EPL transfer business so far
WE’RE still a few weeks from clubs actually playing proper games on the pitch, but those off the pitch are now in full swing.
This is the time of year when they will do their most work off the pitch to try and influence next season’s table, and the signings they make in the next two months will for some be a more important factor in where they finish than anything else.
So, who actually leads the way right now? Who leads the summer transfer league table.
As part of an ongoing series, the Independent will be updating this table every few days, with the positions dependent on issues like how close clubs are to getting everything they need and the perceived value of their work.
1. EVERTON
The sale of star striker Romelu Lukaku could understandably be seen as Everton again conforming to their status of feeding the bigger clubs, but the key here is that they are using it for far bigger plans, having made far bigger strides this summer than anyone. Ronald Koeman has already done some very impressive business in players like Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane, and there is the promise of so much more to come. If there remains a question of how many of their signings would get into top-four clubs now, the key is that Everton are so evidently bridging that gap. IN SO FAR: govic, already giving this team significant qualities they lacked. IN SO FAR:
STILL NEEDED:
5. LIVERPOOL
Mohamed Salah is likely to prove a Sadio Mane-style purchase, and Dominic Solanke was a good piece of business, but Liverpool still need to make three or four key signings to really push on now. That was one reason, beyond the humiliation the Virgil van Dijk failure still lingers over their summer. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED:
6. ARSENAL
You could almost say it’s typical Arsenal of the last decade, in the sense that it feels like a success has so many qualifications and caveats. They finally got the striker upgrade they have for so long so badly needed in Alexandre Lacazette, but any hope from that is tempered by all of the doubt about Alexis Sanchez’s future. So much comes down to that, most pointedly the question of whether Arsenal can start the season a better team than they finished the last one. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED:
7. WATFORD
Watford have pulled off a coup in getting Marco Silva, and have already started to give him what Hull City couldn’t, in a bit of better quality. IN SO FAR:
11. HUDDERSFIELD
You couldn’t complain about the extent of their business, as Huddersfield have shown an abrasiveness to go with their football. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED:
12. BURNLEY
They still need more, but keeping Sean Dyche and adding the bustle of Jon Walters simply gives Burnley more as a force. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED: The make-up of Spurs’ squad, and their finances, means that they are in a slightly curious place. The main objective is to keep a young and growing squad together but the dilemma is that the only way they can improve it is by making the kind of massive-waged signings that could threaten to disrupt the careful balance of that team. It will already be slightly altered by the likely departure of Kyle Walker to Manchester City, but they are confident of keeping Eric Dier. After that, any signings will likely be squad players. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED:
14. CHELSEA
Antonio Conte has already been greatly frustrated as he has wanted to enhance a number of areas in Chelsea’s squad, but the way this window has gone now puts real pressure on the champions, as the stark fact is they just need a top striker. It’s as simple as that but is their big difficult task. Diego Costa is going, Romelu Lulaku won’t be coming – so they need to come to some sort of solution soon. If Alvaro Morata arrives as anticipated, though, it will transform the complexion of a summer that should also see Tiemou Bakayoko and Sandro join Antonio Rudiger. It may not look great right now but, as with last summer, that should change. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED:
15. BRIGHTON
Some typically considered buys but could maybe do with a touch more quality. IN SO FAR:
STILL NEEDED:
16. SOUTHAMPTON
It’s already been a very different type of summer for Southampton… because there’s actually been so little business, and they’ve so far managed to keep one of their best players in Virgil van Dijk. How it ends up will depend on that, but they could still do with other areas bolstered. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED:
17. WEST BROM
The loss of Darren Fletcher was a blow, but Tony Pulis’ team is still solid, and he’s added a touch more ingenuity in Jay Rodriguez IN SO FAR:
STILL NEEDED:
18. SWANSEA CITY
The futures of Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson colour everything, even amid some decent business so far. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED:
19. WEST HAM UNITED
So much quieter than last summer, and the curiosity with this club is that it’s hard to tell if that’s a good or bad thing, just as it’s hard to tell if Pablo Zabaleta is still the same force. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED:
20. CRYSTAL PALACE
They finally have their new manager in Frank De Boer, but now need a raft of new players, as the only club not to make a signing so far. IN SO FAR: STILL NEEDED: