Transfer window winners and losers

Winners

Arsenal

Key transfers in: Lucas Torreira, Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Sebastian Lichtsteiner, Matteo Guendouzi
Key transfers out: Lucas Perez, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Calum Chambers (loan), Per Mertesacker

New manager Unai Emery moved quickly to fix the Gunners’ most pressing needs: Lucas Torreira arrived to add some physicality to midfield, Bernd Leno should be an improvement on Petr Cech in goal, while defenders Sokratis and Sebastian Lichsteiner should improve the backline. Matteo Guendouzi is one to watch for the future.

READ MORE: Transfer deadline day: How the drama unfolded

READ MORE: 10 things to look out for on the opening day of the season

With January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng making a positive start to life at the Emirates, this is shaping up as Arsenal’s most positive pre-season in some time. The goal now is to build on that and at the very least challenge for a Champions League place.

Fulham

Key ins: Jean Michael Seri, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Alfie Mawson, Maxime Le Marchand, Joe Bryan, Fabri, Sergio Rico, Luciano Vietto, Andre Schurrle, Calum Chambers (all four on loan)

Key outs: David Button, Ryan Fredericks

It’s been a busy summer at Fulham with a host of new faces coming to Craven Cottage – and that was even before a host of deadline day arrivals. Manager Slaviša Jokanović has strengthened all over the park, upgrading the weapons at his disposal in midfield, out wide and in defence. Aleksandar Mitrovic is back after a successful loan spell last season – the Serb will make an impact on Premier League defences if nothing else.

The capture of Jean Michael Seri is the most eye-catching. Jokanovic reportedly snatched him from under the noses of Barcelona and the Ivorian should add class and drive in the middle of the park. Partnering him could be £27m deadline-day signing Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, who emerged as one of the most promising players in Ligue 1 last season. World Cup winner Andre Schurrle too, will be looking to make an impact after his brief spell at local rivals Chelsea, while Alfie Mawson will add much-needed Premier League experience to the backline.

READ MORE: Fulham make €30m Anguissa their FIFTH deadline day move

Not content with that, Fulham also raided LaLiga for astute loan signings on deadline day, bringing in Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico and Atletico Madrid striker Luciano Vietto. Fullbacks Joe Bryan and Timothy Fosu-Mensah also arrived to add to Jokanovic’s defensive depth. With the talent at their disposal Fulham should not just be aiming to survive, but survive comfortably.

Livepool

Key ins: Alisson, Naby Keita, Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri

Key outs: Danny Ward, Emre Can, Jon Flanagan, Danny Ings (loan)

After finishing fourth again last season, Liverpool have made a statement this summer. The arrival of Naby Keita, and the summer deals for Alisson, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri all solved a pressing need for Jurgen Klopp. Alisson should be the commanding goalkeeper Reds fans have been craving for years, while Fabinho is an upgrade on the departed Emre Can and Keita should be the beating heart of the Reds’ midfield. Shaqiri too, will give the Reds’ forward line some much needed depth.

Unsurprisingly the Anfield club are seen as genuine title contenders. While question marks remain over the defence and there are concerns over their attacking depth beyond their starting front three and Shaqiri, this summer has set Liverpool up for what should be a top-two finish.

West Ham

Key ins: Felipe Anderson, Issa Diop, Andriy Yarmolenko, Jack Wilshere, Lukasz Fabianski, Lucas Perez, Carlos Sanchez, Ryan Fredericks, Fabian Balbuena

Key outs: Cheikhou Kouyaté, Reece Burke, James Collins, Patrice Evra, Domingos Quina

After a couple of seasons of relegation scraps on the pitch, and fan discontent off it, West Ham owners David Gold and David Sullivan have clearly said enough is enough. The Hammers have gone big this summer: in comes manager Manuel Pellegrini, club-record £40m signing Felipe Anderson and England international Jack Wilshere.

READ MORE: West Ham sign Sanchez from Fiorentina

Joining them will be highly-rated defender Issa Diop, Arsenal’s Lucas Perez, and former Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is an absolute steal at just £7m. The signings of Andriy Yarmolenko and then Carlos Sanchez on deadline day have a slight whiff of the Hammers buying a player on reputation but neither player will be expected to start every match, so the club should be able to get away with it. If Pellegrini can work out his best side quickly and get his players to gel, it will be a disappointment if a long-awaited push for Europe doesn’t eventuate.

Wolves

Key ins: Adama Traore, Rui Patrício, Joao Moutinho, Diogo Jota, Willy Boly, Leander Dendoncker (loan), Léo Bonatini, Rúben Vinagre, Paulo Alves, Raúl Jiménez (loan), Jonny Castro (loan)

Key outs: Benik Afobe (loan), Jonathan Flatt

Wolves came into this season as probably the most complete Championship side to ever be promoted to the Premier League, but that hasn’t stopped them bringing in a multitude of high-class (mainly Portuguese) new faces. Midfield lynchpin Joao Moutinho and goalkeeper Rui Patricio add genuine Champions League quality to Nuno Espírito Santo’s already stacked squad and a club-record move for Adama Traore gives Nuno a wealth of riches on the flanks.

Diego Jota lit up the Championship with 17 goals last season and Willy Boly was immense on loan, both have now signed permanently, as has forward Leo Bonatini. The Brazilian has been joined by Raul Jimenez on loan, and they should ease the burden on Helder Costa and Jota for goals. There were some concerns over the lack of proven defensive additions, but then Wolves made a deadline-day move for Belgian World Cup defender/midfielder Leander Dendoncker. Problem solved. While Supporters will take survival, anything less than mid-table safety would be seen as an under-achievement.

CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDE TO THE TRANSFER WINDOW

Losers

Chelsea

Key ins: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic (loan), Rob Green

Key outs: Thibaut Courtois, Kurt Zouma (loan), Michy B

READ MORE: Kepa Arrizabalaga – ‘World-record fee will not affect my Chelsea form’

READ MORE: Courtois hoping for Hazard reunion at Real Madrid

First off: The signing of Jorginho was a good move. The Blues needed a midfield orchestrator and did well to sign a player new manager Maurizio Sarri knows intimately – and from under Man City’s nose, no less. However, Chelsea’s decision to move with glacial speed to sack Antonio Conte and replace him with Sarri meant they always playing catch up in pre-season. They knew they needed a new striker, but there is no fresh blood and in midfielder Mateo Kovacic they’ve signed a player in the one area of the pitch they’re already well stocked.

They’ve also been forced into selling star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and replace him with Kepa Arrizabalaga – a young keeper that cost twice what the Blues received for the Belgian. Arrizabalaga may be the next David De Gea, but even the United keeper took time to adapt to the Premier League, and that was without a world-record fee around his neck. With a new manager, new system, new goalkeeper but same old strikers and shaky defence, Chelsea could be in for a season of flux and frustration.

Everton

Key ins: Richarlison, Lucas Digne, Yerry Mina, Bernard, Andre Gomes, Kurt Zouma (both loan)

Key outs: Davy Klaassen, Ramiro Funes Mori, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Williams (loan), Joel Robles

READ MORE: Everton confirm Mina and Gomes deals

On the face of it Everton appear to have had a decent summer window. Six new faces, four of them on deadline day, with issues in central midfield and defence addressed. Brazil winger Bernard arriving on a free looks like some relatively risk-free business, while Lucas Digne showed enough at Barcelona that he could be an astute signing, if he can adapt. However, dig a little deeper and there are concerns over Everton’s business.

The jury is still out on whether Richarlison has what it takes to thrive in the Premier League, while the Toffees also signed a couple of Barcelona cast-offs. There is no shame in that, but the fact that Barcelona are letting Andre Gomes go out on loan just two seasons after they signed him from Valencia in a deal worth up £50m doesn’t bode well. Barca will be happy to cash in on Mina as well; the towering central defender made an impact in opposition boxes for Colombia at the World Cup, but many fans at the Nou Camp questioned his ability to actually defend in his brief stay in Catalonia.

Yes, the Toffees have been able to shift some deadwood and high earners off the books but after spluttering to eighth place last season, Marco Silva’s side don’t look any better off this time around. With Wayne Rooney joining the MLS, it is the second summer in a row Everton have sold their leading scorer without a replacement. Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse remain their only out-and-out strikers, while defenders Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman – all signed by David Moyes – are likely to remain integral to Silva’s plans in 2018-19.

Manchester United

Key ins: Fred, Diogo Dalot, Lee Grant

Key outs: Daley Blind, Sam Johnstone, Michael Carrick, Axel Tuanzabe (loan)

Jose Mourinho saw his side finish 19 points behind neighbours Manchester City in the Premier League title race and he’s now watching United potentially be overtaken by bitter rivals Liverpool, and he isn’t happy about it. And while his grumblings are getting tired he does have a point. What was United’s transfer plan to bridge the gap to City and hold off Liverpool?

READ MORE: Mourinho claims he IS happy with United players

Fred has come into the midfield but he couldn’t force Fernandinho out of the Brazil team, while 19-year-old Dalot is unlikely to make a huge impact from fullback this season. Mourinho desperately wanted a new centre back and a right winger, yet neither came in. At the moment the squad looks desperately short of challenging for the title and would do well to finish in the top four.

Tottenham Hotspur

Key ins: No-one

Key outs: None

The only side in the Premier League, Champions League and one of Europe’s top 5 leagues who didn’t sign a player. It’s a damning indictment. This Tottenham team is young and the club puts plenty of faith in it’s youth setup but it is still a shock Spurs didn’t open the chequebook at all. After his delaying tactics earlier in the window, chairman Daniel Levy’s pursuit of Jack Grealish was left dead in the water and he only has himself to blame.

READ MORE: Pochettino blames Brexit and stadium for lack of signings

Spurs still haven’t found a reliable back-up option for Harry Kane, and they especially appear to lack depth in central midfield and in attacking positions. This will only get worse if Danny Rose, Mousa Dembele, Toby Alderweireld and Vincent Janssen are moved on before the end of August. Mauricio Pochettino likes working with a small squad, but he is being left open to injuries and suspension wrecking Spurs’ season.

Watford

Key ins: Gerard Deulofeu, Ben Foster, Adam Masina, Marc Navarro, Ken Sema, Domingos Quina

Key outs: Richarlison, Nordin Amrabat, Mauro Zárate, Costel Pantilimon

The Pozzo family have never been afraid to shake things up at Watford, routinely bringing in new players and managers, many of whom get sold on for a handsome profit, Richarlison is a case in point. But there are also plenty of duds as Isaac Success, Andre Gray, Adalberto Peñaranda and Stefano Okaka spring to mind.

Deulofeu is inconsistent but may have found his level with the Hornets, while the returning Foster gives extra security in goal. However, with the exits of Richarlison, Nordin Amrabat and Mauro Zarate the squad looks in a slightly worse position than last season, which is not a good a sign when the Hornets only picked up 20 points from the end of November. If Deulofeu can’t shoulder the burden of Richarlison’s creativity, Watford could be in for a season of struggle.