Which club have had the best window?
Jack Lang: Manchester City. They signed a transformative, generational talent for just a shade over £50million and must be absolutely cracking up at some of the other deals that have been done since.
James Horncastle: Brighton never cease to amaze me. The Marc Cucurella deal is a masterpiece in player trading. Top European clubs look at how Brighton are run and marvel.
Sarah Shephard: Spurs have done well, hanging onto their best players and adding Perisic, Richarlison, Bissouma, Romero and Djed Spence to a squad that was in need of more depth.
Nick Miller: Arsenal. The approach of assessing which positions they were deficient in and improving those positions is so wacky it just might work. Tottenham were similar, Leeds United's signings look good and I'm intrigued by Southampton's policy of exclusively signing children, mostly from Manchester City. Nottingham Forest could go either way so I'm putting them in both the best and the worst categories.
Oliver Kay: Tempted to say Newcastle in the hope that nobody else will. Nothing like as stellar or as wildly capricious as a lot of people were expecting post-takeover. Instead it's Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Alexander Isak (below), even Matt Targett and it all seems remarkably sensible. Only one win from the first five games, but performance-wise, there's a lot of cause for encouragement.
Isak made an instant impact for Newcastle (Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Carl Anka: The obvious answer is Manchester City, the acceptable answer is Arsenal (Spurs, too), and the hipster answer is probably… Crystal Palace. A lot of teams have had good summer windows, making the most of the Premier League's financial dominance to pick some of the best talents from around the world.
Nancy Frostick: Burnley, if you'll allow me to ignore the obvious Premier League answer that is Manchester City. Burnley sold well and have recruited wisely with exciting young players from lower down the EFL.
Liam Tharme: Tottenham – Mark Carey's numbers do not lie. They've added necessary attacking depth in Richarlison and Yves Bissouma. Plus Cristian Romero permanently is smart.
Pol Ballus: Arsenal. This has to be the summer that brings them to the top four. We can discuss some bits of business (Fabio Vieira? players sold or loaned out on the cheap?), but if they manage to get a seat back with the big guns, it will be worth it.
Maram AlBaharna: Arsenal. In Gabriel Jesus they got the perfect fit for a striker Mikel Arteta likes — comfortable between the lines and lethal in the box and added Oleksandr Zinchenko, giving them even more solutions going forward (inverted, or wide) with their full-backs.
Which club have had the worst window?
Jack Lang: Nottingham Forest. I'm no recruitment expert, but… that's just not going to work, is it?
James Horncastle: Chelsea blow my mind. They're like Big Tech Forest or Private Equity Fulham. Undoubtedly some great players have come in but they lost Rudiger and Christensen for nothing, Lukaku is on loan at Inter for 10 per cent of what they bought him for and the balance between high upside and opportunity cost of some of these kids is unreal.
Sarah Shephard: Leicester City. Big losses in Kasper Schmeichel and Wesley Fofana (below) and a sense that not everyone at the club is entirely satisfied with what has come in the other way.
Fofana will be a big loss to Leicester (Photo: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
Nick Miller: Leicester barely signing anyone seems like a bit of a snafu, but at least they only lost one significant player. Chelsea have spent a massive amount of money and I'm not sure how much better than last season they are, if at all. Manchester United's business is incoherent but might work. Fulham being quite reserved for most of the summer then signing Willian and Layvin Kurzawa on deadline day is extremely funny, if nothing else. As I said, Forest can go in both the best and the worst categories.
Oliver Kay: A quiet transfer window isn't always a bad window. Sometimes (e.g. Liverpool in the summer of 2019) it is a sign of strength. But Leicester worry me because, after they regressed last season, it looked like both Brendan Rodgers and the squad were in need of reinvigoration. Instead, the squad looks weaker both talent-wise and personality-wise.
Carl Anka: Hoo boy… something ain't right at Leicester City. It's a small shame that Brendan Rodgers couldn't follow through and qualify for the Champions League in 2019-20 or 2020-21 as everything seems to have fizzled out. To borrow a Mauricio Pochettino term, they could be in for a “painful rebuild” if they wish to have another go at being “the best of the rest”.
Nancy Frostick: Bristol City… they have recruited well enough but are worryingly close to the FFP limit so it feels like they should have done more with outgoings.
Liam Tharme: Leicester. They weren't in a position to stand still, but even more worryingly, losing Kasper Schmeichel and Wesley Fofana significantly damages their defensive foundation.
Pol Ballus: Leicester. They looked to really need a proper shake-up in that dressing room. One signing looks far from enough for what they needed.
Maram AlBaharna: Leicester have had a pretty nothing window. If at first you can't recall any of the players a club has signed, that's worrying. They failed to strengthen their midfield or attacking line.
Which signing excites you most?
Jack Lang: I have no idea whether he'll be a good fit for David Moyes' West Ham — my gut instinct is that he probably won't — but Lucas Paqueta is exactly my kind of player. Through balls, nutmegs, stupid little dances when he scores… yes, please.
James Horncastle: Luis Sinisterra. In a pre-YouTube era, tapes of his 62 minutes against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup would be going for thousands of pounds on the black market. The Corner Boys in The Wire would be shouting “Got that Sinisterra”.
Sarah Shephard: I'm not sure “excites” is quite the right word (terrifies is probably more accurate), but given how he's started, Erling Haaland's impact on the Premier League in his first season could be quite something.
Jesus looks the perfect fit for Arsenal (Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
Nick Miller: Haaland obviously. Gabriel Jesus (above) for the “just feels right” factor. Brenden Aaronson seems to fit like a glove at Leeds. Also, Everton potentially starting a midfield of Gana, Garner and Onana is enormously satisfying.
Oliver Kay: I really like the look of Romeo Lavia at Southampton. To be playing in central midfield in the Premier League at 18, you have to be very good. To perform like THAT in central midfield in the Premier League at 18, you have to be extremely good. I really like the young players they've signed (Bazunu, Bella-Kotchap, Lavia etc) but they are very young and very experienced. My concern is whether the supporting cast is strong enough to get them through.
Carl Anka: Look at my reaction (below) when James Richardson mentions Alexander Isak.
The Swedish striker is another sign that football and basketball appear to be swapping notes on how to break down an obstinate defence. The Premier League has had the age of the target man (the centres dominated NBA of the 1980s and 1990s), the statistical boom and loads of talk about spacing and properly choreographed plays (2015-20 NBA), with everyone chucking up threes. Now the Premier League appears to be entering the age of The Skilled Big Man (NBA 2020ish-present), with strikers like Isak, Erling Haaland and new Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic. All of these men are tall so you can pass long to them and beat the press, but all of these men are relatively quick, can press, and can bring others into a game effectively. I'm going to spend many future weeks studying how it all works. Can't wait.
Nancy Frostick: John McAtee to Luton (and then back on loan to Grimsby). Just really sensible business again from Luton to snap up a talented young player from a lower league and McAtee is in a great position to thrive in League Two this year.
Liam Tharme: Excluding the “Big Six”, Brenden Aaronson. He's dynamic, versatile and guarantees moments of quality. Elite-level runner and dribbler, perfectly aligned to Jesse Marsch's style.
Pol Ballus: Erling Haaland. I guess that's not an unexpected answer.
Maram AlBaharna: This is typical but, well, Haaland. The Premier League, or rather the top six, has missed the traditional No 9 and when paired with Pep Guardiola's system, it's scary.
Which signing surprised you most?
Jack Lang: Casemiro to Manchester United. “No, I actually think I've won enough Champions Leagues, cheers.”
James Horncastle: Wolves bringing in another player from Portugal. In all seriousness, Lucas Paqueta. Not because I don't rate the player. I'm just surprised Moyes is seemingly entering a YOLO phase of his career where he doesn't mind someone attempting a nutmeg outside his own box and losing the ball.
Sarah Shephard: Morgan Gibbs-White (below) from Wolves to Nottingham Forest. Not so much in terms of the move but more so the fee, which could go up to £42.5million.
The price paid for Gibbs-White surprised many (Photo: Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)
Nick Miller: Raheem Sterling because he still looks weird in a Chelsea shirt and I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it. Also, Loic Bade, the 21st player Forest signed, if only because I didn't think it was possible to get that much admin done inside three months.
Oliver Kay: Probably Jesse Lingard to Nottingham Forest, followed by Gibbs-White to Forest. I really don't know what to make of Forest's business. Yes, I'm aware of how few players they were left with after winning promotion last season — and yes, you have to upgrade for the Premier League, which they certainly have done with some of their signings — but signing three left wing-backs in the same window doesn't look terribly well-judged.
Carl Anka: Gibbs-White going to Forest for a fee that could potentially exceed £40million is the sort of signing that makes sense when you think about it but still makes me do a double take when written down. I know you're not supposed to get bogged down by a player's fee, but this one makes me feel “old”. As if I've aged and don't know what's the going price for a midfielder anymore.
Nancy Frostick: All of them at Southampton. The last time we spent this much every signing turned out to be a disaster, but now it feels like there is a clear plan again.
Liam Tharme: Gavin Bazunu. Surprised in a good way. From what I saw at Portsmouth he showed quality and potential, but a brave gamble to jump him from League One to Premier League.
Pol Ballus: Lucas Paqueta. Maybe he'll thrive being backed by Rice and Soucek at West Ham, but I'm just quite convinced he was ready to be a fun player in an elite team in the league.
Maram AlBaharna: Gianluca Scamacca. Not because of his quality as a player — but because of the fit. West Ham are focused on balls over the top and crosses. Where a player like Michail Antonio likes to run after the ball, Scamacca likes to use it.
Which signing looks a bad idea?
Jack Lang: It's probably not a good sign for Kalvin Phillips that I had forgotten he even existed before scrolling through the done deals page just now.
James Horncastle: Well, the market would suggest Cristiano Ronaldo, otherwise someone would have signed him, right?
Sarah Shephard: Still early days, but Philippe Coutinho might be regretting joining up with his old team-mate Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa.
Nick Miller: Liverpool loaning Arthur Melo, an injury-prone midfielder to cover for their injury-prone midfield, feels odd — strong “Saul Niguez to Chelsea” vibes there. Willian looked absolutely cooked at Arsenal two years ago so lord knows what he's going to be like now. Anyone who signs for Manchester United… you just want to throw yourself in front of them and scream: “No! You don't know what you're getting yourself in for!”
Oliver Kay: Maybe I'm too nice, but I don't want to single one out. Actually, because it didn't happen, I'll say that Anthony Gordon to Chelsea would have been a bad idea. A very good player who developed well last season. I think he's much better off staying at Everton rather than going down the Ross Barkley route.
Willian has returned to London with Fulham (Photo: Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)
Carl Anka: Willian (above) moving to Fulham has the vibes of a man who doesn't like moving house and prefers London comforts. The Brazilian was an excellent club servant for Chelsea, an unfortunate scapegoat at Arsenal and is one of those signings Fulham often makes when they get promoted and the squad gets “too weird”.
Nancy Frostick: Djed Spence to Spurs. He was so much fun to watch last season but I cannot see that he will play as regularly this year, which seems a shame.
Liam Tharme: Carney Chukwuemeka. Given his potential and Aston Villa's diamond midfield, it seems strange to move to a lower position in the pecking order at Chelsea.
Pol Ballus: I'd say more than seven from Nottingham Forest are bad ideas.
Maram AlBaharna: Morgan Gibbs-White to Forest. A club going up should look for tried and tested players to help them stay up, and at that fee, they could have better utilised the money (though that appears to be no issue for them!).
Which is the smart signing that most people missed?
Jack Lang: Nick Pope to Newcastle. Cheap, not hugely thrilling, but a proven performer and a big upgrade on what they had before.
James Horncastle: Lisandro Martinez presumably because he's so small… all jokes aside, Sekou Mara's cameo for Southampton against Leeds promised a lot. They've done well to take advantage of Bordeaux's relegation.
Sarah Shephard: Not a sexy signing but bringing in Ben Mee on a free transfer was smart business from Brentford. The 32-year-old brings a wealth of experience on and off the pitch and will be a valuable addition to Thomas Frank's squad.
Bella-Kotchap has started well for Southampton (Photo: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Nick Miller: Armel Bella-Kotchap (above) looks great already at Southampton, and Keane Lewis-Potter is probably in exactly the right place at Brentford to thrive after stepping up from the Championship.
Oliver Kay: Can I mention Lavia again? I do like him, you know.
Carl Anka: Southampton picked up 20-year-old centre-back Bella-Kotchap for £8.6million this summer. Any team that comes sniffing for him next summer is likely to get quoted a price four times that amount.
Nancy Frostick: Oscar Estupinan at Hull City. He has started really well with seven goals in seven games, so is one to watch.
Liam Tharme: Fabio Carvalho — immense at Fulham. Can play off both feet, fast dribbler, combines incredibly and plays well in tight spaces. Worth more than what Liverpool played.
Pol Ballus: Fabio Carvalho and Julian Alvarez. It's kind of mad that the two best teams of the last five years of the Premier League were able to get those players for £20million in total.
Maram AlBaharna: Bella-Kotchap. He is a defensive behemoth and at 19, is a hulking physical presence. He is the type of player clubs from the “Big Six” will be chasing in the next few years.
Who stayed who should have moved?
Jack Lang: Cristiano Ronaldo. The season is only a few weeks old and I'm already terminally bored of the camera zooming in on him on the bench.
James Horncastle: Rhetorical question, surely? Cristia…. OK, if not him, then Christian Pulisic.
Sarah Shephard: Theo Walcott. It doesn't look like he's going to get much playing time at all this season and at 33, he really can't afford to hang around in places where he's not entirely wanted.
Nick Miller: How is Youri Tielemans still at Leicester? See also Ruben Neves, Wolves.
How will Ronaldo adapt under Ten Hag? (Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Oliver Kay: Cristiano Ronaldo maybe? Well, that must be how he sees it anyway. Specifically, I'm sure he feels Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City or whoever should have stepped forward to spare him a season in something called the Europa League. For one of the greatest footballers of all time, it is an almost unprecedented slap in the face. I'm fascinated to see how he responds to the disappointment and, beyond that, to the tactical demands of Erik ten Hag.
Carl Anka: It's a good thing that Tielemans is staying at Leicester. It's a bad thing it's happened basically by default as a number of bigger clubs are concerned over his top speed and mobility. Tielemans is among a handful of players, along with Rueben Neves and Donny van de Beek that, had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, probably would be starting options for Champions League clubs. Now he appears a bit stuck.
Nancy Frostick: Harry Maguire. The poor lad needs a break from some of the horrendous abuse he gets.
Liam Tharme: Pedro Neto. Feels very sad watching a player of his quality having to carry an attack in such a defensively orientated team.
Pol Ballus: I don't think there's another possible answer than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Maram AlBaharna: To make this Manchester United themed… Cristiano Ronaldo should have left. Dean Henderson should have stayed.
Who do you now make favourites for the top four?
Jack Lang: Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal
James Horncastle: Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal
Sarah Shephard: Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs
Nick Miller: Same as at the start of the season really: Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Oliver Kay: Manchester City, Liverpool and… I'll say Arsenal and Tottenham, maybe in that order on the basis of what we've seen so far.
Carl Anka: Sticking with my initial prediction: City win the league with a bigger gap to second than usual, Liverpool second, Spurs third, Chelsea fourth.
Nancy Frostick: Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Spurs.
Liam Tharme: Spurs after their window. I'd back them to finish third behind Manchester City and Liverpool.
Pol Ballus: Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea.
Maram AlBaharna: Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur
Which three clubs now look most in danger of being relegated?
Jack Lang: Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Everton
James Horncastle: Bournemouth, Forest, Everton
Sarah Shephard: Bournemouth, Leicester, Wolves
Nick Miller: Bournemouth, Leicester and Fulham.
Oliver Kay: Previously I said Bournemouth, Forest and Southampton. I'll stick with Bournemouth, I'll hesitantly stick with Forest and… if Southampton keep playing the way they have, it's going to be bad news for someone else. Everton? Villa? Leicester? Wolves? So hard to predict.
Carl Anka: I predicted Fulham and Bournemouth to go straight back down and Nottingham Forest to pip Leeds to 17th on the final day.
I'll tweak this now as Leeds looked good against Everton and should be OK if Patrick Bamford, Tyler Adams and Sinisterra are fit. Fulham will finish 18th, but I'm now asking the waiter if they have humble pie on the menu, as Aleksandar Mitrovic has turned out to be Premier League quality after all.
Parker was sacked by Bournemouth earlier this week (Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Nancy Frostick: Bournemouth, Everton, Fulham.
Liam Tharme: Leicester for their (lack of) window activity, Aston Villa tactically and Bournemouth for weirdly sacking Scott Parker (above) so early into the season.
Pol Ballus: Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Southampton.
Maram AlBaharna: Bournemouth, Southampton, Nottingham Forest.
Did Nottingham Forest approach you at any point?
Jack Lang: Multiple times. I actually had to change phones last week because it was getting a bit annoying.
James Horncastle: Disappointed they didn't sign Ronaldo, if I'm honest.
Sarah Shephard: I think I was next on their list.
Nick Miller: I'm starting in central defence for them at the weekend.
Oliver Kay: I'm 47 and I'm two stone overweight. Let's see what happens in January.
Carl Anka: Just gonna put this funny tweet here…
Nancy Frostick: They did, then signed me and sent me out on loan to Olympiacos.
Liam Tharme: No. Not yet… but I'm technically a free agent so…
Pol Ballus: Can't say right now. I will do an interview next week to reveal the whole truth.
Maram AlBaharna: Maybe. I guess we'll never know!