Even the teams fighting for the Premier League title have that one superstar of the past they would do anything to bring back to make their team even stronger. For each of the Big Six clubs, here is one star player of the 2010s decade they would want to bring back the most to either shore up a key weakness or become a much better version of themselves.
Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez
Viktor Gyokeres isn’t a world class striker, but he is better than what Arsenal had last season. Plus, Arsenal didn’t have a truly transcendental striker in the 2010s like they did in the 2000s when they had many of them; they just had a few really good guys.
But their best player in the last decade was Alexis Sanchez, who was a world-class left winger and neck and neck with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard as the best player in the Premier League. Having a left winger like Sanchez across from Bukayo Saka would open up so much of the attack for the Gunners.
Chelsea: John Terry
Chelsea actually have a really good squad on their hands. The attack isn’t perfect but does boast a trio of top players in Estevao Willian, Cole Palmer, and now Joao Pedro. And the midfield pivot of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo is arguably the best in the Premier League – in a tight discussion with Arsenal’s.
But the defense is horrendous. There is a lack of truly great man markers, leaders, and characters at the back. John Terry may have been in his twilight in the 2010s, but he was still a world-class, shutdown center back. Terry would immediately transform Chelsea into title contenders, he was that good of a defender.
Liverpool: Sadio Mane
It would be too on the nose to say that prime Mohamed Salah in the late 2010s is the player Liverpool need the most, but even the current version of Salah could have a lot more success in terms of his chances in front of goal with a vastly superior one on one and progressive left winger across from him than Cody Gakpo.
Nothing tops the trio Liverpool had in the last decade of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Roberto Firmino. Since Hugo Ekitike has been brilliant up top, the last missing piece for Liverpool is a left winger. They spent a ton on attackers last summer, but the reigning Premier League champions are missing Luis Diaz; prime Mane would be a better version of that quality out wide.
Manchester City: David Silva
Manchester City have a gamut of attacking weaponry, led by a striker who is already naming himself among the Premier League GOATs in Erling Haaland, and their defensive quality deserves a lot more discussion, too.
But this midfield is very un-Man City like. Kevin De Bruyne and Yaya Toure are two players who merit serious consideration, but the technical quality, pacing, progression, dribbling in tight spaces, and overall technical quality of the supremely underrated David Silva would be the real missing piece. If this version of Man City had Silva next to Rodri, they would be by far the best team in European football.
Manchester United: Wayne Rooney
Manchester United’s biggest weaknesss is a controlling center midfielder, and if Michael Carrick could turn back the clock and play on the pitch, he’d be a tremendous option to fill their biggest need.
But an even bigger problem is the fact that Man United do not have a superstar besides Bruno Fernandes. Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are “just stars” and Benjamin Sesko isn’t there yet. Wayne Rooney is as great as any Man United player in history, and, with time, his all around skill set has become more appreciated. Rooney is a no brainer, regardless of how much Man United need a center midfielder.
Tottenham Hotspur: Harry Kane
Yes, this is indeed on the nose, but Tottenham Hotspur have never replaced Harry Kane and probably knew they would never be able to replace the greatest all around striker in Premier League history.
Kane has it all. Finishing, chance creation, and dribbling skills. He was, if anything, massively underappreciated at Spurs, and now that he is the literal best player in the world in the 2025/26 season, everyone can plainly see just how badly the relegation candidates in North London miss him.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.