The Top 5 Clubs: Which Premier League squad need work in the transfer window?

Top 5 teams in the EPL: From Top Left - Liverpool (1st), Manchester City (2nd)
From Down Left - Leicester City (3rd), Chelsea (4th) and Manchester United (5th)

The uncertainty over the remainder of the Premier League season means there is also a lack of clarity over the next transfer window.


When will it run to and from? How will spending be affected? And what about the PR implications of paying millions for players in the immediate aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic?

But what is for sure is that top-flight managers will be on the lookout for new recruits, whenever that time comes, and the suspension of football will have given clubs plenty of time to assess their squads.

Analysis of the top 10 teams below 👇

1. Liverpool

On course to win their first league title in 30 years, Liverpool unsurprisingly have no real concerns over the make-up of their squad, with nine first-team players at what we would generally consider to be the peak of their careers.

With ultimate utility man James Milner now 34 years old, Jurgen Klopp may also look to add some depth to the squad in various positions, especially at full-back.

2. Manchester City

The lack of a settled defence has been the problem for Manchester City this season, with the club having to rely heavily on the now 35-year-old midfielder Fernandinho to fill in at the back. The Brazilian is Pep Guardiola's oldest outfield player but he has played 79% of all Premier League minutes - the third-highest of any of the club's outfield players.

Although 34-year-old David Silva will leave huge boots to fill, Guardiola has already named hot prospect Phil Foden as his successor, but with a possible two-year European ban looming, he might not be the only player to depart.

3. Leicester City

With just two first-team players at their peak, Leicester's mix of title-winning veterans and top-class young talent makes it arguably the most unique squad in the Premier League.

With Christian Fuchs and Wes Morgan leaving, Brendan Rodgers will need defenders, while the club will one day have to attempt the Herculean task of finding the successor to Jamie Vardy, who turned 33 in January.

4. Chelsea FC

After no signings in his first two transfer windows, it will be interesting to see if Frank Lampard continues to trust in youth to replace the front three (Olivier Giroud, Pedro and Willian) of experienced attackers set to leave, although Giroud may yet extend his contract for another year.

The signing of 27-year-old Ajax winger Hakim Ziyech will bring in a replacement at his peak.

Willy Caballero's departure means the club will also need another goalkeeper.

5. Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's focus on youth means that Manchester United have played the youngest average starting XI in the Premier League this season.

But this transfer window will likely revolve around the future of Paul Pogba, who has started just five Premier League games this season due to injury.

With Odion Ighalo only on loan until the end of the season, a striker will likely be one of the club's priorities, given Romelu Lukaku's exit in August and Marcus Rashford's recent injury problems.