The amount of injuries this year, not only with Arsenal but now at Chelsea, City and basically every big team barring Liverpool, has me thinking we definitely need to add bodies in addition to three signings of real quality. I think that we need 3-5 younger prospects with high ceilings to add depth to the squad and take a few swings at getting the types of players whose value will blow up in a year or two.
Quality: Sesko, Semenyo, Zubimendi, Joan Garcia
Younger Depth: Sverre Nypan (CM), the two Greek prospects from Olympiakos we were linked with this week - Kostoulas (CF) & Mouzakitis (CM), Ishe Samuels-Smith (LB from Chelsea).

Then we could go into the season like this:

-------------------------------------- Raya/Garcia ----------------------------------------------
Timber/White -- Saliba/White/Tomiyasu -- Gabriel/Kiwior/Calafiori -- MLS/Calafiori/Samuels-Smith
---------------------------------Zubimendi/Merino/Mouzakitis-----------------------------------
----------------- Odegaard/Nwaneri/Nypan ------- Rice/Merino/Nypan --------------------------
------- Saka/Havertz/Nwaneri --- Sesko/Havertz/Kostoulas --- Semenyo/Martinelli/Trossard ------

Clearly we would have some players with more flexibility to cover multiple roles like Trossard, Havertz, Semenyo, Nwaneri, Merino, Calafiori, White, and Timber. I just used players who were linked with us, with the exception of Samuels-Smith who I think we could scoop from Chelsea's youth team. Personally, I think we may also see Trossard leave and then we likely will want to bring in another fringe first team attacker but I think we need to add more young players to the team this summer in addition to headliners.

first time I've heard a winger mentioned as well. we 1000% need both a striker and a winger at minimum this summer.

Gazza M 1000%. If we come out of this window with less than 2 new first team quality attackers, it will be a failure. And that's before potentially selling Trossard - if he gets sold then we need 3 minimum.
Personally I think we need 3 this summer regardless - top quality ST (or at least potential to hit World Class), top quality Winger, younger attacker with high ceiling. I'd go with Sesko, Barcola (Semenyo/Nico if we can't), and Dibling or Nusa.

QuincyAbeyie

I never said I didn't. I was just questioning why a striker who was going to cost north of 100m was languishing so low in the scoring charts, but clearly he read my comment as he's third now.

We need a backup GK, and it looks likely we grab that Garcia lad from Espanyol.

Will Kiwior stick around this summer? If he leaves, we would need another CB. Do we start eyeing a future Saliba replacement? I don't think he's leaving imminently, but eventually...

With Rice looking fixed at 8, I wouldn't want to lose both Partey and Jorginho this summer. Assuming Zubimendi comes, he would be our only holding midfielder, and he would be new to the Prem. For stability's sake, I would like to keep Partey for another season, but it doesn't look like we're gonna do that. Wonder what the plan is at 6. Clearly we're gunning for that kid Nypan as well, but he's a right-footed 8/10.

It's great that Nwaneri seems to have solved the 'Saka backup' problem. I think Sesko is the most likely signing upfront. We do need a silky left winger who can break down low blocks, in the mold of Williams or Barcola. That would let Martinelli be a versatile role player used for his directness, physical intensity, and verticality. It would probably mean Trossard is sold (esp with dead weight Jesus), but I would prefer we keep him for the last year of his contract.

Trossard can still contribute, I'd definitely keep him for another season.

I agree the 6 position potentially looks a bit of a mess, unless MLS is earmarked for it.

CPM MLS is Partey’s replacement. I think he’ll mostly start at LB next year but there will be some games where Calafiori starts and he will be available at CM. I think Rice and Merino will also be available at the 6 if needed and then we could have Nypan (if signed), Merino/Rice, Odegaard and Nwaneri available at the other 8’s.

I do agree we will likely need a new LB or CB in case of departures. While I don’t think Kiwior is amazing, I’d be okay keeping him if it meant we could focus our efforts elsewhere this summer. Or at least hold him and Zinchenko for the start of the summer while we bolster the attack and then can address them and any replacements after. Hoping we bring in Zubimendi, Nypan and two attackers early and then can address other roles as needed with a one in and one out policy.

Saliba's contract will have 2 years left at the end of this season, so expect the summer to be full of noises about a move to Madrid. Saka, Gabby and Martinelli in the same boat but I'd be more confident about Saka and Gabby in particular staying for another contract at least. Martinelli probably too, but we might sell him for the right money.

Who are we likely to sell for actual money this summer, as opposed to leaving on a free?

Zinchenko?
Kiwior and Trossard maybe.
Martinelli if we got a big offer.

Asterix do not under any circumstances sell Martinelli.
We have a lot of left backs, so can afford to sell Kiwior, and maybe cash in on Trossard if one of the Saudi teams wants to show him off. But it's also worth noting that we have a pretty small squad that's undergone a ton of change over the last 3-4 years. So this isn't the time to be dumping players. We should be adding

As we think about striker this summer, there are a few options of a good age and quality, so we should bid simultaneously and grab what lands, hoping for Isak but settling for one of the other two if Isak drags or fails

1. Isak
2. Sesko
3. Ekitike

https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2025/frankfurts-hugo-ekitike-subject-of-premier-league-interest/

JazzG He's very good on the ball. Extremely two-footed but definitely lacks the strength right now to be top level, although I think he could certainly get there. If for any reason we sold Saliba, he would be high on my list although it would be a substantial step down immediately of course.

Yeah Huijsen looks destined to play for a top club

Asterix Any one of these players would likely need to be replaced. I view it currently as:

• Jorginho leaving: replaced by Zubimendi

• Partey leaving : covered by MLS in midfield in a like for like with profile but mostly by Zubimendi in minutes

• Zinchenko : LB cover in case MLS is moved more regularly to the midfield. We would need to replace him if we sold him, ideally for a younger LB prospect like Ishe Samuels-Smith.

• Kiwior: LCB cover that we will need due to Tomi's availability issues and Calafiori likely being used a lot at LB. If we sell him, we will need to replace since we don't have an internal solution IMO.

• Trossard: If we can't resign him by mid-summer then we need to sell IMO. Would look to replace him with someone like Cunha - but likely would need someone in a lower price bracket. Maybe someone like Lee Kang-In at PSG would be a good call.

• Martinelli : Would only sell if there was an extremely good offer over 70-80m. Obviously would need to replace him.