw Erik ten Hag land his No 1 targets across three undermanned positions, not least in goal.
Interest in Harry Maguire – who United are in no rush to force out of the door – and Scott McTominay could raise funds for another midfielder, while Fred is also generating interest with Fulham among those keen.
Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat is one well-known target, though he has received interest from Al Ahli over the weekend.
Defensively Nice’s much-improved defender Jean-Clair Todibo has come back into the reckoning while Everton’s left-sided centre back Jarrad Branthwaite, who impressed scouts while on loan at PSV Eindhoven last season, is a surprise name that has been floated.
Losing David de Gea and doubts over the long-term future of Dean Henderson at the club means another young goalkeeper to help back up Onana is on the radar.
Fenerbahce’s Turkey international Altay Bayindir has been the subject of their attention this summer.
Bayindir would cost around £5m but the question for the 25-year-old is whether he can get more regular football elsewhere with the likes of Ajax interested.
Hojlund is coming in for north of £70m but there is a sense there is more business to be done at Old Trafford.
Sofyan Amrabat is a target for Manchester United as they look for a reshuffle in midfield
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Eddie Howe has been keen to make his marquee signings early in a bid to get them bedded in ahead of the new season.
Sandro Tonali (AC Milan, £52m) and Harvey Barnes (Leicester City, £38m) are already in the building, while it is expected that Howe will have another go at signing Tino Livramento from Southampton before considering alternative options.
Southampton are reluctant to sell the £40m rated right-back, with Newcastle looking to offer around £30m.
Red Bull Salzburg’s highly-rated defender Oumar Solet is another being tracked, not least with right back Harrison Ashby wanted on loan by Swansea City.
The emergence of Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson may see Howe look to promote from within rather than flesh out his squad with big-name signings, too.
Newcastle remain hopeful of signing Southampton starlet Tino Livramento this summer
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Nottingham Forest badly need not just one but two senior goalkeepers this summer.
Dean Henderson is the first choice after his loan spell last season and Forest and Manchester United have discussed a loan with an obligation to buy, at a total package of £20-25m.
Talks are dragging but Forest would be hopeful of concluding it before the start of the season.
They are also interested in signing Arsenal’s current second-choice goalkeeper Matt Turner, further bolstering their ranks.
So far boss Steve Cooper has added wing-back Ola Aina (free) and wide man Anthony Elanga (£15m from Manchester United) but is after more, with a holding midfielder and a centre back high on his list.
PSV Eindhoven’s Ibrahima Sangare is top choice for the No 6 role, while Forest will listen to offers of more than £40m for homegrown star Brennan Johnson as they seek to balance the books.
Forest also need to clear the decks and are anticipating offers from the Saudi Pro League for a number of players, with Emmanuel Dennis and Jonjo Shelvey among those who will be allowed to leave.
Nottingham Forest are eyeing a new goalkeeper, with Dean Henderson remaining a top target
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Heading into the new season Sheffield United will be among the bookies’ favourites to drop straight back down into the Championship.
They need more new faces, more quality, and boss Paul Heckingbottom has been holding talks with a number of targets.
So far moves have been made for Anis Slimane (who joined from Brondby for £2.2m) and Yasser Larouci (on loan from Troyes).
On Tuesday U.S. international Auston Trusty signed on a permanent deal worth £5million from Arsenal.
Defence is an area of priority for Heckingbottom, who has been in talks with former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe.
Further up the pitch, a bid to bring James McAtee back has been rebuffed to this point by Manchester City, while losing star striker Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille only further highlights the need to land a striker.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side are back in the Premier League after a fine Championship season
TOTTENHAM
Ange Postecoglou has moves to make, not least defensively.
Spurs are desperate for central defensive reinforcements, with Micky van de Ven and Edmond Tapsoba top targets.
There is interest too in Tosin Adarabioyo, who starred for Fulham last season, while a pursuit of 18-year-old Ashley Phillips has slowed down with Blackburn hardballing over his price.
Postecoglou’s back-up option is Clement Lenglet should others fail. He spent time on loan at the club last season.
The key thing for Tottenham is they need to sell to raise funds.
Now, if Harry Kane goes to Bayern Munich – and it looks like he will – then there’s an immediate cash injection for Postecoglou to reshape this group.
If Kane goes the plan would be to look to add another striker – Nottingham Forest’s Johnson has admirers at the club.
Ideally they would acquire someone younger, more energetic and ideally in the £20-30m bracket to compete with Richarlison. Gift Orban and Arthur Cabral are among those they’ve asked about.
On the flip side there are ample players Postecoglou would consider selling or loaning out, including Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilon, Joe Rodon, and Davinson Sanchez.
Midfielder Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg has been in talks with Atletico Madrid, too, which would open up room for another midfielder, even after the arrival of James Maddison.
There is also the prospect of Hugo Lloris being allowed to walk out the door, with Guglielmo Vicario picked up as a new goalkeeper this summer.
Tottenham are considering a move for Brennan Johnson if Harry Kane is sold to Bayern Munich
Bayern executives have flown in to hold talks with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy over Kane
WEST HAM
West Ham have cash burning a hole in their pocket after the £105m sale of captain Declan Rice.
That is both a blessing and a curse. Blessing in the sense you have a mountain of cash to spend. Curse in that everyone knows you have it and will make you use as much of it as possible on their player.
It is one reason why the Hammers have pulled out of the race for Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, put off by his £30m asking price following the Saints’ relegation.
They are, instead, expected to step up their efforts to sign Rennes left back Adrien Truffert and Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana over the coming days, though.
Going into a campaign with Europa League football, David Moyes knows he needs to add both quality and depth to his ranks but this has been a frustrating window so far.
Bids, considered to be under value, have gone in for Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, while talks have also been held over £45m-rated Scott McTominay, Edson Alvarez at Ajax, Bristol City’s Alex Scott and Ian Maatsen of Chelsea.
West Ham are also looking to give a contract to Stoke City’s 18-year-old centre back Logan Laird after he impressed on trial.
But a move for Man City starlet Carlos Borges, who West Ham were putting the finishing touches to a £14m deal for, was hijacked late on by Ajax, much the chagrin of those in east London.
Between now and deadline day there will be a smattering of fresh faces at West Ham but the bigger question should be – at what cost?
West Ham have paused their summer pursuit of Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse
WOLVES
The mood is unsettled at Molineux.
Boss Julen Lopetegui is grumpy that his hands have been tied in the transfer market and supporters are worried that the squad will not be competitive enough to make an impact in the league this term.
Five outfield players – Ruben Neves (£47m to Al-Hilal), Nathan Collins (£23m to Brentford), Conor Coady (£7.5m to Leicester), Raul Jimenez (£5.5m to Fulham) and Ryan Giles (£5m to Luton) – have gone.
Only one – Matt Doherty returning on a free transfer – has arrived and owners Fosun’s priority is to avoid punishment for breaking spending rules.
Wolves urgently need a new No 9, as well as a central midfielder, but it is hard to see how they sign them under these circumstances.
The squad is solid, though, and as long as the mood around the club is not too bleak, it should be strong enough to secure comfortable survival. Whether Lopetegui will still be around to deliver it is another matter.
Julen Lopetegui has hit out at Wolves’ decision not to enter the transfer market due to FFP rules