Transfer deadline: Who could move – and what do Premier League clubs need?

Newcastle

Matthew Raisbeck, BBC Radio Newcastle

After winning promotion at the first attempt, Rafa Benitez was promised “every penny the club generates through promotion, player sales and other means” by owner Mike Ashley in order to strengthen his squad for the Premier League. But the Newcastle boss has been left frustrated, confused and unhappy by the club’s performance in the transfer market, leading to further speculation about his long-term future.

Benitez understands the Magpies do not have the financial muscle of many of their top-flight rivals but still believed he could bring several quality players to St James’ Park, and went without a summer holiday in order to get some deals ready early. However, the club failed to act, and the Spaniard missed out on most of his top targets, including Tammy Abraham and Willy Caballero. Six signings have been made so far but, as Benitez himself put it recently: “I am signing the players that I can, not the players that I want.”

He is still looking for a goalkeeper, a striker, an attacking midfielder and a left-sided player – but any new arrivals could be dependent on there being further outgoings before the deadline; there are several fringe players on high salaries Benitez is determined to move on to free up space in the squad and, crucially, generate more funds.

Southampton

Adam Blackmore, BBC Radio Solent

A solid if unspectacular start to the season means manager Mauricio Pellegrino is dealing with the same issue his predecessor Claude Puel had, namely replacing Sadio Mane.

So the window is now about what they would like not what they need – on paper the squad is deeper than it has ever been.

But the three signings so far – Wesley Hoedt, Mario Lemina, and Jan Bednarek – have added strength and backbone, not guile and creativity.

Saints need a catalyst to get the best out of Manolo Gabbiadini, Charlie Austin and co.

The club have made it clear they will not sell defender Virgil van Dijk, or any player they do not want to. Whether they spend more on giving Pellegrino that much-needed dynamism in the final third is doubtful, given the talent already in the camp. But that is what is needed if Saints are to push back towards the top six.

Swansea

Dafydd Pritchard, BBC Wales Sport

Swansea City’s summer has been dominated by Gylfi Sigurdsson’s protracted £45m move to Everton.

Although it has given the club ample funds to rebuild, there is a perception the Swans have been slow to act and that last year’s American takeover has yet to make a significant difference in spending power.

Former striker Wilfried Bony is expected to rejoin from Manchester City before the window closes, possibly as a replacement for last season’s top scorer Fernando Llorente, a target for Chelsea.

West Brom winger Nacer Chadli remains a target, with Swansea head coach Paul Clement saying he wants at least two new signings in attacking positions.

Their other business has been neat if slightly underwhelming, with further changes in midfield seeing Sam Clucas and Roque Mesa arriving for a combined £25m or so, and Jack Cork leaving for £10m.

There is work to do if Swansea are to avoid another relegation battle.

Stoke

Ged Scott, BBC Sport

After having ninth place (after three successive years) torn from their grasp in May, the summer mood in the Potteries was not one of great positivity among fans.

The loss of Marko Arnautovic to West Ham did nothing to persuade many a punter that they might actually be outsiders for relegation.

But the re-signing of Bruno Martins Indi, the arrival on loan of fellow defender Kurt Zouma from Chelsea, and the signings of midfielder Darren Fletcher and winger Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting have provided a lift.

And, when new striker Jese scored the only goal of the game to beat Arsenal on his debut, the apparent gaps in Mark Hughes’ squad suddenly did not seem quite so glaring.

Tottenham

Nick Godwin, BBC Radio London

Spurs may well have had the best starting XI in the league last season, but depth and the lack of a Plan B remained a problem.

The signings of Davinson Sanchez and Paulo Gazzaniga only go some way to address those concerns.

There remains intense pressure from fans to recruit a striker, cover at full-back and a player with the pace or the imagination to change a game.

No-one would miss Moussa Sissoko if he were to leave, but the future of Danny Rose remains uncertain. His departure would destabilise an already thin squad. But then again, who knows how complicated things may get if he stays?