Three of the TITLE PROSPECTS haven’t done much in the transfer window. Mostly Same teams going out again. Who has given themselves the biggest edge using the transfer market?
Manchester City:
Title winners of the 2023/24 season rolling on to do a 5 Peat. Record Breaking Aims. Let’s see how their transfer window has set them up.
• Savinho - Excellent Tier 2 Playmaker. Lots of Flair, 1v1 ability and can create with crosses, balls in behind. City basically have recreated a lot of what Mahrez have offered them. Excellent deal for just 25M but with the loss of Alvarez and the subsequent failure to snap up Oskarsson as a Haaland Backup, in terms of total addition to a squad they have left themselves short on the attacking end. I’d rate the transfer on its own 7/10.
• Gundogan - Bringing Gundogan back on a free adds to their midfield yes but how much does it add really. Nearly 34 years of age and past his prime does this signing really make much sense. For now he will have to act as cover for Rodri or Kovacic and rely on his intelligence to make that difference. Since it’s a free you can’t complain much but you get the sense City are short of a Rodri Backup in that midfield possibly. I’d rate the Transfer 6/10, Carried by the Price.
Overall I’d rate the Man City window 4/10 as certain needs have not been properly addressed and might cost them their historic 5 peat.
Arsenal:
Still on the run to catch up to and beat Manchester City, getting closer and closer with every season. Let’s look at the edge they have given themselves.
• Calafiori - A Tier 1 talent at LB. Improves their attacking potency while maintaining or slightly upgrading their defensive level. A project for a Club Arsenal’s Size though. Right now Calafiori is squad player for the biggest clubs. Arteta will have to work on his flaws : defending space, off the ball intelligence, etc. His strengths will ball carrying, on the ball intelligence & big athletic build. Basically Arteta’s answer to Gvardiol. A smooth silky ball carrier who can transform Full Back norms + add a boost in G/A while giving more defensive value than a Traditional Fullback. I’d rate the signing 8/10. A very good project.
• Merino - Arsenal finally got their LCM. Is it the best possible LCM they can get? Probably not. A Tier 2 talent in Merino still raises Arsenal’s floor. To see what he specifically offers, give this thread of mine a read:
I would rate the transfer a 6/10 as they didn’t get the best option available, more of a filler. A good filler though. But this will force them to sell off Jorginho and especially Partey and replace them with someone special for it to work long term.
• Sterling (on loan) - A very surprising transfer, product of Chelsea’s transfer window shenanigans. It is actually one of the most high quality loans in the Prem in recent years. Sterling still has a lot of gifts and tools in the bag. If used right, Arteta could benefit a lot from him. There are some goals and assists to farm there as well. The Depth of Arsenal’s attack now is either the strongest or the second strongest in the league with this move. Since it’s only a year (assuming they don’t renew) I’d rate it a 7/10.
• Neto (on loan) - Ramsdale failed to develop as much as Arteta would have liked. Neto is just a simple short term replacement while making profit on Ramsdale. Arsenal will look to get a young talent, someone who could surpass Raya even, in there no doubt. 5/10 is what Timothy rates it.
Overall Arsenal had the best window of the Three Challengers and have given themselves the most edge. There are areas of improvement still left untouched but a good move in the right direction nonetheless. Overall their window is a good 7/10 for me. The Sales from Arsenal this season has been spectacular unlike previous windows. Now they will have some dough to work with in the future.
Liverpool :
With a single signing in the entire transfer window, Liverpool have left a lot of their fans dissappointed. Let’s at least see what that one signing’s got.
• Chiesa : After having issues with a Salah Backup for years, Liverpool finally smelled a cheap market opportunity and jumped on it. Getting once renowed World Class Talent, now divorced and left aside by the club he gave his heart to.
Chiesa still has a lot Slot can bring out of him. Smart signing as the risk is very minimal. To see what he could offer to the squad as a whole,
Take a look through this Piece of mine:
Chiesa’s Personality fits right in with that Liverpool squad and is something Edwards admires. A passionate down to Earth Hard working Man.
There are a few reasons why I wasn’t as stoked for this transfer and wouldn’t rate it that highly :
But overall still a pretty good deal you’ve got there.
I’d rate the transfer a 6/10 on that basis. Can Chiesa perhaps become better than Diaz and earn starts? Yes, the potential is there. But it is dependent on a lot of physical factors. We’ll see how it goes.
On the overall spectrum, barring some very good sales this has been an abysmal window by Liverpool it terms of improving the first XI. A LB, DM, LW were all big priorities going into it and we only really filled the RW Backup Slot. 4/10 is what I’d rate it. Left too many things to be done.
City and Liverpool both will need to dip in the Winter Transfer Window and have to look for opportunities to close the gap now. Arsenal now have the edge and I believe it is their Title to lose. Can City and Liverpool Manage until the Winter to give them that extra venom? Remains to be seen.
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