The dust has settled, the yellow ties have been put back in the drawer, and we have all stopped searching the words “here we go” on Twitter. Another frantic summer transfer window has concluded, and, by way of recap, here is our not-at-all controversial ranking of all 20 Premier League clubs’ summer business.
20. Newcastle United
Biggest Acquisitions: Joe Willock, Santiago Munoz (loan)
Biggest Departures: Christian Atsu, Yoshinori Muto
Expenditure: £26.46m
Income: £0m
The comedy value of signing Santiago Munoz has already worn off, and while Willock adds quality, Newcastle have not done enough to improve a struggling squad.
19. Wolverhampton Wanderers
Biggest Acquisitions: Francisco Trincao (loan), Jose Sa
Biggest Departure: Rui Patricio
Expenditure: £23.67m
Income: £28.35m
Keeping Ruben Neves and Adama Traore was the priority. Trincao looks to be the real deal, while Sa was a necessity to replace the departing Patricio.
18. Southampton
Biggest Acquisitions: Adam Armstrong, Theo Walcott
Biggest Departures: Danny Ings, Jannik Vestergaard
Expenditure: £38.79m
Income: £57.74m
Armstrong has hit the ground running, while Valentino Livramento shows incredible promise. Saints will miss the goals of Ings and the experience of Vestergaard.
17. Liverpool
Biggest Acquisition: Ibrahima Konate
Biggest Departures: Georginio Wijnaldum, Xherdan Shaqiri
Expenditure: £36.00m
Income: £24.75m
Not enough is being done at Anfield. While the defensive depth issues of last season have been addressed, letting a midfielder of Wijnaldum’s quality go unreplaced could be very costly. Klopp’s side are ageing, and more needs to be done to keep them challenging.
16. Manchester City
Biggest Acquisition: Jack Grealish
Biggest Departures: Sergio Aguero, Angelino
Expenditure: £105.75m
Income: £34.92m
Just one major acquisition for the champions, but a wonderful one in Jack Grealish. However, after being rebuffed for Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo, City ended the window with bruised egos and no top striker.
15. Brentford
Biggest Acquisitions: Kristoffer Ajer, Frank Onyeka
Biggest Departures: Henrik Dalsgaard, Emiliano Marcondes
Expenditure: £34.38m
Income: £0m
A low-key summer at Brentford, having largely kept the core of the promotion side. Ajer is vastly experienced for 23, and Onyeka adds goals to the midfield.
14. Brighton & Hove Albion
Biggest Acquisitions: Enock Mwepu, Marc Cucurella
Biggest Departures: Ben White, Davy Propper
Expenditure: £51.30m
Income: £56.25m
Ben White will be a big miss, and he has not been replaced. Mwepu and Cucurella are decent signings with time on their side.
13. Watford
Biggest Acquisitions: Emmanuel Dennis, Josh King
Biggest Departures: Troy Deeney, Will Hughes
Expenditure: £16.92m
Income: £13.10m
League experience (Josh King, Moussa Sissoko), exciting loanees (Ozan Tufan) and Championship standouts (Ashley Fletcher)... Watford have gone for the textbook promoted team transfer window. Club legend Deeney is an emotional departure.
12. Everton
Biggest Acquisitions: Andros Townsend, Demarai Gray
Biggest Departures: Theo Walcott, Moise Kean
Expenditure: £1.80m
Income: £7.20m
A strange window for the Toffees, with little cash being splashed. Salomon Rondon knows the league well, and Gray is still only 25. James Rodriguez’s move to Porto collapsing is a cause for regret.
11. Burnley
Biggest Acquisitions: Maxwel Cornet, Connor Roberts
Biggest Departures: Ben Gibson
Expenditure: £28.71m
Income: £8.37m
The 20-year-old Nathan Collins is one for the future, with James Tarkowski expected to leave next summer. However, with Ben Gibson leaving he may see significant action this term. Wales star Roberts, Cornet and the returning Aaron Lennon are a signal of intent from Dyche.
10. West Ham United
Biggest Acquisitions: Kurt Zouma, Nikola Vlasic
Biggest Departures: Felipe Anderson, Fabian Balbuena
Expenditure: £65.52m
Income: £2.70m
Accepting defeat over a Jesse Lingard return, Vlasic joins to add firepower in midfield. Zouma finally gets the chance to establish himself away from Chelsea, while Alphonse Areola provides depth in the goalkeeper position.
9. Arsenal
Biggest Acquisitions: Martin Odegaard, Ben White
Biggest Departures: Joe Willock, Matteo Guendozi (loan)
Expenditure: £149.04m
Income: £27.81m
A summer of frustration for Arsenal fans, despite topping the spending chart. Odegaard’s permanent signing is a cause for celebration, but questions remain over central midfield and the defence.
8. Norwich City
Biggest Acquisitions: Billy Gilmour (loan), Ben Gibson
Biggest Departure: Emi Buendia
Expenditure: £59.54m
Income: £34.56m
Gilmour and Brandon Williams boast high potential, and big-club minutes. Ozan Kabak should offer more than he showed at Liverpool, but Buendia is a big loss.
7. Leeds United
Biggest Acquisitions: Daniel James, Junior Firpo
Biggest Departure: Pablo Hernandez
Expenditure: £53.01m
Income: £0m
Marcelo Bielsa finally got his man as James arrived on deadline day, two and half years after Leeds’ initial attempt to sign him. Junior Firpo offers the versatility Bielsa loves, while a number of fringe players left on frees.
6. Leicester City
Biggest Acquisitions: Patson Daka, Ademola Lookman (loan)
Biggest Departures: Christian Fuchs, Dennis Praet (loan)
Expenditure: £60.84m
Income: £3.60m
The Foxes have added goals in Daka, pace in Lookman and a proven winner in Boubakary Soumare. With Wes Morgan retiring and Fuchs leaving, the Premier League title-winning side is being refreshed.
5. Crystal Palace
Biggest Acquisitions: Odsonne Edouard, Marc Guehi
Biggest Departures: Andros Townsend, Patrick van Aanholt
Expenditure: £66.09m
Income: £0m
A season of transition for Palace, as many older names were allowed to leave the club. Signing Celtic goal-getter Edouard shows ambition, and Watford’s Will Hughes adds a touch of class to the midfield.
4. Tottenham Hotspur
Biggest Acquisitions: Bryan Gil, Emerson Royal
Biggest Departures: Toby Alderweireld, Moussa Sissoko
Expenditure: £60.21m
Income: £29.43m
Any window in which a club holds onto an asset like Harry Kane must be considered a success. Gil, Royal and Pape Sarr are all young players with a lot to offer, while veterans Joe Hart, Moussa Sissoko and Serge Aurier were moved on at the right time.
3. Aston Villa
Biggest Acquisitions: Emi Buendia, Danny Ings
Biggest Departure: Jack Grealish
Expenditure: £95.04m
Income: £114.30m
The departure of Grealish was a blow, but an inevitable one. In Bailey, Ashley Young, Buendia and Ings they have added pace, goals, creativity and experience.
2. Chelsea
Biggest Acquisitions: Romelu Lukaku, Saul Niguez
Biggest Departures: Tammy Abraham, Olivier Giroud
Expenditure: £108.00m
Income: £110.12m
Quality over quantity at Stamford Bridge, as goal machine Lukaku returns while Saul could take the league by storm. Chelsea fans wanted more, but the players they have brought in are ready-made first-teamers.
1. Manchester United
Biggest Acquisitions: Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho
Biggest Departures: Daniel James, Andreas Pereira (loan)
Expenditure: £126.00m
Income: £26.19m
Key areas addressed with Sancho and Raphael Varane, while receiving £25m for James is great business. The signing of a certain Juventus forward made this a great window, but the lack of midfield signings could be costly.
