As well as the slightly tedious modern football debate about what constitutes a real trophy, it seems we now declare transfer window winners as well, just to add to the confusion.
There’ll be no silverware handed out just for signing Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, but taking a look at who the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool have or have not signed this summer should give us a bit more of an idea about who will go on to lift the big prizes come the end of the season.
With deadline day now done and dusted, here’s our take on this summer’s deals at the major clubs and who will be feeling happiest until the chance to sign players comes again in January…
Winners
Manchester United – There’s surely no arguing here, the Red Devils had a superb summer transfer window. Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho will breathe new life into their attack, while Raphael Varane is the ideal central defensive partner for Harry Maguire, and, along with Ronaldo, brings leadership and a winning mentality to a squad that has tended to get a bit of a nosebleed in recent semi-finals and final appearances. Some fans will not be entirely satisfied at the lack of new additions in defensive midfield after some dodgy Fred displays, but all in all you’d probably have to call this an 8/10 window that leaves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in better shape to challenge for the title than they were last term.
Chelsea – Even if they hadn’t signed Saul on deadline day, the addition of Romelu Lukaku has the potential to transform this Chelsea side. As it is, the Blues bagged both Lukaku and Saul, with the latter also looking a smart signing on loan that offers the club a low-cost and low-risk option to add a bit more creativity in midfield. That will only help Lukaku hit the 25-30 goals a season Thomas Tuchel’s side needs, whilst perhaps also benefiting the likes of Kai Havertz and Timo Werner as they look to improve on their slightly below-par starts at Stamford Bridge last season.
Tottenham – It wasn’t the most inspiring transfer window in terms of the names coming in, though Emerson Royal, Bryan Gil and Pape Sarr are all fine young players who could end up being smart long-term additions. Most significantly, however, Spurs kept hold of star player Harry Kane despite his no-show at training just before the start of the season. Tottenham now need to give Kane the trophies he craves, but it will be that much easier for new manager Nuno Espirito Santo to do that if he has one of the best goal-scorers in world football leading his side.
Losers
Liverpool – Some at Anfield might try to dress this up as Liverpool being smart and cautious, rather than over-spending on whichever flavour of the month player is out there, but it’s hard to see this transfer window as a success for the Reds. Mohamed Salah remains one of the finest attacking players in the world, but Saido Mane and Roberto Firmino’s dip in form means that front three is not what it was – Man Utd scored more goals than Liverpool last season but have strengthened with Sancho and Ronaldo; Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, will have to hope that Diogo Jota can stay injury free this term and fulfil the early promise he showed when he joined from Wolves last year. Ibrahima Konate was a necessary signing in defence, but he remains young, inexperienced and a little injury-prone, so there’s no guarantee he’ll live up to expectations. In midfield, Georginio Wijnaldum’s loss on a free is a huge blow, and it seems a big gamble not to replace him after a lack of impact made by Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in recent times, while even Thiago Alcantara has been slow to get going in English football.
Manchester City – When you have the best squad in the Premier League, it can be hard to know how to improve it, though this wasn’t quite the case with Manchester City this summer. Sergio Aguero’s departure left a very obvious hole in Pep Guardiola’s squad, and it’s been widely reported by the Telegraph and others that they missed out on signing Tottenham front-man Harry Kane to replace him. Jack Grealish is a world class player who could be useful, though it really only strengthens a position City already had plenty of options in, while that lack of a goal-scorer remains an issue.
Jury’s out
Arsenal – This is one of those ‘wait and see’ transfer windows: if Arsenal have a good season, it’s likely we’ll look back and think £50million for Ben White (fee via BBC Sport) was great business; if not, it’ll be another summer of expensive flops to follow on from recent surprisingly poor purchases like Nicolas Pepe and Thomas Partey. Elsewhere, promising young players like Takehiro Tomiyasu, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares are not necessarily players who’ll make a huge impact straight away, but might end up being sound investments for the future. Aaron Ramsdale is a puzzling one, given that it seems Bernd Leno is going to remain number one in goal, but some competition might be good for the inconsistent German shot-stopper. Martin Odegaard had a decent but unspectacular loan at Arsenal last season and is now back permanently, but it’s widely known that Emi Buendia was the club’s priority before they were beaten to him by Aston Villa earlier in the summer…
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