SO it’s over. For a few weeks anyway.
The biggest, busiest, ballsiest summer transfer window in Prem history. And one that will see the ramifications reverberating for months.
Premier League clubs splashed nearly £3billion on transfers this summer
But now the dust is settled, who were the “winners” and “losers”? Which fans will be smiling, which scowling?
Sun Sport runs the rule over the big – and small – spenders.
Arsenal
Eight first-team squad members in, with no major losses, and that audacious coup to steal Eberechi Eze out of Spurs’ hands as well.
Mikel Arteta has the squad he wanted to finally break through the glass ceiling and lift the Prem crown for the first time since the Invincibles 21 years ago.
But it means real pressure on the Spaniard to deliver, too.
Sun Sport rating: 9
GettyEberechi Eze will add creativity to Arsenal’s side[/caption]
Aston Villa
Villa Park chiefs claimed the late landings of Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott were “good business rather than late business”, but that’s not how it looked from the outside.
Keeping Emi Martinez is a plus if the Argentine’s head is in the right place but selling Jacob Ramsey was further proof that Villa are struggling with Uefa and not PSR financial handcuffs.
Sun Sport rating: 4
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola’s promise that a summer exodus which saw him lose Dean Huljsen, Milos Kerkez, Ilya Zabarnyi and Dango Ouattara would not be damaging appears to have been kept by the Cherries’ start to the new campaign.
Much will rest on Bournemouth picking up fewer injuries and the new recruits bolstering Antoine Semenya and Evanilson’s goal threat.
You do wonder how long they can keep spinning plates, though.
Sun Sport rating: 5
GettyAndoni Iraola lost the majority of his back line this summer[/caption]
Brentford
A tough baptism for Keith Andrews who was powerless to stop Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Norgaard and now Yoane Wisse from following Thomas Frank out of the club.
Brentford are another “moneyball” team but the statisticians have to get it right when you are operating on a modest budget.
Mistakes are all the more costly but Caoimhin Kelleher, Ouattara and Jordan Henderson look decent captures.
Sun Sport rating: 5
Brighton
Another summer of change started in June with the loss of Joao Pedro to Chelsea and a net spend profit of £64m would have been even more if they had not resisted Manchester United’s move for Carlos Baleba.
The Seagulls have been brilliant at milking the money market over recent seasons – mainly helped by Chelsea – but some Amex fans were concerned at the exits before that welcome win over Manchester City.
Sun Sport rating: 4
Burnley
Scott Parker might have been tempted to stick with the squad he brought back to the Prem.
Instead only five of the side that started the last-gasp defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday were at the club last term.
Parker has opted to bring in Prem experience in the form of Martin Dubravka, Kyle Walker and others but it’s still hard to see where the goals they need will come from.
Sun Sport rating: 3
Chelsea
Plenty doubted the new Chelsea financial model under Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, but nobody can question the money men now – especially with two trophies and Champions League football.
Only Liverpool spent more than Chelsea’s £263m outlay, which saw a potential generational talent in Estevao Willian join alongside Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho, while the Blues banked more than anybody.
Sun Sport rating: 9
Youngster Estevao looks like he could be a generational talentGetty
Crystal Palace
Losing your best player is never easy, but Oliver Glasner stamped his feet to ensure Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta stayed when Eze departed.
Glasner remains unhappy with his side’s lack of business ahead of their first European campaign and injuries might leave them looking threadbare.
Sun Sport rating: 4
Everton
New stadium, new ambition. And after Jack Grealish’s first few games in blue, new hope too.
David Moyes might not have been totally convinced about Grealish but he is a convert now although the squad does still look more than a little thin after a flood of summer leavers.
Big question is whether Moyes’ men have enough firepower to get into the top half.
Sun Sport rating: 6
GettyJack Grealish has looked like his old self in an Everton shirt[/caption]
Fulham
Two late swoops for wingers and a last-gasp change of heart over Harry Wilson – leaving Tyrique George on the other side of the borough at Chelsea – suggest uncertainty at the Craven Cottage helm.
Fulham spent less than £35m, all but £500,000 of that on Donetsk wideman Kevin, although Marco Silva did not lose anybody important.
Still feels like a missed opportunity.
Sun Sport rating: 2
Leeds
No shortage of ambition at Elland Road under their new American owners, with Daniel Farke belatedly backed to continue after achieving promotion.
Farke will hope that Dominic Calvert-Lewin can bring goals after arriving for free from Everton while Sean Longstaff offers proven midfield grit.
Survival will be all about their home form.
Sun Sport rating: 3
Liverpool
Plenty of Kopites were doing victory laps before Alexander Isak’s record-busting arrival, and while the champions missed out on Marc Guehi at the final hurdle, they have strengthened massively from a position of authority.
This is now Arne Slot’s side rather than a continuation of the Jurgen Klopp era, although the Anfield boss will hope to see more of what he expected from Florian Wirtz than he has so far.
The additions of Isak, Wirtz and Hugo Etitike are a statement of intent to dominate.
Sun Sport rating: 10
PALiverpool finally got their £130m deal to sign Alexander Isak over the line[/caption]
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola did the bulk of his summer spending before the Club World Cup – although then getting in TWO goalkeepers suggests a lack of conviction.
So far the new boys have struggled, while Guardiola has now lost five of the players who started the Champions League Final in 2023, including Kevin de Bruyne.
Plenty spent but City are desperate to get Rodri back firing and need Gianluigi Donnarumma to settle quicker than Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan Cherki.
Sun Sport rating: 5
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim got what he wanted in and most of those he wanted out, with Tyrell Malacia the only member of the Bomb Squad remaining.
Yet United look no closer to being the finished article.
Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo should guarantee more goals but Amorim’s tactical set-up makes them look so vulnerable without the ball.
Bringing in Belgian keeper Senne Lammens at the last moment was another indication that all is not great.
Sun Sport rating: 7
GettyBenjamin Sesko could be the striker Man Utd fans have been calling out for[/caption]
Newcastle
The Isak shadow has been lifted and £130m is not to be sniffed at but Toon fans have not enjoyed the past few weeks on or off the pitch.
Eddie Howe needs Yoane Wissa and German striker Nick Woltemarde to score from the start to prevent wistful Isak memories choking his side.
Upstairs, Newcastle have looked like a club without direction.
Sun Sport rating: 5
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo’s public spat with owner Evangelos Marinakis can only have one winner – and he is Greek, not Portuguese.
Forest’s big win was keeping Morgan Gibbs-White but Anthony Elanga was a key loss.
City Ground fans expect a lot from Douglas Luiz at a club that feels like a revolving door.
Sun Sport rating: 4
Sunderland
The Black Cats are proof of the value of parachute payments in encouraging promoted sides to give it a go and they have spent more than Manchester City, Spurs and Everton, among others.
If it works, Regis Le Bris will deserve the freedom of Wearside – and he’ll get it, too.
It’s a brave approach and plenty will want them to stay up as a reward.
Sun Sport rating: 8
Tottenham
A window that could have been an embarrassing debacle after the failed pursuits of Gibbs-White and Eze ended with a few moans about the lack of a left winger and extra centre-back but plenty of excitement too.
Mohammed Kudus has already impressed while there is huge excitement over what Xavi Simons will bring as a game-breaker.
There’s hope that Randal Kolo Muani can show PSG and Juve they were wrong, too.
But Thomas Frank would have preferred to clear a few more out, including Yves Bissouma.
Sun Sport rating: 7
GettyXavi Simons is an exciting addition to the Tottenham squad[/caption]
West Ham
Losing Kudus to Spurs was a hammer blow for the Hammers, but Graham Potter resisted Villa’s late move for Lucas Paqueta and pulled a few Irons out of the fire in the last few days of the window.
Senegalese left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf could be their best signing for a while and Brazilian centre-back Igor Julian might bring some solidity to a porous rearguard.
Potter knows he is under pressure.
Sun Sport rating: 5
Wolves
Pint-loving Victor Pereira probably needed a still drink after the Manchester duo came in to lift Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha out of Molineux, and had he lost Jorgen Strand Larsen to Newcastle as well, a cloud of gloom would have descended.
It still looks that Wolves are weaker than they were last season. You don’t get a great deal for £100m these days, not in the current market.
It could prove a long, hard season.
Sun Sport rating: 3
