Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have all spent big to strengthen their forward lines this summer but there’s every chance some of them are not done yet
The upcoming Premier League season will begin against the backdrop of a summer of attacking spending. Champions Liverpool have been busy in the market as they aim to win back-to-back league titles for the first time in the Premier League era, but they are not the only ones.
They’re not the only ones, though. Just as Arne Slot’s side have strengthened, their rivals have recruited in an effort to bolster their front-line.
Slot only added Federico Chiesa to the squad last summer, while Joshua Zirkzee was Manchester United’s only attacking recruit. Arsenal didn’t add any new forwards in the summer of 2024, and that led to them being forced to move midfielder Mikel Merino into an unfamiliar No.9 role when injuries hit.
This year, though, it’s all change. Liverpool, United and Arsenal have all added at least two new faces to their front-lines, while the likes of Chelsea and Aston Villa also have new options up front.
So, which of Liverpool, United and Arsenal looks the strongest up front? Mirror Football has compared the three clubs’ options with the new campaign just a week away.
READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Benjamin Sesko timeline, Arsenal eye loan deal, Alexander Isak latestREAD MORE: Benjamin Sesko has chance to land dream Man Utd shirt number after Ruben Amorim decision
Liverpool
Liverpool were the Premier League’s highest scorers last season by some distance, scoring at least 14 more than any other club. A significant overhaul in attack doesn’t sound like the obvious next move, but there are reasons for it.
The tragic death of Diogo Jota might have forced Liverpool to think differently about their front-line, but there were already reasons to begin looking at making tweaks. Mohamed Salah top-scored in the league last season with 29 goals, but netted just twice in the final nine games and will miss some action this term while away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Record signing Florian Wirtz and the versatile Hugo Ekitike will bolster a front-line already including Salah and Cody Gakpo, even if Wirtz isn’t an out-and-out goal-getter, while Chiesa will hope to contribute more with a full pre-season behind him. Luis Diaz is a bigger loss than Darwin Nunez, but the Reds look well-stocked in the wide forward roles, with Slot pointing to full-back Jeremie Frimpong’s ability to operate as a right-winger during Salah’s upcoming AFCON absence.
The big question concerns Alexander Isak. A new bid for the Newcastle striker could arrive before the end of the window, and there’s an argument that a front-line currently on a par with United and Arsenal would be comfortably elevated to the best of the bunch if the Swede joins this month.
Manchester United
United scored just 44 league goals last season, with Everton the only team to stay up while finding the net less often. The case for reinforcements up front was a clear one, and Ruben Amorim and the club’s transfer chiefs got to work early.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo arrived early, bringing with them a combination of Premier League experience and a strong goal return last term. Much has been made of the pair overperforming their xG numbers, but if they can get close to the 35 they scored between them last term then United will be laughing.
Benjamin Sesko’s impending arrival will take United’s attacking outlay to roughly £200m – a little more than Liverpool’s expenditure on Wirtz and Ekitike. He arrives without Premier League pedigree, but will hope to contribute more than Rasmus Hojlund managed last term.
Hojlund could yet stick around, while Zirkzee remains as a rotation option, though Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho are all tipped to follow Marcus Rashford in leaving either permanently or on loan. United have solid options on paper, but getting a brand new front three to gel represents the biggest challenge.
Arsenal
Arsenal scored 91 goals in the 2023-24 season, and this was given as a justification for last summer’s transfer policy. They were always at risk if injury struck, though, and it did so in a big way last term.
Mikel Arteta would like to think being without Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli at various points in the season is not something likely to happen again. Even so, new transfer chief Andrea Berta has made sure the manager is well-prepared if there’s a repeat.
Viktor Gyokeres has arrived to placate those who have shouted ‘sign a striker’ from the rooftops over the last couple of years, while winger Noni Madueke has arrived from Chelsea. Leandro Trossard could yet leave, while Gabriel Jesus won’t return in time for the start of the season, but Ethan Nwaneri is a year older and more experienced and could contribute more.
Gyokeres is an unknown quantity at this level, but the 54 goals he scored in 52 appearances last season don’t count for nothing. The question, as with Sesko at United, is how quickly he can adapt to Premier League football.
The verdict
Manchester United still find themselves in third place, in part due to their lower starting point. Much will hinge on the manager as well as the personnel, with Amorim put to the test as he aims to bring three new faces together and create one coherent unit.
Arsenal have a stronger base, especially with Havertz and Saka properly back after time on the sidelines last term. If the pair can get anywhere near where they were before those injuries, and if Gyokeres and Madueke hit the ground running (and introducing new parts to a working system ought to be easier than United’s task) then they’ll be in good shape.
Liverpool’s recruitment, combined with Salah’s known quality, puts them more or less on a par with the Gunners as things stand. However, if they can add Isak to what they already have then it’s hard to look past them as the top dogs in attack.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
£43
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
