What do the challengers need?

What do Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham need to challenge for the Premier League title next season?

Leicester have spent the last week celebrating the most unlikely of triumphs, leaving the established order faced with a summer of self-reflection – and calls to strengthen.

Only Tottenham will end the season with any sense of Premier League achievement and even their campaign has come to a frustrating end, with second spot now in doubt after their title hopes were crushed.

So is it a top-class striker? A solid new centre-back? We asked Soccer Saturday pundits Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas what the old ‘big six’ need for a shot at Premier League glory next season…

Arsenal

Charlie says…

A lot has obviously been made of Arsenal’s striker problems over the last few months, but the most important frailty in the team is at central defence.

There’s a soft centre to the team where one bad mistake at the back leads to chaos and throwing away points. It’s been the same for years now.

If Arsene Wenger was to go out and sign one world class player then I’d want him to make it a central defender.

I’d like to see him go for Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane, who fits Wenger’s mould in being French and still relatively young, although he has not got a great record of developing defenders.

Winning games 1-0 is a trademark of champions and something Arsenal just don’t do enough.

Chelsea

Merse says…

There’s nobody around to replace John Terry. He’s one of a kind. That doesn’t change the fact Chelsea need to reinforce their defence and John Stones fits the style of the new manager. Antonio Conte likes to play three at the back and Stones would certainly fit into that. He’s struggling at the moment but there’s no defender better on the ball in Europe than Stones. 

I would also go back for Daniel Sturridge. I don’t see a problem with him going back to Stamford Bridge. He’s had his injury problems but he’s the best around.

If you are looking for someone who may not play all the time then why not go for Jermain Defoe? He …

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