00:00 So Michael, the hectic transfer window has now come to an end in the summer.
00:05 Just give us a little review on Manchester United's window.
00:08 Firstly, you know, as we've mentioned before, they have strength in their side,
00:13 definitely from last year and they've managed to keep some players.
00:16 But you think that there's certainly some more that could have been done?
00:19 Yeah, I think so.
00:22 I think it's a transfer window that was a transfer window of almost two halves.
00:26 I think the first half they got themselves actually sort of pretty quickly
00:30 and they got Mason Mount, Andre Anana and Rasmus Hoyland.
00:34 That was all before the season started, which is unusual being able to be that proactive
00:38 in the early stages of the window.
00:40 Obviously shifted on David de Gea, but that is where the issues then come,
00:44 because other than de Gea, who obviously left at a transfer fee anyway,
00:49 that was the only significant departure really in certainly the early stages.
00:53 Anthony Alanga left for a bit of money, but other than that,
00:56 there wasn't a huge amount of outgoings.
00:58 And United really struggled to sell players.
01:00 Harry Maguire is still at the club, Anthony Martial is still at the club,
01:04 Scott McTominay, all players they would have liked to have moved on.
01:08 They remained. United just simply couldn't get the money in.
01:11 So therefore they didn't have enough financial resources through a variety of things,
01:16 but mainly FFP.
01:18 So they didn't have the resources to spend elsewhere.
01:21 And as a result, it meant that they were kind of going in the last couple of days,
01:24 scratching around, just hoping that they could complete deals.
01:27 Safian Amrabat is one that they wanted for weeks and weeks.
01:29 I mean, we wish how long did we talk about him on these videos,
01:33 but it only got completed on transfer deadline day in the final hour of the market for a loan.
01:38 United played a paid, I think it's 8.85 million pound, it's million euro loan fee.
01:43 I mean, that is almost unheard of to pay that amount for a loan fee.
01:47 There's an option to buy at the end of it.
01:49 I suspect that has come down a little bit given the significant loan fee, to be honest with you.
01:53 But it's just a really frustrating end to the market for me, for United.
01:58 The issues were left back as well.
01:59 They were linked with, I think it was seven different left backs.
02:02 They were linked within the final day, final couple of days in the market.
02:05 Obviously, look, they had injury issues and that's not, there's no one to blame for that.
02:09 It's not Ten Hag's fault, it's not the club hierarchy's fault.
02:12 But, and I suspect all seven weren't really under consideration,
02:15 but the amount of names being linked, the frantic nature of it all,
02:20 just hinted a club that still there are huge issues.
02:24 You've obviously got everything that's going on with the Glazers,
02:26 it's impacting that and the takeover.
02:28 I think obviously, Mason Greenwood had a big factor in the transfer window as well,
02:32 and just the debacle that surrounded that.
02:34 So, overall in the end, it ended pretty chaotically and pretty disappointingly,
02:39 despite the start being pretty good.
02:42 Overall, I think that as you've touched on, the squad is better than last year.
02:46 They've kept their seven or eight best players and most important players.
02:49 They've added and they've strengthened in areas.
02:51 Hoyland, I think Amar Bat will be a good sign in.
02:53 Onana, Mount, I think Reguilón actually will be another option at left back as well.
02:58 So, there's definitely a better squad, but there's still issues.
03:01 And the fact that some of the deadwood is still there,
03:03 some of the players that they want to move on are still in the squad.
03:06 That's the problem.
03:07 And when you end against Arsenal with your fourth and fifth choice centre-backs,
03:12 Harry Maguire and Johnny Evans, that's a problem.
03:15 And that's where United are a little bit.
03:17 Obviously, as I said, injury is a big factor in that.
03:19 But yeah, listen, there's a good start, a not great end.
03:24 You know, you asked for a rating out of 10, I'd give it a six out of 10 for that reason.
03:29 But yeah, so certainly kind of big issues still to be addressed
03:33 going into January and potentially next summer.
03:37 Michael, moving on to Manchester City,
03:39 just review their transfer window this summer,
03:42 because we've touched on it multiple times.
03:44 A lot of players who are very important in the treble winning side have departed.
03:49 And it looks like Pep's trying a different sort of thing with some of the players.
03:53 He's brought in the likes of Kovacic, Mateus Nunes, Doku as well.
03:57 What's the latest?
03:58 And if you could review it, what sort of rating out of 10 would you give it?
04:05 I think you're right in really what you say, really all of that,
04:08 that they have lost some very experienced players.
04:10 Gundogan, Mahrez, Laporte being the big ones who have moved on.
04:17 Obviously, Giovan Cancello as well went out and transferred Edelman down low.
04:20 But I mean, he wasn't obviously in the squad in the second half of last season.
04:23 So they really have lost some experienced players,
04:25 some players that not just in terms of their decision making in the pitch,
04:29 how they perform in Guardiola's system,
04:31 they're players that Guardiola absolutely trusted complicitly.
04:36 And yeah, they are big losses.
04:38 There's no way of dressing it up.
04:40 You also factor in the Kevin De Bruyne injury as well.
04:43 And they really have lost a lot of very important players, I think, over the summer.
04:47 I think they've done some good business.
04:48 I think Kovacic is a really good sign in.
04:51 I think Guardiola as well is going to come in and be a really good addition as well.
04:57 Doku has only played one game so far, but looks really impressive.
05:00 And he's going to offer something different.
05:01 I think as well that the city already have.
05:03 And he's going to be much more direct, much more dribbler.
05:05 He played really well at the weekend, I thought, against Fulham
05:07 and from the bits of the saw.
05:09 So that's an encouraging sign.
05:11 And then, of course, we've got Mateus Nunes to come in.
05:12 I think he's going to really offer extra options in terms of midfield.
05:16 So, yeah, it means it's a conversation you and I have had before.
05:20 You look at that city squad and it looks light.
05:22 I've always thought that was Pep's city squad.
05:25 It's only the last two or three years, but it just works.
05:28 Guardiola's got a way of making it work.
05:30 He likes to work with a smaller squad.
05:31 He doesn't want to leave unhappy players out.
05:33 And that is just the way he operates.
05:37 So, yeah, I mean, in terms of giving it a rating,
05:41 five out of ten, maybe, I don't know.
05:42 I mean, I should also mention one player I did forget there,
05:44 I'm just remembering, is Cole Palmer as well.
05:46 He didn't play a significant role last year,
05:48 but was always an option to come off the bench
05:50 and always a bit of a backup as well.
05:51 So he's one player to score on.
05:52 But I'd give him five out of ten purely for the fact
05:55 they've lost so many significant and important players.
05:58 And that's not any bad reflection on the players who come in,
06:01 but it's just, they're just big shoes to fill.
06:02 And yeah, five out of ten for me.
06:04 The 2023 summer transfer window is complete, in Europe at least.
06:12 Football clubs have scrambled, spent too much, spent too little,
06:16 and almost certainly left deals agonisingly close to the deadline day window.
06:21 Why do we do it? We don't know.
06:22 But what we do know is there's plenty of winners and losers
06:26 to wade through after a frantic few months.
06:30 Starting with Liverpool.
06:31 Now, their rebuild seems to have accelerated at a pace
06:34 that's chaotic and slightly out of control.
06:37 Change was needed after last season, especially in midfield.
06:41 But few would have expected both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson
06:44 to leave for Saudi Arabia this summer,
06:47 especially when other talismanic figures,
06:49 Roberto Firmino and James Milner, also said goodbye on free deals.
06:55 A couple of players leaving, like Henderson, Fabinho,
06:57 he probably didn't want to lose, so just yet.
07:00 Now all eyes are obviously on Mo Salah,
07:02 whether he'll be off to Saudi or not.
07:04 He ain't cluttered and fatigued that he won't be leaving.
07:06 The stance is, as of now, Mo Salah's not up for sale.
07:10 Everton have barely escaped relegation in the last two Premier League seasons.
07:17 It's a club that's filtering significant funds into building an elite stadium,
07:21 while letting the squad crumble around it.
07:24 By the time their new home is ready,
07:26 there's a real chance the Toffees' everlasting relationship
07:29 with the top flight is over.
07:32 They're definitely stronger than they are, I make no bones about it.
07:34 They definitely are. They've got better options.
07:36 They've got proper battle for Donna Calvert-Lewin,
07:39 I'd say, better coming in.
07:42 His debut was really eye-catching.
07:44 Round the channels, physicality,
07:46 looked like he wanted to scrap and fight for the ball
07:49 and brought others into play.
07:50 Overall, you probably look out the window,
07:52 you think, "Five out of ten for Everton, to be honest with you."
07:56 Yeah, a defender and another attacking option
07:59 wouldn't have been sage for me.
08:01 So, having established clubs that may have fallen short this summer,
08:05 is there any standout names when thinking about the best transfer to take place,
08:11 considering both the value for money
08:13 and how they may have benefited all parties involved?
08:17 The one that instantly leaps to my mind is James Madison at Tottenham.
08:20 I mean, I know he was around about £40 million or whatever
08:22 and stuff, but he's not like he's old, 26.
08:24 I mean, still got a long time ahead of him, big future,
08:27 probably can still continue to get better.
08:29 I would have said like James Madison, to be honest,
08:31 for £30 million or so for Tottenham.
08:34 But, I mean, he's not even played any games yet,
08:36 but on paper and excitement levels, I'm very biased here.
08:41 I think it might well be Ansou Fati.
08:43 I know he's had his injury issues over the last year or so,
08:46 and he's not quite hit the heights that the likes of Vinicius Junior and Co have
08:49 that would liken to him.
08:51 He's still a player who's got great ability.
08:54 Just imagine him in a deserby side that's creating so many chances.
08:58 A few commonly brought up names and transfers selected by journalists
09:02 around the country who thoroughly believe they can go on to be stars
09:07 at their new clubs.
09:10 The transfer window has seen many inflated deals,
09:13 but who has done the best and worst business?
09:16 Just looking at the transfer window as a whole,
09:19 who do you think will prove to be the best signing?
09:21 Obviously, it's been a crazy window.
09:23 We spoke earlier on our morning show of how many have gone to Saudi Arabia.
09:27 It's just a topic that keeps popping up.
09:29 But just world football, has anyone stood out to you?
09:33 We've seen James Madison, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham as well.
09:38 They could all prove really good signings.
09:40 Has anyone caught your eye?
09:41 Yeah, Bellingham just started well, hasn't he?
09:44 Real Madrid, I mean, just unbelievable generational talent, isn't he?
09:47 But a lot of people despise Harry Kane a little bit for going to Bayern Munich.
09:53 I think it's a brave move for him, to be honest,
09:55 getting himself out of the comfort zone.
09:58 Ultimately, if he goes and wins the Champions League there,
10:02 then he'll be a Bayern Munich legend forever.
10:05 They're still trying to fill the boots of Lewandowski, who left.
10:10 Yeah, they're still trying to fill it.
10:12 And if he can do that, then he'll prove really
10:16 that he's a top world-class player, like a lot of people say he is.
10:20 But there obviously are some doubts as to whether he's ever won anything.
10:23 And will he still get that if he just wins the Bundesliga?
10:27 Because Bayern Munich have done it 11 in a row now.
10:31 But yeah, I quite like that move, to be honest with you.
10:35 Yeah, I'd probably say that one off the top of my head
10:40 is the one that I'm looking forward to seeing.
10:44 If you could pick any individual chance without a doubt,
10:46 and then also have a look at any team that you think has done the best business overall,
10:50 let us know what you think.
10:52 Everton, in terms of a poor window, I'd probably go for them.
10:56 And the fact they're rock bottom of the Premier League, if I'm not mistaken,
10:58 and just looking really poor.
11:00 Even under Sean Dye, who's a really good, experienced manager,
11:03 can't seem to get them firing.
11:04 I know they've just brought in Beto, that striker from Serie A.
11:09 He scored, I believe, on his debut, just within a day or two of signing for them.
11:13 But is he going to be enough?
11:15 Someone like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, I know it's not a transfer,
11:18 but constantly getting injured all the time.
11:20 They need probably more than one new addition up top.
11:22 Alex Iwobi's off to Fulham.
11:24 So they're losing another wide player there.
11:26 I know he's not quite hit the heights people expected
11:28 after he signed for Arsenal a few years back,
11:30 but I think him going is not going to help.
11:33 So I'm pretty disappointed as well as an Everton fan, to be fair.
11:37 And Wolves, if they hadn't done business in the last few days,
11:41 I think they'd probably be even further below Everton.
11:44 And once again, these are players that aren't really proven.
11:48 They're more youngsters.
11:48 Are there more future options?
11:50 I'm not too sure.
11:52 It can't be helped with financial fair play,
11:53 but I think it's been pretty poor for Wolves.
11:56 Charles, are you a bit worried after the business
11:59 or are you a little bit more revived?
12:00 Well, yeah, obviously the late business is a bit more pleasing to see, isn't it?
12:06 Obviously, as I said earlier, late business is better than no business at all,
12:13 I think, for anyone.
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