Premier League transfer window winners and losers

The Athletic FC Hi there and welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me Adam Leventhal, so with the Premier League kickoff just around the corner. Which clubs have got their business spot on and who has a lot of work left to do? Well alongside me from the Athletic is Tim Spears, who is basically the biggest ranker at the Athletic, aren't you? And you are perfect for this. Hello Adam. Would you want to put some context around that? You are a ranker and you are a. You do so well at it. Yeah thanks very much. I guess the context is that I tend to get asked to put stuff in order as per the Athletic, sort of, whether very popular articles. Yeah, massive around the World Cup weren't they? Yes, yes. Which team is the best? There was no other way to decide so, you know. Yeah, you're good at that. And Jay Harris. That's a bit of a letdown on that. That introduction off the back of it. Oh you. I'm all good. How are you? Yeah good. Good. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into this because basically what we're going to do is split some of the clubs into two main categories on their transfer business. Those who've impressed us, the winners and those who are sort of concerning us at the moment, we'll call them the losers but it is caveated obviously that the transfer window is still open and it can change at any time. And on that note, we obviously have the transfer deal sheet on the Athletic which drops every Tuesday, keeps you up to date with all of the transfer details. So do get in touch with that. Don't go in touch with it. Just read it. It's really good. Right. We're going to get into some of those transfers along the way. But let's start with some winners. Are we happy with Spurs being a winner? Definitely. Yeah. Why wouldn't they be? Why? Because Spurs, they finished 17th last season, two points above relegation. They have been a basket case of a club. So how do we know whether what they've done in the transfer market will make them winners? Because if we told you on that final day of the season when they've just scraped a one-nil victory over Everton, they were going to break their transfer record twice. Be off competition from Manchester United, sign Mateus Van Henders, be off competition from Man City to sign San Joe Tinali, get Jan Paul Van Hacker, Marcus and S.E. Andy Robertson. I don't if you believe that all of that stuff would happen. I remember at the time, the beginning of the window, after they completed the deals with Van Hacker, Robertson, S.E. and a lot of those deals we sort of knew about before the end of the window. And it was all dependent upon whether Spurs would stay up or not. So we weren't really surprised by those moves. And then we were seeing them link with Tinali and Van Henders. Okay, that's a great show of intent and ambition. Are you actually going to put it off? And pulling one of them off would have been impressive. Pulling both off, I think really tells people that there's been a bit of a, and it was the same people in charge, but now Levy's no longer there. Does feel like it's a bit of a new era at Spurs. Is it a reaction as well to how close they came to getting relegated? We can't let this happen again. Can't let it happen again. Because it has happened for the last two seasons. I think it's an over correction as well from years of not spending that money. They've gone big on wages. I think you can also see that in the contract renewals. You know, Pedro Porosan and New Deal, Mickey Van the Ven last night, that was confirmed, adding in Kintig as well. So not only are they spending more money on players coming in in terms of their salary, but they're also giving the players who are currently at the club better deals. I think the only question Mark about Spurs is transfer activity this summer is further forward because they've got some real issues there. Are we being blinded by new is different is better or is this is this solid business? The players they're brought in are really, really good additions. I think you can argue that they've overspent, but I think right now it doesn't seem to really matter. So even Spurs can't mess this up with those players? I mean, Mattay's Fernandez is an incredible addition. Probably one of the signings of the summer. They have overpaid for him, I think considering the only cost what 40 million a year ago for West Ham. But just yeah, he will run that midfield. I think he's got potential to improve quite a lot. Tonelli, very good addition, Van Hecker. These are like ready made, you know, primarily players. I think the one sort of question Mark, as Jay said, was like, have they concentrated all that money in one specific area midfield, whereas if you're going to spend 185 million on Tonelli and West Chaps Fernandez, then maybe one of those should have been a forward rather than midfielder. Because for my mind, Jay might disagree. You know, when you got Bergval and Gray, I think a better guy, better guy, better guy, then ahead of them you got Madison, Chabby Simmons and Kulisewski. I know there's huge sort of fitness issues of over all of them, but they're all at a club and they're all still being paid very handsome wages. So they've got midfield was the least of their concerns for me. They've improved it, but still, I think you'd rather seen that money channeled into forward areas, but maybe we'll still see that in the coming. Yeah, do you expect them to find a marksman somewhere and sign a striker? I think they have to. Currently, it looks like they're front free for the first game of the season against Brentford. Could be Matisse-Tel, Dominique Selanke and Connagalli are playing out of position on the right wing. Mahamakudas didn't go on their preseason tour because he's still recovering from a hamstring injury. He suffered in January. I think he's back in full training now, but he's been out for six, seven months. So I don't think you can assume he's going to be ready enough to start in time for that Brentford game. As Tim sort of alluded to, Javi Simmons suffered an ACL. He's not going to play in 2027. Will Sonata-Ben might be back by the end of the year. He also suffered an ACL. Madison didn't play on the preseason tour. Does Erby call it a small problem. Madison's just coming back from two ACLs. So I don't know if you can rely on him to play consistently and it will probably take a little bit of time for him to get back to his best. Then further forward, you've got Richarlison who has deficiencies in his game, shall we say, but can be a decent enough goal scorer. I don't know if you'd want to keep him permanently. Salanky's had issues of injuries over the last year. So it's just Fred Bear for ever forward. It's completely right. What Tim's saying. Fantastic to get those deals over the line. At the beginning of the summer transfer, would you, would you have looked at them and filled and said that was the biggest issue? No. So if they don't go on to get Savino or whoever it is for ever forward, then questions will be raised. So they're winning the window at the moment, Spurs. They are top. I'm asking the ranker. I don't know. Okay. If you had to do, who's winning the window? Tim Spears, our resident ranker puts you saying that. Well, you are. It's fine. It's fine to be that. It's fine. You're really running with that. Yeah, I'm going with it hot. Okay. Who would you put top? I think to bring in those sort of maybe ask nicely. Okay. So it wouldn't be Spurs for now. That's fine. That's fine because obviously what Jay's just outlined in terms of the attack on the opening day. You can't. Can you say they win the window if they start with that attack at the start season? I know they've got huge injury problems and it's a real tough one. The trick all these players, the tricky situation Spurs are in is that they've got so many attacking players out injured who will return at some point. As Tim said, they've been paid hamps and wages. Killer Setski as well. So the situation you could end up in as you go and sign loads of attacking players this summer, then come January, February time. You basically just have too many players, but I think Spurs is sort of their own fault there in that situation. So you basically have to overstock on players because you can't go into this season. Light on numbers, hoping that Javi will come back. Killer Setski will come back. Or the bell will come back and they'll be at their previous level. I just don't think you can take that risk. Have they made additions in the medical department? That would be my. Yes, they have changed that. Well, they're not going to get a spate of injuries when they start working hard. So a new performance director came in in, I think he started in February's name Stan Lewndan who'd worked with the City Football Group and he's, I think, led an investigation at the club over the last few months looking into areas of the, I guess, from the training, the quality of the training pitches, the stadium, and there's been lots of online rumours about the fact they've got a retractable pitch and they've suffered quite a few ACLs. I know it's the same with Ramadrid. They've looked into various different bits and pieces like that to just basically work out if there are any ways they can improve things. There's an acknowledgement that having four different head coaches in two years has had a massive factor because they all want to train in different ways. They want to play in different ways and then you're putting a different load on players' bodies. I don't want to overtake the transfer podcast too much with medical lingo. I've been watching a lot of scrubs recently so maybe that's why I'm fresh in my brain. That's the sort of short version of it. Okay. So we will wait and see on spurs because I'm not as convinced as you too that it's going to be the complete answer because they've spent this money already because it is because it's all the terms of all question is. You know, is the question getting to Champions League or is it let's top 10 and build it? But when you've spent all that money, you have to get into the Champions League, right? We should we should we should also do. I was going to take it in a different direction and say we should credit spurs with the fact that they have sold better this window than they have previously as well. So yes, they've spent a lot of money but they're brought in 46 million pounds for Vuskovich. They've sold Will Lancer and it looks like Ashley Phillips is going to Middlesbrough as well and basically-- This is a SOTS and SODS, that isn't it? Not really because Lancer and Phillips, if there are if certain add-ons are met, they'll get 20 million pounds for both of those players who are not members of the first in school options now on loan. Small change, small change. Small change, you're in the big league now. Come on. Spending 100 million pounds on Tanaali and things like that. Yeah, and so Vuskovich Phillips and Lancer could pay for financial. And one other one on Spurs, obviously the incoming has been eye catching. Jed spent potentially heading away. Yeah, it looks like he could be on his way to into Milan, which I'm sure will surprise quite a few people because he was one of the heroes of England's wild cup. It seemed like he was constantly making these lung-busting runs in these dramatic tackles or blocks or whatever it was. And I think maybe people who don't watch Spurs Week in Week out, their view of him really enhanced. And I guess it's a little bit sweet. His journey at Spurs over the last few years has been remarkable. It looked like at one point, you know, a con say famously called in the club signing. It felt like he was never going to get his chance. He went out on loan to Ren and Genoa, eventually comes back and works his way into the team on the pasta co-glu. I think he's very valuable because of his first versatility to play left-back or right-back. But Spurs at the moment, they've got Pedro Poro, Wokop, Winner with Spain, first choice of right-back. And he wears just signed a new deal on the left-hand side. They've got Andy Robertson, Destiny of Doggy, even Ben Davies is still there. They've got Swatza, the young 19-year-old Brazilian they signed earlier this year. So Spence's performances at the wild cup probably mean that he deserves to go and be first choice somewhere, so you can't really begrudge him this opportunity if that's what happens. Let's go to the other side of North London, to the Champions, to Arsenal, finish seven points above Manchester City. What have you made of their business? Did you put them top? Yeah, I just think that they've got the best team and arguably scored in the league and they've made it better. I think you can argue that they've upgraded. Certainly midfield, Bruno Gimmer Rice coming in is maybe not a game changer, but I just a very good addition that's going to improve them. However, losing out on Benissus Jr.'s obviously a serious blow. The way that it built up over a few days and the guy just clearly wanted a new contract like Fade Play. He played a blinded. Yeah, they all played up a lander. Arsenal got played. No, I mean, from the round Madrid side, I just think it was all the moment there was any sort of real sense of, 'Oh, he might actually entertain Arsenal, just Madrid went, 'Yeah, that's not going to happen.' And just did it. Do you think it, do Arsenal have their, do they qualifiers having their fingers burnt or as hard as Arsenal? They're not sure if it's good for them to have been in the conversation. I don't necessarily buy that. I almost think like if you're flirting with a big star. You got a lander. Yeah, you got a lander. No, you have like like Man United used to every year. They win the league. They go out and normally made one big statement signing, be that Van Nistroy or Stam or Van Percy. You know, I don't think Bruno Gimmer Rice quite qualifies in that bracket. But all my Arsenal supporters were getting massively carried away. Like, there was real excitement about him coming in. The shirt sales would have been insane. You know, I can genuinely imagine if the Simonist is junior, people would have just converged on the Emirates and just added a bit of a party. They're obviously in that mode this summer. You know, so yeah, to blow, it may seem what they can do in the rest of the window. And then there's a celebrity issue which needs sorting out as in to bring in a centre back. It's a bit mysterious. I don't see if some of how long is out for. Our test is not talking about it. It's an extended period is the term that they're using, isn't it? Yeah. I mean, they got, do you know what? They got my scary who's an excellent backup one. It was probably one of the best signings, £4,000 of their season last season for any club, £13 million. And he did far better than I think anyone expected in his first season. But yeah, they've upgraded the squad. They look really sorry. And I think I would expect more to come from Ezra and Gjokeres, who didn't quite hit the heights that we know they're capable of last season. And on the centre back issue, do you think that there's enough cover within if there was another significant injury in the centre back position while Celebac is out, you know, players that can move across white, Califurie and Kappier or whoever, whoever they want to, they want to move in there. Or do you need to bring in similar to the situation at Spurs where you think, well, we're not sure how they're going to come back. Do you have to upgrade? Do you have to go and get a concert? Do you do believe that Romero would ever go to Arsenal? And why would Arsenal want Romero? Because that's been talked about. There's some mention of it in explanation in the dealership. Yeah, we've reported on it. It's not just coming out of here now. On Romero, we've reported pretty much throughout the whole summer that he's probably going to lose Spurs. And I feel like a committee had always had long standing interest in him. I think we reported in the dealership that there's a verbal agreement between Spurs and Inter Milan for around, I think, it's £40 million. But I'm coming to it. I don't want, but Inter and Romero haven't agreed personal terms yet. And then the Arsenal interest, I think is pretty obvious who's Michael Arter as assistant coach. Tell me, can we come behind, sir? Oh, hi, sir. Yeah, of course. So I'd imagine that that's an element of the pursuit and the interest. I have my concerns over Romero on a football pitch. I think he's injured too much and I think he's suspended too much. But if you were, you can't really ignore that. But when he is fit and focused for Argentina, he's an aggressive ball playing centre back. Yeah. And that fits him with what Artert wants. I think there are too many downsides if you were Arsenal to sign him. And that's also why I think Spurs should sell him this summer as far as much money as possible. I just don't think he's consistent enough and I think he breaks down too often. He's more of a liability than a lifesaver, isn't he? I think so. Do you think? Yeah, it's all going to get behind, sir. Artert, peace about him and Romero this week. Oh, yeah. For like controversial moves that happened, like, you know, Fee-Jones. Did you rank Salkamon? No, I didn't. Fee-Jose Salkamon, etc. And then moves that didn't happen. No player has transferred from between Manu and Liverpool since 1964. My own would dare do it. Gabby Heintzer wanted to do it. Liverpool sort of bid for him about 2010 kind of time. He was well up for it. And now he's the one, yeah, potentially trying to lure Romero. I just wasn't serious. I just got up. Yeah, no one. No one. I'm just telling him, yeah, go on, do it. Do it. Yeah, Romero would totally do it. Yeah. Interesting. Just quickly on that note, when we reported it, I sort of quoted us online. And said, "Spurs by and time, would you feel about this?" And the range of responses sort of caught me off guard a little bit. She had some people saying she should never be allowed in the White Half and Northland and never again, if he does this. She had some people who said, "As long as we get a good amount of money for him, I couldn't care less." And you got some people saying, "I drive him there myself because he would definitely get sent off against us every season." And just that sense of he draws such inspiring, different opinions from people, such differing opinions from people. Some people think, some spurstances think he's amazing, some spurstances think he's a massive liability. But I'm sure he sure he probably won't be at spurs come the end of the win. Yeah, exactly. And more than likely to end up at Athletica Madrid or in Tamalan. Right, I'm not quite sure where these three teams are going in terms of the winners and losers. The two Manchester clubs and Chelsea. So let's deal with where Manchester United are, first of all. I quite like their business. They've sort of tinkered and they seem to have just sort of quietly strengthened. Is that a good assessment? Yeah, I don't mind either, actually. I mean, they've obviously made one exceptional addition in tealiments. I think one of the signings of the summer, I know he's 29, but 35 million. It's not a huge amount of money for a player who's just going to come in and absolutely smash it, I think. He's one of the best ball players in the Premier League. Andres Santos, we didn't see a huge amount of him at Chelsea, but it's done well in pre-season. You know, that- You did well when he came in. When they were missing Kaisada and they needed him. I thought he did well, didn't he? Oh, the fact that Chelsea's sort of happy to let him go would be a little lamb. But you know, of course. Maybe not him to sort of go, I deserve to be playing more because you've seen my body of work when I stepped in. Body of work, I like that. Yeah, potentially. Yeah, I think there's a real sort of calmness and sort of consistency is what my United need after years of sort of turmoil and turbulence. Yeah, but it's not far from personal when they're being sensible and transformable. Yeah. But I think like sort of with a couple of last numbers I mentioned earlier, we can't expect improvements from, I think, Cesco, how a good season if he stays fit, someone like Lenny Oroz and I're coming on like Leap St. Basil year after year, I'm at the L.O., I think we can expect more from him. I think a little bit more depth for Champions League is where I would raise a little alarm belt. And the fact, I mean, it's not really the fact that Man United and Liverpool's head coaches are about to embark on their first ever European campaigns. That's got to be unprecedented in those two clubs history and how they handle that and how in terms of rotation and squad depth is going to define both of their seasons. I think certainly Man United. So winners or losers at the moment, do we have to? Can we not just say, you know, do we have to say, how are you making your, making your backs on doing this day in day out? No, definitely not losers. Good, fine. So they're more winners than losers. Sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Good. Manchester City, this is an interesting one in terms of what might happen and the knock can't affect, for example, obviously you start a Rodry and you go, okay, there's an agreement sort of in principle for him to go there if Barcelona pay enough money. That's the detail in the deal sheet today. And then if he does go, who do they get in, in addition to having brought in Elliot Anderson, talk about Enzo Fernandez, there's talk about Bruardi as well. So I'm not quite sure where they fit into this. - I think firstly, as we saw when Honest lot first took over at Liverpool, I think the only made was Kiase of the only signing, they made that some of them went on to Wendell. So sometimes there can be a sense of, you have to do something when actually maybe the best thing is to just work with the current school. You've got Tinker, understand them a little bit better and gone from there. We can't overlook the fact that Man City has spent a lot of money in the last 12 months. So they signed some menu and Mark Gaye in January. If we were saying, if they'd done that in this summer, we'd be saying, "I live on the window, I've got some menu and Gaye." But I think it's been quite well reported on by a family, our colleague that Man City actually just basically brought a lot of their spending and their plans for the summer forward to January. So when you put it in that context in the last six months, they've got Gaye, Cemento and Anderson. They might move on from Roderie and bring in a slightly younger midfielder. Then I think you'd say that's pretty good business. And look, Roderie was phenomenal with the World Cup. There's no doubt about it. But I remember there was a game last season. I think when Man City lost to Bodo, Glimpton, the Champions League and people were saying he was finished. So I'm not saying he is finished. I'm not saying he's back at the levels he was showing pretty ACL, but if you can get 45, 50 million pounds euros, whatever it is for a 30-year-old midfielder who has had some struggle since he came back from a really serious injury, and you can put that in a young midfielder. Maybe that's not the worst deal in the world. Let's check in with Samley, who you mentioned, our Manchester City correspondent on those links to Enzo Fernandez. Let's have a listen. Manchester City want Enzo Fernandez. Truth, they have to know some of them. Enzo Maresco is a big fan of his. City want him for the midfield. Obviously they could be losing Roderie. Could be losing Rinders as well. And Enzo Fernandez is all-action style. He's very well suited to Maresco's game plan. Obviously they work together with Chelsea. Maresco is a big fan of him. And he knows that that kind of energy and bite is needed in the Premier League, and it's needed as City kind of build a midfield going forward. Problem is, it'll be about 120 million pounds. Chelsea and City are not on the greatest terms after Maresco left them and went to City this summer. So it's very difficult. There's not long left in the window. But it is something that City like the idea of, and it is something to keep an eye on. So watch this space, Tim. Do you think that that would be the signing if they lose Roderie? Enzo Fernandez for Roderie. Well, in addition to the other strength thing that they've done there with Elliot Anderson. I think Fernandez will be really good. In addition, 120 million is crazy money, though. Like, you know. Did you not worth it? Do you think you justified that fee last season? Not necessarily, but Chelsea were a bit choppy weren't they last season. Yeah, a lot of those down to his performances. I think a lot of the players going through him and he didn't really deliver. I thought he was good, but not great. Your anti-enzo Fernandez now, especially after the World Cup. Yeah, I've got a huge anti-enzy. I was in time by him going on right now. You do, don't you? You're still living very much in the World Cup. That's fine. Okay, well, let's deal with what Chelsea have done. We've done the two Manchester clubs. We spoke about their transfer business in pretty good detail last week. So you can check out that podcast. But just in general terms, and there's been a lot going on. They've spent over 300 million, which is sort of on trend for them. Do you think that they are a better offering now? And obviously, they've brought in Javier Lanzar as well as a new gaffer. I think the fact that they've signed experience, and I know it's become a bit of a cliche in this window. But I do think that's a really good thing just to have people like Henderson a well-beck to show the way forward, even the choir. The one, there are a couple of people they've sold, which I think is a shame for them. Cucarere a good one because I thought he was pretty exceptional for them last season. And I think Trevor Chalibar as well. I don't begrudge him the fact that he's moved to coma. So fantastic. Move for him. Over the last few years, he's just been a very dedicated servant to Chelsea, someone who came through the academy. Those types of players are important for the fans. There was that season where he went on loan to Crystal Palace. They dragged him back when they needed him in an emergency. He was just dependable. They've got people like Tossin Adderoviro who's been there for a year. And I don't think he's had the same impact. But Chalibar, the academy graduate, is the one who's gone. And I sort of imagine the world where actually you prefer to keep the, I think, Chalibar's 27, the 27-year-old academy graduate who's been around understands the club. So I look at that and think that's a little bit of a shame. But the fact that he's not been replaced position wise, but the fact that World Becken Henderson have come in maybe offsets that lack of experience in a little bit or like a loss of experience for other. Did Chelsea need a new keeper? Yeah, they've needed one for, I don't understand. Don't get it. But the Intel in the deal sheet says he's happy with his three keepers at the moment. Just, yeah, just don't get it. He's been, he's been, he's got better swans the second half of the season, but he's been a weakness for them for years. I just don't understand, you know, James Trafford or Sennel Lamonds, like why they're not in for, for these kind of keepers. They've had, they've had almost like a low key summer by their standards and they're still the high spenders and they brought in seven first team players like, you know, we outlined on the pod last week, 13 first team forwards, 13. What is it? 10 to 12 centrebacks. I lose count. So yeah, this is just bizarre situation where they're massively overloading certain areas and they've refused to sign it. But by all accounts, the Intel in the deal sheet is that they are now going to be pushing players out or selling them. It is. They're not worth putting it. Yeah, with no Europe, it's crazy. Yeah. Big desk quality. They've got a lot of work to do to stream like that. So just very quickly, Manchester United, you're putting more winners than losers. Manchester City. More winners than losers. Yeah. Yeah. And Chelsea. Whoa. I know you'd probably want to put them more losers than winners, obviously. But I think they're more winners. I don't. You're more winners. They've been screaming for them for years to change their policy of signing to sign more older players and they've finally done that. So I think that should be enough. Couple of old dudes and they're now winners. I don't know. Come on. Come on. It's just what they need. That's what they need. Okay. So more winners than losers and you're saying Chelsea more winners than losers. Yeah. In terms of the players they've brought in, Morgan Rogers is a brilliant sign. Yeah. We're all going to talk about the price because it's insane. Yeah. But just to sign Morgan Rogers, it's like just to sign to Nali. Fantastic addition. Like they'll worry about the accounts and pay their £10 million fine for breaking the rules year after year. It doesn't matter. Does it? Doesn't matter. Great sign. Even though you've got Karl Palmer already. I know he can do different things, but do you need them both? Palmer's not had that good of the last 18 months or so. But he will be rejuvenated after sitting at home watching the World Cup. So they say, well, he fell asleep during the English age. He wasn't really watching the World Cup. Well, he's relaxed and ready to go. That's true. That's true. Okay. Now to our discussion of the day, sponsored by Threads. Now last night we asked our Threads followers, who is the best value transfer so far this summer? We'll get to some of your responses. Thank you very much for sending those in. But first to Tim, give me an answer then. Is this for any club in the Premier League? Yes. I thought you were going to push it. Really? No, no, no, no, no, don't say any coming to us. Because it'll save around him and there's going back to wolves. So it's great to have him back and all that. I mean, all I say and that voice. No, no, no, no. So say Keir and Chippie are actually another great business. Yeah, of course. Come on then, answer. Go. I mean, you just can accuse me of bias. But I couldn't care less what you say. I'm written from all about Jay's opinion. Yeah, that's right. Joe Gomez, to Villes is unbelievable. Is that hell of a sign in 38 million, 25 Brazilian international since his debut in the Premier League in 2023. No player across Europe's top five leagues has made more tackles than Joe Gomez. He is a terrier and he was a level above. Isn't that just because teams are running through wolves? And he has a level of level above anyone in that war scene last season. He was playing passes that nobody could relate to. So he was the good player that you had. Oh, he was a level, honestly, especially when you're watching me person, a level above the utter dross that we were putting out. We had to wait. He's flying in preseason. I think that's, yeah, that's gone under the radar and it's a really good sign in. Okay. Fair enough. I like it. Jay. I think me and Tim have mentioned it already about tealamans to man United. I think is a really good deal. It's sort of a sensible deal that man United have not done enough over the last few years. If I had to pick something different, maybe with mass buzz hat on, I do think getting Robertson and Celestia on free transfers is pretty decent business, which clearly upgrades the squad and it didn't cost them that much. Oba K agrees with you on tealamans for 35 million. Ryan sketch says as much as it hurts me as a Liverpool fan, I've got to go with Bruno Gemmarish going to Arsenal and another signing for Arsenal solace. If he can carry on this form into the league, defends like a demon and looks like he's going to do something every time he gets near the box. That's from Dan Sayers. Should have mentioned the burlough of some of Arsenal. I'm also going to have a very quick shout out to Ipswich who does really interested in business like Fattu from from Leicester for 20 million years just to take on machine. Yeah. And Maida from Celtic. That could go one way, could go another, but obviously he's done very well in Scotland. And Florentine and Louise as well from Florentine and Louise from Burnley last season. Very good tackling stats. Good DM. So yeah, they've done a lot of interesting business. He said, do you know what they brought him in? I think he's a good centre back. They do things differently to last time. Yeah, they are. Okay, for your chance to be featured in our next discussion of the day. Feature head over to Threads, follow the Athletic FC, and you can join the conversation. (upbeat music) So we're gonna get stuck into more losers than winners. That's what Tim's told me to sort of categorize them as. And just a reminder, deadline day in the UK for the Premier League. Tuesday, September the 1st at 11pm, it's the same in Spain, 7pm that day in Italy, and it closes a day earlier in Germany and France. So who are the. - Do you know how to just realise you should have made them do during this episode? Blind rank the teams as they go along as to where they are in the league. - Oh, he's too late now. Blind, why is it gotta be blind? - Just to say, "Oh, okay, midway through, where do you think Chelsea are at this point?" And then we come down to Liverpool later on. You've got to say, "Oh, that's too late now." - He doesn't blind. - You didn't make use of the resident rank. - He doesn't blind rank. - Eyes open. - Yeah, I was wide open. Okay, right. (laughing) Oh, dear, that's silly. Let's deal with the teams that have work to do. Okay, so where do Liverpool sit in all of this? Because some people would say they did too much last summer and that's what sort of twisted their melon a little bit, bringing Esacquian and Ecotekas. - Is that a freeze? - It is to people of a certain age, all right? And I'm sure it'll be picked up in like 10 years time, youngsters will be saying, okay? (laughing) Whatever. So it confused them. That's basically what I'm saying by saying twisting the melon. What do you make of it at Liverpool? - I think there are very obvious holes within that squad that haven't been addressed just yet and the fence is a big issue. And I'll just sign Ronald Arralho from Barcelona alone. - He's a big unit, isn't he? (laughing) - Which seems like a pretty decent deal. I still got a lot of concerns about the right back situation. Connor Bradley's injured. Jeremy Frimpong had a lot of muscle injuries last season. And even when he was performing at his best at Biolivacus and he was more of a right wingback. His position so high up the pitch. Joe Gomez, I think is injured again. So you know, Van Dyke, sort of your Van Dyke and Arralho, you're only fit senior centrebacks. I know they've got the only who's coming back off an ACL. They've got Jeremy Jacques, who I believe is supposed to play in their final preseason game. I can't remember who it's against off the top of my head, but they're still a fair bit of expectation on someone who's a very young centreback who's never played in a Premier League before. And I think that was a really big issue for them last season. And I just don't think they've addressed it enough. And that's before we get into what's going on further up the pitch with the loss of SADDER, et cetera. So purely on the defensive issues alone, I'm quite concerned. - Tim? - I think I've been reading some concerns as to like their lost experience and stuff, but I think Salah, Konate and Roberson, were like all on their way out. It's good time to let them go to be honest. Salah and Konate had their worst seasons in Liverpool shirt. Last season, Roberson, Kerrkez is the obvious sort of successor. So no problem with those guys being let go, but they do have issues with concerns of incoming. I mean, they haven't got a right forward. I was reading James Pierce's piece the other day. As things stand, they're playing a competitive match tomorrow. It's Kiezer or Kumas. As you write forward options, then they've got GACPO, Angamoa and Munoz on the left. So that's as huge concern. My callus has only just come back this week from the World Cup, so you'd expect us asking a lot of him to get up to speed for the sort of the outing day. And yeah, the other day against Monaco. The first 11's still very good, but yeah, against Monaco the other day, the sort of midfield and squad that this year's were highlighted. They had Gravenburg and Subos Lion Vs with a midfield, but then they all went off. And of course, Erolyo, we know he's going to ask a lot of them, more than probably any coach in the league. So last is sort of not a minute. That intensity, I was going to be an issue. But the three that came on, James McConnell, Harvey Elliott, and Tray Unioni. - Unioni. - Unioni. Unioni. Tray Unioni. Who's that guy? So like, you know, there are big issues with squad depth. And you know, you're looking at Van Dyke as the only sort of fit senior centreback, you know, as of this day. But he was way off it a lot of time last year. You're going to hang your hat on him as the best sort of centreback to lead you through this season. You know, plus concerns about getting used to Erolyo style. They don't really have a proper DM in the whole squad. They're, yeah, they're a serious sort of issues there. So work to do more in the loses count. Lots, yes, definitely. Okay. Newcastle. Let's deal with them. Obviously, everyone's left. Tough summer. Yeah, really tough. And a lot of unanswered questions. And a lot of work that the fans would probably still like them to do. Even though they've reinvested relatively well in terms of numbers, they've spent the tonnale money, for example. And they've, they can now spend the, the Gimmaris money as well. I think the issue for them throughout the whole summer has been basically getting their first choice targets. And we know it happened with your hammer, Zambie, who ended up going to Aston Villa. I think we reported in the dealersheet last week that there's a Danish refilled up, actually Porto, if it's a throw-hurt, who knew Castle we were interested in, but that's not really gone anywhere. It's just Newcastle are trying to be ambitious in the transfer market. They're just not getting anywhere with it. They had an offer rejected for Lucas Burr, Wow, it's Burr's. And you can't really blame any of those players for turning down Newcastle at the moment, because at the end of the season, if you were saying, right, come play under Eddie Howe, you know, you'll have Gimmaris and T'Lyly next to you, or we'll lose one of them, but we'll keep with the other. You know, maybe we'll keep Gordon, we won't. Now you're thinking, whom are going to be playing alongside? There's been a massive experience and talent drain, and I must be pretty off-putting for people who want to join the club at the moment. So it's a tough situation. Look, they have spent some money on some interesting players, like Torre, Bamber the Midfield, or Sean Sturff from Iaxe, highly rated, but they're all very young. And to put them under that much pressure to say, bang, here you go, you've got to hit the ground running, you've got to replace people who won the Carabell Cup with us and will go down as legends of this club for winning the first piece of silverware in what 50, 60, 70 years, however long it was, isn't massive-ask. And I've witnessed it over the last couple of years at Spurs and other people who've seen it with Chelsea. Lots of Premier League clubs think, let's sign players under the age of 23 and we'll develop them, we'll send them on for a profit. It's not that simple. You can't just have a starting 11 of players who are under the age of 23. You need to have experience alongside them. You need guidance. And I think at the moment, that's where there's a real mismatch in Newcastle squad. There's a lot of young exciting talent in there, but I don't know if they've got enough high quality experience around it to then help those players improve. They finished 12 last season, 10 points above the relegation zone. Are they going to finish closer to the relegation zone this season with the business that they've done? I think that's the prediction you have to make. What would concern me, okay, players move on and to be fair, most of the departures have gone to it. Like elite clubs, you know, EZAC obviously went to Liverpool last year. And there must be a selling club there, that wasn't the dream, was it? That's all gone, hasn't it? One can about a couple of later, it's over. And obviously the biggest departure is in theory is anyhow, but I do think a change in managers, a good thing for Newcastle. I was surprised when he looked like he was going to stay on. I felt like he'd just slightly outstair his welcome. I think fans wouldn't have any, many more their sick of his excuses. And recruitment last summer, which I think he was quite heavily involved in, in terms of, you know, the place that he wanted was disastrous. It spent 200 million on four signings. It was all on the bench at the end of the season. It's terrible. Like Elanga, Ramsey, Volta Mada and Vista, all really underwhelmed. Vista's had a good preseason off the back of a good World Cup, but you know, he's going to rely on good service. So yeah, we'll see what the new managers can be like. It looks like it's going to be very different, at high energy, vertical football, high press in. But you have to last summer, do you trust them to spend the money? Wisely, that would be my biggest concern, not the players they've lost, but who they're going to bring in and the kids they've signed so far are so huge risk. - Okay, so a couple of losers there, Liverpool and Newcastle, according to Tim Spears. Let's touch on the business of a few other Premier League clubs who have caught our attention, Aston Villa, like that you like their business, don't you? - Yeah, well, not sure about Gonaccio, but it seems that they're contractually obliged to sign a Wingo who's struggled at Manionite and Chelsea. So he's this season's Janus Santjo. Apparently it looked very good in preseason, he was compared to Lionel Messi, but I wanted my friends to show about that. But yeah, Manzanbi, in what way? - He's just quite. - You're hanging out with. - So yeah, we'll see, he's like a huge unknown, I'm not sure he's Emery's type of player, personally, he's got a work hard to fit into that team and we haven't really seen him do that in the past, but hey, who knows, people can change. So elsewhere, Manzanbi, like great addition, they've paid a slight welcome premium on him, I think, but Jack Gomez has discussed really good addition. They do need, I think they need a passing midfielder, they've lost Thielum's creativity. I see they're interested in Jardh Palinia. Not sure about that, they've got Bubacar Camaro is one of the best. - Palinia doesn't solve the creativity. - Yeah, and I think he's a great player, but they've got one of the best DMs in the league in Bubacar Camaro, I know he's just coming back from injury, which is maybe why they want someone else, [BLANK_AUDIO] Jago Maze, McGinn, obviously a Nana's out as well. Midfield, it's pretty good to me when they're all fit. So, yeah, they've had quite a, a, a, a, a, spendy summer by their standards. Okay. I mean, for Villa fans, thinking about Jago Palinia, what would they be, would they, should they be in any way excited about having him in the midfield? I think he is very good at performing a very specific role. And Spurs fans should also celebrate the fact that he popped up with some massively crucial goals for them last year. So he's also threatened the box. But if you want some, he's not going to be the tea limits replacement. If he's someone who can take the pressure in the burden off, Bubakakamara, and that makes total sense, but he's not someone who's going to dribble forward with the ball or make progressive passes, etc. He's a very safety first player, but some teams need that. Fullham. Interesting business or slightly concerning business, considering the players that they've lost. Obviously, Ralph Jimenez, the hero of Mollon, you returning home, Harry Wilson, ESA De Op, who we also mentioned, I mean, losing Harry Wilson. Yeah. That's a massive blow. I know he's left on a free and, you know, there'll be contractual discussions going on for ages. He's gone to leads. They've lost three important players there. Haven't they? And the manager, yeah, as long as brought it all together. They're the biggest unknown for me. I know there are a lot of new managers in the Premier League this season, but I think we're, we might be about to see just what a good job Marko Silva was doing year after year. They're very consistent with their style of play, with the team who's putting up every single week. And yeah, losing him and his, you know, and Wilson, two B characters in the dress room, as well. I'll be low as come in. For a couple of guys from Real Madrid. Yeah, I'm not convinced at all. They've got the biggest question mark over them going into the season for me. They're in the loses category for you, aren't they? Yeah, probably. Yeah. You're worried about them. I am deeply concerned about Fullham's welfare. Yeah. Leads, meanwhile, they've got Harry Wilson. They brought in James Trafford as well. They've, they've answered some of the questions from last season. Yeah, I think they're good moves for a team that perform really well in the Premier League. Anyways, just sort of adding that extra layer of quality and good for them to get Wilson over the line because I think he was supposed to possibly go there last summer. It didn't happen. And obviously he had the best season of his career. So there would have been lots of competition for his signing. They also got Taric Maharemavic, the Bosnian Herzegovina international who was tackled. He was tackled by Balaghan. So I'm intrigued to actually know what this guy can do because probably for the rest of his life, he's going to be known as the guy Balaghan got set up. Because they would have had holes in it. Yeah. But yeah, smart moves. Okay. And Brentford, you're old stomping ground. They've been doing some Brentford business. Good old Brentford. What are you saying? It's such a demeaning one. No, no, no, I love Brentford. And I love the way that. Yeah, I love the way that no, hang on a minute. You think I hate them for their long throws. I know you hate them for their long throws. That's all I've got. You moved on from that finally. But everyone's doing it now. So, you know, I hated it when it was new. New long throws. But they always do good business. Yeah, and clever with it. Yeah. And last summer was massive for Brentford in terms of there was just so much change. And they managed to navigate it better than anybody expected. But they lost Thomas Frank, they lost Brian and Bummo, they lost Sean Visser. They signed Daniel Wattara for a club record fee. They lost Christian Norgar as well. Who's the captain? Mark Fleckon first choice goalkeeper so much happened that this summer was naturally going to be more of a evolution as opposed to a revolution. It's a really good move to get Mumboosa and Gary and from Lens club record signing. Someone who basically replaces Jordan Henderson, younger, more athletic, really interesting career spent quite a lot of time out on loan in Austria and Belgium. And now's got to the Premier League at the age of 24. I think it's really smart to bring in Jayden Antony and Kalim Wilson. Maybe they're not headline signings, but I think a big reason why I Brentford just missed out on Europe last season was because they had no attacking depth whatsoever. They were really reliant on Ego Tiago to score goals. Wilson Wilson is someone who can come on in the last stages of a game and take that pressure off Tiago. Jayden Antony had a really good season at Burnley. They signed Yannick Schuster, young centre back from Arby Saltsberg as well. That is classic Brentford to me, San Gari and Schuster. So I think that's Guadzina, a really good position. They don't seem to upset that Henderson's gone. So yeah, let's see. Are you surprised no one's taking Tiago or wants Tiago? Is there potential of him getting snapped up? Not that I've heard of. Tiago had a fantastic season. I think it took people by surprise, but that was his second season in the Premier League. I think people forget his first season in the Premier League was basically defined by injuries. So I do wonder if people are waiting to see if he can replicate the goal scoring and the availability that he had last season before they're prepared to commit being money on him. I mean, he's stuck in the place out for Brazil at the World Cup in that opening game and was never seen or heard from ever again, bless him. Yeah, maybe a bit harsh. I think he's a great player, but Antony gave him an opportunity in that first game, Brazilian looked that good and he never played again with his shame. Who knew that Callum Wilson had gone to Brentford? That's the first time I've heard of it. Completely missed that one. You know, you have like, I don't know, time off or you're at the World Cup or whatever. You just miss transfer. You never catch up on him. That is one news to me. Well done, Brentford. It's a good signing. It's a good signing. So top of the lot, winning the transfer window so far is North London. North London. North London. Vence man and Jay. Spurs for now. And I can change my answer in three weeks time. And the biggest losers of the transfer window so far are Newcastle. I'm going to say Liverpool. OK. Well, I enjoyed that. Thanks very much. Ranka. And thanks very much, Jay. No, whereas it's our pleasure because we're now going to get absolutely mocked for the decisions that we've made. So yeah, it's good. And I've stayed neutral throughout. I haven't given opinions on this. Just just blame Tim. He'll get the heat anyway in the comments. And do fire them in on YouTube and on Spotify or wherever you're listening to your career. Fire away in the resident ranka. Yeah, exactly. And you've got to get it right if you say it. We will be back tomorrow. Take care. Until then.