02 September 2023 , 09:53
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After a busy transfer deadline day, we now have a better idea of what things will look like for all 20 Premier League clubs this season.
Some got their business done early, ensuring they had the players they needed before the season got underway. Others left it very late, though, with eleventh-hour deals concluded - including Sofyan Amrabat's loan move to Manchester United.
There has also been the distraction of investment from the Saudi Pro League, which could yet cause even more of a stir in the coming few days. For now, though, Mirror Football has broken out the big winners and losers from one of the most hectic windows in recent memory.
Winners:
Manchester City
It's hard to improve on a squad which won everything on offer last season. And yet.
The loss of Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan could have been really damaging. Both had big parts to play in City's recent successes, and the treble winners knew they would need replacing.
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Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes have bridged the gap in midfield, with highly-rated Belgian starlet Jeremy Doku set to take some of Mahrez's minutes in the front three. And then there's Josko Gvardiol, seen as a clear upgrade on the departing Aymeric Laporte, and part of a team which has begun the season with three straight wins.
Chelsea
Who were your winners and losers? Have your say in the comments section
Nicolas Jackson has made a good early impression at Chelsea (Mark Greenwood/IPS/REX/Shutterstock)Chelsea fans will be wary of any 'winning the transfer window' suggestions after last season's failings. With that in mind, the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino could be just as vital as their new players, but the player movements have also impressed.
Adding Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to a new-look midfield is sure to get pulses racing, and speaks to the younger profile of player being attracted. The same goes for Nicolas Jackson, who has already impressed since arriving in attack.
Just as importantly, Chelsea have managed to find takers for a number of out-of-favour players. Now it's about how well new boss Pochettino can knit the squad together.
Moises Caicedo
Caicedo wanted to leave Brighton in January, but ended up signing a new deal. Now, though, he has sealed a British record exit and has the chance to show his quality at the business end of the Premier League - providing it all comes together for his new club,
Moises Caicedo has got the move he wanted (Paul Dennis/TGS Photo/REX/Shutterstock)"I am so happy to join Chelsea," the Ecuador international said. "I am so excited to be here at this big club and I didn’t have to think twice when Chelsea called me, I just knew I wanted to sign for the club. It’s a dream come true to be here and I can’t wait to get started with the team."
Brighton benefited too, bringing in £115m for a man who cost them less than £5m when he arrived. There's now a fair amount of pressure on Carlos Baleba, who has joined in a £23.2m deal from Lille as Caicedo's theoretical replacement.
Declan Rice
"I see my friends here, who are playing Champions League and competing for big trophies," Declan Rice said during the World Cup last year. "You only get one career and at the end of it you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest games you've played in. I really want to do that."
Rice left West Ham as a trophy winner, having captained the side to Europa Conference League glory. While some supporters were left frustrated by his exit, others didn't begrudge him the chance to move for Champions League football.
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The 24-year-old hasn't let the £105m price tag affect him, either. He has slotted seamlessly into Arsenal's midfield, already showing his importance to Mikel Arteta's team.
Harry Kane
A number of players completed what they considered dream moves, with Joao Felix the last to do so when he joined Barcelona on deadline day. It was more complicated for Kane, after a career spent with Tottenham, but he was able to earn the London side a hefty fee with his move to Bayern Munich.
Harry Kane is already up and running in Bayern colours (Tom Weller/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Hard to put into words how to say goodbye to a club and fans who have done so much for me in my career," the England captain said. "You will always be in my heart. Thank you Tottenham, thank you Tottenham fans."
Any fears that Kane might struggle in his new surroundings have been quickly put to bed with three goals in his first two Bundesliga games. The season could well end with him lifting a domestic league title after falling painfully short in the Premier League.
Losers:
Wolves
Wolves ' financial issues became apparent before the start of the season, and it cost them plenty. Most notably, manager Julen Lopetegui left on the eve of the season amid dissatisfaction with how things had panned out.
Ruben Neves' move to Saudi Arabia didn't free up the necessary funds, and the club also lost experience with the departures of Conor Coady, Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez.
Ruben Neves is among the experienced stars to leave Wolves (AFP via Getty Images)To make matters worse, Nunes left for Manchester City on deadline day, and there still hasn't been too much in the way of new additions. Tommy Doyle can make an impact after arriving on loan from City, but it could be a tough season for new boss Gary O'Neil.
Fulham
Things could have been worse for Fulham, with Joao Palhinha's deadline day move to Bayern Munich falling through. It has still been a tough window for the Cottagers, though, especially up front.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was agitating for a move for much of the window, eventually getting his wish when Al-Hilal completed a deal. Mitrovic scored more than a quarter of Fulham's Premier League goals last term, and Raul Jimenez - while encouraging in the draw at Arsenal - doesn't have nearly as good a recent goal record.
Aleksandar Mitrovic left Fulham for the Saudi Pro League (AFP via Getty Images)Some late business has helped Marco Silva's side, with Alex Iwobi and Timothy Castagne bringing Premier League experience. With Manor Solomon choosing Spurs over Fulham, though, questions remain on the goal front.
Hugo Lloris
Long before the end of the season, there was plenty of speculation over who might move to the Saudi Pro League. One of the names which came up most regularly was that of Hugo Lloris, and yet the French goalkeeper is still a Spurs player.
He's not Spurs captain any more, though. That honour goes to Son Heung-min, with Lloris left in limbo.
Lloris hasn't even made a matchday squad this season, and deadline-day links with Newcastle didn't lead to a surprise move. With a few days of the Saudi window left, though, he could yet move.
David de Gea
Like Lloris, De Gea went into this summer having spent a decade plus with one Premier League club. The Spaniard left Man Utd after his contract expired, with the Red Devils adding Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir to their ranks, but their former number one remains without a club.
"I didn’t think from leaving Madrid as a young boy we would achieve what we did together," De Gea said when confirming his departure. Now, it’s the right time to undertake a new challenge, to push myself again in new surroundings."
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were seen as options, but they moved instead for Daniel Peretz and Kepa Arrizabalaga respectively. De Gea is still just 32, but faces questions over what comes next.
Jury's still out
Liverpool
Ryan Gravenberch became Liverpool's final summer signing (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Liverpool have already lost three big names to the Saudi Pro League. However, the success or failure of the window may rest on whether or not they lose a fourth.
Roberto Firmino's move to Al-Ahli was no great surprise, but exits for Fabinho and Jordan Henerson were tougher to take. If Al-Ittihad succeed in landing Mohamed Salah, though, it changes everything.
For now, though, it appears to be a solid enough window for Jurgen Klopp's team. Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and deadline-day arrival Ryan Gravenberch form the foundations of an impressive new-look midfield, and now it's about ensuring the new men can gel immediately.