After more than a billion pounds spent on more than 300 deals, the Premier League transfer window finally came to an exciting end with teams around the league trying as hard as they can to get their top transfer targets to sign for the club. A couple or more clubs have had a transfer window that is close to perfect while a few have had a window that could have gone better. Though every team is now strengthened from before, there are a few teams that have turned into world class and a few which may not be able to compete with the best this season. So let’s take a look at the winners and losers of the transfer window this summer.
Winners
Manchester United
Major ins: Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba
Major outs: Victor Valdes, Nick Powell, Guillermo Varela, Paddy McNair, Donald Love, Adnan Januzaj, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Tyler Blackett, Will Keane
Even though they have spent insane amounts on their transfers, Manchester United have easily had the best transfer window this summer. They got most of their big money deals done quickly and early in the window and though Paul Pogba’s saga was long, it did not end in misery. Jose Mourinho, the new manager, made some astute additions in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly strengthening his squad all over the field and will go into the new season with lots of confidence. Though they are a bit weak at certain places, United are easily the most successful teams in the summer transfer window.
Manchester City
Major ins: Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, Marlos Moreno, John Stones, Claudio Bravo
Major outs: Martin Demichelis, Marlos Moreno, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Joe Hart, Wilfried Bony, Samir Nasri, Eliaquim Mangala, Jason Denayer
Having appointed Pep Guardiola as the manager, Manchester City were always going to go through a huge change in personnel in the transfer window. The Spaniard who took over the Etihad outfit had his own set of players who he wanted at the club and managed to get his hands on most of them. The likes of Nolito, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Claudio Bravo all add different threats to the squad and make Manchester City a team hard to beat. They also got rid of players Guardiola does not want at the club and look a formidable outfit going into the new season. It has been a productive window for the Citizens who will hope to win something this season under the new manager.
Losers
Hull City
Major ins: David Marshall, Ryan Mason, Will Keane, Dieumerci Mbokani, Markus Henriksen
Major outs: Sone Aluko, Ryan Taylor, Mohamed Diame
Though he managed to make 6 signings in the last 36 hours of the transfer window, Mike Phelan, the caretaker in charge of the KC Stadium outfit, had one of the most discouraging windows in the Premier League. Having won 2 of the first three games, Phelan would have expected more support from his owners but he could only get his hands on a handful of players as he managed to improve his squad of just 13 fit players. Make no mistake, they have made some decent signings that can help them stay in the top flight but with the amount of money in the bank, it was hard to understand why the club left it so late to improve on their squad.
Swansea
Major ins: Leroy Fer, Mike van der Hoorn, Fernando Llorente, Borja Baston, Alfie Mawson
Major outs: Eder, Alberto Paloschi, Kyle Bartley, Bafetimbi Gomis, Andre Ayew, Ashley Williams, Franck Tabanou, Marvin Emnes
The Liberty outfit was another club that failed to get any of their top transfer targets to move to the club this summer. The manager failed in luring the likes of Wilfried Bony and Joe Allen when they were up for sale and had to settle with the likes of Fernando Llorente, Borja Baston and Leroy Fer. His team is not stronger than it was previously and if anything, it has lost its balance. The manager failed to replace the most important player in the squad in Ashley Williams, the skipper of the side for the previous season, who left the club for Everton this summer. He is a top quality defender whose loss will be felt and if Francesco Guidolin has problems at the back during the season, he will know that he has done something wrong in the window.
