Bournemouth
Early returns: Premier League summer signings that have struggled so far
Early evidence suggests several costly summer signings have struggled to justify their transfer fees
More than £3 billion ($4 billion) and 155 incoming transfers set high expectations across the Premier League this summer. Several recruits have settled quickly, but others have produced worrying initial returns that have left managers and supporters asking questions.
Everton’s Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal after a season that yielded 11 goals and four assists. The 22-year-old joined for £27 million ($36 million) with time to adapt, but he remains behind Beto, has made two Premier League starts, nine appearances in total and is still searching for his first goal or assist for the club. On two occasions he was substituted early: at half time at Anfield and after about an hour at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
West Ham’s £20 million ($26.7 million) signing Mads Hermansen began the campaign as Graham Potter’s first-choice goalkeeper but has endured a difficult start. The 25-year-old conceded 11 times in four appearances, sustained several high-profile errors and has dropped behind Alphonse Areola with Nuno Espírito Santo opting against an early recall.
Anthony Elanga moved to Newcastle for £55 million ($73.4 million) after scoring 18 goals for Nottingham Forest in 2024–25. The 23-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Magpies without a goal or assist and has oscillated between starting and the bench while competing with Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy.
Jean-Clair Todibo’s permanent move to West Ham cost £32.8 million ($43.8 million) after an obligation to buy. He has fallen out of favour following disciplinary issues under Potter and is unlikely to figure under Espírito Santo.
James Trafford returned to Manchester City for £31 million ($41.3 million) but is now behind Gianluigi Donnarumma and has been restricted to the bench following a difficult display against Tottenham Hotspur.
Alexander Isak joined Liverpool for a Premier League record £125 million ($166.9 million) but missed pre-season after a strike. Arne Slot has eased him in, using him alongside Hugo Ekitiké, with the record signing yet to reach expected levels.
Newcastle paid £55 million ($73.4 million) for Yoane Wissa from Brentford, but a knee injury means he is yet to play for his new club and has only two competitive appearances since the end of last season.
Chelsea’s £51.5 million ($68.7 million) addition Jamie Gittens has made seven appearances and three starts without making a major impact. At Liverpool, Milos Kerkez arrived for £40 million ($53.4 million) to succeed Andy Robertson but has made a sluggish start, was bullied on his debut by Antoine Semenyo and was hooked in the first half against Burnley as he edged toward a red card.
It remains early and circumstances differ across clubs, but the opening weeks have provided enough evidence to raise concerns about several high-cost recruits.
Bournemouth
Premier League Gameweek 7: Fixture-by-fixture predictions ahead of the international break
Gameweek 7 previews: the final Premier League round before the mid-October international break. info
Gameweek 7 is the last full set of Premier League fixtures before the international break in mid-October. The weekend opens with Bournemouth hosting Fulham on Friday, a match that tests the Cherries’ resilience. Bournemouth were expected to struggle after the dismantling of their defence in the transfer market, yet they are unbeaten in their last five and have climbed to sixth. Fulham will be tasked with denting their confidence on Friday night, having lost a controversial 3–1 game at Aston Villa last weekend. The west Londoners have not won at the Vitality Stadium since 2019. Prediction: Bournemouth 2–1 Fulham (8 p.m. BST).
Saturday offers a standout late kickoff as out-of-sorts Liverpool travel to Stamford Bridge. Liverpool have lost their last two matches and have been dismal defensively, a weakness Chelsea will aim to exploit. The Blues have been in patchy form but could record a statement result. Prediction: Chelsea 2–2 Liverpool (5.30 p.m. BST). Earlier on Saturday, Leeds host Tottenham as Spurs contend with midweek travel to the Arctic Circle; Tottenham were forced to fight back from two goals down to secure a draw at Bodø/Glimt and have won just one of their last four matches in all competitions. Prediction: Leeds 1–1 Tottenham (12.30 p.m. BST). Arsenal, fresh from midweek victory over Olympiacos and last weekend’s late win at Newcastle United, face West Ham as Nuno Espírito Santo prepares for his second match in the Irons hot seat. Prediction: Arsenal 2–0 West Ham (3 p.m. BST). Manchester United, reeling after a dreadful defeat at Brentford last weekend, host Sunderland. United’s only wins this campaign have come at Old Trafford; Sunderland sit fifth heading into Gameweek 7. Prediction: Man Utd 2–1 Sunderland (3 p.m. BST).
Sunday is busy. Aston Villa seek back-to-back home wins against Burnley. Crystal Palace, the only unbeaten team after a last-gasp win over Liverpool, travel to Everton, who chase a first league victory since the end of August. Newcastle, having faced European action, meet Nottingham Forest, who also had Europa League involvement at home; Ange Postecoglou’s underwhelming start as Forest boss makes Newcastle favourites. Wolverhampton remain the only side yet to register a Premier League win and host Brighton, whose recent run includes wins over Manchester City and Chelsea and a draw with Spurs. The round concludes with Manchester City visiting Brentford; Pep Guardiola’s men should still come out on top.
Arsenal
Gameweek 7 FPL guide: key picks before the international break
Essential Fantasy Premier League picks for Gameweek 7: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, forwards
The upcoming international break gives Fantasy Premier League managers a pause, but Gameweek 7 demands decisions before the deadline. Friday night’s Bournemouth v Fulham fixture shortens planning time ahead of five notable Sunday matchups.
Goalkeeper choices centre on David Raya (£5.6m) and Nick Pope (£5.0m). Raya looks most likely to keep a clean sheet after Arsenal secured their sixth shutout of the season at Olympiacos midweek and the Spaniard made several superb stops. Arsenal host struggling West Ham United on Saturday, increasing Raya’s appeal. Pope endured a mixed afternoon against Arsenal last weekend but should have an easier ride at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The Tricky Trees have also been in European action midweek and have made an underwhelming start to life under Ange Postecoglou, scoring just once in three league outings since the Australian took over.
Defenders to consider include Arsenal’s Gabriel (£6.2m) and Jurriën Timber (£5.8m), plus Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi (£4.9m) and Aston Villa’s Matty Cash (£4.6m). Gabriel is the obvious pick after last weekend’s late winner at Newcastle but was substituted with an injury against Olympiacos and is a slight doubt. Timber has amassed 37 points this season, one fewer than Gabriel, is a strong attacking threat and is guaranteed to start despite no defensive contribution points so far. Senesi has been a revelation, scoring seven points or more in four of his six outings for Bournemouth, with a home game against Fulham on Friday offering further upside. Cash offers attacking promise and defensive solidity for Villa and has already scored this season.
Midfield recommendations include Bukayo Saka (£9.8m), Eberechi Eze (£7.5m), Gabriel Martinelli (£6.9m), Antoine Semenyo (£7.8m) and Bruno Fernandes (£9.0m). Saka scored midweek and could be an excellent differential given low ownership. Eze and Martinelli are cheaper options in form but lack guaranteed minutes. Semenyo is the highest scoring midfielder with 48 points and only one blank in six weeks and should benefit against Fulham. Despite a missed penalty and yellow card at Brentford, Fernandes remains an excellent choice for Manchester United’s home clash with Sunderland and “should still be on penalties despite two misses this term.”
Attacking picks include Ismaïla Sarr (£6.4m), Anthony Gordon (£7.4m), Jérémy Doku (£6.6m), Erling Haaland (£14.4m), Viktor Gyökeres (£9.0m) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (£7.5m). Sarr returned from injury, scored against Liverpool and faces Everton. Gordon could punish Forest following his midweek brace. Doku has managed 23 points across his last three games and is City’s best value for the trip to Brentford. Haaland remains a must-have after a Champions League brace at Monaco and eight Premier League goals, making him an easy captain choice. Gyökeres has both his goals at the Emirates this term and looked lively against Olympiacos. Mateta was unfortunate not to score against Liverpool and could trouble an Everton defence that has kept only one clean sheet in their last four league games.
Bournemouth
Agent Confirms Top suitors for Dean Huijsen before Real Madrid Transfer
Barat: several major clubs wanted Dean Huijsen before Real Madrid triggered his £50m release clause.
Real Madrid’s acquisition of Dean Huijsen was the conclusion of a transfer race that, according to his agent Barat, included several major European clubs. Barat told AS: “When Real Madrid came along, it was an easy decision: there were many clubs, but with Madrid there was no doubt.”
Barat says the move gathered pace after Huijsen completed two appearances with the Spanish national team and Juni Calafat, Real Madrid’s chief scout, opened talks that soon developed into a formal offer. The transfer was finalised when the club activated a £50 million ($66.4 million) release clause, a five-year contract that set a new club record by making Huijsen the most expensive defender in Real Madrid history and the first signing of the Xabi Alonso era.
The agent has also acknowledged interest from Paris Saint-Germain, who were described as a “real option” by Barat in comments to RMC Sport in 2024. Barat added that Huijsen believed he would have seen more playing time in the Premier League under Andoni Iraola than under Luis Enrique in France. Conversations reportedly took place with Borussia Dortmund as well, and Huijsen’s breakout season with Bournemouth left him a sought-after prospect before Los Blancos completed the deal.
Huijsen was thrown straight into action under Xabi Alonso at the FIFA Club World Cup. He featured in every group stage match and in the round of 16 and quarterfinal ties against Juventus and Dortmund respectively. A late red card in the quarterfinal versus Dortmund resulted in a suspension for the semifinal, and PSG went on to defeat Real Madrid to eliminate them from the tournament.
Since then Huijsen has started every Real Madrid match to begin the 2025–26 season. That run will be interrupted on Sept. 20 as he serves a La Liga suspension for the red card received against Real Sociedad.
