With the summer transfer deadline now firmly in the past, we can take a much better look at who the real winners and losers from the summer period were.
One of the more intriguing transfer periods in recent memory saw big names like Diego Costa and Angel Di Maria arrive on Premier League shores.
Minnows QPR and Sunderland were actively involved in this window, as were title contenders Chelsea, Liverpool and both Manchester teams.
Going through club-by-club, we can construct a much clearer picture of where each club sits for the first half of the season, and where lost ground may have to be made up when January comes around.
Arsenal
Biggest in: Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona)
Biggest out: Bacary Sagna (Man City)
The signing of Alexis Sanchez is the only real upside for the Gunners. With injury striking down Olivier Giroud, Arsene Wenger needed to sign another front-line striker to help the inexperienced Yaya Sanogo.
While the deadline day signing of United’s Danny Welbeck provides a lifeline, the pairing doesn’t strike the same fear into the hearts of defenders that Aguero and Jovetic or Balotelli and Sturridge would.
Window grade: Credit
Aston Villa
Biggest in: Carlos Sanchez (Elche)
Biggest out: Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord)
Securing an experienced defensive midfielder was a must for Villa to escape the drop this season, and the signing of Colombian Carlos Sanchez from Elche ticks that box.
Sanchez’s signing partly offsets their failure to sign United’s Tom Cleverley before the deadline. An otherwise productive window also saw Valencia pairing Philippe Senderos and Aly Cissohko arrive at Villa Park, adding much-needed experience to the line-up.
Window grade: Credit
Burnley
Biggest in: Stephan Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Biggest out: David Edgar (Birmingham City)
Burnley spent much of the transfer period doing what all recently-promoted clubs do by looking for Premier League experience. That is exactly what they got, penning deals with Wolves veteran Stephen Ward, Bolton’s Marvin Sordell and George Boyd from Hull.
No major outs for Burnley, although David Edgar had been a handy defender in his time with the club.
Window grade: Distinction
Chelsea
Biggest in: Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona)
Biggest out: David Luiz (Paris Saint-Germaine)
Chelsea’s hyperactive transfer period saw the hits far outweigh the misses. Diego Costa wasted no time throwing his hat in the ring for the Golden Boot with four goals in his first three games, while Didier Drogba provides an elite option off the bench.
José Mourinho offloaded 30 players through loans and otherwise, more than any other manager this window. Big names Demba Ba, Frank Lampard, Samuel Eto’o and Ashley Cole headline the departures from Stamford Bridge, while Fernando Torres will ply his trade for AC Milan as part of a two-year loan.
Another defender may have added further depth, but considering the rest of the line-up, the defence may not be getting much airtime this year.
Window grade: High Distinction
Crystal Palace
Biggest in: Martin Kelly (Liverpool)
Biggest out: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Cardiff City)
The return of promotion hero Wilfried Zaha gives a much needed boost to the club that started the season without a manager, while notorious club hopper Frazier Campbell provides an interesting forward option.
While Tony Pulis was largely unhappy with board support during the transfer period, the Eagles ended the window with a sturdy backline by signing Martin Kelly and Brede Hangeland.
All things considered, their position could be much worse.
Window grade: Pass
Everton
Biggest in: Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea)
Biggest out: Magaye Gueye (Millwall)
Another club to miss out on Tom Cleverley in the closing hours of the transfer window, but Roberto Martinez can be more than happy with his dealings.
Coupling the big-money deal for Romelu Lukaku with the signing of Samuel Eto’o on a free transfer presents a fearful front line for the blue end of Merseyside. Securing Gareth Barry at the end of his loan from Man City also adds to a solid midfield.
Window grade: High Distinction
Hull City
Biggest in: Abel Hernandez (Palermo)
Biggest out: Shane Long (Southampton)
A mixed season in their return to the Premier League called for a new set of faces at KC. Tottenham duo Jake Livermore and Michael Dawson will link up with Blackpool’s Tom Ince in an upgraded side, while Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez will hope to cover the losses of Shane Long and Robert Koren.
Proven performer Hatem Ben Arfa has been recruited for consistency if nothing else, and could hold the key to Hull’s survival come season’s end. The same goes for Robert Snodgrass, but his unfortunate run of injuries will stifle his impact.
Window grade: Distinction
Leicester City
Biggest in: Esteban Cambiasso (Internazionale)
Biggest out: Martyn Waghorn (Wigan)
Leicester’s transfer window has been perhaps the most successful of any club relative to their expectations for the season.
Internazionale stalwart Esteban Cambiasso would be a comfortable fit in most top sides in the EPL, even at 34. He joins Man United’s Nick Powell and Brighton’s Leonardo Ulloa at Leicester this season.
Leicester has retained much of its Championship squad and strengthened its weaknesses brilliantly, anything less than survival would be a huge disappointment.
Window grade: High Distinction
Liverpool
Biggest in: Dejan Lovren (Southampton)
Biggest out: Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
While Mario Balotelli is set to be the ‘Batman’ to Daniel Sturridge’s ‘Robin’, the poaching of Southampton’s trio is negotiation brilliance from Brendan Rodgers. Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert are tactical signings that have proven their worth as a unit.
Simon Mignolet’s breakout season at Anfield tipped Pepe Reina out of the squad, landing the former Liverpool keeper at German champions Bayern Munich. Finding the perfect mix may take time after several key-position buys, but there is no obvious reason why this squad cannot win the Premier League.
Window grade: High Distinction
Manchester City
Biggest in: Eliaquim Mangala (FC Porto)
Biggest out: Jack Rodwell (Sunderland)
While the defending champions were less active in this window than those of recent years, they were in little need of change.
Bacary Sagna’s move from Arsenal tipped out City’s longest-serving player Micah Richards, while Manuel Pellegrini cut the dead weight by moving on Joleon Lescott, Costel Pantilimon and Gareth Barry in a quieter offseason.
Forgotten winger Scott Sinclair has survived another transfer period, but failure to make waves this year will almost certainly see him dumped at the next opportunity.
Window grade: Credit
Manchester United
Biggest in: Angel Di Maria (FC Porto)
Biggest out: Nemanja Vidic (Internazionale)
Life under Louis van Gaal has been off to a rocky start for United, and their transfer window matched that of a club confused as to where it stood.
The loss of backline trio Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic to other clubs and Ryan Giggs’ retirement cuts almost 1900 games of experience out of the United line-up.
While Falcao (on loan), Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera are elite footballers, the underwhelming defence was largely ignored with Daley Blind recruited as a holding midfielder and expectation heaped on 19-year-old Luke Shaw.
It’s not often a club that signs such world-class players will be criticised the way United has, but to date it has failed to produce anything to silence the doubters.
Window grade: Pass
Newcastle United
Biggest in: Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord)
Biggest out: Mathieu Debuchy (Arsenal)
A solid transfer window would have been enough to give the Toon Army reason to believe that they can push for Europe this campaign. Remy Cabella and Siem de Jong will introduce quality up front, making losing out on Loic Remy to Chelsea a much easier pill to swallow.
However, the losses of Mathieu Debuchy and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa will cause problems at the back, as Newcastle have been vulnerable to even the EPL’s lesser-known strikers. For this reason alone, Alan Pardew has made less progress with this squad than on first inspection.
Window grade: Pass
Queens Park Rangers
Biggest in: Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
Biggest out: Loic Remy (Chelsea)
Despite missing out on Jermaine Defoe and Fabio Borini, luring Sandro from Tottenham tipped this window from respectable to genuinely good for QPR.
Red Devils legend Rio Ferdinand will form an experienced back pairing with Steven Caulker in a much more respectable R’s line-up than in their last Premier League outing. Jordan Mutch and Leroy Fer are also welcomed inclusions to the midfield.
Getting players off the wage bill was a must this window. Stephane M’bia, Gary O’Neil, Esteban Granero and Julio Cesar all made way, with Adel Taarabt hanging on by a thread.
Window grade: Distinction
Southampton
Biggest in: Dušan Tadić (FC Twente)
Biggest out: Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)
Some decent signings simply aren’t enough to distract from how the Premier League’s top clubs feasted on the Southampton football factory once again.
As well as the losses to Southampton and Man United, Calum Chambers went to Arsenal and Dani Osvaldo went on loan to Inter, gutting the Saints’ squad. Shane Long brings experience to a club that has been on the wrong end of big-money deals for some time, and Celtic’s Fraser Forster takes the spot in goal.
Window grade: Fail
Stoke City
Biggest in: Bojan Krkić (Barcelona)
Biggest out: Michael Kightly (Burnley)
A mediocre transfer window at best for the Potters. They will be hoping for a big input from Barcelona winger Bojan, who has played decent football without setting the world alight.
Phil Bardsley, Steve Sidwell and Mame Diouf all joined, while out of favour Matthew Etherington, Cameron Jerome and James Pennant all made way in a lacklustre list change for Stoke.
Window grade: Fail
Sunderland
Biggest in: Jack Rodwell (Manchester City)
Biggest out: Craig Gardner (West Bromwich Albion)
Promising midfielder Jack Rodwell may finally have found his home at the Stadium of Light after a less-than-successful stint at Man City. Out-of-favour goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon joins Wigan’s Jordi Gomez in the red and white this season, while Will Buckley arrives with former Brighton manager Gus Poyet.
Sunderland joined in cutting ties with several players out of the first-team picture, including Carlos Cuellar and David Moberg Karlsson.
Window grade: Distinction
Swansea City
Biggest in: Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon)
Biggest out: Michel Vorm (Tottenham)
After turning heads by approving Michu’s loan to Napoli, Swansea have gone about shaping the team around Wilfried Bony and Jonjo Shelvey to relative effect.
Tottenham and Swansea traded well. Gylfi Sigurdsson joined the Welsh club along with Tom Carroll on loan, while gloveman Michel Vorm and defender Ben Davies made their way to White Hart Lane.
French striker Bafetimbi Gomis and discarded Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski round out a surprisingly positive window for the Swans.
Window grade: Distinction
Tottenham
Biggest in: Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon)
Biggest out: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Swansea)
Young gun Eric Dier headlines a small pool of inclusions alongside six-foot-five centre-back Federico Fazio. But departures were the main feature of Spurs’ transfer period, with Michael Dawson and Iago Falque among the exiting party. Lewis Holtby also left to Hamburg on loan.
Tottenham remain in contention for Europe without a marquee signing. In retrospect, they did not quite make the most of the window when compared to their rivals in the top half of the table.
Window grade: Credit
West Bromwich Albion
Biggest in: Joleon Lescott (Manchester City)
Biggest out: Liam Ridgewell (Portland Timbers)
The Baggies were conservative in their turnover of players this window, but signing Craig Gardner and Joleon Lescott was a step in the right direction.
Aussie Jason Davidson is already making an impact as an attacking wingback and club-record signing Brown Ideye may finally be the replacement for Shane Long that they desperately need.
Window grade: Pass
West Ham United
Biggest in: Alex Song (Barcelona)
Biggest out: Joe Cole (Aston Villa)
A series of mesmerising displays at the FIFA World Cup was enough to give Enner Valencia a chance in the EPL, and will provide the Hammers with a creative option out wide.
Former Arsenal holding-midfielder Alex Song and Arsenal wingback Car Jenkinson both joined on loan, while the experienced Joe Cole left alongside Jack Collison. Jordan Spence, who played seven games in seven years at West Ham, also left to MK Dons.
They got enough out of the transfer period to give supporters hope for survival but, on the face of it, not much more than that.
Window grade: Credit
Final grades
HD: Chelsea, Everton, Leicester City and Liverpool
D: Burnley, Hull City, QPR, Sunderland and Swansea
C: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man City, Tottenham and West Ham
P: Man United, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Brom
F: Southampton and Stoke
Matt Simpson
Roar Guru
Still a fail? yeah, I'm a Saints supporter...
ian
Guest
Perhaps a fail for arsenal back when they signed the underwhelming Thierry Henri?
ian
Guest
So you would probably have given Chelsea a high distinction when they signed Torres?
Wenwen
Guest
how can the roar let such biased crap be published. so Liverpool who lost the best player in the epl and replaced him with a bunch of untested players gets a high distinction?! you remember what happened to spurs right? and Man Utd gets a pass for signing one of the 5 best players in the world? I would like to know what you are on...
DJW
Guest
Read an interesting article the other day about the transfers indicating Man Utd is following a galatico strategy opposed to Arsenal's home grown strategy. Basically saying Wenger has setup a core of local talent in the theory they will be loyal and commit long term to the club. Think Wilshire, Ox, Chambers, Wellbeck, Wallcott, Ramsey as well as a host of youngsters not playing first team yet. I think most Arsenal fans were a bit underwhelmed when Wellbeck was signed but have warmed to having hin now the dust has settled. He is still only 23. Apparently he has similar stats to Henry at the same age. One can hope!
Carl
Roar Rookie
Aston Villa's failure to sign Tom Cleverly is partly down to interest from Everton in acquiring his services as well as reportedly high wage demands (not likely to get high wages from a club currently up in the air in regard to ownership) which was enough to put the brakes on the deal. In the end though he will join Villa on a season long loan deal with an option to buy in January. Not sure El Ahmadi is actually the biggest out for us though, maybe in terms of money received yes but there have been some promising young players let go or sold to lower div clubs as well. Have to agree with Cac above too Lukaku is definitely the biggest signing for Everton this season, this guy is pure quality and unlike Eto'o they'll probably get quite a few years good service out of him
Cam Reddin
Roar Rookie
Thanks Julian! Absolutely a class CB like a Hummels or even Vermaelen would launch United right up in my books. You're right and it is certainly far too early to judge Van Gaal, and United being United they are well and truly in the title race.
Cac
Guest
Eto'o being Everton's biggest signing is laughable. Lukaku is without a doubt one of their biggest signings ever in their history even getting Barry permanently is bigger than Eto'o. Eto'o will play his part but is not up there. United was a bit harsh, they are a dreadful side but they did add Rojo and Shaw to their defence, Blind to the CDM and then world class attackers in Di Maria and Falcao. They still won't finish in the top four but they have made some of the biggest signings. QPR are lucky to get a Distinction. They've made the same mistake as last time they were in the EPL. They have spent money on old players, yes they brought in Fer but they lost their best striker in Remy and instead have Vargas.... List can go on but one's opinion is another's argument.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
Furthermore, there aren't that many good defenders available on the market that are better than what they already got. They pursued Hummels but Dortmund won't sell until they have a replacement. Vermaelen but he chose Barca, can't blame him.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
All the buys address needs: Shaw: LB Herrera: Creative CM Di Maria: Genuine winger (only others are Valencia and Young) Blind: LB cover and DM Falcao: ST (only others are Rooney, RVP and Wilson, who is a reserves player...RVP out for at least a month) Issues not addressed, ball-winning CM and CB. Some might argue that Rafael and Valencia are not great RB options.
Julian King
Roar Guru
Very thorough article Cameron. I look forward to your gradings on the January transfer window. Perhaps with Strootman, Vidal and/or Hummels at Old Trafford, the Red Devils may climb to an HD?! I think the Falcao signing may turn out to be a masterstroke, given the injury cloud over RVP and Rooney not an out and out striker. Van Gaal is a notoriously slow starter, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt at this early stage.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I wouldn't call any of the purchases panic buys; they all fill a need. Also, I'd say the lack of goals is due to players getting used to the system. And, the system is probably more conducive to counter-attack. Thus the good results in pre-season against the big teams they played. So far in the league they've played teams conservative teams.
AZ_RBB
Guest
They didn't miss him at all vs Chelsea and Crystal Palace end of last season.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Even with all the attacking players they have. They failed to score against Burnley... BURNLEY!!! United are all over the shop and it is apparent that they were panic buying, not really filling needs. If they were making astute purchases you would've seen a lot more defenders bought.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Agger's played barely any club football in recent times. He was on the bench towards the back-end of last season. I don't think Liverpool will miss him too much, especially if Lovren and Skrtel continue improving.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I think Manchester United deserve a credit. Yes, they didn't bring in any CBs or a DM. However, they brought in a creative MF in Hererra. A winger who place play MF in Di Maria. They got rid of dead wood. And, Falcao has been one of the best strikers in the world in the past 5 years. Surely that warrants a pass because they addressed some needs.
Cam Reddin
Roar Rookie
Absolutely their signings have been reasonably good. I just found it too much to pass them after having the guts ripped out of them. When it come to winners and losers of the window, I think Southampton lost out big time, but that's not to say the new guys won't step up. Tadic certainly looks like a gem.
Cam Reddin
Roar Rookie
That's a fair point about United. I gave them a Pass knowing it may be a bit of an understatement, but I couldn't go higher since it seemed to me that they didn't sign what they needed. Of course Di Maria, Falcao, Herrera etc. would make any team better, but I still feel the backline was the biggest loser from this window. Bang on about Agger too.
AZ_RBB
Guest
A little harsh to say United only get a pass after recruiting defenders Shaw and Rojo, defensive mids Herrera and Blind, Di Maria in midfield and Falcao up front. Pretty solid for a team not offering any European football for 12 months. I wouldn't say they've recruited as well as Chelsea have nor have they recruited as economically as....well anyone else in Europe, but they are strong additions. The loss of Agger for Liverpool will be very significant imo.
Matt Simpson
Roar Guru
I don't think you can call Southampton a fail just yet. Osvaldo was already a flop last year and not at the club. They got more than Lallana was probably worth from Liverpool, and good prices for Shaw and Chambers. They replacement what they lost position wise, added a better goalkeeper, bought in some real eridivisie talent in Tadic (who is equally as good as lallana) and Pelle, as well as nabbing Belgian international defender Alderwield. I think they have done alright.