With only two weeks left, the 2025-2026 Premier League season will officially kick off, while the summer transfer window is also entering its final month.
This means the pressure is mounting on many players - who are facing two clear options: leaving or accepting a bench spot.
Despite a bustling summer transfer market this year, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United all spending more than £100 million, champions Liverpool have surpassed everything with an investment of £250 million. However, amid the huge shopping wave, there are still many stars who are in an uncertain future.
If they choose to stay, they risk missing the entire season on the bench or worse. But if they decide to leave, joining a less famous team or not competing in the European Cup could be the most likely option for them to play regularly.
Here are Premier League strikers who are in dire need of a way out to save their careers.
Darwin Nunez
The Liverpool striker has only started eight times in the Premier League under coach Arne Slot last season. And since January 1, 2025, Darwin Nunez has only been named in the starting lineup once. That was against Southampton, who were relegated. This reality shows that the 26-year-old's future seems to have been decided for a long time.
Liverpool's attack has undergone a major change since the end of the season, with the arrival of two expensive new signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. Meanwhile, Luis Diaz moved to Bayern Munich and Diogo Jota passed away after a tragic incident.
Although Liverpool are still pursuing a £150 million deal for Alexander Isak from Newcastle, it is clear that Darwin Nunez is no longer in Arne Slot's plans.
Rasmus Hojlund
Man United have no secret to their ambition to sign a top-class striker before the end of the 2025 summer transfer window. This is no different from "fighting" for Rasmus Hojlund.
The 22-year-old striker was brought in from Atalanta for £72 million in 2023, but has only scored 14 goals in 62 Premier League appearances. He has struggled to keep up expectations at Old Trafford.
The situation has become more difficult as Man United have signed two new names for the attack, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, this summer. Not stopping there, they are also actively negotiating to bring Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig to Old Trafford.
With increasingly fierce competition, the possibility of Hojlund retaining his starting position from the start of next season is very fragile.
Nicolas Jackson
The Chelsea striker has scored 10 goals in 30 Premier League appearances last season. This is not a bad number, but it is still not enough to convince coach Enzo Maresca. The clear evidence is that Chelsea have recruited two new strikers: Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
Both of these new recruits quickly made their mark in Chelsea's championship at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, thereby pushing Nicolas Jackson down to the third choice position as a striker. This makes the Senegalese striker's regular playing opportunities at Stamford Bridge extremely vulnerable.
Although Chelsea has not proactively put up for sale Jackson, The Blues are still willing to listen to appropriate offers. Newcastle is emerging as a potential destination for Jackson, especially if Alexander Isak leaves St. Petersburg. James' Park in the coming weeks.
Christopher Nkunku
When he moved to Chelsea in 2023, Christopher Nkunku brought great expectations after scoring 47 goals and having 43 assists in 119 Bundesliga appearances for RB Leipzig. However, his time at Stamford Bridge was overshadowed by injuries and declining form.
The French striker has contributed only 6 goals and 2 assists after 38 matches in the Premier League. This is a disappointing statistic compared to initial expectations. Having failed to make a significant impact in the Chelsea squad, Nkunku could become a must-visit name this summer.
Man United had considered signing Nkunku for the January transfer window this year, but eventually dropped him out of concern about his fitness. This could also make any potential deals with Nkunku more complicated in the final weeks of the transfer window.
