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12 September 2026

The summer transfer window has shut, but several Premier League clubs are already likely to be mapping out their plans for 2027.

In spite of the vast sums spent, even Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea have been left noticeably light in certain positions and will aim to sort that out next year.

Using a bit of forward thinking, here are 10 Premier League transfers we expect to happen in 2027, either in January or once the season ends.

After overhauling their forward line and midfield across the last two summer windows, Manchester United are expected to complete the third stage of that rebuild in 2027.

Defence is the next priority, and they will need at least one new centre-back because Harry Maguire is out of contract at the end of the season, while the futures of Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt at Old Trafford are also unclear.

Jarrad Branthwaite has been a long-standing target for the INEOS-led football structure, which has repeatedly focused on players already proven in the Premier League.

United agreed personal terms with the centre-back in the summer of 2024 but were unable to reach an agreement with Everton, who turned down bids of £43million and £50million.

He has had injury troubles over the last two seasons, but his display in Everton’s 2-2 draw with United was a timely reminder of his quality.

The 24-year-old England international is said to have a release clause worth around £70million, and that could leave Everton with little power to stop a move to Old Trafford.

Manchester United’s heavy focus on midfield reinforcements in the summer has left other weak spots in the squad, and none stands out more than left-back.

Luke Shaw is now the only recognised senior left-back in Michael Carrick’s squad, and his injury record offers little confidence that he can cope with playing three matches a week this season.

United had identified Lewis Hall as the ideal long-term successor to Shaw, but Newcastle United refused to sell after losing a number of important players earlier in the window.

The Red Devils then looked into possible loan moves for Alejandro Balde and Rayan Ait-Nouri, but neither Barcelona nor Manchester City were prepared to approve temporary exits.

The fact that United did not want to sign another left-back on a permanent basis suggests they intend to revive their interest in Hall next summer.

The 22-year-old has signed a long-term new deal at St James’ Park, and while that strengthens Newcastle’s hand in negotiations, it is unlikely to put United off.

Lamine Camara appeared set for a Premier League switch on deadline day after Chelsea reached an agreement with Monaco for the midfielder in a £47million deal.

But the move broke down at the last moment after Monaco withdrew from the proposed transfer, leaving Chelsea furious with the Ligue 1 club.

Chelsea’s setback could yet work in Liverpool’s favour, with the Reds reportedly making a number of calls to tell the 22-year-old that he remained high on their agenda for 2027 if he did not join Stamford Bridge.

“This is not the end of the world,” Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro said. “It’s one opportunity. For a player with his level of talent, I’m very confident he will soon have even better options and offers than the one he had yesterday.”

Liverpool did not sign a midfielder in the summer despite selling Curtis Jones to Inter, which leaves Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Trey Nyoni and Wataru Endo as their present options in the middle.

Mac Allister has revealed that Liverpool have still not opened talks with him over a new contract, and the club appear to be placing greater importance on a move for Camara.

After taking over from Arne Slot in the Liverpool dugout, Andoni Iraola was handed the difficult task of replacing Mohamed Salah.

The Reds signed Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola for a combined £157.5million in the summer, although both wide players are more comfortable on the left.

Alongside those arrivals, Liverpool also assessed several right-sided attackers and had two bids for Yankuba Minteh rejected by Brighton.

The first proposal was believed to be £50million and the second was reportedly around £60million, but Brighton valued him at £70million.

Although Liverpool stepped away from the deal, they still hold an interest in the 22-year-old and Brighton have not ruled out selling him.

“If the whole team is successful and the individual shines then Yankuba will get a lot of attention again and he can then maybe fulfil his dream in the next transfer window,” Fabian Hurzeler said.

Since Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2025, right-back has become a troublesome area for Liverpool.

Jeremie Frimpong was brought in as his direct replacement but does not appear well suited to a back-four system, while Conor Bradley has had injury problems.

Centre-back Ronald Araujo has already been asked to fill in at right-back very well in the opening weeks of the season, so Liverpool are likely to look for a specialist there next year.

A return to Anfield for Alexander-Arnold has been suggested, but the Liverpool academy product damaged plenty of relationships in his final season at the club.

A more realistic option would be Liverpool moving for Michael Kayode, who has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best right-backs over the past 18 months.

The 22-year-old is contracted to Brentford until 2032, but the Bees have shown before that they are willing to sell if the price is right.

After selling Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City and then failing to complete the Camara deal on deadline day, Chelsea have been left short in midfield.

Moises Caicedo, Jordan Henderson, Romeo Lavia and Valentin Barco are the natural midfielders in Xabi Alonso’s squad, while Reece James and Malo Gusto have both also been used in central areas.

Chelsea now seem to have slipped behind Liverpool in the chase for Camara, but among the midfielders they were linked with in the summer, Elliot Anderson Scott was always one they looked likely to revisit.

Chelsea saw a £64million offer for the 23-year-old turned down by Bournemouth, with the Cherries sticking firmly to a not-for-sale position throughout the window.

But he has refused to sign a new contract at the Vitality Stadium and will have only one year left on his deal when the 2027 summer transfer window opens, making a sale far more probable.

Despite winning the Premier League title and reaching last season’s Champions League final, Arsenal frustrated supporters by failing to bring in a world-class forward during the transfer window.

The Gunners were ready to make Vinicius Junior their highest-paid player before the Brazil international opted to sign a new contract with Real Madrid, while Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola joined Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively.

Christos Tzolis has started the season impressively, but with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both having left the club, left wing remains an area Arsenal want to strengthen.

Arsenal have been linked with Kenan Yildiz, who scored 10 goals and supplied seven assists for Juventus in Serie A last season.

“It’s been since [a] long time [that] Arsenal appreciate Kenan Yildiz,” transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed. “Mikel Arteta, Andrea Berta, everyone loves the player. That’s not new.”

Juventus have previously refused to entertain offers for the 21-year-old, but Arsenal are expected to test that stance next summer.

As well as a new winger, Arsenal are still searching for another striker after failing to persuade Julian Alvarez to make a Premier League return.

The Gunners are now exploring alternative targets and are keen on Eli Junior Kroupi after his outstanding debut season at Bournemouth in 2025/26.

He scored 13 Premier League goals for the Cherries and has since been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Young Talent of the Year award.

Arsenal may have tried to move for him in the summer, but those plans were shelved after the 20-year-old suffered a foot injury in a pre-season training camp.

He is expected back in October or November, and if he resumes the form he showed last season, a transfer could become possible as early as the January window.

Bournemouth are reportedly likely to demand a fee in the region of £80million, and Arsenal should be capable of seeing off competition from other interested clubs.

Cody Gakpo attracted interest from both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in the summer, but Liverpool blocked an exit after failing to land Minteh.

Spurs and City then both turned their attention to Iliman Ndiaye, with City winning the race after agreeing a £65million deal with Everton.

That left Tottenham rushing in the closing days of the window, and they signed Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea on a season-long loan that includes an option to make the move permanent for £75million.

Our view is that Tottenham are unlikely to activate that purchase option.

Gakpo has begun the season well, but Barcola’s arrival and the possibility of a future move for Minteh could create an opening for his departure in 2027.

Tottenham would no longer have to contend with competition from City and could find themselves first in line for the Netherlands international.

After previously working under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez has now linked up with him again at Manchester City after completing a £125million move on deadline day.

But Fernandez was not the only Chelsea player on Maresca’s target list, with City also contacting Chelsea to explore a deal for Gusto.

He did not follow Fernandez to the Etihad because City prioritised their midfield rebuild and were unwilling to meet Chelsea’s £75million valuation.

Right-back is expected to be a key priority for City next summer, and Maresca is likely to push once more for the France international.

“We said many times that for us Malo is the main player in the way we want him to play,” Maresca said while at Chelsea last season.

“He can play in different positions. You already know that we like players that they can give us, we can be dynamic with them. Malo is one of them and we are very happy with Malo. Personally, since I joined the club, I consider Malo for us a main player.”