The Winners & Losers of the Summer Transfer Window3 min read

Friday night will mark the start of a new Premier League season with Manchester United facing Leicester City at Old Trafford.

After another surprising World Cup year, the top six are looking to challenge for the title while Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City look to defend it.

The Window

With the Summer transfer window closing on Thursday, many teams have impressed on the market while others look in serious trouble.

With the money flowing heavily in the Premier League, newly promoted sides have impressed with the players they’ve bought.

Winners

Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers have indeed had a successful window ahead of the new season.

The newly promoted South West London side have managed to get potentially great players for an affordable fee.

With the acquisition of Jean-Michael Seri, Andre Schurrle and Maxime Le Marchand, Fulham look to challenge for a Europe League spot which would be a great comeback for them in Premier League Football.

Ryan Sessegnon has been their star player in the Championship with 15 goals to his name last year.

Wolves on the other hand, have splashed out on a whole array of Portuguese players following their success in the Championship with the likes of Ruben Neves in the team.

Joao Moutinho and Rui Patricio are the latest Portuguese faces to come to the Molineux as they look to challenge for a similar spot to Fulham. Benik Afobe and Adama Traore have also recently transferred to the West Midlands side.

From last season’s disappointment West Ham United look to have a redux after Slaven Bilic and David Moyes failed to bring the Hammers back to mid-table.

With League-winning manager Manuel Pellegrini on their side, the Stratford-based club have splashed out on players for key positions.

The squad looks a little more solidified with Felipe Anderson, Jack Wilshere, Andriy Yarmolenko, Issa Diop and Lukasz Fabianski in their team. Anderson and Yarmolenko have bolstered the Hammers’ attack.

Liverpool look to be the definite winners of the transfer window after a solid campaign in Europe last season.

Mohammed Salah broke the record for top scorer in the league but Liverpool still had problems in defence, specifically in goal with Loris Karius.

Again, the Reds have splash out in positions key for their success and in the process have broken the transfer record on a keeper with Alisson Becker coming to Merseyside for £67m.

The purchase of Fabinho and Naby Keita has brought more defensive solidity in the midfield while Xherdan Shaqiri fills in the boots of an injured Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. The Swiss man has impressed at the World Cup and for Liverpool in pre-season.

Losers

Without a doubt, two of the biggest losers in the Summer transfers are Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Spurs are yet to make a single signing before the new season and with deadline day round the corner, it looks highly unlikely. Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish looks like a potential target for the Lilywhites but many are unsure if he is the quality of player the North London side needs.

Manchester United started out with a good window buying Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk but really need to invest in a better defence. New fullbacks are required and one more centre back to strengthen the wall with Eric Bailly.

Spurs’ Toby Alderweireld has been heavily linked to a move to Old Trafford but the Red Devils need to be quick in the purchase.

Overall Liverpool and Manchester City looked the most prepared for the new season. However, the Premier League can be full of surprises.

 

Photo by Jaleel Akbash on Unsplash