European Transfer WIndow: Winners and Losers

Winner: Real Madrid

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium via Unsplash Images

After buying Aurelien Tchouameni and getting Antonio Rudiger for free, Los Blancos upgraded their team after winning the Champions League and going through PSG, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool.

Loser: Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club via Unsplash Images

Something is clearly not right at Stamford Bridge. After Chelsea spent the most money trying to overhaul their team, new owner Todd Boehly fired manager Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday. However, despite a poor start to the season, Tuchel did not deserve to be fired, as Chelsea has little structure due to the new ownership.

According to the Score, Chelsea also missed out on several targets, including Jules Koundé, Matthijs de Ligt, and Nathan Ake, who all slipped through their fingers. In addition, Barcelona commandeered negotiations for Raphinha and reported target Gabriel Jesus opted to join Arsenal.

Winner: Manchester City

You had a great window whenever you sign a transcendent talent in Erling Haaland and bring in a quality midfielder in Kalvin Phillips with a net spend of under €100 million.

Loser: Leicester City

Leceister did not make a signing until August 12. Days before the deadline, they lost up-and-coming defender Wesley Fofana to Chelsea. Leceister is showing signs of stagnation, and it does not help that the Premier League is more competitive than ever. Leceister is winless through their first six games, netting just one of the possible 18 points.

Winner: Arsenal

Adding Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko helped bring an element to the Arsenal dressing room that had been missing: proven winners. Jesus and Zinchenko have helped this Arsenal team massively through six games as they are top of the league after winning their first five and taking 15 of 18 points to begin the season.

Winner: Tottenham

Antonio Conte and Dejan Kulusevski via Football London

The Spurs fully backed Antonio Conte during the Transfer Window, strengthening with quality in key areas. Making Christian Romero’s move permanent, getting Richarlison from Everton, and getting depth throughout their squad should help them sustain a title challenge.

Loser: Juventus

Juventus did re-sign Paul Pogba, but apart from that, the roster regressed more than it improved. After losing Matthius De Ligt to Bayern Munich and sending Denis Zakaria on loan to Chelsea, the roster has aged over the last couple of years, with limited young talent coming in on the transfer market.

Winner: Barcelona

At the beginning of the summer, Barcelona’s spending limit stood at -€144 million. Barcelona was in dead water in debt. They could not register signings and struggled to sign players. President John Laporta acted with multiple decisions.

First, Laporta created a line of credit worth €550 million and sold off other assets for immediate cash. Barcelona ended up with a lump sum of €667 million. This was after selling off numerous levers of domestic television rights and selling 24.5 percent of their production studio.

Laporta then targeted the players that manager Xavi Hernandez wanted to sign, Raphina, Kounde, Franck Kessie, Andres Christensen, and Robert Lewandoski. Laporta had to risk mortgaging the future to get everything done to bring in players. The only way this pays off long-term is if Barcelona wins right now.

Mixed: Manchester United

Manchester United protesting Glazer Family Ownership via Givemesport via Getty Images

Manchester United has been a mess all summer. First, they spent two months trying to sign Frenkie De Jong, who ultimately decided to stay in Barcelona. However, signings like Tyrell Malacia for €15 million and Eriksen for free are ultimately great business.

However, the overpays for Antony and Lisandro Martinez from Ajax (a combined €157 million) illustrates the lack of negotiation skills and planning that went into the window. The signing of Casemiro and Antony also really occurred because of the uproar in protests from United fans wanting to force out the current owners.