Premier League
What Each Premier League Club Wants to Achieve in 2026
Club-by-club: New Year resolutions for the Premier League in 2026: objectives, risks and priorities.
The turn of the year prompts clear and specific aims across the top flight. Clubs arrive in 2026 with distinct priorities: some are chasing trophies, others survival, and many seek structural fixes to build on recent progress.
Arsenal’s objective is straightforward: finally win the Premier League title after three successive second-place finishes and their last league triumph in 2003–04. Mikel Arteta’s side will still contest cup competitions, but the league is the priority.
Aston Villa hope to keep their title bid alive. Unai Emery’s team surprised many with a strong autumn run and will push on domestically while eyeing a return to the Champions League and Europa League success.
After summer sales, Bournemouth must reinvest wisely. Andoni Iraola’s squad looks weaker and their likely winter income from the probable sale of Antoine Semenyo — reported at around £65 million — must be spent to replace goals and quality.
Brentford need to learn to win away from home. The Bees have been impressive at the Gtech Community Stadium but lifeless on the road, which must change if they are to climb the table.
Brighton & Hove Albion require greater consistency. Fabian Hürzeler will want draws and losses converted into wins to force a quicker return to continental competition.
For Burnley the aim is simple survival. Scott Parker’s side must accumulate results and possibly strengthen in January to avoid relegation.
Chelsea must clinch more silverware to justify progress under Enzo Maresca, who has already won two titles since his arrival despite the Premier League looking out of reach this season.
Crystal Palace need to add depth after losing Eberechi Eze and juggling European commitments under Oliver Glasner. Offloading deadwood and upgrading the squad is essential.
Everton are expected to release the handbrake and adopt a more attack-minded style under David Moyes to make the new stadium more inspiring for supporters.
Fulham aim for a push toward European qualification under Marco Silva, building on mid-table steadiness. Leeds United, guided by Daniel Farke, focus on avoiding relegation; Nottingham Forest must keep faith in Sean Dyche after recent stability.
Liverpool need to fix defensive frailties if Arne Slot’s side are to salvage the league defence and preserve Champions League qualification hopes. Manchester City want to reclaim domestic and European dominance under Pep Guardiola.
Manchester United must push for Champions League qualification under Ruben Amorim. Newcastle need to rediscover intensity after losing Alexander Isak and balance commitments. Sunderland aim to maintain the high standards shown on their return.
Tottenham must find balance between attack and defence following Thomas Frank’s tactical changes. West Ham must re-energise supporters and improve attacking quality. Wolves look to prepare for life in the Championship unless form turns around under Rob Edwards.
Premier League
Latest transfer rumours: deals, valuations and reported negotiations
Transfer roundup: United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Real linked to multiple targets and fee talks more
A consolidated look at the latest reported transfer activity, based only on published reports.
Man Utd could lose midfielder Manuel Ugarte as the Red Devils are now reportedly open to doing a deal after previously rejecting loan offers from both Aston Villa and Newcastle (Source: El Pais).
Liverpool face multiple issues on the market. The club are frustrated with Ibrahima Konaté’s continued delays over his contract decision and have issued a deadline for a final verdict. Chelsea and Manchester City have both explored moves for the Frenchman, while there is also interest from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich (Source: TEAMtalk). Liverpool are also involved in high-profile recruitment battles with Tottenham Hotspur for Al Hilal striker Marcos Leonardo, who is valued at $73.2 million (£55 million) (Source: Fichajes). The same two clubs are set to compete for Juventus centre back Bremer, with Liverpool currently leading Tottenham (Source: Tuttomercatoweb). Liverpool are also considering a move to re-sign former academy winger Harry Wilson on a free transfer (Source: TEAMtalk).
Chelsea are said to need to raise money after posting the biggest losses in Premier League history. The Blues have contacted Barcelona to offer left back Marc Cucurella in a deal worth $46.4 million (€40 million, £34.9 million) (Source: El Nacional).
Several younger targets and defensive profiles are attracting interest across Europe. Palmeiras have rejected bids of over $29 million (£21.8 million) for 16-year-old winger Eduardo Conceição, after enquiries from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle (Source: UOL). Newcastle are reportedly looking to sign 19-year-old Real Madrid centre back Diego Aguado (Source: AS). Udinese centre back Thomas Kristensen is being tracked by Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, while AC Milan, Bologna and Juventus are also keen (Source: Tuttomercatoweb). Barcelona want a left-sided defender capable of playing centrally and out wide, with Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori emerging as a target (Source: Fichajes).
In midfield market moves, Real Madrid expect a discount over Enzo Fernández from Chelsea amid tension after the player’s recent comments. Fernández’s price is cited at over $160 million (€140 million, £122 million) (Source: Defensa Central). Chelsea would now be prepared to negotiate with Real Madrid for closer to $116 million (€100 million, £87.2 million) (Source: SPORT). Real Madrid have concerns about paying that figure and would prefer Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha at that price point, with a deal only possible if the Portugal international requests a transfer (Source: AS).
Man Utd
Casemiro Urges United to Back Kobbie Mainoo After Midfield Rebound
Casemiro calls for faith in Kobbie Mainoo after his return to the United midfield this season. again.
Casemiro has publicly urged Manchester United to retain faith in Kobbie Mainoo, stressing the teenager’s potential to be a long-term midfielder for the club. The academy graduate was largely overlooked by former United manager Ruben Amorim, not starting a single Premier League game in the first half of 2025–26. After a minor Christmas injury, Mainoo has been a fixture since Michael Carrick took charge in mid-January, playing all but 14 minutes of the 900 available in the league and starting alongside Casemiro on each occasion.
“Kobbie is the present and the future,” Casemiro told ManUtd.com in a fan Q&A. “I think that he is one of the best eights and can be for that for the next 12 years. He is a player I really like—he always wants the ball.
“It is true that football can’t change your mentality, but Kobbie demonstrated that he hasn’t changed his focus once. He has to continue focusing like he is now and continue playing the important role he is now. But what a player he is, he is a great player. He has demonstrated this, in the Euros final with England, he has demonstrated it in finals, he scored in the [2024] FA Cup final.
“He is the present and the future.”
Mainoo forced his way into England’s midfield after establishing himself in United’s first team at 18. He had only three caps when Euro 2024 began but won a place in the starting lineup after the group stage as England reached the final. His international involvement then stalled; he played only once more for his country in September 2024 before a club resurgence prompted a recall last month. Mainoo appeared off the bench in England’s draw with Uruguay, started the defeat to Japan and will be targeting a place in Thomas Tuchel’s XI for the Group L opener against Croatia in Arlington on June 17.
Liverpool
Gerrard: Give Arne Slot Time Despite ‘Really Dire’ Runs
Steven Gerrard says Arne Slot should be given time to fix Liverpool after ‘really dire’ displays…
Steven Gerrard has urged restraint over calls to dismiss Arne Slot, arguing the former Feyenoord coach should be allowed time to resolve Liverpool’s problems despite a run of poor displays.
There have been widespread calls among Liverpool supporters for the club to sack the ex-Feyenoord coach, but Gerrard has issued caution over parting ways with a manager that helped the Reds clinch only their second ever Premier League trophy.
“He has [got credit in the bank] with me because more than anyone on the planet, I know how difficult it is to win a league,” Gerrard told the Stick to Football podcast . “And for him to come in and win a league in his first season, being asked questions in the media a long time, what do you think, does it need to change and blah, blah, blah … He’s got a lot more credit with me.
“You know how difficult it is. Jamie [Carragher] will tell you, the Liverpool demand, they expect to win it every year. So I think he needs the opportunity to sort of play himself out of trouble and fix the issues and try and get himself back in a good place.”
The 45-year-old added: “I think someone who’s won a league deserves at least a full season to try and get out of the problems and the issues that they’ve got.
“I’m certainly one of those people, but I have to understand what the fans are saying as well, because it has been dire in certain games and performances. Really dire.”
Liverpool will hope the March international break offered a reset after the Reds were beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion just before the hiatus. The need for a swift recovery is underlined by a testing week ahead that could shape Slot’s immediate future.
Liverpool begin by visiting Manchester City in an FA Cup quarterfinal on Saturday. Defeat at the Etihad Stadium eliminates another route to silverware, and the Reds then travel to reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. As Liverpool know all too well from last season, PSG are a formidable foe, and a hefty defeat at the Parc des Princes would leave Slot’s side on the precipice.
