Premier League Transfer Window: Ratings and Review

During this transfer window, so many Premier League teams adjust transfer strategies to cope with the financial climate, which the pandemic inflicted. Nonetheless, teams still made a fair amount of investment as they entire the hectic new campaign. Which teams do you think had the best transfer window? Read on and share your opinion in the comment section at the bottom.

Arsenal
Arsenal rocked the hierarchy at Athletico on deadline day after informing La Liga that they would be paying Thomas Partey’s release clause. In reporting that could not even be matched by Transfer Guru, Fabrizio Romano, AFC Bell reported the imminent transfer of Ghanian: Arsenal fans had their hero. Thomas Partey joined a host of other incomings at the club. Gabriel Maghaeles joined the club from French outfit Lille to provide more steel at center back; Experienced Winger Willian joined the club after refusing a contract extension from his previous club Chelsea. The transfer window was an ideal platform to look to build on last season’s cup triumphs, and Arteta’s side took the opportunity. B+

Aston Villa
Villa had a phenomenal transfer window. Getting captain Jack Grealish to sign a new contract amid interest from top sides was shrewd business. They also acquired Emiliano Martinez, who was off the back of some top-class performances to help their goalkeeper miseries from last season. With a new attacking trident of Bertrand Traore, Ollie Watkins, and Jack Grealish, supported from deep by on-loan Chelsea Midfielder Ross Barkley, they will be a threat to defenses this season. Their business this transfer window shows ambition, and their form at the start of the season justifies this. A-

Brighton & Hove Albion
Quantity, no quality
Besides acquiring former Ajax man Joel Veltman and Lallana on a free, Brighton had an unremarkable transfer window. Keeping hold of promising defender Ben White amidst interest from Leeds was their best bit of business. E

Burnley
After Sean Dyche’s laments during the project restart about the players available to him, you’d be forgiven to think they would have made significant additions during the transfer window. However, they began the season with a team almost identical to the one put in the June bubble. Keeping James Tarkowski was their only notable event. An unremarkable transfer window. F

Chelsea
Chelsea began the transfer window with the most spending power amongst all of Europe’s most elite: they recouped over 150 million from the sales of Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard and had not spent since January 2019 because of a transfer ban. The blues made a mid-season swoop for Ajax aesthetician Hakim Ziyech before bagging a german duo of Havertz and Werner. Their attack is now overflowing with quality and quantity. At the other end of the pitch, Eduoard Mendy was brought in from Rennes to usurp Kepa, who never found his gloves last season. Lampard will hope that the addition of him and Thiago Silva will shore up their defense. A-

Crystal Palace
Palace made all the headlines when they swooped in for the England youth international Eberechi Eze. The signing already is a coup as the player was off the back of a breakthrough season at QPR. His addition gives Roy Hudson much more flexibility in the final third. C

Everton
Intent and Precision
Ancelotti’s Everton plotted and pulled off one of the most remarkable transfer windows in recent Premier League history. Ancellotti had ear-marked the midfield as the target area and obtained three starters in that region who have been huge successes so far. James will add more guile to midfield, where Sigurdson faltered last season: his fantastic passing range and football IQ will provide a crucial X-factor factor in the offense. At the same time, Doucoure and Allan will provide steel in the middle of the pitch. The toffees also swooped sturdy defender Ben Godfrey, from Norwich, as they looked to reinforce the backline. A

Fulham
Fulham changed their transfer strategy upon their latest promotion– following a disastrous season last time up. They opted for a conservative approach, sealing mostly loan moves and young acquisitions with the potential to improve. One time, Everton and Chelsea prospects Ademola Lookman and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, respectively, were their most significant additions(loan). The two lads will be looking to prove their worth to the football community, who held them with high esteem for so long. The signings will undoubtedly bode well with Scott Parker as he leads his team into what will probably be another relegation battle. B

Leeds United
Led by Victor Orta’s wit and Bielsa’s consummate appeal, Leeds successfully took on other established first division teams in the transfer market. The signings of established Spanish stars Rodrigo Moreno and Diego Llorente prove that they have their sights on bigger things than a relegation battle. Man-City will perhaps reconsider their stance on departures to Edland road after Bielsa’s strong start to the season. One time United academy player, Jack Harrison, is one of the players who has made a massive impact during his loan spell from neighbors City. He and the talented Ian Poveda were Leed’s most recent gifts in what compounded to be a very successful transfer window. A

I expect them to reinvest soon as injuries will accumulate due to the high-intensity style Bielsa implements.

Leicester City
Leicester made a profit in the transfer window. That tells you almost all you need to know about their transfer window. Maybe they have a long term strategy, or their priority signings were just not available. Notwithstanding, for a team on the cusp of a top-four finish the previous season, it was disappointing to see that no determined attempt was made to strengthen the side. However, the signing of Wesley Fofana could prove crucial in the future, as Morgan’s tenure at the club draws to a close. Timothy Castagne’s arrival at the club for such a bargain price well offset the departure of Chilwell. C

Fair window

Liverpool
Liverpool took an initial blow in their transfer window after being priced out for Norwich’s Jamal Lewis. Nonetheless, they took no chances in providing cover for Andy Robertson after their scare the previous season. They obtained two able left-back covers: Konstantinos Tsimikas and Anderson Arroyo(Loan). Thiago Alcantara will add more flair and creativity to the midfield. Jota’s signing was also fantastic business, and the amount suggests he will be in the starting eleven in a couple of years. However, It was surprising that they did not move for a center back to replace the outgoing Dejan Lovren: they begin the season short in that department. B+

Liverpool have only spent 126 million since the start of the 2017/2018 season despite reaching two consecutive champions league finals, winning one, and winning the premier league. Fair to say it won’t be a shock if they usher in a big name or two next season–a certain french starlet, perhaps.

Manchester City
For the past few seasons, Manchester City have been the English media’s standard for a team with a good transfer strategy. They are shockingly quick in finalizing deals. However, Pep has now spent over 400 million on defenders, most of whom have disappointed, been shipped out, or been plagued by injuries: a mark which renders their proclaimed title a fallacy. They will surely hope, Pep will surely hope that their latest additions stay clear of those categories. B+

Manchester United
The transfer window cast even more doubt on the efficiency at the helm of United’s recruitment system. After laying stakes early in the year about their desire to bring Jadon Sancho to the club, United rendered all their fans drooling at the prospect of such an exciting front line. The conclusion to that episode was a cruel reminder of barriers that have hindered the team development since Fergie’s departure. The eventual costly departure of Alexis Sanchez, four deadline day deals, one of whom was a 33-year-old, and United have taken a step back in what Ole described as an ‘exploitable transfer window. C

Newcastle United
Newcastle fans had worlds torn apart as the Saudi based consortium touted to complete a takeover of their club pulled out of the deal. That did not deter, usually conservative, Mike Ashley from bringing two of Bournemouths most prominent stars to the club, and ‘outbidding’ Liverpool for Norwich’s Jamal Lewis. With the forwards at Steve Bruce’s disposal now, his reluctance to pursue a more expansive soccer style is unfathomable. Perhaps the transition will happen as we etch into the crunching season. B

Sheffield United
Dean Henderson’s return to his parent club, Manchester United, left Chris Wilder’s side without a certain first-choice goalkeeper. Once again, one of Bournemouth’s talents was plundered as England-Under 21 stopper Aaron Ramsdale was brought to the club for a fee of around 20 million pounds. David Mcgoldrick only found his shooting boots at the end of the season after an unfruitful campaign for the Nottingham born striker. As such, it was no surprise to see the blades launch a bid for Liverpool academy graduate Rhian Brewster, who had a phenomenal season in the Championship. It was an encouraging transfer window for the Blades, who will be looking to repeat last season’s fairy tale return. B

Southampton
Southampton had a quiet transfer window. They finalized a permanent move for pacy full-back Kyle-Walker Peters from Tottenham before making a move for Mohammed Salisu, who is yet to feature for his side this season. The transfer that made the most headlines was Theo Walcott’s late loan move from Everton after being deemed surplus to requirement. D

Tottenham Hotspur
In their latest Amazon documentary, it was evident that the Tottenham Hostpur players shared a belief in Jose’s ability to lead them to a title. By looking at the value added to the Tottenham side this transfer window, it is evident that this belief transcended just the players–Daniel Levy. Spurs went in the market and grappled Matt Doherty from Wolves–who had a plan of their own. They went further, agreeing to a late controversial deal with Real Madrid for direct and pacy full-back Sergio Reguilon–allowing Real to insert a buy-back clause. Before this, Jose obtained ex-Bayern breakthrough talent and aggressive midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to provide a defensive screen for his backline. The climax of their transfer window, though, was the return of Gareth Bale seven years after his big-money move to Real Madrid. Tottenham will go into the season with a much stronger squad and expect to be fierce competitors for titles. A+

West Brom
After a successful loan spell at the Hawthorns last season, Matheus Pereira had his move made permanent. The guileful playmaker recorded an astonishing eight goals and 16 assists last season, earning his side promotion. In a move that raised many eyebrows, West Brom also signed former Chelsea player Branislav Ivanovic, from Zenit St Petersburg: he turns 37 in February next year. West Brom also had a conservative approach upon returning to the Premier League and will be playing to stay up. D

West Ham United
At the start of last season, many pundits and fans predicted that West Ham would break into the top six. They did the opposite as they were in the relegation battle a handful of games before the 38th game. What went wrong? Simple, their signings did not have the impact expected. Thus, after such a high spending summer last season and a disgraceful position at the end of the season, it was no surprise that they opted to keep their money in their pockets this season. They made Tomas Soucek’s loan a permanent transfer and got the talented Brentford winger Said Benrahma on a loan deal with an agreement to make the deal permanent next season. C

Wolves
Wolves narrowly missed out on European football last season after being edged out by Arsenal, who won the FA cup and knocked out in the Quater Finals of Europa by eventual winners Sevilla. Nevertheless, that wasn’t a deterrent to them keeping hold of their most star players even with strong interest from numerous clubs. In terms of incomings, They obtained four full-backs this transfer window after letting just Matt Doherty go. Wonderkid Fabio Silva also joined for a club-record fee of 35mililion pounds from Porto. Their transfer spendings were offset by the sale of Diego Jota to Liverpool: net expenditure was a meager 1.6 million. Splendid business. B

Featured Image:

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: Players of Chelsea pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League Group E stage match between Chelsea FC and FC Sevilla at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)