EPL: Transfer window round up

Manchester City

The influence of Txiki Begiristain and the upside of having a sporting director have been evident. City has made robust buys to strengthen and mount a title challenge. The collective 100 million spent on Navas, Negredo, Joveti? , Demichelis and Fernandinho and the ease with which these “A-list” players have been signed is a drastic improvement as compared to last season’s panic buys of mediocre talent.

Rating: 8.5/10

Manchester United

After years of outcry and desperate calls for a midfielder, United finally signed Fellaini on deadline day, with that being their only significant activity in the transfer market. It remains to be seen whether Fellaini is the missing piece in the United’s midfield, or was it a more creative player that will be required.

This United squad has very few regular goal threats and hence a striker could have been added to relieve the goal-scoring pressure on Van Persie. The likes of Ashley Young and Nani could have been shipped out in favour of more consistent signings, but maybe David Moyes has better ideas to get the best out of them.

Rating: 6/10

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs have brought in Paulinho, Chadli, Soldado, Capoue, Chiriches, Lamela and Eriksen for a combined spend of more than 100 million pounds while losing Gareth Bale for a world record fee. Although Bale single handedly led Spurs last time in their failed Champions League quest, the Spurs squad looks much better across all departments after these transfers.

Although it will take a considerable amount of time for Villas-Boas to shape the new look team into his tactics, this team is filled with youth and talent. Eriksen and Lamela are potential world-class players, and Spurs have done well to land them. Spurs have come out stronger due to their shrewd and liberal spending this summer.

Rating: 9/10

Best of the rest

Norwich City

Norwich and Chris Houghton have been given sufficient praise for the transfer dealings. Being an established premier league side, Norwich have gradually spent in excess of 20 million. Ricky van Wolfswinkel’s capture from a financially stressed Sporting Lisbon has been the marquee buy. Besides the Dutchman, Gary Hopper and Johan Elmander’s captures has transformed their front line from the Grant Holt led side last season.

Leroy Fer adds attacking impetus to the midfield. Nathan Redmond’s purchases further highlight the club’s policy of buying young talent with a substantial resale value. With an already established defence, and an improved midfield and front line, the cautious Houghton is expected to be more adventurous this season.

Rating: 8/10

Southampton

Probably the shrewdest dealers in the summer window. Spending a collective 35 million on the trio of Lovren, Wanyama and Osvaldo has seen the Saints strengthening in all the areas on the pitch. Dejan Lovren brings in much needed strength to a defence that was all over the place last season, whereas Wanyama (who still has much to prove) adds the steel to a silky midfield.

On the other end, snapping up an Italy international who scored 16 goals in Serie A is remarkable to say the least. With the added strength come the increased expectations. Saints squad looks much stronger this season with sufficient creativity and goals in it. Anything less than a top half finish will be deemed as a failure, thereby putting Pochettino under the scanner this year.

Rating: 8/10

Swansea City:

Money was made available to Laudrup, with which quality and promising additions such as Wilfred Bony and Jonjo Shelvey have been made. It remains to be seen how the new players are knitted into their playing style.

Rating: 7/10