Which of the Big 6 had the Best Summer Transfer Window?

The transfer window closed at 11 pm last Tuesday, and fans of the various Premier League clubs will have very different feelings about how their team performed. Despite the clubs splashing an astonishing total of £3.5bn between them, it seems that most supporters are displeased, or at least neutral about their team’s dealings.

Several top-flight outfits quite clearly had poor windows, with Aston Villa being the most obvious example. They sold the spine of their team, with Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins just some of the key players they lost. They spent over £250m on replacements, but boss Unai Emery has a lot of work to do to rebuild the squad. Everton are another club that springs to mind who underperformed in the transfer market, with deadline day in particular a nightmare for Toffees fans.

But what of the six richest clubs in English football? How did Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham get on in the summer window, and what grades would we give their dealings?

Chelsea – A: Blues Win the Window

Overall, balancing players coming in with those leaving, we feel Chelsea had the best transfer window. If we include the fact that they persuaded Xabi Alonso to join as their new manager, we would probably give them an A+.

All figures here are in taken from what has been reported in the media, who estimate that the Blues spent almost £350m. However, they sold players for a huge £384m, leaving them in profit. They have made a substantial sum from loan fees, while of the players sold, only Enzo Fernández and Marc Cucurella will really be missed. However, getting over £172m for that duo has put their finances in a solid position.

In terms of incomings, Emi Martinez is one of the bargains of the summer and will help them tremendously at the back and in terms of leadership and organisation. Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck will do the same in terms of the overall squad, and they will help set high standards in training and off the pitch. Maxence Lacroix may finally help solve their issues at centre back, while early signs are that adding Morgan Rogers to Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro may just have created one of the greatest front threes the Premier League has ever seen.

Manchester City – B: Great Signings but Huge Boots to Fill

At first glance, one might think City had a dream window. They spent around £450m, including two excellent all-round midfielders both for fees well in excess of £100m, as well as another incredible 18-year-old midfielder, Ayyoub Bouaddi, for £81m. With Illiman Ndiaye signing from Everton for a bargain £65m, plus Brazilian winger Allan and a number of highly rated youngsters as well, new boss Enzo Maresca has really revamped the squad.

The problem for City is the players who have left. And, of course, the manager. How they fare in the post-Pep era remains to be seen, but the new manager was hampered from the off by losing perhaps the most complete footballer in the world, Rodri.

City have spent well, but losing the Spaniard, plus the likes of John Stones, Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Jack Grealish, is a huge loss in terms of experience and winning mentality. Their spending was largely funded by the sales of Savio (£75m), Rodri (£65m), Tijjani Reijnders (£52m), Nico Gonzalez (£48m), and James Trafford (£45m), and while only Rodri really weakens the starting XI, it is a big overhaul.

Arsenal – C: Sometimes Less is More

Arsenal fans will be disappointed they didn’t add a world-class attacking player to their squad. Moves for Morgan Rogers, Vinícius Júnior, Julian Alvarez and others did not come off, but Arsenal end the window as they started it: with easily the best squad in the Premier League.

Adding Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa gives them even more depth and class, with Bruno offering a touch of everything in the middle and the chance to give Declan Rice more rest if needed. Greek winger Christos Tzolis was unheralded but for £34m looks like a bargain and has hit the ground running.

Manchester United – C: Midfield Revamped but no Left Back

Last season the Red Devils overhauled their attack, and this window they seem to have focused on midfield. Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos bring legs, with Youri Tielemans adding experience and genuine class.

Their fans would have loved a left back, and defence remains a big issue generally. However, for a low net spend, United have brought real vigour to the centre of the park, and there seems to be a plan, which is surely preferable to the scatter-gun spending of recent seasons.

Liverpool – C: Reds Attack Looks Deadly but Weak Defensively

Liverpool completed the marquee signing of Bradly Barcola for over £100m, but it remains to be seen how he will fare in the Premier League and with the greater expectation of being the main man. They also added some promising youngsters, albeit for big fees, but fans are right to be worried about the lack of an experienced centre-back. Moreover, Liverpool look short of full-backs on both sides.

Spurs – D: Robert De Zerrbi Needs to Prove Money Well Spent

Before a ball was kicked, Spurs were being lauded by some for their signings. After a dreadful start, many of those same people are now questioning their additions. We always felt that while Tottenham were spending huge sums, they were largely going for players who didn’t quite make it at their previous clubs, and they certainly seem to have overpaid.

Splashing over £92m on Sandro Tonali, £85m on Mateus Fernandes (a player relegated in his past two seasons), and £75m on Savio all look like deals made by a desperate club. They will miss Christian Romero at the back, and to a lesser extent Djed Spence, and a top-half finish would be a decent outcome for them, even if their fans would disagree.