- 2 years ago
The summer transfer window proved as hectic and expensive as ever with many shock moves and late drama as the days went by. So after all the negotiations, who could go on to prove the best summer signing?
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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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