Online Reporter
Record-breaking sums and huge squad overhauls, with the drama extending to two hours after the deadline as Everton’s big striker signing changed his mind after the last minute.
As the dust settles, the debates on who were the Prem winners and losers will intensify.
SunSport sifts through the chaos to identify those with something to smile about. And those left with scowls.
WINNERS
Chelsea:
Even by Stamford Bridge standards, this has been a stunning summer of shifting sands.
But while midfield depth may be an issue – given the injury records of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Reece James and the collapse of the deal for Monaco’s Lamine Camara – new boss Xabi Alonso seems to have all his other ducks in a row.
Morgan Rogers’ £117m arrival has already paid off alongside Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, Maxence Lacroix is utterly at home at centre-halves, while Blues fans like the look of full-backs Marco Palestra and Pep Chavarria.
Even the signing Chelsea did not want to make, before Robert Sanchez’ failings made the move for Emi Martinez a no-brainer, has boosted the squad.
Hull:
The Tigers had two options after their unexpected promotion.
They could have taken the easy way out, spent a few bob, accepted their fate, used the guaranteed £220m over the next three years to give them a platform to come back stronger.
Instead, it’s a copy of the playbook that saw Sunderland exceed all expectations last summer – and then some.
In total, 18 new players and the third-highest net spend in the Prem. They even let the bloke who scored their winner at Coventry on Saturday go out on loan on deadline day. Full marks for ambition.
Liverpool:
Bradley Barcola’s £123m arrival was the landmark deal of the Anfield summer – but Andoni Iraola putting his foot down to keep Cody Gakpo might be equally important.
Spaniard Victor Munoz has already made a good impression, winning the penalty that earned a point at Newcastle on the opening weekend before scoring the leveller against Forest on Saturday.
Young Frenchman Jeremy Jacquet could be the partner to keep Virgil van Dijk fresh for the fight at the back, while there are doubts about both full-backs.
Yet if Alexander Isak can profit from the men on either flank, Liverpool could be back in the title mix.
Manchester City:
Life after Pep was always going to be different, yet few could have imagined quite how different.
Overhauling the entire midfield – at a cost of just £327m – was a signal of City’s laser focus on giving Enzo Maresca the chance to get off to a trophy-winning start.
But while City have lost the experience of Rodri, they look to have plenty of goals in them – as long as Erling Haaland stays fit.
Enzo Fernandez will add midfield goals, Iliman Ndiaye something different to the mix, while Rayan Cherki already looks in the mood to make this a launchpad season.
Tottenham:
Well, they should be, anyway, after an unprecedented summer splurge in North London.
This is “Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham”, in every sense, all 10 new recruits bearing the manager’s mark.
Now the onus is on the Italian manager to turn the ingredients he put in the pot into something tasty – although there has been a distinct lack of seasoning so far.
Spurs fans have reason to be demanding and that will put pressure on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Savio and Omar Marmoush in particular.
De Zerbi must make sure they aren’t “N17th” again.
LOSERS
Arsenal:
The expectation was that the champions would improve from a position of strength.
Instead, while Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimaraes add to the previous strong points of Mikel Arteta’s side, his forward options look weaker.
For all the efforts to land Vinicius Jr, Arsenal look like they were played by the Brazilian and his representatives, leaving Greek winger Christos Solis as the only attacking reinforcement.
Meanwhile, Arsenal allowed Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson to leave, with Gabriel Martinelli Saudi-bound as well.
Fans are asking big questions of sporting director Andrea Berta. It is hard to argue Arteta has a better squad than he ended last term with.
Aston Villa:
It might look very different in May but for now Unai Emery appears to have been asked to undertake a massive job in building almost an entirely new side from scratch.
Losing six of the 11 players who started the Europa League final feels like a seismic change, even if Emery loves a challenge.
Villa have been slow starters in the past, only to pick up the pace quickly and end up as a potent force in both the Prem and Europe.
This time, though, they need all the new recruits to get up to speed quickly, in the most competitive league in the world.
Crystal Palace:
You’ve got to feel sorry for Pierre Sage, whose spirits are unlikely to be lifted by parsley, rosemary or thyme.
The new Palace boss inherited a side that had lost two of its three star assets last term, with Eberechi Eze leaving for Arsenal and Marc Guehi at Manchester City.
While he did keep Adam Wharton – surely a January target for someone – Sage saw wing-back Daniel Munoz join predecessor Oliver Glasner at Forest and Lacroix’s switch to Chelsea, while Jean-Philippe Mateta unsuccessfully asked Fifa to rip up his contract and Ismaila Sarr is in a right old huff.
Even the Holmesdale Massive are hacked off. Nobody looks to be “glad all over” at Selhurst.
Everton:
The joke was biting, but fair.
Everton – the only team with more stadiums than strikers. And left-backs. And right-backs.
Over the space of three days, the Toffees moved for Richarlison, Joshua Zirkzee, and Folarin Balogun but were rejected by all of them.
And while few Evertonians will mourn the departure of Beto, selling Iliman Ndiaye to take a punt on Jack Grealish’s second loan spell is hardly a bet you’d put more than a fiver on.
Fans are in uproar – even after making the club backtrack over the proposed sale of Harrison Armstrong – and the mood is beyond dark.
You wonder how much longer David Moyes will put up with being ordered to fight with both hands tied behind his back?
Manchester United:
Yes, a new-look midfield – although Carlos Baleba is still injured and Andrey Santos was dropped after one game.
But other than that, United are pretty much exactly the same as they were, which has left Old Trafford fans wondering what the club is playing at.
Deadline day efforts to find a back-up – or replacement – for Luke Shaw were too little and too late, Diogo Dalot is hardly the ideal choice on the right, while they looked vulnerable to pace through the middle even while beating Ipswich on Sunday – Sun.
