6 Signings the Premier League top-6 teams should make

Manchester City won the Premier League title in 2018 with a convincing 19 point lead over 2nd placed Manchester United. Its quite clear that every other club, part of the big-6 needs to make certain changes in an attempt to stay in the race for the PL trophy.

That is not to say that Manchester City do not need to invest any further. The last time a club retained the PL title was when Manchester United did the double in 2009.

Since then no club has won the premier league and retained the title in the following season, which is precisely what makes the English Premier League the best league in the world and why no team in the top-6 can afford to stay put while the others invest in their squads.

#6 Arsenal

Stephan Lichtsteiner moved from Juventus on a free transfer

Arsenal finished at the bottom among the top 6 in the previous season and have reacted to it. Arsense Wenger era is finally over and in Unai Emery, Arsenal have a shrewd tactician who can help the team move on from Wenger while still maintaining the pleasing style of football associated with Wenger's team.

So far Arsenal have signed 4 players this transfer window and all of them seem to be smart budget signings, with Lucas Torreira especially seeming like a great midfield fit with Granit Xhaka -

1. Stephan Lichtsteiner (RB) (free transfer from Juventus)

2. Lucas Torreira (CDM) (£27M from Sampdoria)

3. Bernd Leno (GK) (£22.50M from Bayern Leverkusen)

4. Sokratis (CB) (£14.40M from Borussia Dortmund)

Unlike a few other clubs, Arsenal might be more interested in the 'transfers out' column over the 'transfer in' column right now. Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck, Lucas Perez, Callum Chambers to name a few are not the kind of players that you need to challenge for a title. They might be the perfect candidates for lower rung clubs in the Premier League.

Arsenal should finance better back ups for Koscielny and a replacement for Ramsey (if he decides to leave) through the sales of these fringe players. Steven Nzonzi might be a good value for money signing who can provide good cover for Ramsey too, should he choose to leave.

If Unai Emery likes wing play then he currently doesn't have any wingers that are Premier League quality. Wilfried Zaha might present a strong case in that department for Arsenal after a solid season with Crystal Palace.

#5 Chelsea

Chelsea are having a questionable window

Chelsea finished 5th in the 2017-18 season after winning the league in the previous season and they might have their work cut out for them in the remaining few days of the summer transfer window. They have made just 2 additions so far -

Jorginho (CDM) (€57M from Napoli)
Rob Green (GK) (Free Transfer from Huddersfield)

With all the uncertainty surrounding the future of Eden Hazard, Willian and Thibaut Courtois, arguably the three best players of the club, Chelsea may be more concerned about keeping their players rather than bringing in new ones.

Even though sacking Conte and bringing in Maurizio Sarri might mean a more dynamic style of play, Chelsea need to retain their best players and plug in holes from last season.

The primary of those spots being a center forward, as Alvaro Moratta proved to be completely ineffective as the primary option for a challenging team.

If the Gonzalo Higuain deal goes through, it might prove to be a good short term fix, and getting Michy Batshuayi back cannot possibly hurt with the choice of front line strikers so threadbare.

#4 Liverpool

The Alisson addresses the biggest area of concern for Liverpool

Liverpool made significant strides in getting back to prominence with their fast paced, high press football that thrilled their fans and neutrals alike. While they faced problems against teams that sat back and defended deep, its still a great starting point to their long term plan.

They do have the best wing wizard the Premier League has seen since Ronaldo left United for the Spanish shores.

Liverpool's work for this transfer window began in January with Naby Kieta and their good work has continued into this season propelling them from contenders to one of the favorites to get their hands on the premier league title. Their additions so far:

Alisson (GK) (€62.5M from AS Roma)
Naby Kieta (CM) (€60M from RB Leipzig)
Fabinho (CDM) (€45M from Monaco)
Xherdan Shaqiri (€14.70M from Stoke City)

Liverpool now seem to have plugged their most obvious holes with good squad depth. Their only problem remains their self proclaimed best center back in the world - Dejan Lovren and depth at the CB position.

If Leonardo Bonnuci can be persuaded to move to Anfield, Liverpool may be the early favorites to challenge Manchester City for the title.

#3 Tottenham Hotspurs

Spurs transfer business has their fans worried

Tottenham Hotspurs have a young squad that saw good additions in the previous season as they clinched the 3rd position behind the two Manchester clubs.

However this summer window has seen no activity from the Spurs with the only transfer news coming out of North London is that of the possible departures of Dembele and Toby Alderweireld.

While banking on player improvements in a young squad seems like a fair ask, Tottenham do have a gaping hole in their forward position. One terrible injury to Harry Kane can be the difference between a top-2 finish and a 6th place finish for this young Spurs team.

Fernando Llorente is no longer a second striker for a contending team and the Spurs should look towards the likes of Moussa Dembélé (from Celtic F.C.) who could be a perfect fit for the young Spurs squad. At the same time he could be someone they could develop over the next few seasons behind Harry Kane.

If the Spurs wish to go for an experienced poacher though, Javier Hernandez (Chicharito) from West Ham might prove to be a good back up striker for them.

Higuain, if he becomes available might be appealing, but I don't see Higuain willing to play second fiddle to the golden boy of English football in what will most likely be the last competitive move of his career.

#2 Manchester United

Fred the 2nd Red at Old Trafford

Manchester United fans have seen it all since Sir Alex Ferguson decided to call an end to his managerial career. 2017-18 season under Mourinho saw United finish the highest they have been in the post-Ferguson era.

But if there's any fan base that can be unhappy with such progress, its the United fan base. Mourinho's men may have gotten the points, but the United way is yet to be discovered.

Far too often United fell back into the habit of wastefully passing the ball around without creating too much offensively, in an unnecessary throwback to the Van Gaal era.

Paul Pogba failed to impress on a consistent basis, Herrera was dropped off the team completely after being the fan favorite to take over captaincy from Carrick at the end of 2016-17 season. Matic proved to be valuable but he is at the end of his peak and not behind it.

Lukaku proved to be the high point of the season finishing the second half of the season strongly, gaining the love and adoration of the United fans.

New signings so far for United -

Frederico Rodrigues a.k.a Fred (CM) (€59M from FC Shakhtar Donetsk)
Diogo Dalot (RB) (€22M from F.C. Porto)
Lee Grant (GK) (€1.7M from Stoke City)

Fred and Dalot seem far from the typical Mourinho signings, who have generally been more experienced and defensive minded. Their signings reflect a slight shift of identity towards more free flowing football with an eye towards the future rather than the present.

Fred might be a perfect fit with Pogba and Matic, allowing Pogba to roam the pitch more freely, while also creating direct attacks from the midfield himself. Dalot seems to have been signed with an eye towards replacing the aging Valencia in the upcoming future.

However there are other needs that need to be addressed, none more pressing than that of a world class center back. Eric Bailly seems to have fallen out of favor with Mourinho after a brilliant start in his first season and Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are not players that you win a Premier League title with.

Toby Alderweireld, if the Spurs decide to sell would be an ideal Mourinho signing but the negotiating skills of Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy are legendary and the absurd price quoted by him is not to be scoffed at, as he hardly ever gets bogged down.

Leonardo Bonucci seems to be on the transfer block after just one season with A.C. Milan, due to financial restrictions on the club and a partnership between Bonucci and Bailly might bring the solidity to the back line that United fans and David De Gea have been dreaming off.

#1 Manchester City

Mahrez makes Manchester City even better

Manchester City romped home to the PL title in 2018 and it wasn't even close. Champions in most leagues who win the league by 19 points don't need to change too much.

But this is the Premier League we are talking about and not once since 2009 has a PL Champion managed to retain the title in the following year.

Manchester City have not stopped in their quest to improve and have added 2 new signings -

Riyad Mahrez (RW) (£61.02M from Leicester City)
Phillipe Sandler (CB) (£2.25 from PEC Zwolle)

City seem like the early title favorites heading into the new season and they would be forgiven for not adding any more talent. But if they wish to lock it up they should look towards replacing Fernandinho and Yaya Toure in the long run.

Adrien Rabiot to Barca seems to be getting derailed due to the spoiled relations post the Neymar move and Machester City should be wise enough to hijack the deal and get a long term replacement for Fernandinho, who is on the last leg of his career.

Another alternative might be in the form of the all-action midfielder, Arturo Vidal who is reportedly available and has already played under Pep, drastically reducing the adjustment period to the new club if he makes the move.

Edited by Abhinav Munshi