Premier League Big Six summer transfer window review

Manchester United

Manchester United have bought well but perhaps didn’t spend well. Let me explain.

The summer incomings of Christian Eriksen, Antony, Casemiro, Tyrell Malacia, and Lisandro Martinez have undoubtedly raised their level. However, they very much overpaid for these players with three of them costing more than £55m and it looks like teams have started to implement a ‘United tax’ which could impact them going forward.

In terms of outgoings, the failure to offload Christiano Ronaldo stands out. CR7 has already taken a reduced role in Erik ten Hag’s new-look Red Devils and for their sake, they should hope that his presence doesn’t disrupt what the Dutchman is trying to build at Old Trafford. Overall, however, I think it was a pretty successful window for United.

To get an even better idea of how they did and to get an outside perspective on Arsenal’s summer, I spoke to Red Devil Armada contributor Jyotirmoy Halder to hear his thoughts:

1. What are your overall thoughts on United’s window?

"“Contrary to what many of us anticipated following Ed Woodward’s departure and the installation of a renovated technical department headed by John Murtough and Richard Arnold, United made a poor start to the summer transfer window. “Erik ten Hag has never been a fan of Alex Telles’ attributes as the Brazilian was seen playing in an unorthodox centre-back position during the pre-season tour, already ensuring that he would also leave the club. Considering that Tyrell Malacia came in as his replacement, Telles’ departure was understandable. The arrivals of Lisandro Martínez and Christian Eriksen have proved to be effective for the team’s collective performance. So, we should say that it was worth taking the risk on them. “You can be skeptical about Casemiro’s age, but he is a proven destroyer. You cannot deny he is the kind of experienced player that should eliminate the trace of naivety from United’s game. It was a good bit of business. “I thought Dean Henderson would consider staying and fighting for his place. But he had other plans. His replacement, Martin Dúbravka, has wealthy Premier League experience. But I am not sure about him being adept at what is required of a sweeper keeper. “Finally, Antony arrived. Ten Hag got his man. It was important for him to bring in the players whom he trusts and can rely on. The Brazilian belongs to the bunch. United might have massively overpaid for him, but it should also be taken into consideration that United did not spend at all in the last winter transfer window. So, the money was there. “Now, there were some drawbacks as well. First of all, trying to lure Frenkie De Jong, who never wanted to leave Barcelona, was a sign of incompetence on United’s part. Fortunately, they came to the realisation that the De Jong deal was a lost cause and soon shifted their focus towards Casemiro. Otherwise, it could’ve been too late. Phil Jones should’ve followed Eric Bailly into leaving the club. Axel Tuanzebe and Brandon Williams should’ve been loaned out, considering that the club decided to keep their faith in Aaron Wan-Bissaka. In all, it was a 7/10 transfer window for United. Money has been spent with a plan of backing the manager and thankfully not on the likes of Adrien Rabiot and Marko Arnautović.”"

2. What club won the window and why?

"“I think Spurs are the clear winners. They brought in players either to fill the gaps across the pitch or to add more depth in quality. I love the Yves Bissouma move. They had Liverpool and other top clubs from across Europe chasing the defensive midfielder’s signature, but Antonio Conte had his priorities right. The level of understanding between him and Fabio Paratici has made it a successful transfer window for them. “While, on one hand, they have signed players like Ivan Perisic, Richarlison, Clément Lenglet, Djed Spence, and Destiny Udogie, the departures of Steven Bergwijn, Tanguy Ndombélé, Sergio Reguilón, Giovani Lo Celso, and Harry Winks shows that the Italian has a clear plan in his mind for Tottenham. The club also allowed Udogie to return to Udinese, hinting that Conte believes he is one for the future and that he plans to stick around in north London for as long as possible. “Another thing that caught my eye is that they tried to complete their main signings before the start of their pre-season tour, which erased the idea of panic buying at the dying stage of the summer transfer window. If United had tried something of that sort, they could’ve gotten Antony for a much cheaper price."

3. How would you rate Arsenal’s window?

"“Arsenal had a fantastic window as well. If Spurs had a 9/10 window, Arsenal should at least reach the 8/10 mark. What Arteta did is akin to that of Erik ten Hag, where a coach brings in the players with whom he has worked before at his previous job. The deals for Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are evidence of that. Fábio Vieira is still young and should adapt to the requirements of the Premier League, but he is an exciting prospect. “The decision regarding William Saliba was crucial, and Gunners are reaping the fruits now. A bold call from the management saw Alexandre Lacazette depart the capital, and I certainly didn’t see it coming. Mattéo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Nicolas Pépé, Bernd Leno and Héctor Bellerín were once touted to be the next best things for Arsenal. Getting rid of them all in the same transfer window was the statement that the team would’ve needed. Arteta’s approach looks like “either you perform, or you leave”.”"

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