With the summer 2023 transfer window closed in England, Alex Keble analyses how each Premier League club fared in the market.
Nottingham Forest
Major Deals
Ins: Chris Wood (Newcastle), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Ola Aina (Torino), Anthony Elanga (Man Utd).
Outs: Brennan Johnson (Spurs), Jack Colback (Released), Andre Ayew (Released).
A late flurry on transfer deadline day meant a second summer in a row of change for Forest, although this time things seem a little more focused, leaving them in a strong position despite losing Brennan Johnson to Tottenham Hotspur.
Ibrahim Sangare is a powerful and skilful midfielder who can add forward drive in the middle, having ranked 10th among midfielders in the Eredivisie last season for his 194 progressive passes.
He is the standout acquisition, although Chris Wood and Anthony Elanga have already scored for Forest, while Gonzalo Montiel, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Andrew Omobamidele are exciting signings.
Steve Cooper and Forest have quietly had a very good window.
Sheffield United
Major deals
Ins: Gustavo Hamer (Coventry), Cameron Archer (Aston Villa), Benie Traore (Hacken).
Outs: Iliman Ndiaye (Marseille), Enda Stevens/Billy Sharp (Released).
Re-loaning James McAtee on deadline day softened the blow of losing Tommy Doyle and Iliman Ndiaye over the summer, although Sheff Utd have still had a less dazzling summer than supporters might have expected.
Cameron Archer was very good on his debut following a reported £18million move from Villa, while Anis Ben Slimane adds creativity to midfield and forward Benie Traore scored 12 goals in 14 matches for Swedish side Hacken last season.
But the Blades could have done with more experience in the back three and a new defensive midfielder. It is no surprise their Expected Goals Against (xGA) metric of 9.3 is the second-worst in the division so far this season.
Tottenham Hotspur
Major deals
Ins: James Maddison (Leicester), Brennan Johnson (Nott'm Forest), Micky van de Ven (Wolfsburg).
Outs: Lucas Moura (Released), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Harry Winks (Leicester), Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray).
You wouldn’t have thought Spurs could lose Harry Kane and still end the window happy, but that’s the Ange Postecoglou effect in action.
James Maddison looks to be a bargain at £40million from Leicester City, while Manor Solomon grabbed two assists in the 5-2 defeat of Burnley and centre-back Micky van de Ven has fit seamlessly into central defence.
Spurs fans might have wanted a few more bodies in, and it remains to be seen whether Brennan Johnson’s dribbling off the right will be worth the price tag, but Postecoglou’s football has made quite a few Spurs players look like new signings, including Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, and Pedro Porro.
With Destiny Udogie arriving after a year on loan at Udinese and Guglielmo Vicario appearing to be a ball-playing upgrade on Hugo Lloris, the Spurs first team looks suitably refreshed.
West Ham United
Major deals
Ins: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Edson Alvarez (Ajax), Mohammed Kudus (Ajax).
Outs: Manuel Lanzini (Released), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Like Spurs, West Ham sold their best player but reinvested the money in exactly the right areas.
James Ward-Prowse doesn’t replace Declan Rice’s ball carrying or commanding presence at the base of midfield, but his set-piece delivery has already been put to good use under David Moyes. Ward-Prowse has three Premier League assists, the joint-most in the division.
Edson Alvarez is a special player and, along with his Ajax team-mate Mohammed Kudus, has lifted West Ham considerably.
There are question marks over whether Moyes will want to play the more progressive style of football Alvarez and Kudus are used to, but either way they are coups for West Ham.
Having also managed to hold on to Lucas Paqueta, West Ham now have one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Major deals
Ins: Matt Doherty (Atletico Madrid), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Strasbourg).
Outs: Conor Coady (Leicester), Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Adama Traore/Raul Jimenez (Fulham), Matheus Nunes (Man City), Nathan Collins (Brentford).
No other Premier League team lost as much as Wolves. Following the departure of Julen Lopetegui, Wolves sold Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, Nathan Collins, Goncalo Guedes (on loan), Raul Jimenez, Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore and Conor Coady.
Positives for Wolves fans are not plenty for the short term. Leaving aside Boubacar Traore’s loan move that was made permanent, Gary O’Neil’s side have only signed four first-team players and none particularly jump out.
Matt Doherty returns from Atletico Madrid and Tommy Doyle is a decent midfield option after a successful campaign in the Championship last year, but Santiago Bueno, signed for £10million from Girona, doesn’t have much top-flight experience.
The best of the bunch is Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who, compared with all midfielders in the big five leagues over the last 365 days, is in the 99th percentile for progressive carries, achieving 4.01 per 90, and the 97th percentile for successful take-ons, with 2.09 per 90, per FBRef.
Also in this series
Part 1: Arsenal to Brighton
Part 2: Burnley to Fulham
Part 3: Liverpool to Newcastle
