A quick look at the top 6 transfer window state of play.
Arsenal -69m
Vieira / Jesus / Turner / Marquinhos
They have replaced Lacazette with someone equally as clinical and brought in a promising young talent from Portugal plus two squad fillers. It's a big spend for the players they have brought in but if Jesus can perform miracles....
Also for reasons totally unknown to anybody* they are now looking for a defensive midfielder, linked with Kante who they would do well to avoid as he's been a shadow of the player he was for a while. Steady unspectacular window so far.
Chelsea 0m
On the verge of signing Sterling which will be a smart piece of business. They have lost lots of value and some quality on frees and loan. Chelsea need a lot of work, defence, midfield and forwards. So once Boehly gets his finger out expect a lot of activity.
Ake potentially on route as well.
Liverpool -14m
Nunez / Ramsay / Carvalho
They have brought in a promising young number 9 in Darwin Nunez but also they have lost the quality and experience of Mane. Two very promising young squad players added as well for minimal fees.
Will they try and replace Mane with a like for like? It feels like they could do more but not immediately obvious where. Quality in midfield maybe...
Manchester City -9m
Haaland / Phillips / Ortega
About to move into profit making territory with the sale of Sterling and Ake. They are moving on players and extracting impressive value this summer while bringing in the most exciting striker available so it's been good so far.
Kalvin Phillips will add some industry, he's not at the level of peak Fernandinho but he will be a decent unspectacular addition. It feels they are going for a refresh this summer so expect replacements for Sterling and Ake to follow.
Manchester United -12m
Malacia
Signed a promising left back to bring the number of LBs to 4. Slow in moving players on and glacial in bringing them in. At some point the ball will get rolling and we should see 4/5 significant signings in but seems like they delay could cost them at the start of the season. Chelsea at least have an excuse.
IF they get the players seem to be in for Eriksen, Martinez and De Jong. It should provide genuine improvement in midfield especially. Antony is being priced out i believe. The Ronaldo saga will run and run but expect him to leave eventually so they will need to find a striker or go back to using Rashford/Martial. Their budget will be tight as lots needing done so a few more smart signings in the Malacia mould would be ideal.
Tottenham Hotspur -42m
Forster / Perisic / Lenglet / Bissouma / Richarlison
On the front foot, identified players and got the deals done and on paper seem to have genuinely improved the squad in multiple areas. Moved on Bergwijn for decent money and a few more may follow, they will likely have to take a huge hit on Ndomlazy. On the other hand they don't look like they are finished and are giving Conte what he wants.
They look to be having the best window, if they can get in a RWB and another top CB and with Conte in charge i would be fancying them to be best of the rest. Potentially troubling the big 2?
Arsenal continue to be the biggest spenders and their squad is taking shape but still lightweight up top and in central midfield* which has to be a concern. Chelsea about to start making moves. Liverpool sticking to their way of doing things, spend big for the right players and hoover up the top youth talent. City going for a refresh and so far doing it impressively. United not much further forward but surely this week will see them get into gear. Spurs really backing Conte, moving early and breaking the habits of a lifetime.
How would you rate them so far? I'm going
1 - Spurs
2 - City
3 - Liverpool
4 - Arsenal
5 - United
6 - Chelsea
Top 6 - Transfer Window so far.
posted on 11/7/22
Liverpool won more trophies last season than Spurs have won in the previous 20.
posted on 11/7/22
Think so far City have done the best, followed by Liverpool, then Spurs, Arsenal, Utd/Chelsea
I think Spurs' could end up having a good window, but I think with how important the FBs are for them if Perisic and Spence flop (and neither are certain to do well) then they could struggle. Richarlison is a good signing if a little expensive and Bissouma is a great deal.
posted on 11/7/22
As it stands:
1 - City
2 - Spurs
3 - Arsenal
4 - Liverpool
5 - Chelsea
6 - United
I can't see anyone having a better window than City unless something amazing happens.
posted on 11/7/22
I like Romero and feel Conte gets the best out of him but I personally wouldn't have him in our side. He defends very much on the front foot and I am unsure how quick he is in the turn so I'm not sure he would suit our high line.
It's exceptionally tough to be a centre back in our system as they are regularly left one on one with attackers.
posted on 11/7/22
In terms of window it's a bit subjective.
I think Spurs have strengthened their squad but not really their first team.
Jury is out on Nunez but it would be no surprise to see him rip it up.
City are losing some guaranteed goals but have signed Haaland, but they'll do well to get 25 league games out of him. I like the look of Alvarez from the little I have seen, but if Haaland does get injured (and he does) it's a massive ask of the kid.
Philips, talent wise, I am not a huge fan of but he'll work incredibly hard and tactically will follow instructions to the letter. Thing is Fernandinho was required to fill in at both cb and rb, can't see Philips doing that. Even Ake got games, maybe they will bring some more in though.
Arsenal much like Spurs although I rate Jesus higher than most it seems.
Utd are just a banter club these days. Not even sure they'll be in the conversation this time next year.
posted on 11/7/22
Pretty sure I'm setting myself up to receive some stick here, but Saliba coming back for us could also be pretty huge. Legit like a new signing
posted on 11/7/22
He's certainly highly rated tbf
posted on 11/7/22
Yep and at the very least he should be able to come in at CB and keep the standard the same when he comes in, unlike when we had to rely on Holding vs Spurs.
Hopefully he does better than that and makes himself a starter and raises the level of the team, but we'll see.
posted on 11/7/22
comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 3 hours, 50 minutes ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 8 minutes ago
linked with Kante who they would do well to avoid as he's been a shadow of the player he was for a while.
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Tuchel himself highlighted his poor form last season.
He also missed 16 matches last season, 7 the previous season, 27 the season before and is currently injured.
Would be gross stupidity for Arsenal to give Chelsea money for him. People are still rating him off what he was not what he is.
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He had a few off games and then was really good again. Injuries have been the main issue but he’d still be your best midfielder
posted on 11/7/22
Not too happy about Sterling leaving. I would have liked to have seen him out on the right this coming season providing chances for Haaland.
Also the rumours persist regarding Silva, hope he doesn’t leave and some comments have come out today/yesterday saying he hasn’t asked to leave at all. Hope that is the case.
Fernandinho has now left. He is no longer the player that he was and it is the right time for him to move on.
Ake - he was so reliable when he played, and his potential departure leaves us weaker at CB.
Jesus - again a reliable player who is underrated and has good stats when he plays.
City have lost quite a bit of goals/assists in the players that have left/look like leaving.
Incomings though are exciting. Haaland - yes people will point to his injury record, which actually isn’t that bad - niggling injuries which have by and large kept him out for only a few games at a time. But he is a tremendous signing for us.
Alvarez I am excited about. This guy could be a gem of a player for us.
Philips is a good signing as back up to Rodri. He’s not an upgrade on prime Fernandinho, but he is an upgrade on Fernandinho as Fernandinho is now.
Orteta - I don’t know much about, but I’m glad the club made moves in the goalkeeper department, as Stefan has showed too many times not to be a reliable understudy to Ederson.
As for the other teams, Spurs have strengthened their squad and given them quality options. Liverpool have lost Mane, but I don’t think they will miss him too much - Diaz has adapted tremendously well, and while I don’t know too much about Nunez, given Liverpool’s track record in first team signings, he could well prove to be an exciting addition.
United are having a laugh, surely.