Transfer deadline: Who could move - and what do Premier League clubs need?

Which colours will Alexis Sanchez, Virgil van Dijk and Jonny Evans play in after 31 August?

The final Premier League games before the transfer window closes have been played, so clubs and managers can give their full attention to concluding the business to take them forward to January.

It is shaping up to be a frantic finale, with big-name players likely to be on the move, and many of the superpowers ready and waiting to make late signings.
So what are the big issues to be resolved, and what will be your Premier League club's priority before the window shuts at 23:00 BST on Thursday?

Coutinho, Van Dijk, Sanchez... will they stay or will they go?

Liverpool attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk have both put their discontent in writing in the form of transfer requests - but the odds seem stacked against that having the desired effect.
Coutinho, 25, wants to leave Anfield for Barcelona. He has been the subject of three offers, all of which have been instantly rejected by Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group.
The last bid would have added up to £118m - the largest fee ever received by a British club - but it came with a series of strings attached, including one payment reliant on Coutinho winning the Ballon d'Or.
The word inside Liverpool is the size of any bid is irrelevant because Coutinho is not for sale at any price, a policy reinforced by a public FSG statement even before his emailed transfer demand.
So what could happen in the final days before the window closes?
There have been rumours of a fourth Barca bid but it is yet to arrive - and it remains to be seen if Coutinho or his camp make further moves or representations in an attempt to force a transfer.
The problem for Coutinho is Liverpool are not moving. They have not moved from day one.
There is, of course, the danger the club could be left with a disaffected player on Friday morning, but their admirably strong stance suggests confidence in their ability to reintegrate Coutinho.

Philippe Coutinho signed a new five-year contract at Liverpool last January

Liverpool have the same problem themselves as they meet a wall of resistance from Southampton in their attempts to land their prime summer target, Virgil van Dijk.
Anfield was understood to be the 26-year-old's preferred destination once his mind was made up to leave St Mary's, but Liverpool publicly apologised to Saints and withdrew interest amid claims of an illegal approach.
The Reds remain interested and would readily pay £60m for the Netherlands defender given the slightest encouragement, but Arsenal and Chelsea would be equally responsive.
Southampton, however, have made it clear Van Dijk will not be sold, a position reiterated by vice-chairman (football) Les Reed when he said £15m signing Wesley Hoedt had been bought to play alongside his international colleague, not replace him.
The disenchanted Van Dijk has virtually been in exile all summer, so will the pressure of the clock ticking down and the likelihood of interested clubs making one last persuasive attempt provoke a change of heart?
Southampton would have to alter their position drastically.
And what about Alexis Sanchez? The Chilean is showing no sign of agreeing a new Arsenal contract, yet manager Arsene Wenger seems ready to risk losing an asset worth at least £50m in the current market in exchange for one final season from him.
Manchester City are following events closely, and may even try a blockbuster offer before the window closes.
Given Arsenal's poor start to the season, and their need to strengthen in other areas, will Wenger move his position and decide to cash in rather than see Sanchez walk out of Emirates Stadium for free next summer.

What next for Diego Costa?

One thing is certain - Diego Costa will not play for Chelsea again. The striker's relationship with manager Antonio Conte is not so much fractured as smashed into hundreds of tiny pieces, the process starting last January.
Claim and counter claim have been traded as the striker remains away from the club, and a move is the only realistic option for both parties. There will be no mending of fences.
The complication is Costa's desired destination, his former club Atletico Madrid, are banned from signing players until January.
This leaves Costa, and indeed Chelsea, in limbo.

Diego Costa has not played for the Blues this season

It will surely make for a toxic atmosphere if Costa hangs around until January, but what are the serious alternatives?
A loan move until January, perhaps? Everton manager Ronald Koeman has declared his admiration for Costa but the Dutchman is someone who answers every question in a blunt, honest manner and of course he would take the Spain international if he could.
It takes a huge leap of the imagination to see any way in which Costa would want to go to Everton, but this is a complex matter with little time for resolution.

Will anyone buy Ross Barkley?

Ronald Koeman said last month that Everton "100%" expected Ross Barkley to leave

Everton midfielder Ross Barkley is at a career crossroads at only 23 - but what route he takes is still unclear.
Barkley has turned down a lucrative new contract at his boyhood club, and his fractious relationship with Koeman has made a parting of the ways look inevitable.
Now things get difficult.
Barkley has attracted interest from Chelsea and Tottenham but Everton have received no offer. And while their demand for £50m for an England midfielder in the final year of his contract can be filed under 'fanciful', they will not be parting for much under £30m.
To add to the intrigue, Barkley is expected to be out until October with a hamstring injury, so whoever (if anyone) buys him will first have to nurse him back to fitness.
It is highly likely Everton will receive an offer before Thursday, but this one might go down to the wire.
Koeman has made all the right noises about what might happen if Barkley stays, but where would he play after Koeman spent £24m on Ajax captain Davy Klaassen and a club record £45m on Swansea City's Gylfi Sigurdsson?
This could be a late one.

Can Wenger buy his way out of trouble?

Will Arsene Wenger need to bring in more players to quieten the dissenters?

Three games into the new season this is hardly a crisis for Arsenal, but two losses and the alarming manner of their harrowing 4-0 loss at Liverpool on Sunday has left manager Arsene Wenger facing familiar questions.
Wenger's future is sorted after he signed a new two-year contract but it will not be a shield against inevitable criticism when Arsenal show no signs of curing the failings that have been levelled at them for several years under the Frenchman.
At Anfield, Arsenal lacked fight, physical presence in all parts of the pitch, and a competitive edge. Their soft centre was exposed throughout.
So will Wenger tackle the problem in the markets - even though he chose to leave £46.5m signing Alexandre Lacazette and new defensive tough guy Sead Kolasinac out at Liverpool?
Strangely, all the talk appears to surround departures, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain seemingly heading to Chelsea, Shkodran Mustafi heavily linked with a move to Inter Milan just 12 months after his £35m arrival from Valencia, and continued speculation around Alexis Sanchez.
Given how desperate Arsenal's defending was at Anfield, it seems strange that Mustafi would be allowed to leave unless Wenger has an alternative lined up. Van Dijk has been mentioned, but there seems a two-fold problem - Saints insist he is not for sale and both Chelsea and Liverpool seem far more attractive destinations.
There was already an angry mood among Arsenal's fans at Anfield, and Wenger must decide if he can do something before the deadline to ensure the sort of discontent that undermined them last season does not set in quickly this term.

Will the other big guns strengthen?

West Brom defender Jonny Evans is a target for Manchester City

Manchester City did much of their transfer business early but two names on their radar could move before deadline day.
City remain in the market for West Bromwich Albion's former Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, the 29-year-old rated at £30m by the Baggies.
Evans has been outstanding at The Hawthorns and his no-nonsense defensive style would give Pep Guardiola's side added steel. This deal could be done before the deadline.
The biggest of all, but also the most difficult to accomplish, could be a £60m deal for Arsenal forward Sanchez.
Sanchez, 28, worked with Guardiola at Barcelona but the obstacle here appears to be the Gunners' determination to keep the Chilean.
Manchester United appear to have done their main business in signing Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof - although Jose Mourinho would not be averse to another signing should a late opportunity present itself.
And Spurs chairman Daniel Levy loves a late deal, so expect them to be in action. This August's contender? Barkley - or maybe some cover for Harry Kane.
Everton still have one big move left in them after an impressive summer of spending, and it is arguably the biggest and most important of all - a striker to replace Lukaku. They might just be tempted to have another attempt to sign Arsenal's Olivier Giroud, or maybe move for Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke. An outside bet? Celtic's Moussa Dembele.
And as Chelsea recover from the shock of that opening-day home loss to Burnley with impressive wins against Spurs and Everton, Antonio Conte will hope for the reinforcements he wants.
There could be an English look to his purchases with Barkley, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater all targets.

Who needs what?

Arsenal
Phil Parry, BBC Radio London
The FA Cup victory at the end of last season masked a disappointing campaign with Wenger under increased pressure. As well as signing his new contract, the Frenchman acquired Lacazette - who appears to have the ability, guile and skill to provide goals - and Kolasinac, who can provide adaptability on the left whatever formation is utilised.
However, despite having what appears to be large squad, it seems the Gunners need to do some business. Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to join Chelsea and bids still might come in for the likes of Sanchez. The defence looks creaky and the group as a whole lacks leadership qualities. Power and fortitude may not be on the medical checklist, but will have to be part of the due diligence which precedes purchases this week.
Bournemouth
Kris Temple, BBC Radio Solent
Bournemouth got the bulk of their transfer business done early in the summer, with the arrivals of Asmir Begovic, Nathan Ake and Jermain Defoe for second spells at the club. They have at least two players genuinely competing for every position, but Eddie Howe has been a long-time admirer of Leicester winger Demarai Gray, and the rumours of a £25m bid have resurfaced during this window.
They are possibly a little short of central-defensive back-up too - if they got an injury in that position they would be stretched for experienced cover.
Brighton
Johnny Cantor, BBC Sussex
After FC Zurich forward Raphael Dwamena failed his medical - and with Glenn Murray and Sam Baldock out injured - the top priority for Chris Hughton is at least one striker, but preferably two. His own frontman Tomer Hemed is a target for Reading. The Seagulls are still considering a centre-back and another goalkeeper if good-value late opportunities arise.
Chairman Tony Bloom accelerated his investment as the summer progressed, breaking the club's record fee three times. Winger Jose Izquierdo has been introduced to address a lack of pace in the squad, while early arrivals such as Markus Suttner, Pascal Gross and Davy Propper are yet to get to grips with the intensity of the Premier League.
Burnley
Michael Short, BBC Sport
Never let it be said that football fans are fickle. A new club record signing in striker Chris Wood from Leeds left a lot of Clarets fans underwhelmed. Solid in the Championship, yes, but could he cut it in the Premier League? Then came his injury-time equaliser against Spurs at Wembley. There was enough to suggest he can do the business after all - which would go a long way towards keeping Burnley up.
Bolstering the midfield with Swansea's Jack Cork may yet prove to be the Clarets' most important bit of summer business, though. Sean Dyche's team have played with a more fluid system and have more options since he arrived.
There is extra top-flight nous too, with the addition of seasoned Premier League campaigners Jonathan Walters and Phil Bardsley from Stoke, while full-back Charlie Taylor from Leeds is new to this level yet highly thought of.
For a side that lost the best part of £50m of talent in Michael Keane and Andre Gray in the summer, early results have been enough to keep fans happy with the transfer business so far. But a new centre-half and a pacy forward before the transfer window shuts might just be enough to get some brave fans daring to think the heady heights of mid-table might not be entirely beyond them come next May.
Chelsea
Nick Godwin, BBC Radio London
It seems Chelsea's decline has been exaggerated. Ever since that opener against Burnley, they have drilled out two excellent results despite significant absentees.
So the calls for major surgery have quietened but the departure of Nemanja Matic, and Diego Costa's ongoing issues remain concerns.
That is not to say money has not been spent. New recruits Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger have already shown promise.
Last season, Chelsea won the league with quite a small squad, very few injuries and no European obligations. This season's demands will be much greater so Antonio Conte is hopeful of further recruitment in wide areas, central midfield and up front.