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Premier League clubs embarked on a final wave of spending on Monday before the international transfer window slammed shut.
Manchester United and Arsenal were the biggest headlines on the deadline day with deals for Edinson Cavani and Thomas Partey, respectively.
AFP Sport analyzes how the best teams fared in the summer market:
What do you give the manager who has it all?
Heading into the final days of the transfer window, it seemed that Jurgen Klopp’s wishes had been well catered for as he bolstered a team that took the title last season and won the Champions League just two seasons ago.
Klopp’s main addition was Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcántara, who arrived from Bayern Munich in a £ 20 million ($ 25 million) raid.
The Reds coach also spent £ 41 million on Wolves forward Diogo Jota, while Greek left-back Kostas Tsimikas arrived from Olympiakos as a substitute for Andrew Robertson.
But Sunday’s stunning 7-2 loss at Aston Villa has put a new focus on the Liverpool side and the look was not entirely flattering.
Liverpool have conceded 11 goals in just four league games this season, with Joe Gomez looking especially vulnerable amid suggestions that Klopp should have brought in a center back to provide competition for the spot alongside Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defense. .
Frustrated by defensive shortcomings that ruined City’s bid for a third title in a row last season, Pep Guardiola spent more than £ 100m on a pair of center-backs.
Nathan Ake was signed from Bournemouth for £ 41 million, but after the Dutch international was one of the four defenders who conceded five goals at home to Leicester, Guardiola decided to double the position with a £ 61 million move from Benfica Ruben Days.
Dias is considered a natural leader and will have to live up to that billing, as City have seemed lacking in organization and struggling since Vincent Kompany’s departure for Anderlecht last year.
Ferran Torres’ £ 20m arrival from Valencia seemed like an extravagance given City’s plethora of options on the flanks.
Moving from one failed deal to another, United endured a troublesome transfer window that added to boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troubles on the field.
United’s third-place finish last season raised hopes for a huge leap forward fueled by a string of star signings, but instead found themselves embroiled in a lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho.
Ed Woodward, who is taking the lead in United’s transfer deals, was also unable to sign Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish and Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele.
The signing of 33-year-old former Paris Saint Germain forward Edinson Cavani in a free transfer on the day of the deadline smelled of desperation and did little to appease frustrated fans who were still furious after Sunday’s 6-1 win. by Tottenham.
Porto left-back Alex Telles also arrived on Monday for £ 13.5 million, but neither he nor Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, who joined for £ 40 million in the closed season, are likely to accelerate the pulse.
The speedy trial suggests that Frank Lampard was the big window winner.
Seeking to close the gap with Liverpool, Lampard convinced Blues owner Roman Abramovich to fund a £ 200 million spree that landed German forwards Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech, the defender. Leicester’s Ben Chilwell, Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, plus Thiago Silva in a free transfer.
Whether Lampard will be able to unite these new signings into a cohesive unit is the question that will define Chelsea’s season as a success or failure.
Teams hoping to make the top four bolstered their cases with some crafty deals.
Arsenal complied with a £ 45 million release clause to sign Atlético de Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey minutes before the deadline, a deal that followed their signings of Chelsea winger Willian and Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes earlier in window.
The return of the prodigal son Gareth Bale on loan from Real Madrid was a coup for Tottenham, who also signed Matt Doherty, Sergio Reguilon and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Undefeated Everton has been revitalized with the arrival of Real Madrid’s Colombian playmaker James Rodríguez, while Carlo Ancelotti’s rebuild included deals for Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ben Godfrey and Robin Olsen.
smg / td
