#3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have impressed in part during the start of the Premier League season. But three defeats showed the team should have strengthened more in the transfer window.
Wolves continued their trend of signing young Portuguese starlets, so the deal to bring in Francisco Trincao from Barcelona was well received by the fans. Hwang Hee-chan also joined on loan. The South Korean could be explosive, as he showed at RB Salzburg alongside Erling Haaland and Takumi Minamino.
Wolves also managed to keep hold of Ruben Neves and Adama Traore despite both being linked with moves away to rivals during the transfer window. Yet the club failed to agree terms with Lille over a deal for Renato Sanches. Moreover, none of Kieffer Moore, Sven Botman or Duje Caleta-Car arrived on deadline day.
The Premier League side failed to secure late additions in midfield and at centre-back. So fans could be disappointed by the club's activities in the transfer window this summer.
#2 Newcastle United
Newcastle United did not have a lot of cash to spend, yet manager Steve Bruce was eager to make Joe Willock a permanent signing. The youngster impressed on loan last season. So a £22 million deal with Arsenal was struck to get the transfer over the line.
But frustration still lingers around Tyneside that Newcastle could have missed an opportunity to improve on their 12th-placed Premier League finish of last season.
A string of fringe players left during the transfer window after the end of their contracts. But the Toons did not manage to find adequate cover for Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson, who have both struggled with injuries.
Newcastle also failed in their pursuit to add another centre-back. A potential move for Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby eventually amounted to nothing. Neither Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury and Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles arrived to plug the club’s hole in midfield either.
So another season of struggles beckons for the Magpies, whose fate in the Premier League could depend on the form and fitness of Saint-Maximin and Wilson.
#1 Arsenal
Arsenal finished the transfer window with the highest spend and net spend in Europe. Nevertheless, there still remains plenty of unrest at the Emirates following a nightmare start to the Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta and Edu opted to invest in young players with potential during the transfer window. The business represents a big gamble for the north London side. That's because they are looking further away from the Premier League's top four despite their massive spending.
The club managed to bring in Ben White from Brighton for £50 million while also sealing a deal for the talented Martin Odegaard. But other activities raise questions: Aaron Ramsdale was bought in on a £30 million deal to provide competition for Bernd Leno, a year after selling Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa for far less.
Granit Xhaka was also given a new contract despite seemingly being on his way out this summer. But Arteta did manage to offload Willian and Hector Bellerin.
Arteta has spent in access of £140 million in the transfer window. But questions still remain whether any of their new signings could significantly improve the Premier League side. The Spaniard is already in the firing line after Arsenal lost their opening three games. So their big spending this summer has put the manager under more pressure.