SLAM. That’s the sound of the summer transfer window slamming shut. A grand total of £857.7 MILLION was spent by the 20 Premier League clubs with a net spending of £391.7. Woof. Did your team get better? Let’s give all 20 teams a grade breakdown.
Arsenal: B
Spent: 78.2
Received: 31.8 (thanks La Liga teams!)
Net: 46.4
Notable Ins: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona), Calum Chambers (Southampton), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), David Ospina (Nice), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)
Notable Outs: Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea City), Nicklas Bendtner (Wolfsburg), Nicklas Bendtner’s genitals (also Wolfsburg, look out cabbies!)
Remember, this is judging the ENTIRE window and not the way it ended. The Gunners addressed the need for a speedy striker with Sanchez and replaced Sagna well enough with Debuchy. Chambers has already looked like a great buy also with his ability to play three different positions. Arsenal still have major issues in centerback depth and went dumpster diving for Danny Welbeck after finally realizing that Yaya Sanogo is far from the answer. Great start, spotty finish.
Aston Villa: D-
Spent: 6.9
Received: 1.0
Net: 5.9
Notable Ins: Phillipe Senderos (Valencia), Joe Cole (West Ham), Aly Cissoko (Valencia), Kieran Richardson (Fulham), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United)
Notable Outs: Marc Albrighton (Leicester City), Antonio Luna (Verona)
Is that the most depressing list of ins you’ve ever seen? The Motorola Razr was out of style when Senderos was last quality and the same can basically be said for Joe Cole. The Villains are going to have to stay afloat with what they already had, which isn’t worth writing home about. Remember when Tom Cleverley was highly rated?
Burnley: C-
Spent: 8.0
Received: NADA
Net: NADA + 8.0
Notable Ins: Michael Kightly (Stoke City), Steven Reid (West Brom), Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough), George Boyd (Hull City)
Notable Outs: Chris Baird (West Brom)
It’s tough to completely bash Burnley for not opening their wallets because they are mainly filled with lint. They did the best with what they have financially but it might not be enough to see another season of Premier League football.
Chelsea: A+
Spent: 87.7
Received: 88.5
Net: -0.8 (not a typo)
Notable Ins: Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Felipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Loic Remy (QPR), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray)
Notable Outs: How much time you got? Ashley Cole (Roma), Frank Lampard (NYCFC), David Luiz (PSG), Demba Ba (Besiktas), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Fernando Torres (AC Milan), Marco Van Ginkel (AC Milan), Victor Moses (Stoke City), Christian Atsu (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Marko Marin (Fiorentina)…phew
What a summer at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea brought in the striker they needed in Costa, the attacking mid they needed in Fabregas and good squad depth with the rest of their purchases. Plus they sold David Luiz for £50 MILLION. Thanks for keeping Chelsea away from FFP problems PSG. Thanks a lot.
Crystal Palace: C-
Spent: 12.4
Received: 1.0
Net: 11.4
Notable Ins: Frazier Campbell (Cardiff City), Brede Hangeland (Fulham), Martin Kelly (Liverpool), Zeki Fryers (Tottenham), Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United)
Notable Outs: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Cardiff City); Daniel Gabbidon; Dean Moxey
Tony Pulis would give Palace an F for their window and a G if he could. Getting Zaha back on loan helps tremendously and Fryers is a decent addition despite his inexperience. The late dash to the counter saves Palace from a grade similar to Aston Villa.
Everton: A
Spent: 32.8
Received: NADA
NET: 32.8 + NADA
Notable Ins: Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Gareth Barry (Manchester City); Muhamed Besic (Ferencvaros), Christian Atsu (Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea)
Notable Outs: Nope!
The Toffees brought back old friends on permanent deals in Lukaku and Barry and added some additional talent from Chelsea’s “expendables” in Atsu and Eto’o. It hasn’t been the best start for Besic but he should turn into a smart buy. Roberto Martinez is pushing all the right buttons at Goodison Park and has put together a squad that can rival for a Champions League spot for years to come.
Hull City: A+
Spent: 39.4
Received: 15.0
Net: 24.4
Notable Ins: Jake Livermore (Tottenham), Gaston Ramirez (Southampton), Abel Hernandez (Palermo), Tom Ince (Blackpool), Robert Snodgrass (Norwich City), Mohamed Diame (West Ham), Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Michael Dawson (Tottenham)
Notable Outs: Shane Long (Southampton, FOR £12 MILLION), Robert Koren
Take a bow Steve Bruce, take a bow. Not only did you bring in quality talent in the midfield, but you brought in quantity. If only you had done so before the embarrassing Europa League exit. Selling Shane Long for £12 million bumps them from an A to an A+. It’s worth remembering though that Norwich City had a helluva summer window last season. Look how that turned out.
Leicester City: C
Spent: 11.0
Received: 1.0
Net: 10.0
Notable Ins: Matthew Upson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Leonardo Ulloa (Brighton), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa), Nick Powell (Manchester United)
Notable Outs: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ulloa has already proven to be a good buy with two goals in three games and getting a name like Esteban Cambiasso regardless of his current quality is a coup. Upson has Premier League experience and should be serviceable once he returns from injury.
Liverpool: B-
Spent: 116.8
Received: 81.1
Net: 35.7
Notable Ins: This will just be easier. Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren (all Southampton), Emre Can (Bayer Leverkusen), Alberto Moreno (Sevilla), Lazar Markovic (Benfica), Mario Balotelli (AC Milan), Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid)
Notable Outs: Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Daniel Agger (Brondby)
Let’s clarify this B-. Liverpool did a remarkable job replacing Luis Suarez. They are a far deeper squad than they were at this time last year and the scoring options are vastly superior. But they sold Luis Suarez. You can’t sell the league’s best player and leading goalscorer and receive a top grade. Also don’t underestimate the loss of Agger. C&C (and most Liverpool faithful) hold the centerback in high regards.
Manchester City: B
Spent: 54.5
Received: 22.5
Net: 32.0
Notable Ins: Eliaquim Mangala (Porto), Fernando (Porto), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Willy Caballero (Malaga)
Notable Outs: Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland), Gareth Barry (Everton), Jack Rodwell (Sunderland), Alvaro Negredo (Valencia), Micah Richards (Fiorentina), Joleon Lescott (West Brom)
Not your usual summer for Citeh thanks to FFP. They spent some dough but not an exorbitant amount like we’ve become accustomed to. Mangala is a strong center half to pair with Kompany while Fernando could prove to be a better option with a less letters in the midfield than Fernandinho. This summer was about providing defensive depth for the champions. Job done.
Manchester United: B+
Spent: 153.1 (yes, you read correctly)
Received: 31.2
Net: 122.0
Notable Ins: Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Radamel Falcao (Monaco), Daley Blind (Ajax), Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Notable Outs: Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Nemanja Vidic (Inter), Nani (Sporting Lisbon), Javier Hernandez (Real Madrid)
Gadzooks did the Glazers open up their checkbook. They are a better team yes. But for the money they spent, they should be WAY better. Di Maria and Herrera fill the attacking void in the midfield but was Falcao really needed? Makes you wonder if van Persie really isn’t 100% and van Gaal knows it. Also, how do you spend over £150 million and still have such putrid centerbacks? They spent upwards of £60 million on three players that play left back and not a dime on a true centerback. Open wide for more Jonny Evans!
Newcastle United: B+
Spent: 37.8
Received: 12.9
Net: 24.9
Notable Ins: Remy Cabella (Montpellier), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Emmanuel Riviere (Monaco), Siem de Jong (Ajax), Facundo Ferrerya (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ayoze Perez (Tenerife)
Notable Outs: Hatem Ben Arfa (Hull City), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Roma), Mathieu Debuchy (Arsenal)
Mike Ashley spent money! Alan Pardew spent smartly! Sorry for the excitement these two things don’t happen all too often. Remy Cabella might be the most underrated signing of the entire window and will fill the void left by Yohan Cabaye in January. Early reviews have been sour on this side but give the Magpies some time to gel.
Queens Park Rangers: B-
Spent: 36.5
Received: 15.5
Net: 21.0
Notable Ins: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Steven Caulker (Cardiff City), Jordon Mutch (Cardiff City), Mauricio Isla (Juventus), Niko Kranjcar (Dynamo Kiev)
Notable Outs: Loic Remy (Chelsea), Julio Cesar (Benfica)
QPR has the cash to flash and did a solid job of doing it. Caulker is a strong defender and Isla is an international quality winger. Have to laugh at the fact that Harry Redknapp brought back Niko Kranjcar for another go around. When will those two realize the chemistry was lost years ago?
Southampton: C-
Spent: 57.9
Received: 88.6
Net: -30.8
Notable Ins: Dusan Tadic (FC Twente), Graziano Pelle (Feyenoord), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Fraser Forster (Celtic), Shane Long (Hull City), Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid)
Notable Outs: Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren (all Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Gaston Ramirez (Hull City), Dani Osvaldo (Inter)
Similar to Liverpool, the Saints are a complicated grade. Southampton lost six first XI regulars but did a solid job of replacing them. Tadic, Pelle, Forster and Alderweireld are all quality signings. Can’t say the same for Shane Long at that price.
Stoke City: B-
Spent: 3.4
Received: 3.0
Net: 0.4
Notable Ins: Phil Bardsley (Sunderland), Steve Sidwell (Fulham), Mame Biram Diouf (Hannover), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Bojan Krkic (Barcelona), Oussama Assaidi (Liverpool)
Notable Outs: Michael Kightly (Burnley), Cameron Jerome (Norwich City)
Stoke spent less money than anyone in the Premier League and still ended up with some good talent. It’s still mind-boggling that a former Barcelona player is playing at the Britannia Stadium but that is the world we live in. Bojan Krkic and Mame Biram Diouf are fine attacking additions and Steve Sidwell is the Stokiest player who had never previously played for Stoke.
Sunderland: C
Spent: 12.0
Received: 2.5
Net: 9.5
Notable Ins: Jordi Gomez (Wigan Athletic), Jack Rodwell (Manchester City), Sebastien Coates (Liverpool), Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland), Patrick van Aanholt (Chelsea)
Notable Outs: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Craig Gardner (West Brom), Andrea Dossena
A pretty bland summer for the Black Cats. Rodwell is a nice addition for the midfield and for neutrals who just want to see him on the field again. Besides that, no huge gains or losses that should make a huge difference this season.
Swansea City: B-
Spent: 25.1
Received: 23.8
Net: 1.3
Notable Ins: Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Tottenham), Jefferson Montero (Monarcas Morelia), Federico Fernandez (Napoli)
Notable Outs: Ben Davies (Tottenham), Michel Vorm (Tottenham), Michu (Napoli), Chico Flores (Lekhwiya SC)
The biggest thing for Swansea in the transfer window doesn’t show up in their Ins and Outs. They held on to striker Wilfried Bony after plenty of interest. Swapping Ben Davies and Michel Vorm for a return of Gylfi Sigurdsson has proved brilliant so far and Lukasz Fabianski has been a steady presence as keeper.
Tottenham: B
Spent: 34.2
Received: 40.7
Net: -6.5
Notable Ins: Ben Davies (Swansea City), Michel Vorm (Swansea City), Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon), Benjamin Stambouli (Montpellier), Federico Fazio (Sevilla)
Notable Outs: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea City), Jake Livermore (Hull City), Sandro (QPR), Zeki Fryers (Crystal Palace), Lewis Holtby (Hamburg), Michael Dawson (Hull City)
An under the radar summer for Spurs after the Gareth Bale sideshow last summer. Dier has already been a huge hit and Davies should be a candidate to start at left back since Danny Rose’s recent stretch of good form surely won’t last. Tottenham made a point of shoring up the defense during the window and it’s safe to say that was accomplished to a degree.
West Brom: D
Spent: 15.6
Received: 2.0
Net: 13.6
Notable Ins: Cristian Gamboa (Rosenborg), Craig Gardner (Sunderland), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), Sebastien Pocognoli (Hannover), Silvestre Varela (Porto), Giorgios Samaras (Celtic)
Notable Outs: Billy Jones (Sunderland), Racist Nicolas Anelka, Diego Lugano
It’s head-scratching to look at the list of players coming in and out of The Hawthorns and fathoming how £15.6 was spent. Gamboa and Pocognoli are solid defensive signings but they are basically cancelled out by the arrival of Joleon Lescott. The man is a straight liability at this point in his career.
West Ham: B-
Spent: 34.5
Received: 3.0
Net: 31.5
Notable Ins: Enner Valencia (Pachuca), Mauro Zarate (Velez Sarsfield), Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal), Alex Song (Barcelona), Morgan Amalfitano (Marseille)
Notable Outs: Joe Cole (Aston Villa), Alou Diarra, Matt Taylor (Burnley)
Easy to question if the talent they brought in is worth the money they spent. Enner Valencia had a nice showing for Ecuador this summer but is virtually untested at this level of club football. However, Big Fat Sam did work the loan market well bringing in Jenkinson, Song and Amalfitano.
Cannons and Cockerels 