Assessing each Premier League team's best XIs after deadline day

For a few months at least, the 20 Premier League clubs will have to make do with what they have after the summer transfer window closed on September 1. 

Between them over £3 billion was splashed out, smashing the previous record summer window spend, and fans up and down the league will get their first glimpses of some of their new heroes in action this weekend. 

Racing Post Sport experts Aaron Ashley, Jamie Griffith, Matthew Ireland and James Milton have analysed each club's window shopping to see how their best 11s stack up for the remainder of 2025.

Arsenal

Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze were Arsenal's most eye-catching attacking signings and Spain international Martin Zubimendi's arrival allows Declan Rice to get forward from midfield more regularly. There is no shortage of depth with Cristhian Mosquera joining Ben White, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori in defence and goalkeeper Kepa a reliable understudy for David Raya. [James Milton]

(4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze

Aston Villa

Villa retained goalkeeper Emi Martinez and England international Morgan Rogers while Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott arrived on deadline day along with Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof. Villa spent £30m on Nice forward Evann Guessand but Elliott may be the only newcomer in their strongest 11 and they need luck with injuries if they are to compete in the Premier League and Europa League. [JM]

(4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Elliott, Rogers; Watkins

Bournemouth

A defensive rebuild was the main focus for the Cherries after the departures of Kepa, Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi, with Lille centre-back Bafode Diakite the most expensive arrival. Scotland winger Ben Gannon-Doak looks a smart signing and Tyler Adams, Lewis Cook, Ryan Christie and Alex Scott are jostling for places in central midfield. [JM]

(4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, Diakite, Milosavljevic, Truffert; Adams, Christie; Gannon-Doak, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson

Brentford

Aaron Hickey's return from long-term injury is a boost for the Bees but Michael Kayode may be preferred at right-back after making his loan move from Fiorentina permanent. Skipper Christian Norgaard joined Arsenal and Igor Thiago, Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade and Antoni Milambo must fill the 38-goal void left by the sales of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa. [JM]

(4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henry; Henderson, Yarmoliuk; Ouattara, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago 

Brighton

Left-back Maxim De Cuyper has been an instant hit although influential midfielder Carlos Baleba is being heavily linked with a January move to Manchester United. Veteran Danny Welbeck gets the nod up front, for now at least, and the Seagulls hope young forwards Brajan Gruda, Diego Gomez, Charalampos Kostoulas and Stefanos Tzimas can compensate for Joao Pedro's sale to Chelsea. [JM]

(4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper; Baleba, Hinshelwood; Minteh, Gruda, Mitoma; Welbeck

Burnley

Stability and defensive organisation proved key for Burnley as they secured promotion from the Championship, but they were unable to keep star shot-stopper James Trafford, crack centre-back CJ Egan-Riley or captain Josh Brownhill. Kyle Walker’s arrival provides much-needed top-flight experience and Chelsea’s Lesley Ugochukwu should prove a hit, but the injury-prone Armando Broja is unlikely to score the goals to live up to his fee. [Aaron Ashley]

(4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Hartman; Ugochukwu, Cullen; Bruun Larsen, Mejbri, Anthony; Broja.

Joao Pedro hasn't taken long to settle in at ChelseaCredit: Getty Images

Chelsea

The Chelsea carousel continued this summer as the Blues shipped off plenty of dead wood and drafted in young and hungry replacements including Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Estevao. Enzo Maresca has a deep pool of talent at his disposal, especially in forward areas, with talisman Cole Palmer pulling the strings. Pedro has made a seamless transition while holding midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are really coming of age. [AA]

(4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro.

Crystal Palace

Losing Eze’s attacking influence to Arsenal hurts but there is a sense that could inspire Ismaïla Sarr to even greater heights, while the arrival of Spain international Yeremy Pino from Villarreal helps supply more service for Jean-Philippe Mateta. Retaining the services of Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton is better than any business that could have been done while marauding wing-backs Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz continue to be standout performers. [AA]

(3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta.

Everton

Having often been let down by a lack of firepower and creativity, Everton enjoyed a successful summer as they injected flair and guile to their squad with the arrivals of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyler Dibling.

Thierno Barry may need time before leading the forward line at Beto’s expense but keeping hold of Iliman Ndiaye was vital and they look settled defensively. [AA]

(4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish; Beto.

Fulham

Reinforcements proved hard to come by for Fulham but the late arrivals of wingers Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze helps to bolster Marco Silva’s wide options and they should soon force themselves into the Portuguese’ plans. The unearthing of talented teenager Joshua King has filled the number 10 position and they have a strong base in midfield with Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic providing defensive protection. [AA]

(4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, King, Kevin; Muniz.

Leeds

Daniel Farke wanted attacking reinforcements but was left disappointed on deadline day as Leeds failed in their attempt to snare Harry Wilson from Fulham. That's a concern given Leeds have yet to score from open play, although they have played three of the best seven top-flight defences last term. [Matthew Ireland]

(4-3-3): Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Gudmundsson; Tanaka, Ampadu, Stach; Gnonto, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor.

Liverpool

It took all summer but the champions finally got their man on deadline day as Alexander Isak joined for a British transfer record, but Marc Guehi's move to Merseyside didn't materialise. The poser now is where Isak fits in. Hugo Ekitike has hit the ground running as a central striker but could be shifted onto the left. Or will Arne Slot tweak this system to play the pair in tandem? It's a frightening proposition whichever way the Dutchman goes. [MI]

(4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike; Isak

Manchester City

The Citizens did most of their business early but the deadline-day capture of Gianluigi Donnarumma was a notable shift in tone from Pep Guardiola. Widely regarded as the best shot-stopper around, the Italian is not known for his ability on the ball, something which has been a prerequisite for Guardiola's preview number ones. But the Spaniard has reinvented his style before to great success and it would be remiss to believe he cannot do so again. [MI]

(4-3-3): Donarumma; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ait-Nouri; Silva, Rodri, Reijnders; Bobb, Haaland, Marmoush.

Manchester United

United fans wanted a new goalkeeper and they got one, albeit not the experienced custodian many expected. Emi Martinez was a reported target but the Red Devils opted for young Belgian Senne Lammens. The 23-year-old stacks up well on the data but that will be put to the test behind United's still creaking rearguard which was not strengthened. [MI]

(3-4-2-1): Lammens; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko

Newcastle

It was one out, two in for the Magpies, who used the funds from Isak's move to Liverpool to bring in highly regarded German Nick Woltemade and Yoanne Wissa. At 6ft 6in, Woltemade screams target man but that does him a disservice as he is a silky operator. Getting both in the same side could be tricky for Eddie Howe, but he is tactically versatile and a 5-3-2 or 4-4-2 could be two solutions. [MI]

(5-3-2): Pope; Livramento, Botman, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Woltemade, Wissa. 

Dilane Bakwa has swapped Strasbourg for the City Ground Credit: AFP via Getty Images

Nottingham Forest

Ange Postecoglou brings a contrasting style to his predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo but the personnel should remain much the same. Loan signing Oleksandr Zinchenko’s ability to invert makes him the pick at left-back while Ibrahim Sangare may lose his midfield spot to Douglas Luiz as Postecoglou looks to control possession. [Jamie Griffith]

(4-3-3): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Zinchenko; Anderson, Luiz, Gibbs-White; Bakwa, Wood, Hudson-Odoi. 

Sunderland

The deadline-day arrival of Brian Brobbey adds another dimension up front, but exciting youngster Eliezer Mayenda should get the nod for now. New signings Lutsharel Geertruida and Nordi Mukiele can both play on the right or in the heart of defence and they are two of many incomings who make Sunderland’s exciting best 11. [JG]

(4-3-3): Roefs; Geertruida, Mukiele, Ballard, Reinildo; Diarra, Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra. 

Tottenham

Joao Palhinha has shone since signing on loan and is the first name on the team sheet in midfield. Further forward is where things get more interesting. Pape Sarr is unlucky to miss out but new signings Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus are expected to start. Dominic Solanke should be preferred to Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison. [JG]

(4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Simons, Johnson; Solanke. 

West Ham

Graham Potter switched from a 3-5-2 to a 4-2-3-1 for the win over Nottingham Forest and should continue with a similar system due to a lack of consistent centre-backs. Soungoutou Magassa and Mateus Fernandes will bring some much-needed energy to the midfield and Crysencio Summerville’s pace means he is the pick on the left wing.  [JG]

(4-3-3): Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf; Fernandes, Magassa, Paqueta; Bowen, Wilson, Summerville. 

Wolves

Keeping hold of Jorgen Strand Larsen was Wolves’ best piece of business and he will be key to their survival chances. New signings Jhon Arias, Fer Lopez, Jackson Tchatchoua and David Moller Wolfe should provide ample creativity while Ladislav Krejci looks a shrewd signing for a shaky defence. [JG]

(3-4-2-1): Sa; Agbadou, Toti, Krejci; Tchatchoua, Andre, J Gomes, Wolfe; Lopez, Arias; Strand Larsen. 

Now read:

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The selection dilemmas facing England boss Thomas Tuchel ahead of the World Cup 

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