With the summer 2023 transfer window closed in England, Alex Keble analyses how each Premier League club fared in the market.
Burnley
Major deals
Ins: Zeki Amdouni (Basel), Sander Berge (Sheff Utd), Jordan Beyer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jacob Bruun Larsen (loan from Hoffenheim), Hannes Delcroix (Anderlecht), Luca Koleosho (Espanyol), Wilson Odobert (Troyes), Dara O’Shea (West Brom), Aaron Ramsey (Aston Villa), Nathan Redmond (Besiktas), James Trafford (Man City), Lawrence Vigouroux (Leyton Orient), Han-Noah Massengo (Bristol City), Mike Tresor (Genk).
Outs: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (loan to Aarhus), Scott Twine (loan to Hull), Wout Weghorst (loan to Hoffenheim).
Burnley have been very busy, signing more than 10 players, arguably too many for us to assess with any confidence until they have a few more matches under their belt. However, Sander Berge and Aaron Ramsey could make a strong central midfield partnership with time, James Trafford was very impressive with England Under-21s in the summer, and Zeki Amdouni was the top goalscorer in the UEFA Europa Conference League last season, with seven goals.
That’s quality in every line – except the defensive one, and Burnley have already conceded 11 Premier League goals, more than any other team, and from only three matches. Centre-back Dara O’Shea is a new addition from West Bromwich Albion but you wonder whether Vincent Kompany may regret not spending more money reinforcing this area.
Chelsea
Major deals
Ins: Moises Caicedo (Brighton), Axel Disasi (Monaco), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal), Romeo Lavia (Southampton), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), Djordje Petrovic (New England Revolution), Robert Sanchez (Brighton), Lesley Ugochukwu (Rennes), Cole Palmer (Man City).
Outs: Ethan Ampadu (Leeds), Kepa Arrizabalaga (loan to Real Madrid), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille), Cesar Azpilicueta (Atletico Madrid), Lewis Hall (loan to Newcastle), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan), Mason Mount (Man Utd), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Andrey Santos (loan to Nott'm Forest), Hakim Ziyech (loan to Galatasaray), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Nott’m Forest).
Assessing another busy Chelsea transfer window is a fool’s errand. They signed at least seven players expected to challenge for a place in the first team and let more than 10 big-name players leave, and at the end of it all Mauricio Pochettino appears to be left with a slightly lopsided squad.
Injuries to Christopher Nkunku and Carney Chukwuemeka, coupled with the decision to let Kai Havertz and Mason Mount leave, mean Chelsea appear light on creative players capable of linking play in the final third.
That is their main worry, reflected in their frustration during a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, although Chelsea also lack backup for Nicolas Jackson.
On the plus side, they have ample numbers in defence, while Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez have the perfect balance to form one of the best midfields in the world.
Crystal Palace
Ins: Matheus Franca (Flamengo), Jefferson Lerma (AFC Bournemouth), Rob Holding (Arsenal), Dean Henderson (Man Utd).
Outs: Jack Butland, James McArthur, Luka Milivojevic (all released), Wilfried Zaha (Galatasaray).
Palace left it late, but in the end they got what they needed, and, most important of all, kept hold of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, with the former signing a new contract.
Dean Henderson, signed for a reported £20million from Manchester United, is a good upgrade in goal, while Rob Holding boosts Roy Hodgson’s defensive options, and Jefferson Lerma adds defensive clout to central midfield.
With Wilfried Zaha leaving, the success of Palace’s window may ultimately hinge on 19-year-old Matheus Franca, a Brazilian who, despite only possessing a handful of senior appearances for Flamengo, came in for a reported fee of £26million.
Last season Zaha led the Palace charts for touches in the attacking penalty area, with 143, and produced 59 carries into the penalty area. They are big shoes to fill.
Things have been quiet on the whole, but Palace have no obvious weaknesses that they failed to fix this summer.
Everton
Ins: Beto (Udinese), Youssef Chermiti (Sporting Lisbon), Arnaut Danjuma (loan from Villarreal), Jack Harrison (loan from Leeds), Ashley Young (free agent).
Outs: Asmir Begovic, Tom Davies, Yerry Mina, Andros Townsend (all released), Mason Holgate (loan to Southampton), Niels Nkounkou (Saint-Etienne), Ellis Simms (Coventry), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Neal Maupay (loan to Brentford).
Understandably focus has been on Everton’s goalscoring record: they underperformed against their Expected Goals (xG) by 13.2 last season, more than any other Premier League club, and are again bottom of the table in 2023/24 with -5.2 xG.
Beto, who scored on his debut in the EFL Cup against Doncaster Rovers and found the net on 10 occasions for Udinese in Serie A last season, is an important addition, while Sean Dyche will also be happy with the creativity added by Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma.
But Everton’s goalscoring problems have distracted from their poor defensive record. They have conceded 37 goals in 22 league matches under Dyche but only signed one defender, full-back Ashley Young.
Surprisingly, Everton are also short on numbers in midfield, now that Alex Iwobi has been sold to Fulham. Beyond Abdoulaye Doucoure, Idrissa Gueye, and Amadou Onana, Everton don’t have any senior midfielders until Dele Alli is fit.
Fulham
Ins: Calvin Bassey (Ajax), Timothy Castagne (Leicester), Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Adama Traore (free agent), Alex Iwobi (Everton).
Outs: Joe Bryan (released), Ivan Cavaleiro (Lille), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al-Hilal), Kevin Mbabu (loan to Augsburg), Terence Kongolo (loan to Rapid Wien).
It hasn’t been the easiest transfer window for Marco Silva. The loss of Aleksandar Mitrovic is keenly felt, with Fulham’s 3.9 xG the fourth lowest in the Premier League this season, behind the three promoted clubs.
His replacement, Raul Jimenez, has only scored 10 Premier League goals across the last three seasons from 48 starts, suggesting he isn’t best placed to improve Fulham’s record of taking the fewest shots per 90 minutes in the division this season, with 8.25.
Things are not much better at the other end. Fulham’s xG Against of 11.7 is the worst in the league, and although Timothy Castagne can improve their weakness at full-back, while there is high hopes for centre-back Calvin Bassey, signed from Ajax, the late collapse of Joao Palhinha’s move to Bayern Munich could be an issue should his form dip.
On the wings, Iwobi and Adama Traore are interesting additions for Silva, who prefers his team to attack predominantly down the flanks: Fulham were second in the charts last season for attempted crosses, with 769.
Also in this series
Part 1: Arsenal to Brighton
Part 3: Liverpool to Newcastle
Part 4: Nott'm Forest to Wolves
