ARSENAL
PLAYERS IN: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona, £35m); Danny Welbeck (Manchester United, £16m); Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle, £10m); Calum Chambers (Southampton, £16m); David Ospina (Nice, undisclosed)
PLAYERS OUT: Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona, £15m); Nicklas Bendtner (released); Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea, free); Park Chu-young (released); Bacary Sagna (Manchester City, free); Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad, undisclosed); Ignasi Miquel (£1m); Zak Ansah (Charlton, free); Johan Djourou (Hamburg, undisclosed); Chuks Aneke (released); Daniel Boateng (released); Wellington Silva (Almeria, loan); Thomas Eisfeld (Fulham, undisclosed); Carl Jenkinson (West Ham United, loan); Austin Lipman (Borehamwood, loan); Benik Afobe (MK Dons, loan); Ryo Miyiachi (FC Twente, loan)
NET SPEND: £46m
Arsene Wenger acted with uncharacteristic haste in the early stages of the window and succeeded on a number of fronts: deadwood like Johan Djourou and Nicklas Bendtner were finally cut from the squad; Chambers brought potential and versatility; Debuchy was a like-for-like replacement for Sagna; and Sanchez was the kind of star acquisition who can transform a team. However, the sale of Vermaelen and an injury to Olivier Giroud made the squad look vulnerable again and though Welbeck could be a good signing to strengthen the attack, Wenger perplexingly failed to sign another centre-back, leaving the club short in a key position as they fight on four fronts.
GRADE: B-
- - -
ASTON VILLA
PLAYERS IN: Joe Cole (West Ham, free); Kieran Richardson (Fulham, undisclosed); Philippe Senderos (Valencia, free); Aly Cissokho (Valencia, undisclosed); Carlos Sanchez (Elche, undisclosed)
PLAYERS OUT: Marc Albrighton (Leicester, free); Jordan Bowery (Rotherham United, undisclosed); Nathan Delfouneso (released); Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg, loan); Yacouba Sylla (Kayseri Erciyesspor, loan); Jes Steer (Doncaster Rovers, loan); Antonio Luna (Verona, loan); Samir Carruthers (MK Dons, undisclosed); Daniel Johnson (Chesterfield, loan); Aleksandar Tonev (Celtic, loan); Janoi Danocien (Tranmere Rovers, loan); Gary Gardner (Brighton, loan); Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord, undisclosed)
NET SPEND: £6m
Aston Villa's early manouveres indicated Paul Lambert had stumbled across a collection of scouting reports from 2008 as Cole, Richardson and Senderos failed to garner much excitement, but at least Cissokho and Sanchez, who starred for Colombia at the World Cup finals, are rather more interesting acquisitions. Villa's problem last season was a lack of experience and quality. The first of those shortcomings has been addressed, but the jury remains out on the second.
GRADE: C+
- - -
BURNLEY
PLAYERS IN: Stephen Ward (Wolves, undisclosed); Matt Gilks (Blackpool, free); Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough ); Michael Kightly (Stoke, undisclosed); Steven Reid (West Brom, free); Marvin Sordell (Bolton, undisclosed); Matt Taylor (West Ham, free); Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea, loan); George Boyd (Hull); Michael Keane (Manchester United, loan)
PLAYERS OUT: Chris Baird (West Brom, free); David Edgar (Birmingham City, free); Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth, free); Brian Stock (released); Keith Treacy (released); Joseph Mills (Oldham, free); Nick Liversedge (released); Micah Evans (released); Luke O'Neill (Scunthorpe, loan)
NET SPEND: £8m
The Clarets made a game attempt to bring in Premier League experience and ended up with three new midfielders in Taylor, Reid and Kightly. However, the suspicion remains that they failed to exercise the superior financial muscle granted to them by the huge Premier League TV income to have a real go in the transfer market. They look to be building a side capable of winning promotion again next season. At least Leicester signed Esteban Cambiasso. Still, at least living within your means should be applauded.
GRADE: C
- - -
View gallery
.
CHELSEA
PLAYERS IN: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid, £32m); Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona, £30m); Didier Drogba (Galatasaray, free); Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid, £16m); Mario Pasalic (Hajduk Split, undisclosed)
PLAYERS OUT: David Luiz (PSG, £50m); Romelu Lukaku (Everton, £28m); Fernando Torres (AC Milan, loan); Demba Ba (Besiktas, £4.7m); Ashley Cole (released); Samuel Eto'o (released); Frank Lampard (released); Henrique Hilario (released); Sam Hutchinson (Sheffield Wednesday, free); Christian Atsu (Everton, loan); Ryan Bertrand (Southampton, loan); Thomas Kalas (Cologne, loan); Bertrand Traore (Vitesse Arnhem, loan); Wallace (Vitesse Arnhem, loan); Mario Pasalic (Elche, loan); Lucas Piazon (Frankfurt, loan); Oriol Romeu (Stuttgart, loan); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough, loan); Gael Kakuta (Rayo Vallecano, loan); Josh McEachran (Vitesse Arnhem, loan); Marko Marin (Fiorentina, loan); Milan Lalkovic (released); Daniel Pappoe (released); Thorgan Hazard (Borussia M'gladbach, loan); Patrick van Aanholt (Sunderland, undisclosed); John Swift (Rotherham, loan); Stipe Perica (NAC, loan); Billy Clifford (Walsall, free); Victor Moses (Stoke City, loan); Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough, loan); Marko van Ginkel (AC Milan, loan)
NET SPEND: £7.8m
Not only did Chelsea complete the vast majority of their transfer business at a very impressive pace, they also recruited some superb players while making only a minor loss. The acquisitions of Costa and Fabregas are already paying off handsomely while Luis is also a fine player. Remy adds potency to an attack strengthened by the loss of Torres but Chelsea's finest piece of business has to be somehow convincing Paris Saint-Germain to part with £50m for David Luiz.
GRADE: A+
- - -
CRYSTAL PALACE
PLAYERS IN: James McArthur (Wigan, £7m); Brede Hangeland (Fulham, free); Martin Kelly (Liverpool, undisclosed); Fraizer Campbell (Cardiff, £900,000); Chris Kettings (Blackpool, free); Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United, loan); Zeki Fryers (Crystal Palace, undisclosed), Kevin Doyle (Crystal Palace, loan)
PLAYERS OUT: Jose Campana (Sampdoria, £1.4m); Neil Alexander, Osman Sow (Both Heart of Midlothian, undisclosed); Kagisho Dikgacoi (Cardiff City, undisclosed); Glenn Murray (Reading, loan); Dean Moxey (Bolton Wanderers, undisclosed); Aaron Wilbraham (Bristol City, undisclosed); Jonathan Parr (Ipswich Town, undisclosed); Ross Fitzsimons (Bolton Wanderers, undisclosed); Alex Wynter (Portsmouth, Loan); Kwesi Appiah (Cambridge United, Loan); Jack Hunt (Nottingham Forest, Loan); Stephen Dobbie (Fleetwood Town, Loan); Danny Gabbidon (released); Ibra Sekajja (released); Quade Taylor (released); Derek Tieku (released); Tom King (released); Alistair Gordon (released)
NET SPEND: £8.2m
Palace spent most of the summer contending with managerial chaos and indeed arguments over supposed transfer targets were reported to be behind the exit of Tony Pulis. It was said he did not want to sign Wilfried Zaha on loan, but the capture of the winger looks a canny move and Zaha is the best of an uninspiring bunch of new signings at Selhurst Park - though record signing and deadline day capture McArthur is a decent enough player for the midfield.
GRADE: C-
- - -
View gallery
.
EVERTON
PLAYERS IN: Samuel Eto'o (free transfer); Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, £28m); Gareth Barry (Manchester City, free); Christian Atsu (Chelsea, loan); Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros, £4m); Brendan Galloway (MK Dons, undisclosed)
PLAYERS OUT: Magaye Gueye (released); Apostolos Vellios (released); John Lundstram (Blackpool, loan); Mason Springthorpe (released); Ibou Touray (released); Matthew Kennedy (Hibernian, loan); Shane Duffy (Blackburn, undisclosed)
NET SPEND: £34m
The Toffees used to be a club who operated at the lower end of the market so paying £28m for Lukaku was a bold statement of intent. Sadly, though, it didn't technically improve their team given he played last season on loan at Goodison Park. The capture of Barry, too, sustained the status quo, but Besic looks an interesting capture and Eto'o adds some grandeur to the squad - though quite how effective he will be remains to be seen, even on a two-year contract.
GRADE: B
- - -
HULL CITY
PLAYERS IN: Abel Hernandez (Palermo, £9.5m); Michael Dawson (Tottenham, £3m); Tom Ince (Blackpool, tribunal); Jake Livermore (Tottenham, £8m); Robert Snodgrass (Norwich, £6m); Harry Maguire (Sheffield United, £2.5m); Andrew Robertson (Dundee, £2.85m); Karim Rossi (Stoke City, undisclosed), Mohamed Diame (West Ham, undisclosed); Gaston Ramirez (Southampton, loan); Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle, loan)
PLAYERS OUT: Matty Fryatt (Nottingham Forest, free); Paul McElroy (Sheffield Wednesday, free); Conor Henderson (Crawley Town, free); Cameron Stewart, (Ipswich Town, free); Robert Koren (released); Abdoulaye Faye (released); Matthew Fletcher (released); Conor Townsend (Dundee, loan); Mark Oxley (Hibernian, loan); Nick Proschwitz (Brentford, free); Shane Long (Southampton, £12m); George Boyd (Burnley)
NET SPEND: £18m
Steve Bruce spent big this summer, breaking his transfer record no less than three times with the purchases of Snodgrass, Livermore and then, on deadline day, Uruguay international Abel Hernandez, who went to the World Cup finals. It all added up to an expensive summer but plenty was recouped by the sale of Long, which represented good business. Have Hull spent wisely? Only time will tell, and plenty rests on how Hernandez fits in, but Gaston Ramirez is an interesting punt too and if he can prove his fitness, Hatem Ben Arfa could be an excellent addition to the squad.
GRADE: B+
- - -
LEICESTER CITY
PLAYERS IN: Leonardo Ulloa (Brighton & Hove Albion, £8m rising to £10m); Danny Simpson (QPR, £2m); Matthew Upson (Brighton & Hove Albion, free); Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa, free); Jack Barmby and Louis Rowley (Both Manchester United, free); Ben Hamer (Charlton Athletic, free); Esteban Cambiasso (Inter, free); Nick Powell (Manchester United, loan); Tom Lawrence (Manchester United, undisclosed)
PLAYERS OUT: Lloyd Dyer (Watford, free); George Taft (Burton Albion, free); Zak Whitbread (Derby County, free); Neil Danns (Bolton Wanderers, free); Ben Frempah (Ross County, free); Paul Gallagher (Preston North End, Loan); Conrad Logan (Rochdale, loan); Sean St Ledger (released); Kieran Kennedy (released); Ryan Watson (released); Adam Dawson (released); Jak McCourt (released); Marcel Barrington (released); Jacob Blyth (released); Michael Cain (released); Harry Panayiotou (released); James Pearson (released); Alie Sesay (released); Adam Smith (released)
NET SPEND: £11m
Ulloa scored on his Premier League debut and looks as though he could be a good signing, but the most exciting Argentinian pitching up in Leicester this summer was certainly Cambiasso. His free transfer arrival from Inter was in the best traditions of the Premier League and on a par with some of the most unexpected signings in the vintage summers of 1996 and 1997. Okay, so he might not have that much of an impact, but at least Leicester gave it a go. A late move for Jermain Defoe did not materialise.
GRADE: B
- - -
View gallery
.
LIVERPOOL
PLAYERS IN: Mario Balotelli (AC Milan, £16m); Alberto Moreno (Seville, £12m); Adam Lallana (Southampton, £25m); Dejan Lovren (Southampton, £20m); Lazar Markovic (Benfica, £20m); Divock Origi (Lille, £10m); Emre Can (Bayer Leverkusen, £9.75m); Rickie Lambert (Southampton, £4m); Lawrence Vigouroux, Kevin Stewart (Both Tottenham Hotspur, free); Javier Manquillo (Atlético Madrid, loan)
PLAYERS OUT: Luis Suarez (Barcelona, £75m); Daniel Agger (Brondby, £3m); Sebastian Coates (Sunderland, loan); Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace, £1.5m); Oussama Assaidi (Stoke, loan); Conor Coady (Huddersfield Town, £375,000); Pepe Reina (Bayern Munich, Undisclosed); Villyan Bijev (Slavia Sofia, free); Jakub Sokolik (Yeovil Town, free); Michael Ngoo (Kilmarnock, free); Luis Alberto (Malaga, Loan); Iago Aspas (Seville, Loan); Andre Wisdom (West Bromwich Albion, Loan); Brad Smith (Swindon Town, Loan); Tiago Ilori (Bordeaux, Loan); Joao Carlos Teixeira (Brighton, Loan); Yalany Baio (released); Yusuf Mersin (released); Michael Ngoo (released); Craig Roddan (released); Stephen Sama (released); Jordan Ibe (Derby, loan)
NET SPEND: £30m
A summer which witnessed the sale of Suarez and the signing of Balotelli cannot be described as anything other than eventful, and Brendan Rodgers signed another 10 players for good measure as well. Fears of repeating Tottenham's scatter-gun approach to replacing Gareth Bale are understandable but probably misleading: Liverpool have recruited good players in positions they needed to strengthen and brought in some promising youngsters too. They won't be as good as they were with Suarez, but crucially, with Champions League football to contend with, they have far more strength in depth all over the pitch.
GRADE: B+
- - -
MANCHESTER CITY
PLAYERS IN: Eliaquim Mangala (Porto, £32m); Fernando (Porto, £12m); Willy Caballero (Malaga, £6m); Bacary Sagna (Arsenal, free); Frank Lampard (New York City, loan); Bruno Zuculini (Racing Club, £3m)
PLAYERS OUT: Alvaro Negredo (Valencia, loan); Javi García (Zenit St Petersburg, £12m); Jack Rodwell (Sunderland, £10m); Gareth Barry (Everton, £1m); Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland, free); Joleon Lescott (WBA, free); Micah Richards (Fiorentina, loan); Bruno Zuculini (Valencia, loan); Alex Henshall (Ipswich Town, free); Ellis Plummer (St Mirren, free); Reece Wabara (Doncaster Rovers, free); Marcos Lopes (Lille, loan); Emyr Huws (Wigan Athletic, loan); Greg Leigh (Crewe Alexandra, loan); Jason Denayer (Celtic, loan); Devante Cole (Barnsley, loan); Thomas Agyiri (released); Kieran Kennedy (released); George Swan (released); Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely (released); Emyr Huws (Wigan, undisclosed)
NET SPEND: £32m
Like Chelsea, City benefitted from having a focused and well-executed transfer strategy and, like Chelsea, they did most of their work early on, upping their defensive quota with the additions of centre-back Mangala and defensive midfielder Fernando. Lampard is a signing who will have little to no impact but Sagna and Caballero increase competition for places and City are a more effective proposition as they look to improve on their title-winning campaign. There was no superstar signing this year - despite late talk of a move for Falcao - but City can be pleased with their business nonetheless.
GRADE: A
- - -
View gallery
.
MANCHESTER UNITED
PLAYERS IN: Falcao (Monaco, loan); Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid, £59.7m); Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon, £16m); Luke Shaw (Southampton, £30m rising to £31m); Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao, £28.8m); Daley Blind (Ajax, £14.2m); Vanja Milinkovic (FK Vojvodina, undisclosed)
PLAYERS OUT: Nani (Sporting Lisbon, Loan); Alexander Buttner (Dynamo Moscow, £4.4m rising to £5.6m); Patrice Evra (Juventus, £1.2m rising to £1.5m); Bebe (Benfica, £2.25m); Jack Barmby (Leicester City, free); Feredrico Macheda (Cardiff City, free); Nemanja Vidic (Inter Milan, free); Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace, loan); Louis Rowley (Leicester City, free); Rio Ferdinand (Queens Park Rangers, free); Charni Ekangamene (Zulte Waregem, free); Vanja Milinkovic (FK Vojvodina, Loan); Angelo Henriquez (Dynamo Zagreb, Loan); Sam Byrne (released); Ryan Giggs (released and taken on as assistant manager); Jack Rudge (released); Nick Powell (Leicester City, loan); Michael Keane (Burnley, loan); Tom Lawrence (Leicester City, undisclosed)
NET SPEND: £122m
Where to start? Well, United must be applauded for breaking the British transfer record to sign Di Maria from Real Madrid and he is a necessary addition to the squad, bringing pace and penetration. Falcao - a shock signing on deadline day - is also a fantastic, show-stopping addition, but is he really worth the truly staggering reported £350,000-a-week wages he will receive while at the club? Herrera and Shaw are bursting with promise while Rojo is versatile and Blind should add steel in midfield and cover in defence. United went on the second biggest spending spree of all time - second only to Real Madrid's splurge in 2009. Still, there remain glaring holes in United's squad, particularly if they persist with 3-5-2, as they are still lacking a top-notch right wing-back and possibly two new centre-backs. So not a perfect window by any means.
GRADE: A-
- - -
NEWCASTLE UNITED
PLAYERS IN: Remy Cabella (Montpellier, £12m); Karl Darlow, Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest, £7m combined); Emmanuel Riviere (Monaco, £6.3m); Siem de Jong (Ajax, £6m); Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord, £5m); Ayoze Perez (Tenerife, £1.5m); Jack Colback (Sunderland, free); Facundo Ferreyra (Shakhtar Donetsk, loan)
PLAYERS OUT: Mathieu Debuchy (Arsenal, £12m); Hatem Ben Arfa (Hull, loan); James Tavernier (Wigan Athletic, £900,000); Dan Gosling (AFC Bournemouth, free); Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Roma, loan); Jonathan Mitchell (Derby County, free); Conor Newton (Rotherham United, free); Romain Amalfitano (Dijon, free); Shola Ameobi (Gaziantep, free); Steven Logan (Annan Athletic, free); Adam Campbell (Fleetwood Town, loan); Sylvain Marveaux (Guingcamp, loan); Karl Darlow, Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest, loans); Brandon Miele (released); Jonathan Mitchell (released); Michael Richardson (released)
NET SPEND: £24.9m
It was a remarkably competent summer window at Newcastle - proving what can be done without Joe Kinnear with his hand on the tiller - as the Magpies entered the European market again and made good signings in Cabella, De Jong and Janmaat. Domestically the cheeky free transfer signing of Colback and the additions of Forest duo Lascelles and Darlow also caught the eye. It was an expensive summer's work, but a good one too.
GRADE: B+
- - -
