The start of the 2026-27 Premier League season is one week away, with the first game, Arsenal vs Coventry City, kicking off next Friday. So, how ready are your club for the campaign to come?
Two weeks ago, we asked our writers to assess the Premier League readiness of every side. We asked them to select two XIs. The first is the strongest possible starting XI for the team they cover, regardless of current injuries or fatigue. The second is the line-up they expect to start their first game of the season from the players currently available.
What has changed in the past fortnight? Have new signings made a club’s best team significantly stronger? Are young players making a case for inclusion through their pre-season form? And which clubs are having to navigate challenging injury issues?
Arsenal
The pursuit of Vinicius Junior was so intoxicating that, perhaps unsurprisingly, its failure has resulted in something of a hangover.
It had looked the perfect solution: a world class player in the very position — left forward — that had been this team’s weakest, and perhaps a means to finding the open-play goals that Mikel Arteta’s side had sometimes found elusive last season.
As it stands, with Leandro Troassard sold and Gabriel Martinelli’s future uncertain, new signing Christos Tzolis, who has looked good in pre-season, will start the season on the left.
Otherwise, the signing of Bruno Guimaraes has added formidable quality to an already impressive central midfield. He comes straight into the side.
On the right, Max Dowman, still just 16, could well start the opening game, if pre-season friendlies are any indication, as Bukayo Saka continues to work back to full fitness from an Achilles issue. Noni Madueke, of course, will also be in the mix sooner than later.
The other area of concern is in central defence. Is Cristhian Mosquera ready to deputise until William Saliba recovers from his back injury? Or do the club push for Ezri Konsa or another high calibre replacement?
Who starts at left-back, Riccardo Calafiori or Piero Hincapie? The Italian seems to have the edge. Given the signing of Guimaraes, what roles can Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino and Eberechi Eze expect to play this season? Who starts up front, Kai Havertz or Viktor Gyokeres? To ask these questions is an indicator of the depth of talent at Arteta’s disposal
Duncan White
Aston Villa
Villa remain in a state of transition, with several players’ futures uncertain. One of them is Ezri Konsa — the club and Arsenal are currently apart on valuation for the England international defender, who has not yet returned for pre-season after being given an extended time off by Unai Emery. Even if Konsa were to stay, less than a week of preparation before the first match of the season is less than ideal.
The same is true with Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez, though the latter is a goalkeeper and can be compensated for slightly more easily than striker Watkins, for example. And besides, 17-year-old Brian Madjo’s captivating performance in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday warrants another opportunity.
Boubacar Kamara showed his fitness levels in that same match following a long lay-off after knee surgery, so he is ahead of Lamare Bogarde to start in midfield.
Villa do look light in the attacking positions and while Alejandro Garnacho may force his way into both teams and fellow newcomer Johan Manzambi is an exciting talent, they do require another wide player plus a general attacker to provide Emery with greater options and variety going forward.
Manzambi is currently out with a knee injury, so Garnacho should earn a start away to Brighton a week on Sunday, despite another young player in 19-year-old George Hemmings also impressing against PSG.
Jacob Tanswell
Bournemouth
Junior Kroupi’s foot injury, while ensuring he stayed at the club beyond this transfer window, means Bournemouth will be without their breakout star from last season for a few months.
James Hill’s form at the end of 2025-26 and displays this summer suggest he can take over from the departed Marcos Senesi. Antonio Silva’s arrival from Benfica should see him start in central defence, while Adrien Truffert is the undisputed first choice at left-back.
Right-back was a problem area for Bournemouth under previous head coach Andoni Iraola. Captain Adam Smith, now 35, featured regularly in pre-season, and Max Aarons, back from loan spells with Valencia and Rangers in the past two seasons, got some minutes too. But 22-year-old Juanlu Sanchez’s arrival from Sevilla this month makes him the best option.
Adam Scott and Tyler Adams as the holding midfielders with Kroupi ahead of them worked well last season. Adams is yet to feature in pre-season but should be ready for Matchday 1, while Justin Kluivert, who has played well since returning from the World Cup with the Netherlands, should slot into the No 10 role.
Bournemouth’s attack in general has thrived under new coach Marco Rose. Evanilson, Marcus Tavernier and Enes Unal all found the net in a 5-2 win against Augsburg of Germany. Kluivert notched a hat trick in the 10-1 thrashing of Italy’s Genoa, with Scott, Unal (two goals each) and David Brooks scoring too. Tavernier and Evanilson netted in their latest match, a 2-2 draw with Real Betis of Spain.
Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook and Alex Toth are solid rotation options in midfield. Amine Adli, Ben Gannon-Doak and Brooks provide depth on the wings.
Defensive depth is a concern, though. Other than Bafode Diakite, teenagers Veljko Milosavljevic and Matai Akinmboni, both 19, are the backup centre-backs, while Julio Soler, 21, is Truffert’s understudy.
Anantaajith Raghuraman
Brentford
Brentford have addressed Jordan Henderson’s departure to Chelsea with the club-record signing of Mamadou Sangare from Lens. The 24-year-old is “a mix between a six and an eight” according to Markus Katzer, who is the sporting director at his previous club Rapid Vienna. Sangare probably nudges playmaker Mathias Jensen out of the starting XI to line up alongside Yehor Yarmoliuk and Mikkel Damsgaard. Brentford will be hoping promising midfielder Antoni Milambo can contribute after his debut season was ruined by an ACL injury in October.
Brentford’s biggest issue over the past few years has been at left-back. Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey have struggled to return to peak form after long-term knee and hamstring injuries respectively in the 2023-24 season. Keane Lewis-Potter prefers to play further forward but has deputised admirably at left-back and could start there against Tottenham on the opening weekend. There should be increased competition at centre-back this season following Kristoffer Ajer’s impressive performances for Norway at the World Cup but it might not be enough for him to start over captain Nathan Collins or Sepp van den Berg, when the latter is fit.
Igor Thiago’s position as the first-choice striker is secure despite an underwhelming World Cup with Brazil and the arrival of Callum Wilson. Dango Ouattara should retain his role on the right but newcomer Jaidon Anthony could pinch Kevin Schade’s place on the opposite side. Anthony and Schade both scored eight Premier League goals last season but the latter’s form dropped off significantly. The Germany international only scored twice in his final 18 appearances and was sent off against Aston Villa in February.
Jay Harris
Brighton & Hove Albion
The need for a more established No 9 to replace Danny Welbeck after the move of last season’s top goalscorer to Chelsea is underlined by the inclusion of Georginio Rutter in that position. He is more effective as a No 10.
Youngsters Charalampos Kostoulas, Stefanos Tzimas and Evan Ferguson are all still rich in promise, but the latter pair are returning from long-term injuries and the other is unproven in the Premier League following limited opportunities in his 2025-26 debut season.
The attack is hampered further by uncertainty over when left-winger Kaoru Mitoma will be available to return from hamstring surgery. Diego Gomez is a stop-gap alternative, but Mitoma remains a key figure who frightens opposing defences with his dribbling speed and influential record in the top flight.
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler has multiple options for the central midfield pairing, but nobody else with the box-to-box power and athleticism of Carlos Baleba. A return to the form he showed two seasons ago, after a big dip in form for 2025-26, would be comforting.
The strongest department is the defence: Bart Verbruggen backed up by Jason Steele in goal, Mats Wieffer or summer recruit Costinha at right-back, Ferdi Kadioglu or Maxim De Cuyper at left-back. Hurzeler has good options in the middle too, with new signings Luka Vuskovic, Pascal Struijk and Michael Svoboda compensating for Jan Paul van Hecke’s exit to Tottenham.
Andy Naylor
Chelsea
New manager Xabi Alonso began to show a significant change in tactics late on in Chelsea’s pre-season tour to Australia and East Asia, but it could be a few weeks before his first-choice formation and team take shape.
In the tour’s last two games, Alonso opted to use the three-at-the-back formation which served him so well as Bayer Leverkusen boss. He also employed two No 10s to sit behind the striker, using wing-backs to provide further width.
However, some of the key players needed for the system only reported to begin pre-season this week after getting an extended holiday post-World Cup. It will take time on the training ground to perfect playing with three at the back, a setup that can leave you vulnerable out wide defensively.
Beginning with a 4-2-3-1 is the safer option. Similarly, loading up the XI for the opener away to Fulham with players who have enjoyed the benefits of a full pre-season makes sense, too. Rushing the World Cup contingent into action too soon puts them at risk of injury. However, you suspect Maxence Lacroix will have to start immediately due to Wesley Fofana being suspended, unless Alonso opts to trust Josh Acheampong, who impressed in a 3-0 win against Milan on Saturday.
Enzo Fernandez is looking more likely to stay at this stage after months of transfer speculation, and Chelsea are a stronger team with him in the line-up. Should that situation change, then obviously, Alonso will have to tweak his midfield.
But with fewer midweek fixtures this season due to their failure to qualify for European football, Alonso’s setup is surely going to adapt depending on the opponents anyway.
One suspects both formations will be used over the next 10 months, especially as Chelsea have a rich resource of wide players and will want to get Estevao in the team along with Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro.
Simon Jones
Coventry City
There has been some exciting transfer activity at Coventry this window, with Frank Lampard’s promoted side breaking their transfer record on three occasions.
They first brought in towering Switzerland centre-back Aurele Amenda for around £17million from Eintracht Frankfurt. That was followed by the £22.5m acquisition of goalkeeper Carl Rushworth from Brighton, who was last season’s player of the season at Coventry while on loan. They then completed the signing of exciting 20-year-old Ghana midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi for a reported £23.1m, plus £2.6m in add-ons.
When interviewed by The Athletic in May, head coach Lampard was clear that recruitment was going to be key if Coventry wanted to compete back in the Premier League.
They have their final pre-season friendly today (Friday), at home to Monaco, before they visit champions Arsenal a week today in a daunting season opener. In terms of selection for that match, much could still hinge on what happens against Monaco, but Lampard’s squad is starting to take shape.
This week, Coventry also announced the return of fan favourite Gustavo Hamer following three years at Sheffield United, their sixth signing of the window. The 29-year-old will feel he has unfinished business at Coventry after scoring, but then coming off injured, in the 2023 Championship play-off final defeat against Luton.
However, Coventry fans still feel they need to sign another striker. This Monaco friendly will also offer an indication of the fitness levels of key players Jack Rudoni, who underwent shoulder surgery in late April, and Haji Wright.
Lampard will have to decide how many of his new signings he wants to throw straight into the team against Arsenal. Amenda, who played the first half of Saturday’s friendly against Espanyol, is a good bet to start alongside vice-captain Liam Kitching, while it will be intriguing to see how, and where, they utilise Yirenkyi this season.
The manager will welcome the extra competition for places as Coventry make their Premier League return after a 25-year absence.
Tom Burrows
Crystal Palace
Versatile and experienced defenders Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu have joined on free transfers to add depth.
Palace also swapped winger Brennan Johnson for Everton forward Dwight McNeil, who is an option to start against them at Hill Dickinson Stadium in the clubs’ August 22 opener.
Aston Villa loanee Evann Guessand gets the temporary nod on the left over Yeremy Pino, who returned late after World Cup duty with Spain. Dean Henderson and Jean-Philippe Mateta will expect to slot straight in. Ismaila Sarr’s start and goal in a 2-1 friendly win against Fulham last Friday is also a positive.
Palace are going to set up in the same 3-4-2-1 system under new boss Pierre Sage that predecessor Oliver Glasner used, albeit the style of play will be different, with quicker passing and wide combinations. A centre-half to replace Chelsea-bound Maxence Lacroix and a central midfielder are now the top priorities.
Moves for Anan Khalaili and Zavier Gozo are being finalised, and with both able to play right wing-back, there are whispers Daniel Munoz may be sold.
Max Mathews
Everton
With one week to go until the start of the season, a new right-back still eludes Everton. Finding a solution for this problem position remains a necessity.
Jake O’Brien and Merlin Rohl have both had stints on that side of the back four in pre-season, but the latter has looked more comfortable there and offers a more attack-minded option, especially with Vitalii Mykolenko less creative on the other flank.
Rohl has been one of Everton’s top performers this summer and appears a good bet to start the opener against Crystal Palace. The more pertinent question is in which position that will be, given he has also featured both on the right wing and in his favoured central midfield berth at times.
James Garner and Christian Norgaard are fitness doubts for the game. Manager David Moyes will be hoping the England international in particular recovers in time to face the south Londoners, while it is still a toss-up between Beto and Thierno Barry up front.
Of the two, Barry has had the better pre-season up to now.
Patrick Boyland
Fulham
Is it deadline day already?
Since Shahid Khan bought the club more than a decade ago, Fulham have regularly left their transfer business until the last minute. This summer, they have done things differently. And there is a clear theme to the changes.
Issa Diop and Sasa Lukic have joined Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez in heading through the exit door, taking significant experience with them. In their place, new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa will need to trust that a younger group will step up.
Shea Charles, a 22-year-old signed for £30million from Southampton, should bring greater physicality to midfield. Next to him, 19-year-old Josh King is expected to play a more prominent role in his second season of senior football. Out wide, Oscar Bobb and Kevin, both 23, will compete for starting roles after inconsistent debut campaigns at Craven Cottage.
The biggest leap of faith comes up front.
Gonzalo Garcia showed with Real Madrid that he can score at the highest level, but the 22-year-old has never been a first-choice senior striker. Having cost £34million, Fulham will need him to adapt to first-team football quickly.
There are still questions at centre-back, particularly with Joachim Andersen suspended for the opener at home against Chelsea, and midfield could use more depth. But the shape of Arbeloa’s Fulham is becoming clearer: younger, more dynamic and, inevitably, more reliant on players without much Premier League experience.
Justin Guthrie
Hull City
Are Hull fully equipped for a Premier League return after 10 years away? The squad currently available for the opening weekend would suggest there is much work to be done before the September 1 transfer deadline.
Expect plenty more new signings before then but the first game, at home to Manchester United a week on Saturday, will see coach Sergej Jakirovic lean heavily on the group of players that brought the club up via the play-offs in May.
Konstantinos Tzolakis is a certain starter in goal after fellow new recruit Jack Butland was ruled out for at least three months, while summer signings Matt Targett and Jens Hjerto-Dahl will also hope to feature if they can build their fitness in the final pre-season game against Nice this weekend.
Defensive cover has finally arrived to provide welcome options. Nobel Mendy was signed from Rayo Vallecano this week in a club-record deal, hours before Lucas Herrington joined from Colorado Rapids. Charlie Hughes’ absence for the United game through injury might well mean they both start in central defence, while that pair also present the chance to play a back five if Jakirovic opts to shore up his side.
Hidemasa Morita, the 31-year-old Japan midfielder signed from Lisbon’s Sporting CP, is struggling to build fitness in pre-season but is expected to be a prominent figure in a holding role.
Phil Buckingham
Ipswich Town
A more balanced and measured transfer approach has been undertaken by Ipswich this summer compared to their last campaign in the Premier League two years ago.
Then, they spent £130million amassing a squad of young talent and Championship stars who lacked top-flight experience. Now, a new-look defensive spine and a new manager in Gary O’Neil, with recent relegation-battle experience at Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers, make the East Anglian club look ready.
The signings of Sasa Lukic (from Fulham) and Florentino Luis (Burnley) will provide control at the base of midfield, a position the destructive Azor Matusiwa made his own last term, but the Dutchman looks set to miss the start of this campaign with a muscle injury.
A trio of Issa Diop, Dara O’Shea and Kjell Scherpen (at 6ft 9in/206cm, the Dutch goalkeeper is set to become the tallest ever Premier League player) has been moulded together in pre-season, making Ipswich look defensively stout. But it’s hard to have the same confidence about the other end of the pitch.
Their many attackers, apart from the injured Jaden Philogene, have all shared minutes in Ipswich’s preparations, but new signing Emersonn looks the only certain starter for the opener at home to Sunderland.
George Edwards
Leeds United
There are no changes to the last edition of Leeds’ strongest possible XI. James Trafford’s arrival has now been announced, but we had gambled on that in the previous draft.
There are changes to the XI I’m expecting to line up away to Nottingham Forest a week on Saturday, however. There is a fresh injury and a delayed pre-season to take into account.
Gabriel Gudmundsson limped out of the friendly with Liverpool on August 2 after clutching at his right hamstring. Daniel Farke has confirmed he will definitely miss the City Ground trip and maybe Brentford at Elland Road the following weekend, too.
While a reserve left-back remains on the club’s shopping list before the window closes, James Justin has proved an able deputy over the past 12 months. While he is right-footed, Justin has been dependable on the left in the Swede’s absence.
Further forward, Noah Okafor’s absence from last weekend’s RB Leipzig friendly has made me reconsider his readiness for Forest. The Swiss did play a half in Wednesday’s game with Manchester United, but Farke acknowledged he would struggle to be ready for that opener.
In his absence, it’s a toss-up between Sean Longstaff, Brenden Aaronson, Daniel James and Wilfried Gnonto. Longstaff has had a very good pre-season and could play alongside Ethan Ampadu, releasing Anton Stach to take a more attacking role.
However, Aaronson is the option I expect Farke to take. He waxed lyrical about the American’s ability to do the running of two players last season, especially in away games where Leeds were under more pressure.
For this fixture, Aaronson seems like the safer, reassuring, hard-working choice Farke will make.
Beren Cross
Liverpool
The hope was that by the time it came to updating this piece ahead of the start of the season, Liverpool would have made significant progress in the transfer window and Andoni Iraola’s debut-year squad would have taken shape.
Instead, they remain light in several areas, especially in attack and at right-back, as conversations over the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola continue. Centre-back Ronald Araujo has been the only new addition, arriving on a year’s loan from Barcelona. Liverpool had to act because of the injury issues defenders Joe Gomez, Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni have had during pre-season.
Alongside the arrival of Araujo, Jacquet has been back in training and both are set to be available for Liverpool’s final pre-season double-header against Serie A side Como on Sunday. Which of them partners Virgil van Dijk in the opening game of the season away to Newcastle is the decision Iraola has to make. He may go for the more experienced option in Araujo, but as the line-ups reflect, Liverpool will be hoping that, as the season progresses, Jacquet overtakes the Uruguay international.
Concerns about the depth of the squad continue, highlighted by consecutive friendly defeats to Leeds and Monaco after Liverpool had led 2-0 in those matches. The positive is that those expected to be in the starting XI are looking sharp and ready for the new campaign, especially attacking duo Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Most of the starting XI for St James’ Park feels set, including the midfield two of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, although Trey Nyoni’s impressive pre-season has elevated his status. Who starts on the right wing continues to have a question mark hanging over it. Rio Ngumoha is the only senior player who has seen significant minutes on that flank so far, which suggests there is a good chance he begins the season there.
Andy Jones
Manchester City
Not too much has changed at City in terms of incomings or outgoings but pre-season has shed a bit more light on manager Enzo Maresca’s plans, most noticeably towards midfield. Mateo Kovacic has been starting the games on tour in Asia, with Nico Gonzalez coming off the bench.
With the squad’s remaining World Cup players returning this week, there is still time for them to get up to speed for the start of the season at home against Bournemouth.
Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku are most likely to come in, despite missing the trip to Hong Kong and South Korea, as they are the stand-out options in their positions and there are not many rivals. That said, Savinho has done well this summer and if he is still at the club, and Doku needs time to get back up to speed, then Antoine Semenyo could play on the left wing, with Savinho on the other side.
Nico O’Reilly will likely come in sooner or later, Ruben Dias seems set to be made captain by Maresca, and Josko Gvardiol has played a key role in the build-up this summer. The Croatian has also played left-back, but with O’Reilly available — and so well-suited to Maresca’s plans — it could mean that the Englishman starts on the left and Marc Guehi and Abdukodir Khusanov will have to compete for starts at centre-back.
Phil Foden did not quite hit the ground running in pre-season, which does present an opportunity for Rayan Cherki to cement a place in the XI for the big kick-off.
Across the season generally, the strongest XI currently features Rodri, but that would inevitably change should he complete his mooted move to Barcelona. Any replacement signed would likely take his spot in the strongest team available to Maresca.
Sam Lee
Manchester United
Mason Mount’s latest fitness issue, which kept him out of the Leeds friendly in midweek, means he drops out of my expected line-up for Hull away from a couple of weeks ago. But new signing Youri Tielemans slotting in so seamlessly should mean a straightforward swap.
I got the striker wrong as well: Bryan Mbeumo will clearly start up top, with him showing good form in that position, plus Amad doing well, meaning he deserves a spot on the right wing.
Perhaps Patrick Dorgu should stay on the left, but given United would be expected to have much more of the ball against promoted Hull next Saturday, Matheus Cunha would likely get in there for his attacking flair.
Diogo Dalot, who was captain against Leeds, has also made a good return, so should dislodge Leny Yoro, who since deputising at right-back has moved over to play centrally. As for the strongest line-up, perhaps Ayden Heaven will solidify his place, even when Lisandro Martinez is now back. Yoro could challenge Harry Maguire on the right side of central defence.
Laurie Whitwell
Newcastle United
The best word to describe Newcastle right now is ‘unknown’. After almost five years under Eddie Howe, successor Matthias Jaissle has been in post for less than a fortnight and has overseen just two pre-season friendlies.
His preference for a 4-2-3-1 has been evident, however, and the German is looking for Newcastle to be aggressive in the press, intensive and also direct, with a plan to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.
For that reason, the pace of Anthony Elanga, who avoided serious injury when he was hacked down against Valencia last weekend, and Will Osula appear critical to what Jaissle hopes to achieve. Newcomer Bazoumana Toure has also excited with his pace and crossing ability, so may force his way in on the left.
The departure of Bruno Guimaraes, their captain, has left a leadership “vacuum”, as Jaissle termed it, and Newcastle are looking to bring in an experienced midfielder, who may slot straight into the XI for Liverpool’s visit next weekend, should they arrive in time. Newcastle are also desperately short of depth at full-back, and that is another priority in the market. Should a wide defender be acquired this week, Lewis Miley, if he proves his fitness, may return to his favoured No 6 position.
Sean Steur, the 18-year-old midfielder signed from Ajax, has really impressed and could yet be given an opportunity to start the season, too, while Jacob Ramsey’s ball-playing ability may see him earn a spot as a No 6 or as a No 10.
Chris Waugh
Nottingham Forest
Ousmane Diomande has signed in a £35million move from Sporting CP and will complete the trio Oliver Glasner wanted in the heart of defence. It is a key addition for Forest’s new head coach.
He still wants to add another central midfielder — Tijjani Reijnders of Manchester City had been their primary target, although he is closing on a move to Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, while they also hold an interest in Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall — as well as a striker and a wing-back.
But in the meantime, James McAtee has played his way into the reckoning for a starting place in midfield against Leeds a week on Saturday with his performances in a new position in pre-season. Similar is true of Dan Ndoye, the Swiss international, who has impressed Glasner with his pace and directness since returning from an extended break following World Cup duty.
Igor Jesus has been one of Forest’s best players in pre-season and has edged himself ahead of Chris Wood in the battle for the No 9 role.
Paul Taylor
Sunderland
Sunderland’s pre-season has gradually improved, as defeats to Liverpool and Leeds have given way to encouraging performances, and wins, against Wrexham and Lens. A final warm-up awaits tomorrow (Saturday), when Rennes visit the Stadium of Light.
Scoring in last weekend’s 2-0 win in France was Wilson Isidor, who has frequently been linked away from Wearside. Coach Regis Le Bris appears to have quelled that for this summer, citing a lack of other striking options beyond Brian Brobbey in a season where his side have European football to contend with on top of domestic matters. “There is no speculation,” Le Bris said. “You can write it. He is staying.”
While several squad players have departed, the story of Sunderland’s summer has been one of retention. Fending off Chelsea’s pursuit of Granit Xhaka was huge, and it has been surprising that last season’s other standouts have not been more actively chased by rich suitors.
It means a core unit which shocked many has been kept intact, and the first XI looks strong. Beyond that, with those extra games (a minimum of eight) to contend with, depth is a concern. Only free transfer right-back Thomas Meunier has joined the squad. Efforts will be made to add to that in the final two weeks of the window.
Chris Weatherspoon
Tottenham Hotspur
Djed Spence and Cristian Romero starred at the World Cup for third-placed England and runners-up Argentina respectively but are surplus to requirements in north London. Spence is closing in on a move to Inter for around £26million, while Spurs have agreed a £34m deal with Atletico Madrid for Romero.
It was an open secret that the latter would leave this summer, and Spurs acted quickly at the start of the window to secure Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke as his replacement. There are concerns around selling the versatile Spence but new signing Andy Robertson will provide competition at left-back for Destiny Udogie, while Archie Gray can cover Pedro Porro on the opposite side.
Supporters will be hoping the money received from selling Romero and Spence can be reinvested into the side’s attacking positions.
Coach Roberto De Zerbi desperately needs reinforcements, with Manchester City’s Savinho and Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo both targets. Either one of those players would put Spurs in a better position, but time is running out before the window closes on September 1. This is the second year in a row they have chased Savinho. Surely they cannot fall short again?
The only other issue relates to James Maddison, who had limited involvement on the pre-season tour to New Zealand and Australia due to a “small problem”. If he is not fit to start on the opening weekend’s visit to Brentford, Conor Gallagher would be the leading candidate to take over the advanced midfield role.
Jay Harris
