Goalkeepers wanted in Manchester, Liverpool eye striker? - One position every Premier League club should target in summer transfer window - Part Two
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Updated 16/06/2025 at 20:02 GMT+1
The transfer window is open for the summer, and Premier League clubs will be busy hunting for reinforcements ahead of the new season, which begins on August 16. But who needs what in terms of improving their squad? And how will they address this? TNT Sports picks out one position each team should look to address above any other over the course of the next few months.
Watch 'sensation' Wirtz dance through defence to score sumptuous solo goal
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With the transfer window swinging open for the summer, TNT Sports looks at one area every team in the Premier League could, and perhaps should, look to address before transfer deadline day on September 1.
In Part One, we looked at the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace's needs.
In Part Two, we assess where champions Liverpool, the two Manchester clubs and Spurs, among others, will look to do business.
Leeds – Goalkeeper
Despite several years as the No. 1 at Elland Road, Illan Meslier’s time as first-choice between the sticks could be at an end, with the club potentially on the lookout for a new goalkeeper this summer.
Despite a successful Championship campaign, the Frenchman's errors leading to goals were at a personal high, and the club will be wary of the difficulties he and they endured when it came to conceding goals the last time they were in the top flight.
Illan Meslier statistics since arriving at Leeds in 2019
| Season (Div) - Apps | Clean Sheets | Goals Conceded | Errors Leading to Goals |
| 2019/2020 (Ch) - 10 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020/2021 (PL) - 35 | 11 | 52 | 2 |
| 2021/2022 (PL) - 38 | 5 | 79 | 1 |
| 2022/2023 (PL) - 34 | 5 | 67 | 3 |
| 2023/2024 (Ch) - 47 | 20 | 41 | 1 |
| 2024/2025 (Ch) - 39 | 21 | 27 | 3 |
Liverpool – Striker
If there is one area the champions could look to strengthen over the summer, it would be in the central striker position.
Although they have hardly struggled for goals, a No. 9 to perhaps share the bulk of the goalscoring burden with Mohamed Salah would put Arne Slot’s side in a prime position to retain their title next season.
Liverpool attacking stats Premier League 2024/25
| PL 2024-25 | Goals (xG) | Shot Conversion Rate |
| Mohamed Salah | 29 (25.4) | 22.3% |
| Luis Diaz | 13 (12.0) | 18.3% |
| Cody Gakpo | 10 (7.1) | 17.5% |
| Darwin Nunez | 5 (5.7) | 14.7% |
| Diogo Jota | 6 (7.9) | 11.8% |
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Manchester City – Goalkeeper
Pep Guardiola’s side have already been busy in the transfer market, plugging various holes in their team following a disappointing campaign by their lofty standards.
One area they are yet to address, however, is the goalkeeper position, with Ederson’s future at the Etihad uncertain.
Ederson stats: Premier League 2024/25
| PL rank 2024/25 | ||
| Clean sheets  | 10 | =5 |
| Saves  | 54 | 20 |
| Save % | 67.1 | 11 |
| Goals prevented | 5.4 | 2 |
Manchester United - Goalkeeper
There may be several areas United will want to address, but Andre Onana’s struggles at Old Trafford have been well-documented since his arrival.
Obviously, goalkeeper being a much-scrutinised position is a factor, but having made the most errors leading to goals in the team, alarm bells have reached eardrum-shattering levels.
Ruben Amorim’s continued rebuild is likely to require a fresh face between the sticks.
| Player  | Games Played  | Errors Leading to Goals |
| Andre Onana | 34 | 3 |
| Patrick Dorgu | 12 | 2 |
| Casemiro | 24 | 2 |
| Alejandro Garnacho | 36 | 2 |
| Altay Bayindir | 4 | 1 |
Newcastle – Centre-back
While Fabian Schar has been a loyal servant at St James' Park, at 33 years old, a longer-term solution is needed at centre-half, and the club’s pursuit of Marc Guehi last summer could be revisited.
In 2022/23, the Magpies boasted the best defensive record in the division with just 33 conceded, but struggled the following year, shipping a whopping 62, with UEFA Champions League football perhaps a factor in them taking their eye off the ball at home.
Things were better this past term as they conceded just 47, and Eddie Howe would like to keep the numbers down and not let a return to Europe's top club competition again impact their domestic form next year.
Nottingham Forest – Striker
Despite Chris Wood’s impressive stint in a red shirt, time is not on his side, and fans will be well aware that part of the reason the club’s Champions League charge stalled was down to the fact no other player reached double figures in terms of goals.
After his 20 for the campaign in the league, Forest's next most productive player was Morgan Gibbs-White with just seven successful strikes.
A striker, either as an alternative or as a replacement for Wood, is essential.
Percentage of team goals scored by one player
| Player (goals) | Team (goals) | % scored |
| Chris Wood (20) | Nottingham Forest (58) | 34.5% |
| Alexander Isak (23) | Newcastle (68) | 33.8% |
| Mohamed Salah (29) | Liverpool (86) | 33.7% |
| Liam Delap (12) | Ipswich (36) | 33.3% |
| Erling Haaland (22) | Manchester City (72) | 30.6% |
Sunderland – Midfielder
The harsh reality is that Sunderland will need several signings if they are to avoid a swift return to the Championship next season.
The most immediate concern, however, will be replacing Jobe Bellingham following the midfielder’s big-money move to Borussia Dortmund.
Of Sunderland's midfielders, only Dan Neil played more minutes than the younger Bellingham in the Championship last season.
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Bellingham joins first training session with Borussia Dortmund
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Tottenham – Centre-back
Although the season ended on a high, Spurs will not look back too fondly on a Premier League campaign that was sent spiralling by injuries.
Even without speculation over the future of Cristian Romero, incoming manager Thomas Frank will likely look to reinforce the centre of defence following a campaign where they shipped 65 goals. Only Wolves of the non-relegated sides conceded more with 69.
Spurs' Premier League defensive stats 2024/25
| PL rank 2024/25 | ||
| Goals conceded  | 65 | 16 |
| Expected goals against  | 64.4 | 17 |
| Shots faced (inc. blocks)Â Â | 522 | 14 |
| Shots on target faced  | 186 | 15 |
| Clean sheets  | 6 | 16 |
West Ham – Striker
Beyond Jarrod Bowen’s 13 Premier League goals, The Hammers' next highest top scorers were Tomas Soucek (9), Mohammed Kudus (5) and Lucas Paqueta (4), all of whom would nominally be classed as midfielders, so the need for a striker feels more vital than ever at the London Stadium.
West Ham Premier League attacking stats 24/25 Â
| PL rank 2024/25 | ||
| Goals  | 46 | 15 |
| Expected goals  | 48.1 | 14 |
| Total shots (inc. blocks)Â Â | 476 | 13 |
| Shot conversion rate (inc. blocks)Â Â | 9.7 | 17 |
Wolves – Striker
It is not unfair to say that much of the good from Wolves' season came by way of the performances of Matheus Cunha, who scored a career-best 15 league goals for the Molineux-based side last season, and was the third-highest over-performer of xG in the league.
But with the Brazilian leaving for Manchester United, Vitor Pereira will need to find a way of making up that shortfall in attack.
| xG | Goals | Difference | |
| Bryan Mbuemo | 12.3 | 20 | 7.7 |
| Chris Wood | 13.5 | 20 | 6.5 |
| Matheus Cunha | 8.6 | 15 | 6.4 |
| Jarrod Bowen | 8.7 | 13 | 4.4 |
| Alex Iwobi | 4.7 | 9 | 4.3 |
All stats courtesy of Opta
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