As the window comes to a close, we look at the best business done by each team until now
Despite the warnings of a pandemic stricken market, transfer window hysteria is in the air as always. Irresponsible spending, untenable wage demands and earth shaking transfers litter the back pages on a daily basis. It's business as usual. Some teams have been busier than others. Some have spent more than others. One consistent thing is that almost every football fan in the country is clamouring for their club to bring in more shiny new toys who will undoubtedly bring them the glory they all dream of this season.
š“ A quiet summer transfer window was expected due to COVID-19...
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 25, 2021
š¤Æ Messi has joined PSG
š„µ Madrid have bid for Mbappe
š³ Ronaldo could leave Juventus
š° Not to mention the PL spending
Focusing only on permanent transfers, and discounting loan deals, here are the best signings made so far this summer by each Premier League club.
Arsenal - Martin Odegaard (£32m Real Madrid)
The Norwegian didn't set the world on fire on loan at The Emirates last season but his time at Real Sociedad showed he has real quality as a playmaker. The one-time wonderkid put up goal involvement stats on par with Messi and Suarez during that season and impressed many. He's still very young and has proven capable of affecting games at a comparably sized team.
Aston Villa - Danny Ings (£32m Southampton)
Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey may or may not work out. They both look to be fantastic players but whether they will do the business in the Premier League remains to be seen. Danny Ings, on the other hand, is a proven goalscorer. He's hit the ground running in Ollie Watkins' absence so far this season. If Dean Smith plays the two together when Watkins returns from injury, God help opposition defences.
Brentford - Kristoffer Ajer (£14m Celtic)
Ajer is a mountain with the control of a ballet dancer. His huge frame gives him strength and great aerial ability but he's also extremely tidy on the ball and very quick. Experienced beyond his years and well composed, the Norwegian international - now there's a national team on the up - should make for another great signing for Brentford - a story I'm sure you've heard before.
Brighton & Hove Albion - Enock Mwepu (£20m Red Bull Salzburg)
Red Bull Salzburg is a conveyer belt of quality young talent so it's always a good sign when your club brings in one of their players. The Zambian is a versatile midfield player who pops up all over the pitch. He's high energy and technically sound. He should fit well into Graham Potter's style of play.
OFFICIAL: Enock #Mwepu leaves FC Red Bull Salzburg towards the Premier League where he signs a four-year-contract with @OfficialBHAFC.
— FC Red Bull Salzburg EN (@FCRBS_en) July 6, 2021
Best of luck, Enock! pic.twitter.com/arxn4eHBVg
Burnley - Nathan Collins (£12m Stoke City)
Business is slow at Turf Moor as always. It looks like Maxwel Cornet might be coming in from Lyon but at the time of writing the best they've done is bring in a backup centre back from Stoke. Granted he's young and has potential, but fans will hardly be ecstatic.
Chelsea - Romelu Lukaku (£97m Inter Milan)
What is there to say? Along with Kane and Lewandowski, the Belgian international is one of the best strikers in the world. His signing will for sure be one of the most important of the summer and his arrival could bring the title to Stamford Bridge.
Crystal Palace - Joachim Andersen (£15m Lyon)
The giant Dane couldn't prevent Fulham from going down last season but he impressed as their captain, particularly in the second half of the season. He's an intelligent, composed leader for his age and still has time to grow. It could turn out to be a better signing than many fans probably think.
Everton - Demarai Gray (£2m Bayer Leverkusen)
The Birmingham native did okay in his short stint at Bayer but will be looking to get his career properly back on track at Everton. He has lightning pace and can really cause defences problems on his day but he'll be looking to find some true consistency. It looked as though he may have been a squad player when he arrived but he's started both games for Benitez so far and already scored. It looks as though the manager has faith in him and this could be his coming-of-age season.
OFFICIAL: Everton sign Demarai Gray from Bayer Leverkusen āļø pic.twitter.com/OorEsE84ga
— Goal (@goal) July 22, 2021
Leeds United - Junior Firpo (£14m Barcelona)
Firpo impressed at Real Betis, and was a decent understudy to Jordi Alba at Barcelona but a lot of little, niggling injuries have definitely hampered his development. He's got potential and if anyone can bring the best out of a young player it's Marcelo Bielsa but this signing could really go either way.
Leicester City - Jannik Vestergaard (£15m Southampton)
While Patson Daka and Boubakary Soumare get all the headlines, the most important business Leicester have done this transfer window has been acting fast to bring in a solid, experienced centre back to replace the outstanding Wesley Fofana, who suffered an horrific leg injury in pre-season. Daka and Soumare are excellent but they could have done without them. Losing one of their star centre backs could have been devastating had they not acted swiftly and decisively to bring in the Dane (a lot of Nordics on this list)
Liverpool - Ibrahima Konate (£36m RB Leipzig)
On paper it looks good for Liverpool. They need centre back cover as last season clearly demonstrated. He is a little injury prone but if his role is to be there behind Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez when needed, it's a solid signing. Fans may cry out for more but when you've got probably the best centre back in the world coming back from a long term injury, that's the equivalent of buying a galactico and Klopp's side will for sure be back in the title hunt this season. Konate could play a key role in that if called upon.
Manchester City - Jack Grealish (£100m Aston Villa)
The signing of the summer to many. Probably not the player they really needed as they have an embarrassment of riches in that area of the pitch but fans will of course be happy to have him. They could still do with a fully fledged striker but it looks as though Guardiola is determined to win the league again without one, perhaps just to prove a point.
Ready for the next chapter! So proud to have joined the Premier League champions, canāt wait to get started! š pic.twitter.com/snoKdNQSpT
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) August 5, 2021
Manchester United - Raphael Varane (£36m Real Madrid)
Jadon Sancho is of course a great signing but United didn't have too much trouble scoring goals last season. The real issue they had was finding a reliable partner for Maguire and now they've done that. Despite finishing second in the league last season, United conceded more goals than four of their rivals. Varane is a world class signing who will shore up that end of the pitch and could be the key difference maker in their title bid.
Newcastle United - Joe Willock (£26m Arsenal)
Wonderful signing for Newcastle. Willock scored 8 goals in only 14 appearances on loan at St. James' Park in the second half of last season, and he did that from midfield. He really seems to fit into their system, he's young and he's got bags of talent. Really great addition for The Magpies.
Norwich City - Milot Rashica (£10m Werder Bremen)
He enjoyed two great seasons at Werder but struggled there last season. In his defence, it was a poor Werder side. Nonetheless, it seems to have lowered his value slightly which will be music to Daniel Farke's ears. He could prove a ready made replacement for Buendia - scores goals, creates chances, and has lots of future upside. For £10m, he could be a steal.
Southampton - Valentino Livramento (£5m Chelsea)
It's early days yet, and coach Ralph Hasenhuttl has already implored the media not to reach for the rocket ship emojis just yet, but there's no doubt he has looked really good in the first two games. Adam Armstrong is of course the marquee buy, but at 18 this kid could go on to become something truly special.
Chelsea teenager Tino Livramento is set to sign for Southampton š https://t.co/asRNjABhCP
— Goal (@goal) August 2, 2021
Tottenham Hotspur - Bryan Gil (£23m Sevilla)
Another signing with a potentially huge resale value. At only 20 this is a great buy for the future. Fans want something now and he isn't necessarily that but Gil is exciting to watch and makes things happen. He's an electric, untamed and fierce dribbler. He could
easily make an immediate impact this season but for sure if he doesn't, his time will come. Nuno is fantastic at developing players and he has chosen a great coach to help him reach the next level. Good long term thinking by Paratici.
Watford - Emmanuel Dennis (£4m Club Brugge)
This is a bit of a risky one. He's said to have had discipline issues in the past, he blows hot and cold, and downed tools at Club Brugge but he's started the season for Watford with a bang. With the abundance of Nigerians in the Watford squad, he may have finally found an environment into which he really fits. He has the awareness and finishing to become a great player for them.
West Ham United - Craig Dawson (£2m Watford)
Very slow news month for journalists unfortunate enough to be put on transfer watch at West Ham United. They did great last season but if they want to keep up the momentum, and especially if they want to do well in Europe with that tough schedule, they at least need to be thinking about squad depth. Dawson did great last season and making his deal permanent is good business but fans rightly want more. They have a great starting line-up there, but a couple of injuries and they could be in trouble.
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Jose Sa (£7m Olympiacos)
Things have been equally slow at Wolves. But for a couple of albeit promising loan deals, Jose Sa is probably the most significant business they've done. It's a decent buy as they needed to replace Rui Patricio but nothing earth shattering. He made some vital saves at the weekend against spurs but also gave away the penalty to Dele Alli by rushing out in a rash fashion. He's experienced and capable but he won't be enough to take the club to a higher level.
So, there you have it.
Disagree? Wanna call me out on Twitter?
It's @CraigSporticos
I sat down with @TalkAstonVilla to chat about the dark days under Paul Lambert, the Jack #Grealish saga and much more!#AstonVilla fans, give it a listen!š https://t.co/PAHkiyz2gj
— Craig Hanson (@CraigSporticos) August 9, 2021
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