Sky Sports examines the likely transfer activity for each Premier League club ahead of the deadline.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has plenty of options in the front three but -
much to Mikel Arteta's frustration - none of them are RVP. While Wenger decided against replacing Alex Song with Nuri Sahin, Arteta admitted that Van Persie was simply "irreplaceable". Let's hope Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski took the attempt to relieve the pressure on them in the spirit it was intended, eh?
So with the Gunners content to dream of Jack Wilshere reacquainting himself with a football some time soon, it may be that the only arrival at the Emirates Stadium comes in the form of a defensive squad-man - with
Ajax defender Nicolai Boilesen among those mentioned. Of course, that would be somewhat curious given that there have only been two goalless draws in the Premier League so far this season and Arsenal were involved in both of them.
Aston Villa
The euphoria that greeted Alex McLeish's sacking at Villa Park lasted much of the summer but the steady realisation that not all of the club's problems have gone away with a mere contract termination is now sinking in. New boss Paul Lambert has the goodwill of the fans but he has work to do in the transfer market if the opening two defeats are any indication.
Darren Bent has cut an isolated figure in attack and Villa appear keen to address the issue by bringing in
raw Belgium international forward Christian Benteke. The club's
interest in Charlton's Dale Stephens also suggests Lambert is determined to stick to his policy of going with potential rather than big-name buys. That could make for a difficult season given that Villa look to be a side in need of experience all over the park.
Chelsea
The word 'need' hardly seems the right one after the summer spending spree Roman Abramovich has embarked upon. And yet, the Blues squad does appear imbalanced. While it seems unlikely that new boys Eden Hazard, Oscar, Marko Marin and Victor Moses could ever be accommodated in the same team, Chelsea remain vulnerable if Fernando Torres were to be injured.
Both Edinson Cavani and Hulk continue to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and the European champions will need to consider the benefits of strengthening their squad against the risk of unsettling Torres just when he seems set to step out from Didier Drogba's formidable shadow.
Everton
Everton's Phils - Neville and Jagielka - have each
spoken out in recent weeks to reveal the destabilising effect that transfer windows have had at Goodison Park in the past. David Moyes will be anxious to avoid anything so damaging as Mikel Arteta's deadline day exit in 2011 and looks likely to be focusing on bringing players into the club instead.
The Toffees have been linked with a bid to take Charlie Adam across Stanley Park, while young forward
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