As the transfer window shuts for another summer, Premier League managers will be left to live with the choices they and the respective boards have made over the last three months, as the season gets properly underway. The first few matchdays have brought about plenty of entertainment — from Thomas Tuchel’s handshake to the Darwin Núñez headbutt — and with games coming thick and fast due to the winter break enforced by the World Cup, expect plenty more upsets between now and November.
In total, over £1.5 billion was spent on new transfers in England’s top flight, with sides at both ends of the table hoping to strengthen their sides and look more favourable amongst Premier League odds from Paddy Power, but who conducted the best business? From juggling departures with recruiting the best talent, read on as we look at which teams were the most successful throughout the summer’s transfer window in the Premier League.
Manchester City
Given the financial war chest Pep Guardiola has at his disposal every season, it was always likely Manchester City would feature when it comes to new signings. Despite craving an out-and-out striker for most of last season, City still picked up a second successive league title, and wasted no time adding to their squad in the summer, with their business all but over before a ball was kicked for pre-season.
Erling Haaland was the marquee acquisition from Borussia Dortmund, with the Norwegian wasting no time in finding the back of the net on English shores. He arrived in a deal worth over £65 million whilst Kalvin Phillips joined from the club Haaland supported as a boy, Leeds United. Phillips, who impressed at Elland Road when he did get the chance to feature in an injury-plagued season, chose to compete for titles as opposed to relegation battles in Yorkshire, trading Jesse Marsch’s side for life at the Etihad, setting City back £42 million for the 26-year-old.
An official deal was completed for Julián Álvarez last season but the Argentinian was loaned back to his native River Plate and only made his official debut for City in August. Sergio Gómez will serve as a squad player and Manuel Akanji’s move on deadline day provides even greater squad depth at the back, with the centre-half arriving as a late addition from Dortmund for £17 million.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
It might seem strange that Wolverhampton Wanderers were added to this list given their rather average start to Bruno Lage’s second season in charge, but when you look at their outgoings and who they’ve brought in as replacements, from a business perspective, things certainly look good. The Portuguese coach has clearly identified players that suit his hard-working, direct style of play and if he can continue to transition from Nuno Espírito Santo’s old guard into a new approach at Molineux then Wolves can look at getting back to pursuing European football.
With the likes of Wily Boly, Rúben Vinagre, Morgan Gibbs-White and former captain Conor Coady all leaving, Lage had plenty of money to play around with over the summer, adding to the Portuguese contingent at the club with compatriots Matheus Nunes and Gonçalo Guedes, as well as shoring up his back-line with Nathan Collins from relegated Burnley. He also secured last season’s loanee Hee-chan Hwang on a permanent deal. Good business all round in the Black Country.
Fulham
When Fulham lost Fábio Carvalho immediately after winning the Championship and earning another promotion to the top flight, it put a dampener on their ambitions of finally surviving and the west London side were immediately tipped for relegation with English Premier League predictions. Marco Silva rallied the troops though and with some clever signings, they’ve made a blistering start to life in the Premier League, currently sixth in the table at the time of writing, having already played Liverpool and Arsenal.
João Palhinha has added stability to the midfield, arriving from Sporting Lisbon for £22 million while former Manchester United man Andreas Pereira provides that creative spark and has complemented the goals of Aleksandar Mitrović, who continues to prove his doubters wrong. Kevin Mbabu and Issa Diop both have Premier League experience with Newcastle and West Ham United respectively and alongside Bernd Leno, who lost his place in the Arsenal team last season, Fulham have their best chance yet of finally shaking off their reputation as being a yo-yo club.
