Transfer Deadline Day
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| As soon as Harry's window closes, you know deadline day is over |
However deadline day signings can be significant, both in terms of team performance and a club's bank balance.
So now that the transfer deadline day is over, how did each of the Premiership teams fare?
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| Another English addition to Arsenal's squad |
Having done some good early business replacing Sagna with Debuchy and bringing in Alexi Sanchez, it would have seemed like the pressure might be off Arsene Wenger for once, however it wouldn't be transfer deadline day, if Arsenal fans weren't crying out for Wenger to sign someone.
Giroud's injury meant a striker was needed, and Wenger delivered England Forward, Danny Welbeck for £16m. However, Welbeck is not exactly a prolific striker, he has 20 goals in 92 premiership games, but that is partly due to the fact he is often playing out wide and maybe he is still growing out of his Osgood-Schlatters disease. There is no doubt he has class, and he has 8 goals in 26 games at international level, and costs less than a one year loan for Falcao.
Aston Villa
El Ahmadi left for Feyenoord, which was no great loss, however Villa's best business was keeping Ron Vlaar, and the very late addition of Tom Cleverley on loan, who despite his doubters is still a very good midfielder especially for a smaller Premier League side like Villa.
Burnley
Burnley's business consisted of two loan signings, Nathan Chalobah from Chelsea and Michael Keane from Manchester United. Chalobah is a talented young midfielder, who has had a couple of loan spells in the Championship, including one at Watford, where he was rated very highly by their fans and scored this wonder goal below. The Premiership will represent a step up, but Burnley will provide him with the perfect platform.
Chelsea
Chelsea were the wise men of the transfer window, getting their business done early to avoid any last minute panic buying. It hasn't always been that way, as the purchase of Fernando Torres in 2011 showed. Van Ginkel left on loan, to make way for Loic Remy as the club were over their limit of 17 foreign players in their 25 man squad.
Crystal Palace
Palace have had a tough start to the season, losing Tony Pulis before the first game, but they managed to get Neil Warnock in place before the window closed, and he delivered 3 signings. Kevin Doyle provides another striking option, with some Premiership experience, James McArthur keeps them some more steel in the midfield. Zeki Fryers provides them with some pace at left back. With Zaha having come back to the club on loan, things are looking brighter at Selhurst Park.
Everton
Last years' deadline day was busy for Everton with Fellaini leaving and McCarthy joining. This year they missed out on Tom Cleverly, and also failed to strengthen their defence.
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| Hatem Ben Afri signing for Hull City Tigers |
Steve Bruce loves a deal almost as much as Harry Redknapp, and he produced the goods on deadline day, with 5 signings.
The midfield has been strengthened significantly with Hatem Ben-Arfa and Gaston Ramirez adding a spark of invention to a midfield that already had a strong back bone in Huddlestone and Livermore, and now even more so with Mohamed Diame joining from West Ham.
Up front Shane Long was replaced by Hernandez, Abel not Javier. The Uruguayan scored plenty of goals at Palermo last season, with 14 league goals in 28 games, and played at the world cup with Uruguay. As long as he settles ok, he should be a good signing.
Hull have arguably had the best window of all the teams, with Robert Snodgrass, Michael Dawson and Tom Ince also signing earlier in the window.
Leicester City
Leicester fans may have been hoping for more, but Nick Powell, signing on loan from Manchester United, is a good move and he should add some goals from midfield.
They look light however, especially at left back, with no real cover, and up front.
Liverpool
Liverpool are another team who did their business up front in the window. With Suarez leaving, they reinvested their funds in the Southampton triumvirate of Lovren, Lallana and Lambert, as well as Balotelli for a bargain £16m, the same price as Arsenal paid for Danny Welbeck.
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| Negredo scored 23 goals for City last season |
Negredo leaving to join Valencia on loan, was the big story at City, Negredo is currently injured, but was in top form last season. Jovetic's return to form after injury last year, has meant Negredo is not really missed.
Valencia apparently have an obligation to purchase and not an option at the end of the loan, which kind of makes it a sale really, if he's not coming back.
Manchester United
United were the big deadline day movers, selling Welbeck, loaning out Hernandez, Powell and Keane and signing Daley Blind and bringing Radamel Falcao on loan.
On the face of it United look stronger Welbeck and Hernandez were 3rd and 4th choice strikers, Falcao now joins Rooney and Van Persie, goals are surely guaranteed.
However, the real issues with United were not in attack but defence. Vidic and Ferdinand have not been replaced. With Van Gaal preferring a 3-5-2 formation, utilising wing backs, it seems crazy or at least unwise to have not added a proven experienced centre-back. It remains to be seen if Rojo or Blind can be converted to centre back, but United look weak at the back, especially with a lack of holding midfield options in front of them.
Falcao is coming back from a serious knee injury, but if he can produce the form shown below, he will be devastating for United.
Newcastle United
Fortunately, for Newcastle the days of Joe Kinnear trying to negotiate deals are long gone. Newcastle had a quiet deadline day, which won't surprise their supporters, but they have done business earlier in the window, and their squad looks ok.
Queens Park Rangers
The biggest surprise of the window was that Harry was unable to orchestrate more than 2 signings, however there was no surprise that he went back to sign 2 players he previously managed. Nico Kranjcar joined QPR on loan for his second season, and Sandro joined from Spurs for reportedly £6m, all good business for Harry, but QPR still look lightweight in attack.
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| From the Champions League final to Southampton |
Ronald Koeman declared himself happy and delighted with his squad, at the end of deadline day. He brought in Sadio Mane a striker who has be fruitful in the Austrian league and Champions League finalist and Belgian international Toby Alderweireld who can play both centre back and right back.
They also managed to hang on to Morgan Schneiderlin, and Jay Rodriguez, all round good business from Koeman.
Stoke City
Mark Hughes brought in Assiadi from Liverpool for a second season on loan. Otherwise the Potters were very quiet.
Sunderland
What Gus Poyet really needed was a striker, what he ended up with was 2 South American internationals, Sebastian Coates a promising Uruguayan centre back from Liverpool, and Ricky Alvarez an Argentinian attacking midfielder from Inter Milan.
Both represent good business, but neither solve the potential lack of fire-power up front.
Swansea City
The way Swansea have started the season, they didn't really need to sign anyone. However they did make one addition Gambian Striker Modou Barrow from the Swedish league.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham tend to be active on deadline days, selling players, buying players and loaning them out.
This year was no different, Sandro left for QPR, Holtby went on loan to Hamburg and they acquired French holding midfielder Benjamin Stambouli, a player in a similar mould to Morgan Schneiderlin who has stayed at Southampton. Stambouli is good in the tackle, strong on the ball, with a touch of class also, see the video below.
West Bromwich Albion
Having already signed 11 players it was no surprise deadline day was quiet at the Hawthorns.
West Ham United
Big Sam is another manager who likes a good deal, and he added to his squad with Morgan Amaltifano joining. Amaltifano was on loan at West Brom last season and scored this wonder goal against Man Utd. Amaltifano represents another player that West Ham will hope adds more flair to the club.
To see all the deadline day moves go to http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9451229/transfer-deadline-day-all-the-completed-transfer-deals.
And for all the Ins and Outs of the summer check out http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfers/10848288/Premier-League-summer-transfers-2014.html
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