Premier League Winners And Losers In Transfer Window

Premier League clubs have returned to a final flurry of spending on Monday before the international transfer window closed.

Manchester United and Arsenal made the biggest transfer headlines on deadline day with big signings.

Sonko News looks into how the teams fared in the summer transfer market.

Liverpool

Heading into the final days of the market, it seemed Jurgen Klopp’s desired has been well taken cared for as he bolstered a squad that powered to the title last season and became the European Champions two seasons ago.

The Red’s headline addition was Spain international, Thiago Alcantara, who arrived from Bayern Munich in a £20 million ($25 million) deal.

Klopp spent £41 million on Wolves forward Diogo Jota, while Greek left-back Kostas Tsimikas arrived from Olympiakos as back-up for Andrew Robertson.

But Sundays 7-2 defeat against Aston Villa cast a fresh spotlight on Klopp’s side and the glare wasn’t entirely flattering.

Since the beginning of the campaign, Liverpool has conceded 11 goals in four matches with Joe Gomez looking a bit vulnerable amid thoughts Klopp should have looked for a center-back to provide competition alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defense.

Manchester City

Frustrated with defensive deficiencies at City, Pep Guardiola spent over £100 million on a pair of center-backs.

The Spaniard signed Nathan Ake from Bournemouth for £41 million but after conceding five goals at home to Leicester, Guardiola decided to double down on the position with a £61 million move from Benfica’s Ruben Dias.

Dias is viewed as a neutral leader and he will live up to the expectation as City have looked bereft of organization and fight since the departure of Vincent Kompany last summer.

City made another addition on the flanks by bringing in Ferran Torres from Valencia for £20 million

Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side endured a trouble transfer window adding to United’s poor start of the season.

United third-place finishing last season raised hopes bigger signings, but instead, they became embroiled in a protracted and ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho.

Ed Woodward, head of United transfer deal, also failed to bring in Aston Villa midfielder  Jack Grealish and Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele.

Signing former Paris Saint Germain striker Edinson Cavani,33, on a free transfer on the last minute of the transfer window did little to appease frustrated fans who are still mad after Sunday’s 6-1 thrashing by Tottenham.

Port left-back Alex Telles also arrived for £13.5 million, but neither he nor Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, who joined for £40 million in the close-season, is likely to set pulses racing.

Chelsea

This transfer window was definitely for Frank Lampard.

Looking to close the gap on Liverpool, Lampard convinced Roman Abramovich to bankroll a £200 million spree that brought in German forwards Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech, Leicester defender Ben Chilwell, Rennes keeper Edouard Mendy, plus Thiago Silva on a free transfer.

Whether Lampard will gel his new arrivals into a cohesive team is the question that will define the Blue’s season as a success or failure.

Arsenal

Arsenal move to sign Thomas Partey on Monday night at  £45m – capped an extremely encouraging summer for the Gunners.

Houssem Aouar made no show despite numerous negotiations between Arsenal and Lyon. But Partey joins Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes at the Emirates Stadium while the Gunners also struck deals to ensure Dani Ceballos, Pablo Mari, and Cedric Soares extended their stays at the club.

Everton

Ancelotti’s side made it four wins out of four with their 4-2 victory over Brighton and its no secret that their summer signings have played a vital in their bright start of the season.

The midfield that was a problem under Ancelotti, has been transformed by the arrivals of James Rodriguez fro Real Madrid, Allan from Napoli, and Abdoulaye Doucoure from Watford.

The trio has made a great impact on the team. James has brought guile and creativity, Doucoure has brought an injection of box-to-box energy, while Allan has come in with defensive steel and ball-playing composure in equal measure.

Currently, Everton looks like a balanced side with the recruits also helping to bring the best out of the players already at Goodison Park. Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s free-scoring start to the new campaign has earned him an England call-up, while Richarlison has also been impressive. Everton also hopes that the late arrival of Robin Olsen on loan fro Roma boosts Jordan Pickford’s game too.

Everton also brought in Bed Godfrey from Norwich to add some quality at the back.

READ MORE

• Mikel Arteta drops hint over Arsenal’s transfer plans with deadline day approaching
• Olunga Scores As Kenyan Footballers Shine In The Foreign Leagues
• Transfer Deadline: Telles Joins Man Utd, Liverpool Raid Spurs For A Goalkeeper And More Rumours
• Man Utd face transfer nightmare as another issue arises over Jadon Sancho deal

Tottenham

Jose Mourinho can be a bit disappointed about the club’s summer signings.

Gareth Bale loan deal from Real Madrid was the center of attention. With Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min starting the season at a higher form, Spurs fans are optimistic about a greater season once Bale joins in to play.

Pierre-Emile Hojberg has brought leadership and combativeness at the midfield, but the signing of Matt Doherty and Sergio Reguilon is considered the most significant. The pair are attacking wing-backs and will allow the team to switch between a back four and a back three.

The two are also expected to provide ammunition for Carlos Vinicius who joined Spurs on loan with a £36m option to buy from Benfica.