I composed an article a few weeks ago regarding which Premier League top six club was having the best transfer window.
The window ended on 9th August 2018, so there can be no other incomings or outgoings for any PL club. Players may leave for other countries, but cannot transfer between English teams. This marks a change from recent years, in which the window concluded after the season had started.
Karius’s errors cost Liverpool in the Champions League Final, and signing Alisson was a key measure in rectifying this. Moreover, Keita and Fabinho will add more pace, steel, and creativity in the midfield, and possessing this is key for any top team in the modern era. They also still have Salah, Firmino, and Mane, and Alexander-Arnold impressed a lot in the World Cup. Holistically, the team looks strong, and they have added very well to their existing line-up.
The notion of “winning” a transfer window is silly, since it’s not a trophy. But it’s prime to see who will or won’t prosper in the coming season.
Given how competitive the top six is, and the evident Champions League placements on offer, there is a lot of incentive to get the right players in. These clubs will be competing often for the same players, so it’s key to get them in, and embed them as best as possible.
Will Liverpool have definitively “won” the transfer window? Let’s see, shall we?
Tottenham Hotspur (6th)
RATING – 2/10
Despite the stadium debt, and a relatively settled side, Spurs fans and possibly Pochettino himself would be upset at not getting anybody.
What Tottenham need, possibly, is a real top-level signing. Somebody of genuine world-class stature, who can propel them from top four to league champions.
But this costs money, and that’s something Spurs don’t have at a premium, given current circumstances.
And their neighbours and “friends” Arsenal – whilst not strapped for cash in a major way – have bought reasonably, and not really big name players either.
United have signed Dalot, and Everton have signed several players who are not top-level, but affordable.
Tottenham, even with the stadium project, should have a ring-fenced transfer budget, and not to exercise this at all is negligent. Daniel Levy is pound for pound the best CEO/MD of any PL club. Considering Spurs’ position when he and ENIC head Joe Lewis took over in 2001, vis a vis today, his input has been stark.
Nonetheless, Tottenham have a good team with some genuine world-class talent (namely Kane and Lloris), and numerous good players (Alli, Eriksen, Son, Dembele, etc.) A top-four place is not beyond them, but it’s telling that they are not progressing. The stadium alone shouldn’t hamper them.
Manchester United (5th)
RATING – 5/10
Mourinho has been very jittery in pre-season, and in some cases rightly so.
Even Alexis Sanchez, who joined them from Arsenal in Jan 2018, has been vocal in them getting top quality players.
A top-four place looks solid, but more is needed to catch City.
Manchester City (4th)
RATING – 5/10
Riyad Mahrez is a top player, no doubt.
But to be fair City didn’t need to do much. Largely since:
- Tactically they are the strongest
- They have the best first XI
- Pep is arguably the best manager in the world right now
- They won the league in record fashion – literally
Complacency is seldom good. But then strengthening must occur practically and strategically. And with a balanced and winning team, it’s often dangerous to change things to a high extent.
It may not be an outstanding window for them, but players should always be bought strategically, and not ad hoc to satisfy fans or the media.
Chelsea (3rd)
These are three world class players, who had they left would have caused a major crisis. Kante is a recent World Cup winner, and retaining him was essential, given the importance midfield control has in contemporary football.
- Replacing Courtois
Courtois departed for Real Madrid, whilst they have got Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao in kind. This denotes a world record transfer fee for a keeper, though it remains to be seen how well he can do in a new league and country.
- Jorginho
The only negative is not improving their attack, with Morata not performing at all for them. This may be a hindrance to them getting top four, or challenging for the league.
Arsenal (2nd)
RATING: 7/10
Arsenal’s signings haven’t been big world-class names per se.
But unlike prior windows; there are some positives:
- Areas addressed
Lichtsteiner (right-back), Sokratis (centre-half), Torreira and Guendouzi (central midfield), and Leno (GK), have all been areas that the club needed to strengthen.
- Rapidity
Most of the transfers were done early, and there was no last minute rush as per recent seasons.
With a new tactical approach, and existent talent like Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ozil, etc. could top four be back on? Who knows? It’s clear that under Emery, Arsenal will hold a new look and new shape, given the apparent tactical and organisational issues at the club recently.
Liverpool (1st)
RATING: 9.5/10
Liverpool, by far, “win” the transfer window.
They made the highest profile and most astute signings, and surely are now best placed to rival City for the league.
So can Liverpool win the league? It remains to be seen, of course. But they are primed in a way to achieve this, arguably in the best means in PL history. They came close in the 1990s under Roy Evans, and flirted with it somewhat under Houllier and Benitez. And of course, a “slip” up cost them in 13/14. But this season it looks like Klopp is amassing a top squad, and it could be a decent year for them overall. His signings necessitate not just a PL challenge, but a trophy of some sort, whether the League Cup, FA Cup, or even Champions League.