After one of the most dramatic and fast-moving Deadline Days in recent memory, the transfer window has finally slammed shut until January.
It has been an incredible summer of deals with an eye-watering £3.2bn splurged by Premier League clubs.
The highest-profile deal was undoubtedly Manchester City matching the British record transfer fee of £125million to finally take Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium.
But there have been shrewd deals made across the league, some of which are already to prove bargain buys. Look no further than Brentford’s Mamadou Sangare, who already looks a steal at £40m.
Now Daily Mail Sport experts have had their say on who they think has completed the best business – and who have been left looking a little short.
Winners of the window
Ian Ladyman – Brentford
The Bees have not lost a really big name this summer (why has a big club not come in for striker Igor Thiago?) and have added a midfielder that everyone in the game is talking about. Mamadou Sangare looks one of the signings of the year already.
Mamadou Sangare has already caught the eye for Brentford
Craig Hope – Chelsea
From chaos has come cohesion, and I would include the recruitment of manager Xabi Alonso in that. Enzo is a very good player, but the fee they have recouped is remarkable. Martinez should address their longstanding goalkeeping issue, whilst Henderson and Welbeck are smart additions. Rogers can be the stardust, especially if forming a quick relationship with Palmer. They have a squad and a manager now who should finish top three this season, as a minimum.
Matt Barlow – Chelsea
I rather like Chelsea’s business this summer although I really dislike any phraseology about winning the transfer window. There’s some good sense behind it, presumably coming from manager Alonso. A goalkeeper with personality, and a spine of experience through the centre from Lacroix to Henderson to Welbeck. Rogers is an exciting signing and they’ve brought a load of money in.
Emi Martinez was a shrewd pick-up for Chelsea, who urgently needed to upgrade their goalkeeper
Tom Collomosse – Chelsea
Signed two of Aston Villa’s best players, made astute buys in Welbeck and Henderson and a possible breakout talent in Marco Palestra. Kept Joao Pedro too and sold Enzo Fernandez, who is an outstanding midfielder but perhaps not always the easiest character to manage
Kieran Gill – Chelsea
Promised their fans they’d tweak their Youth Club obsession. They did. Signed ready-made players, sold someone who no longer wanted to be at the club for a British record-equalling fee. The best sellers finally corrected their buying.
Isaan Khan – Manchester City
The club have brought in Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson, which has massively bolstered their midfield after the departure of Rodri. In terms of sales, they have got good fees for Savinho, Omar Marmoush, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez and James Trafford. That is solid work indeed.
Manchester City confirmed the signing of Enzo Fernandez on Deadline Day
Nathan Salt – Man City
I could have picked Chelsea here but City are in a really delicate moment post Pep Guardiola – we saw how badly Man United managed the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era – and needed a big summer. They already have the best striker in the league, and have one of the world’s best shot-stoppers in goal, and have rebuilt their midfield with three exceptional talents in Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi. Unlike their neighbours, they knew what they needed and went out and got it. Ruthless levels of execution that puts them firmly in the title hunt.
Bobby Manzi – Arsenal
Have consolidated from their title-winning season. Could have added another winger but they are stronger regardless and well-placed to go back-to-back.
Losers of the window
Ian Ladyman – Aston Villa
Six starting members of their Europa League winning team have gone, including goalkeeper, centre half and striker. That has to take its toll.
Craig Hope – Manchester United
At risk of sounding like Gary Neville, this is Manchester United – and they have not acted like that this summer. From a position of strength, back in the Champions League, they have not capitalised. Fast forward 12 months and the midfield conundrum we have spoken so much about will still be a topic of debate. Tielemans and Santos (1 Premier League goal between them last season) are not the answer. They have let down head coach Carrick.
Matt Barlow – Coventry
I’m not sure Coventry have strengthened the team enough to survive.
Frank Lampard’s Coventry have started the season with back-to-back defeats
Tom Collomosse – Manchester United
Strange business. Andrey Santos for £50m – really? There is little to suggest they will be anything different from last season, heavily reliant on Bruno Fernandes to get them out of trouble.
Kieran Gill – Liverpool
They got Bradley Barcola done in the end, but otherwise, a deflating outcome of a summer as they were left scrambling on deadline day to fill gaps which still exist. Follows their huge spendage last year on players who haven’t yet lived up to the hype.
Isaan Khan – Crystal Palace
They’ve lost so many important players, including Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix, with key forwards Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta also candidates to go before the deadline. After losing Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi last season, this could well be a tough season for Palace.
Daniel Munoz’s departure from Crystal Palace to join Nottingham Forest will be sorely felt at Selhurst Park
Nathan Salt – Liverpool
I almost picked Manchester United given their obtuse handling of the left back situation. But Liverpool have left themselves woefully short in central midfield and don’t look balanced at full-back. Andoni Iraola is a top coach and Bradley Barcola is an excellent acquisition. But they are asking Iraola to build a house and only giving him half the tools required to do so.
Bobby Manzi – Fulham
Plenty of potential there but do they have the experience to make a good fist at the league? It’s not a total write-off but there is lots of risk and little certainty.
