Spain were crowned world champions after victory over Argentina in New Jersey, and within hours attention shifted to the domestic season – where several Premier League clubs are counting the cost of the tournament. Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester United all face major injury concerns, with William Saliba, Amadou Onana and Lisandro Martinez all suffering fitness setbacks.
Arsenal may be the most affected side. Saliba had been managing a back issue before his tournament was ended by the same problem, and he has yet to be assessed by the club’s medical team. His defensive partnership with Gabriel is crucial to how the team play, making any absence a significant blow. The Gunners also face uncertainty over Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who helped England finish third while managing their own fitness issues; both will be monitored closely before the new season. Meanwhile, Leandro Trossard, who scored twice for Belgium, has already joined Turkish club Besiktas for £15m, and Gabriel Martinelli – who showed flashes of quality for Brazil – is another player Arsenal could be open to selling.
“Arsenal, Man Utd and Villa face injury concerns after World Cup as Premier League starts August 21.”
Aston Villa’s transfer plans were thrown a curveball by a serious injury to Amadou Onana. The midfielder ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Belgium’s last-16 win over the USA, ruling him out until next year. They responded by moving for Johan Manzambi – a club-record signing for more than £50m from Freiburg – and Joao Gomes, while Youri Tielemans has joined Manchester United. Chelsea have agreed a £117m deal to sign England midfielder Morgan Rogers, further reshaping Villa’s midfield.
Manchester United were dealt a major injury blow when Lisandro Martinez limped off during the World Cup final against Spain. The defender’s condition will be a concern for manager Thomas Tuchel as United prepare for the campaign.
The Premier League season will begin later than usual to accommodate player recovery, starting on Friday, August 21. The EFL gets underway across the weekend of August 14-17, covering the Championship, League One and League Two. There will be cup action before the league starts, with the Carabao Cup first round taking place from August 7-10. The summer transfer window, which opened on June 15, closes at 11pm on Tuesday, September 1. The Premier League campaign concludes on Sunday, May 30, with all 10 matches kicking off simultaneously. The EFL regular season ends earlier: the Championship on Saturday, May 1, and Leagues One and Two on Saturday, May 8. The FA Cup final is scheduled for May 22.
With key players injured and the transfer window still open, several top-flight clubs face a race against time to reshape their squads before the delayed kick-off.