One month to go: What do the Premier League big guns still need to do before the window shuts?

After all the hype and build-up, rumours and gossip, there is now just one month left for teams to wrap up their transfer business. You can practically hear Jim White rehearsing his deadline day roar as he reads out a text he’s just received from Harry Redknapp confirming that Benjani is on his way to Birmingham to be reunited with his old boss.

At the top end of the Premier League, teams have been busy already, but you sense the coming days will be even more frantic than what has come before. There are a lot of sides that still need significant strengthening, a lot of deadwood to shift and one or two superstars to cling onto. Here’s what the division’s top guns still need to do before the window shuts…

ARSENAL

For Arsenal, their summer – and season – rests solely on the shoulders of Alexis Sanchez. Keep the Chilean out of Manchester City’s clutches and they could have a genuine shot at the title, especially with new recruits Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette looking like such good fits for the club. But if Sanchez leaves, they will need a superstar replacement.

The most likely target is Thomas Lemar, the Monaco winger who scored nine times in Ligue 1 last season and laid on another 10 assists. He brings speed, movement, intelligence and excellent dead-ball delivery, though is a very different type of player to Sanchez. The latter was a goalscorer and talisman, while Lemar is a provider and wingman.

Regardless, Monaco are adamant the France international will not be sold this summer, and that in turn could see the Gunners move for Leicester star Mahrez instead.

Another position of weakness is central midfield. Granit Xhaka and Francis Coquelin lined up there against Benfica, while Aaron Ramsey and Joe Willock were picked against Sevilla. Jean Michael Seri of Nice has long been linked and could be the perfect player to bring forward thrust and spark, even in a midfield two if Arsenal persist with their 3-4-3 formation.

WORK STILL TO DO: A LITTLE

CHELSEA

Chelsea have spent over £100m this summer, but Antonio Conte is not happy. So far he has landed three major signings: Alvaro Morata, a striker full of promise but perhaps not yet the battering ram Diego Costa was last season; Tiemoue Bakayoko, a player who will bring more drive and impetus to the midfield; and Antonio Rudiger, cover and competition for the already established back three.

But it’s not enough. And Conte knows it. ‘I know we have a lot of road ahead before we can compete to try to win the Champions League. We are trying to rebuild a situation and it’s not easy. You need a bit of time to create a structure and to build every season – and then to go to fight.’

He still wants four more additions, with new wing-backs a priority. Almost every major club who rely on their defenders as much as Chelsea do for width have a pair of talented full-backs for each flank. But it doesn’t seem like Conte is even that convinced by his starters. He has been desperately trying to sign Juventus star Alex Sandro to usurp Marcos Alonso, while he was pipped to Danilo by Manchester City and admitted to trying to sign Kyle Walker.

Reinforcements are a priority across the squad though, with six players who featured, albeit sparingly, in last season’s title win sold off, and two key cogs of their solid spine, Costa and Nemanja Matic, dispensed with. Chelsea used fewer players than any other team up until the title was secured, yet their squad has got smaller this summer despite the added demands of the Champions League.

Conte still wants a backup striker, and is keen on former charge Fernando Llorente – though Swansea are demanding £30m for a player they signed for nothing. Another centre-back is also on the agenda, while Antonio Candreva’s ability to play on the wing or at wing-back is very appealing. It’s a staggeringly ambitious shopping list with just one month to go in the window.

WORK STILL TO DO: A LOT

LIVERPOOL

Liverpool’s transfer check list felt rather straightforward at the start of the summer: Sign more pace to compliment Sadio Mane, bring in a new centre-back and find a midfielder perfect for Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing. So far they have only done one of those things, bringing in Mohamed Salah from Roma, while their top two targets in the other positions seem almost impossible to sign.

RB Leipzig are utterly adamant that Naby Keita will not be allowed to leave. The Guinean force of nature is a once-in-a-generation midfielder who would thrive under Klopp, but not only do the Reds look like missing out this summer, the presence of a release clause that activates next year will surely attract bigger and better clubs than Liverpool.

Virgil van Dijk remains on the agenda, with the Dutchman requesting to leave Southampton and training on his sown. The Merseysiders must tread carefully after Saints threatened action, though, and they remain adamant he will not be sold. Alternatives will need to be found before the window closes, while a new striker would be a welcome addition even if Klopp intends to play with a false No.9.

WORK STILL TO DO: A LOT

MANCHESTER CITY

Manchester City have had an excellent summer so far. They’ve needed to spend big, but in doing so they have refreshed their full-backs – turning a position of weakness into one of genuine strength – while Ederson has thoroughly impressed in pre-season and looks to have both the sweeper-keeper skills Pep Guardiola craves (he’s even got assists in his locker) and can make the odd save too.

If the season started now, City would be in a great position, especially with Bernardo Silva still to be integrated into the side. But Guardiola isn’t finished there. The club are still confident of signing Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, and the coming days will be critical in that pursuit. Is the Chilean really ill? Will he turn up to training? Will he submit a transfer request?

Sanchez would add another level to an already thrilling attack, one that has steamrollered Real Madrid and Tottenham in pre-season. City are playing scintillating football, but signing a player like Sanchez – who scored or assisted 34 league goals last season – doesn’t just make them runaway favourites for the Premier League, it makes them genuine Champions League contenders. The same goes for Kylian Mbappe, should their reported interest be concrete.

One area that does still need addressing, rather urgently, is centre-back. City leaked goals last season and only have three experienced, first-team central defenders to call on. Two were shaky and the other, Vincent Kompany, has a very sketchy injury record – not ideal if they want to play three at the back consistently next year. Real Sociedad’s Inigo Martinez is the latest name linked, though they could do with someone a little more uncompromising and a little more experienced.

WORK STILL TO DO: A LITTLE

MANCHESTER UNITED

Jose Mourinho has always made it very clear what he wanted this summer: A centre-back, a midfielder, a winger and a striker. The profile of the latter changed when Zlatan Ibrahimovic got injured, forcing Manchester United to switch targets from a No.10 to a No.9. But in hijacking Chelsea’s deal for Romelu Lukaku, they signed a player that guarantees goals.

Meanwhile, Victor Lindelof, despite some uneasy outings in pre-season, bolsters a defence that looked a little shaky when asked to play on the front foot, while Nemanja Matic provides balance and control in the midfield. The deal to bring the Chelsea man to Old Trafford was months in the making, but the hunt for a winger is even more taxing still.

Ivan Perisic has long been Mourinho’s top target in this position. A furiously quick winger blessed with two-footedness, full of buzz and direct running. The Croatian is the kind of player that can open up a deep defence with a moment of magic, or threaten in behind when United need to play on the counter-attack.

But Inter continue to play hardball and are demanding either £50m straight, or a player-plus-cash deal involving Anthony Martial. United aren’t entertaining those demands at all and will likely use every available minute of the window to try and lower the asking price.

Additionally, United have also been looking at bolstering their quality and cover at full-back. Antonio Valencia excelled last season but needs more support, while Mourinho is not especially enamoured with his options at left-back. Serge Aurier has been linked, though any deal relies on the Ivorian successfully appealing assault charges on August 7.

WORK STILL TO DO: A LITTLE

TOTTENHAM

At this point, Tottenham’s lack of transfer activity has almost become a running joke. With just two weeks to go until the season starts, Spurs are yet to make a signing and do not even seem close to changing that. Patience is the buzzword coming out of the club. They will do business, but on their terms and not at the inflated prices the market is currently producing.

But Spurs must be busy. The likes of Moussa Sissoko and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou are patently not good enough to offer the support the first team needs. It is admirable to assume that the club’s younger players can step up and contribute – Marcus Edwards’ new deal was treated like a new signing by fans – but the club’s dependence on the starting XI needs remedying.

Ross Barkley seems the most likely signing if anyone does arrive, with his contract situation playing into the hands of Daniel Levy’s penchant for brinkmanship. He will fancy his chances of knocking around £25m off Everton’s £50m price tag as deadline day looms. Whether Barkley is a good fit is another matter, especially with the likes of Kevin Kampl available at far cheaper prices.

Spurs are also in dire need of more pace, something that was extremely evident against Man City in Nashville. Kieran Trippier lacks the athleticism, speed and attacking intent Mauricio Pochettino’s system requires to function properly, and that was shown up by Kyle Walker and City. Porto’s Ricardo Pereira, so impressive at Nice, ticks all the boxes.

WORK STILL TO DO: A HELL OF A LOT