Thiago, Koulibaly, Partey: The one player each Premier League Big Six club needs to sign

There are just over three weeks remaining in this year's adjusted summer transfer window.

Premier League clubs have until October 5 to conduct international business.

A domestic-only window will stay open for a bit longer, allowing top flight clubs to complete transfers with EFL teams until October 16.

During this period, transfers between Premier League clubs won’t be allowed.

So it’s the October 5 deadline that really matters to the big teams.

So far, Chelsea are perhaps the only team who will be content with their activity.

The west London side have spent more than £200 million on bolstering their squad, bringing in Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell.

And they’re not done yet. The Blues are closing in on a move for Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Compare that to Manchester United and Liverpool, who have only brought in one player each.

So expect more incomings in the remaining weeks of the window as clubs desperately try to improve their situations.

The player each Big Six club needs

Who can we expect to see arrive?

Clubs are continuously linked with new targets and we’ve named the one player that each of the top six clubs needs to bring in before the window closes.

Liverpool | Thiago Alcantara

Mohamed Salah’s hat-trick in the opening day win over Leeds United shows that Liverpool won’t struggle for goals if their front three remain fit.

So we’re putting their biggest need at midfield, where some added creativity and dynamism will boost their chances of regaining the title.

Thiago is a world-class talent who would become an immediate starter for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Manchester City | Kalidou Koulibaly

The arrival of Nathan Ake probably isn’t enough to convince Manchester City supporters that their defensive problems are solved.

Ake and Aymeric Laporte have all the makings of a strong centre-back duo - but Koulibaly and Laporte sounds even better.

The Napoli centre-back has proven himself to be one of the best players in his position in recent years and City have the funds required to make a deal happen.

Manchester United | Dayot Upamecano

Man United are comfortable in midfield and attack, but neither Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof are outstanding centre-backs.

So Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should do all that he can to sign 21-year-old Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig.

The Frenchman looks like football’s next great centre-back and he would surely be a fixture in the starting line-up for the next 10 years.

Chelsea | Nobody

It’s hard to find a weak spot when you look at Chelsea’s new and improved squad, but with eye on the future we’re going with central midfield as the one area Frank Lampard should be closely monitoring.

N’Golo Kante is 29 and Jorginho is a year younger. So 21-year-old Declan Rice, who has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, would be a shrewd addition.

But do Chelsea need to sign him this summer? No.

They will be stacked in every area once they sign Mendy and enter the season with a squad that can compete for the title.

Arsenal | Thomas Partey

Mikel Arteta has enjoyed a decent summer, signing Willian and Gabriel and also welcoming William Saliba into the senior squad.

They’ve been linked with a move for Lyon playmaker Houssem Aouar and while the 22-year-old would make the Gunners even more enjoyable to watch, it’s hard not to feel like Partey is a more important target.

The Atletico Madrid midfielder, 27, is a deep-lying player whose ability to disrupt opposition attacks and get his team on the front foot would greatly benefit Arsenal.