Tag: Chris Wood

  • Ange’s big Spurs spend; relegation favourites get worse in $3.8b bonanza: PL Transfer Report Card

    Ange’s big Spurs spend; relegation favourites get worse in $3.8b bonanza: PL Transfer Report Card

    The Premier League transfer window closed on Saturday morning after 28 signings on deadline day, bringing to a close a record-breaking window with a total spending over £2 billion ($AUD3.8 billion) for the first time.

    Chelsea went on a spending spree once again, and they weren’t the only team to make big moves in the market. But other clubs lost some of their biggest stars and struggled to replace them – and others made barely any transfers at all.

    Foxsports.com.au rates every Premier League team’s summer dealings in our Transfer Report Card!

    DEADLINE DAY WRAP: Ange’s $93m deal as records tumble in epic transfer mayhem

    Socceroos star in deadline day chaos as dream move collapses in major blow

    Ange responds to ‘backhanded compliment’ | 01:07

    Arsenal

    Biggest signing: Declan Rice ($195m from West Ham United)

    Biggest exit: Folarin Balogun ($50m to Monaco)

    Total spent: $395m

    Having come agonisingly close to winning the Premier League last season, Arsenal have loosened the pursestrings and then some this summer.

    The biggest of the four arrivals at the Emirates is undoubtedly former West Ham United captain Declan Rice, who joined for a staggering $195 million.

    Rice has played in each of Arsenal’s three Premier League games as their holding midfielder in a unit of three alongside fellow summer signing Kai Havertz and captain Martin Odegaard.

    The arrival of Rice addressed the glaring issue of depth in the defensive midfield given the over-reliance on Thomas Partey last season.

    Havertz’s signing was a curious one given he has often flattered to deceive throughout his time at Chelsea, as was goalkeeper David Raya who moved on loan from Brentford.

    Jurrien Timber’s move from Ajax was seen as a smart piece of business but he suffered a serious injury in the Gunners’ season opener against Nottingham Forest and faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

    Arsenal have also done well to move on a number of players, recouping reasonable fees for Folarin Balogun and Granit Xhaka while American duo Matt Turner and Auston Trusty also departed.

    Whether these additions will prove to be the tonic Arsenal needs to go one better in the title race remains to be seen, but they’ve certainly given themselves a significant chance.

    Grade: A

    Rice was the big signing Arsenal wanted. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Aston Villa

    Biggest signing: Moussa Diaby ($92.5m from Bayer Leverkusen)

    Biggest exit: Cameron Archer ($35m to Sheffield United)

    Total spent: $156m

    Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was clear in his instructions to his recruitment team: bring him players with European pedigree.

    After all, the Midlands outfit have brought European nights back to Villa Park for the first time since the 2010/11 season after an impressive 7th-place finish last season.

    Villa have certainly delivered on Emery’s request, bringing in Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres as well as Nicolo Zaniolo and Clement Lenglet on season-long loan deals.

    But the most impressive piece of business has been the signing of winger Moussa Diaby, with his $92.5m fee breaking the club’s transfer record.

    The tricky Frenchman has already dazzled in Villa’s opening games and has linked up well with Ollie Watkins up front.

    Villa have also eased the burden of FFP by selling academy products Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer to Burnley and Sheffield United respectively.

    The only fear among Villa fans is the worrying lack of depth in the squad, with Emery naming two goalkeepers on the bench for his side’s Premier League fixtures.

    Grade: B+

    Bournemouth

    Biggest signing: Tyler Adams ($45m from Leeds United)

    Biggest exit: Ben Pearson ($2.5m to Stoke City)

    Total spent: $213m

    Talk about flexing a newfound financial muscle.

    Bournemouth were taken over by American businessman Bill Foley last December and held off significant spending until they had Premier League safety secured.

    With that objective achieved and a new manager at the helm in Andoni Iraola, the Cherries have been incredibly active this summer and have brought in eight players all 26 or younger.

    Alex Scott, nicknamed the ‘Guernsey Grealish’ and had plenty of admirers among the Premier League, is one of those eight but is yet to feature due to injury.

    Bournemouth have also done well not to lose many players of value, although Jefferson Lerma’s switch to Crystal Palace on a free deal is a blow.

    If there was to be any criticism of Bournemouth’s dealings it would be not adding competition for star striker Dominic Solanke, with Kieffer Moore not exactly the best backup option.

    Whether their youth-heavy approach pays off or blows up in their face remains to be seen, but there can be no question Bournemouth have a better team than they did last season.

    Grade: A-

    West Ham continue impressive start | 01:20

    Brentford

    Biggest signing: Nathan Collins ($45m from Wolves)

    Biggest exit: David Raya (loan to Arsenal)

    Total spent: $107m

    Brentford’s summer window has been dominated by the will-he-won’t-he saga of goalkeeper David Raya.

    He was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham but it failed to materialise as Brentford refused to budge on their £40m valuation.

    In the end, the Spaniard moved to Arsenal where he will battle it out with Aaron Ramsdale for the starting role.

    Brentford prepared for Raya’s departure with the signing of Dutch goalkeeper Mark Flekken from Freiburg and he has looked the goods so far.

    Thomas Frank’s side also addressed the club’s glaring need for a new centre-back, signing Nathan Collins from Wolves, and added a talented winger in Kevin Schade before a deadline-day loan move for Everton forward Neal Maupay.

    A solid yet unspectacular transfer window from Brentford.

    Grade: B

    Brighton

    Biggest signing: Joao Pedro ($57m from Watford)

    Biggest exit: Moises Caicedo ($195m to Chelsea)

    Total spent: $169m

    Once billed as Barcelona’s replacement for Lionel Messi, Brighton made one of the more intriguing deals before the deadline by signing 20-year-old Spain international Ansu Fati on a loan move.

    A string of injuries have played a role in Fati not being able to live up to his sky-high potential, but at just 20 years old the best is still ahead of him and now the versatile youngster will have a chance to revitalise his career at Brighton.

    Tottenham was said to also have shown interest in Fati but the fact he opted to sign with Brighton says a lot about the club’s rising standing in the football world, having secured their first campaign in European football next season.

    “This is a great deal for all of us,” Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi said.

    “I am sure Ansu will help us to reach a new target and we can help him get back to the level he deserves to be.”

    The signing of Ansu was not the only coup this transfer window for Brighton though, who have undergone quite the roster upheaval with Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Robert Sanchez all departing.

    What Brighton got in return for the trio though is quite staggering, receiving £175 million ($A341m) for the trio after paying just £11 million ($A21m) to sign them in the first place.

    Just another shrewd piece of business from a team that clearly has a plan as it builds towards the future.

    Fati headlines a long list of signings for Brighton, with Joao Pedro, Mahmoud Dahoud, Bart Verbruggen, Igor Julio, Carlos Baleba, Jacob Slater and James Milner all joining the Seagulls.

    And they did all that while making a $144m profit.

    Grade: A

    Joao Pedro was snapped up by Brighton early in the window. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Burnley

    Biggest signing: Zeki Amdouni ($30m from Basel)

    Biggest exit: Wout Weghorst (loan to Hoffenheim)

    Total spent: $186m

    The Premier League newcomers didn’t waste any time splashing the cash in their bid to survive. They brought in Sheffield’s impressive midfielder Sander Berge and poached former Southampton player Nathan Redmond on a free transfer from Besiktas. Of the ten players they spent fees signing, the oldest was 25-year-old Berge, showing their focus on the long-term development of the squad. 22-year-old striker Zeki Amdouni was their biggest outlay, while 21-year-old playmaker Aaron Ramsey is a hugely talented midfielder from Aston Villa. Crucially, they held onto all of their key players from the promotion campaign, making just a couple of sales. They might not have gone for big names or superstars, but they recruited exceptionally and didn’t hold back in the transfer market, spending plenty of money on a balanced variety of players.

    Grade: A-

    Chelsea

    Biggest signing: Moises Caicedo ($195m from Brighton)

    Biggest exit: Kai Havertz ($126m to Arsenal)

    Total spent: $775m

    In three transfer windows, Chelsea have splurged one billion pounds. It’s a staggering amount of money, but this window was a little different to the last. Sure, they bought eight players who each cost over £20m, with their total outlay around £419m – more than coach Mauricio Pochettino spent in five whole years at Spurs. That included breaking the British transfer record for the second time in seven months to sign Moises Caicedo for a fee up to £115 million.

    But equally crucial was offloading a number of stars – racking up £295m or $575m AUD in sales and loan fees. Besides Havertz, the long list of outgoing names included Mason Mount, Kepa, Mendy, Lukaku, Kante, Azpilicueta, Kovacic and Pulisic, helping them to balance their books and make room for a sweeping overhaul.

    In Pochettino they have a coach with a very strong record of developing young players, and their focus on signing next-generation stars has seen the squad’s average age drop drastically in the last year (the oldest of their 11 signings is just 25). They beat Liverpool to the signings of Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, two extremely talented young guns, and there’s no doubt that their raft of signings have immense potential.

    But for a club desperate to right the wrongs of last season, their focus on youth comes with significant risk. Inexperience at the top level and a fresh-faced side will mean it takes time to gel. Injuries to their attacking signings forced them back into the market late on, but in Manchester City’s Cole Palmer they landed another dangerous forward. They also kept a hold of Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Ian Maatsen despite plenty of interest.

    It capped off a very good window for Chelsea in both directions – but one that might take a season or two to truly pay off.

    Grade: A

    Moises Caicedo arrived in a big money deal from Brighton. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Crystal Palace

    Biggest signing: Matheus Franca ($33m from Flamengo)

    Biggest exit: Wilfried Zaha (free to Galatasaray)

    Total spent: $65m

    The exit of talismanic Wilfried Zaha was a major blow, especially since he departed for free. You get the feeling Palace didn’t quite manage to replace him in what was a quiet window for the club. Teen playmaker Matheus Franca is a promising signing, while Jefferson Lerma adds value on a free deal from Bournemouth. Dean Henderson (from Man Utd) is a major upgrade between the sticks and was in hot demand, while Rob Holding from Arsenal was a deadline-day deal to bolster their defensive stocks. After Zaha’s exit, keeping a hold of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise was vital, and they managed to see off the interest from around the league for both players. But coach Roy Hodgson said the squad was about three players lighter than he wanted – and he didn’t get the clinical striker or the fullback he wanted.

    Grade: C

    Everton

    Biggest signing: Beto ($42m from Udinese)

    Biggest exit: Moise Kean ($50m to Juventus)

    Total spent: $68m

    It’s hard to think of this window as anything other than a disaster. After scraping survival last season – again – it was clear that Everton needed reinforcements. That’s especially true after losing Anthony Gordon and Richarlison in back-to-back windows.

    They got the striker they desperately needed, landing Beto from Udinese. But elsewhere? Crickets. Their only other permanent signing was a 19-year-old striker Chermiti for $21m, while they added Ashley Young on a free transfer and Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison on loans.

    The list of players they were linked to but couldn’t buy was damning. Wilfried Gnonto from Leeds, Harrison Reed, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Maxwell Cornet – all players that had reported Everton bids rejected on deadline day.

    Meanwhile, they sold Alex Iwobi (Fulham) and Tom Cannon (Leicester) for a combined total nearing £30m on the final day, but didn’t spend a cent as the hours ticked by and the window slammed shut. Neal Maupay also went back to Brentford on a loan with an option to buy, while Everton couldn’t find a buyer for midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin for even £5m, so ended up terminating his contract on deadline day. Meanwhile, Demarai Gray could still leave to Saudi Arabia this week.

    They needed depth in defence and midfield. They got none of it. With a squad that’s weaker than last season, avoiding relegation will be extremely difficult. At least they’re spending money on their new stadium, since it’s clearly not going towards transfers.

    Grade: E

    Everton boss Sean Dyche didn’t’ get the signings he would have wanted. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Fulham

    Biggest signing: Alex Iwobi ($43m from Everton)

    Biggest exit: Aleksandar Mitrovic ($87m to Al Hilal)

    Total spent: $115m

    It was a big overhaul for Fulham this window, though they made just one confirmed sale – star striker Mitrovic opting for a payday in Saudi Arabia. But they also made six free transfers, clearing plenty of space for arrivals. They opted to sign players with plenty of top-flight experience: Alex Iwobi from Everton on deadline day, Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore from Wolves, Timothy Castagne from Leicester. A gifted left-back in Fodé Ballo-Touré arrived extremely late on deadline day on loan from AC Milan with no option to buy. Effectively, Fulham upgraded the quality of their starting line-up, though they didn’t manage to add much depth. But their inability to sign a striker outside of Jimenez, who hasn’t got back to his best after a serious head injury, is a major concern. They’ll hope he can find his shooting boots again, and that their other forwards can pitch in with goals to help them stay up. Defender Tosin Adarabioyo had a move to Monaco fall through, while Joao Palhina had a deal with Bayern Munich collapse after he had travelled to Germany for a medical and even took photos with his new jersey!

    Grade: C

    Liverpool

    Biggest signing: Dominik Szoboszlai ($117m from RB Leipzig)

    Biggest exit: Fabinho ($79m to Al Ittihad)

    Total spent: $287m

    Liverpool was always expected to target midfield reinforcements this summer, although ahead of the transfer deadline it quickly became clear just how big a priority it would be.

    That is what losing Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain does to you.

    There were a few missed targets along the way, headlined by the failed pursuit for Caicedo as Chelsea broke the British transfer record to sign the 21-year-old from Brighton.

    In the end though, Liverpool did end up addressing its glaring need in the midfield after signing Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who Andy Robertson described as seamless fits at the club.

    While Liverpool may have lost Fabinho after struggling to match the spending powers of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, the Reds may have picked up a bargain in Wataru Endo.

    “He is a late bloomer,” Klopp said of the 30-year-old, who Liverpool signed from Stuttgart for around 19 million euros.

    He is a late bloomer in his career and he was definitely underestimated for a long time,” Klopp said.

    “It is clear he has improved every year since he was on the proper football screen. On the pitch, he turns into a real monster.”

    Klopp tipped Endo to have a “similar impact” to Milner, who joined Brighton as a free agent.

    Liverpool was not finished there either, later signing Netherlands midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich before the deadline.

    Speaking ahead of the deadline, Klopp said the team’s midfield is “completely new” after the summer signings which totalled £150 million.

    “I think we have much more goal threat in midfield now but the workrate these guys put in, the stability they gave us was second-to-none and that is what we have to create as well,” Klopp added.

    The Reds rejected a monster £150 million offer for Mohamed Salah to move to Saudi Arabia, but that country’s transfer window is still open for another few days. Al-Ittihad will reportedly return with a £200m bid – a staggering amount of money for anyone, let alone a 31-year-old – which will test Liverpool’s mettle. If they want to achieve a top four finish, they’ll need to keep the Egyptian superstar, especially with no chance to replace him with new signings now the Premier League window has slammed shut. Losing him could prove disastrous.

    But with four new midfielders, Liverpool got the overhaul they badly needed – though it was 12 months too late.

    Grade: A-

    Szoboszlai is the big midfield signing Liverpool needed to make. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Luton Town

    Biggest signing: Ryan Giles ($10m from Wolves)

    Biggest exit: Luke Freeman (released)

    Total spent: $38m

    Luton’s remarkable rise throughout he divisions in recent years has been founded on a sustainable transfer policy founded on young and affordable players who can develop at the club (and potentially earn large fees if sold on). They didn’t throw that strategy out despite having more cash to play with after their promotion to the top flight. The six signings with disclosed transfer fees each cost less than six million euros. Ryan Giles from Wolves is one of the steals of the season at just €5.85m, while they brought back Marvelous Nakamba after a season on loan from Aston Villa – his permanent deal a very smart piece of business at just €2.9m. They added experience in the form of veteran keeper Tim Krul, and former Everton and Chelsea player Ross Barkley on a free transfer. There’s plenty of potential in their young signings, particularly former Manchester United academy product Tahith Chong. But their midfield stocks at times haven’t looked up to Premier League standard, and Luton were keen to add another, only for a loan move for Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden to collapse. The newcomers spent pennies compared to plenty of their rivals, and quite simply might not have the quality to stay up. You have to respect their dedication to the squad-building approach that has served them well for so long – but they might come to regret not splashing just a little more cash.

    Grade: C

    Manchester City

    Biggest signing: Josko Gvardiol ($151m from RB Leipzig)

    Biggest exit: Riyad Mahrez ($59m to Al Ahli)

    Total spent: $403m

    The champions have done it again. Pep Guardiola was sad to lose Mahrez to Saudi Arabia, the winger having been a key member of his multiple title-winning team. But they replaced him well with 21-year-old Jeremy Doku from Stade Rennais in France – a sensational dribbler with a particular ability to get to the byline and cut the ball back, which seems a perfect fit for Erling Haaland. They added Josko Gvardiol in a bid-money deal to boost their centre defence, allowing them to offload Aymeric Laporte to Saudi Arabia. Mateo Kovacic came from Chelsea to boost their midfield after Ilkay Gundogan’s exit, but when superstar Kevin de Bruyne went down with a serious injury they responded swiftly to poach 25-year-old Matheus Nunes from Wolves. Their elite squad didn’t need too much, but City opted for quality over quantity and were happy to let players go as well – with Cole Palmer off to Chelsea for a more than handy €47m, and Joao Cancelo (Barcelona, loan) and Benjamin Mendy (Lorient) also out the door.

    Grade: A+

    Manchester United

    Biggest signing: Rasmus Hojlund ($126m from Atalanta)

    Biggest exit: Anthony Elanga ($29m to Nottingham Forest)

    Total spent: $345m

    It was a solid window for United after a rocky start. There was chaos as veteran keeper David de Gea was not handed a new contract – despite all indications pointing to a new deal for the Spaniard. He departed and Andre Onana was brought in, before United made a big statement by bringing in Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and striker Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund for big money. Then they finally got the ball-playing midfielder they desperately needed by landing Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat on deadline day – one of FOUR signings before the window closed. Amrabat starred for Morocco at the 2022 World Cup and should stop the Red Devils from being cut apart by opposition teams through the midfield channels. They added goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbache, Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon on loan and free agent Jonny Evans on the final day, making it seven transfers in total and adding depth across the park.

    Grade: B

    Will Rasmus Hojlund be the Red Devils’ saviour up front? (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)Source: AFP

    Newcastle United

    Biggest signing: Sandro Tonali ($107m from AC Milan)

    Biggest exit: Allan Saint-Maximin ($45m to Al Ahli)

    Total spent: $257m

    Midfielder Sandro Tonali arrived early in the window from AC Milan for a club-record £55m, and Newcastle didn’t slow down there. They picked up winger Harvey Barnes (£39m from Leicester), and a pair of fullbacks in Tino Livramento (£36m from Southampton) and Lewis Hall (loan from Chelsea). There’s plenty of depth in the squad now, which will be needed as they return to the Champions League for the first time in two decades. A brutal group draw in that competition will sorely test them. There are big questions, however, over their lack of a clinical striker – it burned them badly against Liverpool and could prove costly this campaign. Callum Wilson has plenty of experience in the top flight and Alexander Isak lots of promise, but Eddie Howe will need one or both to show more cutting edge in the box if Newcastle is to push on this season. Teen winger Yakuba Minteh is one for the future, but Newcastle could have done with some more depth in their back line. And they also saw a deal collapse for exiled player Isaac Hayden to leave on loan to Luton Town.

    Grade: B

    Nottingham Forest

    Biggest signing: Ibrahim Sangare ($59m from PSV)

    Biggest exit: Brennan Johnson ($93m to Tottenham)

    Total spent: $203m

    Forest went wild on deadline day, signing a whopping seven players – including plenty that were announced after the 11pm closing of the transfer window. The highlight was Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi for an absolute bargain fee under £5m – especially when you consider the Blues once rejected a £70m offer for the 22-year-old.

    Selling Brennan Johnson was never what Forest wanted, but they held out for a sizeable fee nearing £50m and used that cash very wisely to overhaul the squad and provide plenty of depth and balance around the park.

    Former Liverpool striker Divock Origi returns to the Premier League on loan with an option to buy from AC Milan, while their deadline day moves included a fullback, a midfielder, and a strong keeper, in addition to their earlier signings. Anthony Elanga at 21 years old is another gifted attacker that could easily rise in re-sell value, like Hudson-Odoi, while they picked up a veteran attacker in Chris Wood who has already delivered in the scoring department. With a balance of youth and experience in their signings, they made the most of the money they received and traded one extremely good player for a host of valuable signings.

    One to watch will definitely be Ibrahim Sangare, a defensive midfielder who always looks for a long ball – which could be perfect to feed their quick new wingers on the counter-attack. He was linked to Bayern Munich earlier in the window and is a massive deadline-day coup for Forest.

    Grade: A+

    Steve Cooper has overseen yet another big transfer window at Nottingham Forest. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)Source: AFP

    Sheffield United

    Biggest signing: Cameron Archer ($35m from Aston Villa)

    Biggest exit: Iliman Ndiaye ($28m to Marseille)

    Total spent: $107m

    The Blades always deliver solid signings for reasonable prices – and this time they went fishing across Europe for bargains. They picked up players from Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium, before bagging a big name in Villa’s gifted striker Cameron Archer. Losing Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge was a blow, especially the latter’s grit in the midfield, but Sheffield United did well to add Gustavo Hamer from Coventry City in the Championship. The 26-year-old is a defensive-minded midfield warrior but has already delivered a Premier League goal and has started the new season well. They’ll need 21-year-old Archer to find his feet, as well as their other young signings (average age 22.6). But there’s plenty of room for optimism, and the Blades did it all on a shoestring budget.

    Grade: B

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Biggest signing: Brennan Johnson ($92m from Nottingham Forest)

    Biggest exit: Harry Kane ($168m to Bayern Munich)

    Total spent: $415m.

    James Maddison might have seemed expensive at $77m, but his creativity in midfield has revolutionised Spurs and he might just end up being one of the signings of the season. Spurs have undergone a rebuild under Ange Postecoglou, but by far the biggest move was the departure of England captain Harry Kane – the will-he-won’t-he drama finally coming to an end this year. It pocketed Spurs a heap of cash, which they spread around on a number of players, with nine arrivals in all. Brennan Johnson came in late, the Nottingham Forest attacker perfectly fitting the mould of a versatile Postecoglou forward that can play anywhere across the front line. There are some areas where Spurs are lacking, though. Postecoglou wanted another centre-back or two after the arrival of Micky van de Ven but didn’t get them, especially with the club unable to offload a couple of defenders. And there’s a lack of creative depth if Maddison cops an injury – besides Giovani Lo Celso, there’s not much playmaking or creative incision. And there was also a failure to ship out Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who rejected a move to Fulham. It looked like a move could happen on deadline day, but Spanish side Atletico Madrid was only looking for a loan deal while Spurs wanted a permanent buyer. Their failure to sell may have stopped them from sealing a move for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher. Spurs reportedly tabled an offer of £40m for the midfielder, but couldn’t convince the Blues to sell. Nevertheless, a new back-line, more depth in midfield, and an attacker is a solid return – though it doesn’t quite mask the hole in attack left by Kane’s exit.

    Grade: B+

    James Maddison has adapted quickly to life at Tottenham. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    West Ham United

    Biggest signing: Mohammed Kudus ($72m from Ajax)

    Biggest exit: Declan Rice ($195m to Arsenal)

    Total spent: $230m

    Manager David Moyes called it a ‘difficult’ transfer window, which sums things up nicely. They were always going to lose Declan Rice, but got plenty of money for their star man. The problem was signing the players that they wanted!

    It started well as they brought in Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse as well as the exceptional Kudus, but were frustrated in their attempts to sign a striker after selling Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta.

    Negotiations failed over a deal for Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto, as well as Sevilla over Youssef En-Nesyri and Paris Saint-Germain over Hugo Ekitike. They also saw Juventus reject a move for wing-back Filip Kostic, who chose the Italian club over West Ham a year ago but fell down the pecking order.

    With hopes high that they would land a striker and Kostic on deadline day, it ended in frustration. But they ended up with a profit, and they’re top of the table with a nice European trophy in their cabinet already this season. It could be worse!

    Grade: C+

    Wolves

    Biggest signing: Matheus Cunha ($84m from Atletico Madrid, loan made permanent)

    Biggest exit: Matheus Nunes ($101m to Manchester City)

    Total spent: $157m

    Wolves were a club in crisis when the window opened, stricken by huge losses (and transfer spending) over the last two seasons that left them desperately needing to sell players to balance their books.

    So bad was the situation that manager Julen Lopetegui left the club just days before the start of the season, frustrated that he was blocked from signing any players to add to a squad that he believed was not capable of survival.

    It was all about the departures this window – midfield star Ruben Neves to Saudi Arabia, defender Nathan Collins to Brentford, and then midfielder Matheus Nunes to the champions on deadline day for £52m. They also offloaded Conor Coady, Raúl Jiménez and Ryan Giles to name a few.

    In one sense, Wolves will be very happy at the money they raked in. But the players they signed as replacements – all for cheap – are clearly a class below the stars they let go.

    They made January’s loan arrival Matheus Cunha into a permanent move for €50m, but that deal had already been effectively locked in last window.

    Luckily, they managed to pick up a midfielder in Jean-Ricner Bellegarde from Strasbourg on the final day, their second midfield arrival from the French league this window after bagging Boubacar Traoré earlier. Santiago Bueno, a centre-back, arrived from Girona on yet another cut-price deal.

    Financially, this window was much-needed for Wolves. But they must feel like they’ve been absolutely gutted of their top talent.

    Grade: D

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  • EPL Wrap: Chelsea’s new $228m recruit in ‘nightmare’ debut and injury drama as Everton crumbles

    EPL Wrap: Chelsea’s new $228m recruit in ‘nightmare’ debut and injury drama as Everton crumbles

    Mauricio Pochettino urged Chelsea to “believe in the process” after Michail Antonio’s superb strike and Enzo Fernandez’s penalty miss condemned the Blues to a 3-1 loss against West Ham.

    After last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool, Pochettino’s side wasted a lively performance as they paid the price for sloppy defending and wasteful finishing at the London Stadium.

    Antonio blasted West Ham’s decisive second goal after half-time and Lucas Paqueta added a late penalty to leave Pochettino still waiting for his first Premier League win since taking charge in the close-season.

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    Impressive Hammers keep Chelsea winless | 00:55

    Chelsea teenager Carney Chukwuemeka had scored an eye-catching first half equaliser to cancel Nayef Aguerd’s early opener for West Ham.

    But the turning point came when Fernandez’s penalty was saved by Alphonse Areola just before the break.

    Antonio netted soon after the interval and Chelsea couldn’t respond despite Aguerd’s dismissal for a second booking midway through the half.

    Paqueta, reportedly the subject of an FA probe into betting breaches, applied the knockout blow in the final seconds.

    “Teams like us, we need to get the right balance. I think there were a few actions we didn’t manage well and we conceded,” Pochettino said.

    “We create many chances and should have won the game with our first half. It was the frustration when we miss the penalty. We were playing well and we didn’t get the reward.

    “Disappointed but this is only the beginning. We need to believe in the process.”

    Dating back to last season, Chelsea have won just five times in 31 league matches, while their only victory in their last 14 top-flight games came at Bournemouth in May.

    They have also lost four successive top-flight London derbies for the first time since 1990.

    Much of the blame for those dismal statistics lies with Pochettino’s predecessors Graham Potter and Frank Lampard, who struggled through a turbulent campaign that ended with Chelsea’s lowest finish since 1996.

    West Ham United’s players celebrate their third goal. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    Pochettino has been tasked with cleaning up the mess, but despite recent signings of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia taking Chelsea’s total spending under owner Todd Boehly to more than £850 million ($A1.69 billion), the squad remains a work in progress.

    Putting his faith in a largely youthful team is a gamble from Pochettino, whose side’s lack of experience was exposed in the seventh minute.

    James Ward-Prowse’s corner was whipped to the far post, where Morocco defender Aguerd easily evaded Conor Gallagher and Chukwuemeka to nod home from six yards.

    Dominating possession after that setback, Chelsea deservedly drew level in the 28th minute.

    Kurt Zouma miscued a weak clearance and Chukwuemeka cleverly shifted the ball away from Tomas Soucek before smashing a fine finish into the far corner from 12 yards.

    Chelsea were in command and Raheem Sterling’s driving run won them a 42nd minute penalty after the winger was sent tumbling by Soucek’s clumsy tackle.

    But Areola plunged to his right to make a superb save from Fernandez’s tentative spot-kick, denying the Argentine midfielder his first goal for Chelsea.

    Ange claims first EPL win against United | 02:46

    Antonio had just five touches in the first half but the West Ham striker made the most of a rare involvement in the 53rd minute.

    Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and Axel Disasi were bullied by Antonio, who took Ward-Prowse’s pass and used his strength to manouevre into position for a ferocious strike that flashed past Sanchez from the edge of the area.

    With an hour gone, Ecuador midfielder Caicedo came on for his Chelsea debut after joining from Brighton for a British record fee of £115 million ($A228 million).

    Caicedo blazed over from distance with one of his first touches in a Chelsea shirt.

    Aguerd’s 67th minute red card, earned for a clumsy second booking when he chopped down Nicolas Jackson, handed Chelsea a potential lifeline.

    But the visitors laboured to mount a response and Caicedo’s debut to forget was complete when he fouled Emerson in stoppage-time, conceding a penalty that Paqueta fired past Sanchez.

    “Caicedo has had a nightmare since coming on. It’s a poor, lazy challenge,” Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports of the incident.

    While it was an underwhelming showing from Chelsea’s new signing, Jamie Redknapp gave Blues fans a reason to believe the best was yet to come from Caicedo.

    “Caicedo hasn’t had any minutes for 60 days and you can see that rustiness,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports.

    “Only the manager knows whether he was ready and he isn’t quite there yet. He will get better. As it can only get better after giving a penalty on your debut.”

    Moises Caicedo of Chelsea. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    INJURIES STRIKE AS EVERTON SLUMP TO NEW LOW

    Meanwhile, Aston Villa won for the first time this season as they routed Everton 4-0 to erase the bitter taste of last weekend’s thrashing at Newcastle.

    Tipped to improve on last season’s strong finish, Villa were hammered 5-1 on Tyneside in a shockingly bad start to their Premier League campaign.

    But Unai Emery’s side got back on track in the Villa Park sunshine as goals from John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran brushed aside woeful Everton.

    Emery will hope Villa’s biggest victory of his reign kick-starts a season in which they will compete in Europe for the first time in 13 years after qualifying for the Europa Conference League.

    “Today we were very, very angry to get our performance at home and to forget last week’s match,” Emery said.

    “We needed to react like we did. We did a lot of things good but there are some moments we can do better.”

    Everton have less lofty ambitions after narrowly avoiding relegation last season and Sean Dyche’s men already look destined for another grim fight for survival.

    Beaten 1-0 at home by Fulham last weekend, Everton have lost their opening two games in tame fashion.

    It is only the third time Everton have been beaten in their first two league matches without scoring a goal and the first since 1956.

    As if that wasn’t bad enough, Dyche also had to contend with the sight of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alex Iwobi both coming off injured.

    Aston Villa crush dreadful Everton | 00:30

    “I won’t make any excuses. Really soft goals changed the feel of the stadium and the feel of our performance,” Dyche said.

    “Villa had more edge. They were far better than us. That was not good enough. It was way off where we want to be.”

    Hampered by fitness and form issues, Calvert-Lewin had managed only four goals since August 2021 and scored just two last season.

    Incredibly, the striker’s injury woes resurfaced when he needed lengthy treatment on a facial cut following a collision with Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez early in the first half.

    Calvert-Lewin was able to continue but Everton fell behind in the 18th minute. Bailey sprinted onto Moussa Diaby’s pass and cut the ball back to Scotland midfielder McGinn, who emphatically volleyed home from close-range.

    Philippe Coutinho (C) walks off the pitch after getting injured. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP
    Dominic Calvert-Lewin receives medical attention. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    Villa doubled their lead six minutes later from the penalty spot after Everton keeper Jordan Pickford caught Ollie Watkins with his out-stretched arm as he tried to punch clear.

    Luiz stepped up to slot the spot-kick past Pickford, who was booked for trying to delay the penalty in an unsuccessful bid to distract the Brazilian.

    Looking tentative whenever the ball came near him, Calvert-Lewin finally came off before half-time with blood still scarring his cheek wound.

    Iwobi limped off to add to Everton’s problems and Villa added insult to injury with a third goal in the 51st minute.

    Mac Allister shown RED on Anfield debut | 00:37

    Dismal defending by Michael Keane allowed Bailey space to plant a powerful drive past Pickford from 12 yards.

    Many of Everton’s travelling fans had seen enough as they streamed towards the exits from Bailey’s goal.

    It proved a wise move as Duran scored 47 seconds after coming on to complete the demolition in the 75th minute.

    Keane was guilty of more sloppy defending, missing his kick to allow Duran to slot home.

    On an otherwise perfect day, the only frustration for Villa was a late injury to Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho.

    Source link

  • Fiery star gets his wish as PL side ‘reluctantly’ confirms $99m Saudi switch: Done Deals

    Fiery star gets his wish as PL side ‘reluctantly’ confirms $99m Saudi switch: Done Deals

    Aleksandar Mitrovic joined the Premier League exodus to Saudi Arabia by leaving Fulham for a club record fee to join Al Hilal on Saturday.

    The Premier League club confirmed the Serbian’s departure following Saturday’s 3-0 Premier home defeat against Brentford.

    Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. Join now and start streaming instantly >

    Al Hilal are reported to have negotiated a £50 million ($AUD99 million deal for the 28-year-old.

    “The club can confirm that Aleksandar Mitrovic has this evening left to join Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League for a club record transfer fee,” Fulham said in a statement.

    “The club had reluctantly accepted a revised offer as the player had consistently made his desire to leave known.”

    Mitrovic pushed for a move in order to join the growing list of players swapping Europe for a lucrative switch to the Gulf state.

    He will be Al Hilal’s latest high-profile signing after their swoops for Neymar, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves and Malcom.

    Mitrovic has gone to Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    MORE COVERAGE

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    ‘It is like a movie’: Messi leads MLS side to first trophy after bonkers penalty shootout

    Mitrovic scored 14 times for Fulham last season as he finally made his mark in the Premier League.

    Since joining Fulham in 2018, Mitrovic had played an important role in Fulham’s three separate promotions from the Championship.

    In the 2021-22 campaign he netted a Championship record of 43 goals.

    PL DONE DEALS

    Arsenal

    In

    Declan Rice [West Ham] £105m

    Kai Havertz [Chelsea] £65m

    Jurrien Timber [Ajax] £38m

    David Raya [Brentford] Loan

    Out

    Granit Xhaka [Bayer Leverkusen] £21m

    Pablo Mari [AC Monza] £6m

    Marquinhos [Nantes] Loan

    Nikolaj Moller [FC St. Gallen] Undisclosed

    Mazeed Ogungbo [Barrow] Undisclosed

    Ben Cottrell [NS Mura] Undisclosed

    Mauro Bandeira [Colchester United] Loan

    Auston Trusty [Sheffield United] Undisclosed

    Matt Turner [Nottingham Forest] Undisclosed

    Tom Smith [Colchester] Free

    Ainsley Maitland-Niles [Lyon] Free

    Matt Smith [Released]

    Joel Ideho [Released]

    George Lewis [Released]

    Tom Smith [Released]

    Zach Awe [Released]

    Kaleel Green [Released]

    Alexandar Kovacevic [Released]

    Tino Quamina [Released]

    Mathaeus Roberts [Released]

    Declan Rice joined Arsenal for one of the biggest fees ever seen in British football. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Aston Villa

    In

    Pau Torres [Villarreal] £35m

    Youri Tielemans [Leicester] Free

    Rico Richards [West Brom] Free

    Moussa Diaby [Bayer Leverkusen] Undisclosed

    Out

    Marvelous Nakamba [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Wesley [Stoke City] Undisclosed

    Morgan Sanson [Nice] Loan

    Kaine Kesler-Hayden [Plymouth Argyle] Loan

    Louie Barry [Stockport County] Loan

    Lamare Bogarde [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Finn Azaz [Plymouth] Loan

    Ashley Young [Everton] Free

    Declan Frith [Released]

    Hayden Lindley [Released]

    Arjan Raikhy [Released]

    Ruben Shakpoke [Released]

    Myles Sohna [Released]

    Jed Steer [Released]

    Brad Young [Released]

    Bournemouth

    In

    Justin Kluivert [Roma] Undisclosed

    Romain Faivre [Lyon] Undisclosed (sent on loan to Lorient)

    Hamed Traore [Sassuolo] £20m

    Milos Kerkez [AZ Alkmaar] Undisclosed

    Andrei Radu [Inter Milan] Loan

    Out

    Siriki Dembele [Birmingham] Undisclosed

    Jefferson Lerma [Crystal Palace] Free

    Jack Stacey [Norwich City] Free

    Brooklyn Genesini [Swindon] Free

    Ben Pearson [Stoke] Undisclosed

    Will Dennis [Kilmarnock] Loan

    Mark Travers [Stoke] Loan

    Junior Stanislas [Released]

    Josh Popoola [Released]

    Tarik Gidaree [Released]

    Matthew Burgess [Released]

    Christopher Francis [Released]

    Brooklyn Genesini [Released]

    Justin Kluivert linked up with Bournemouth. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Brentford

    In

    Nathan Collins [Wolves] £23m

    Kevin Schade [Freiburg] £22m

    Mark Flekken [Freiburg] £11m

    Kim Ji-soo [Seongnam] Undisclosed

    Ethan Brierley [Rochdale] Undisclosed

    Ethan Laidlaw [Hibernian] Undisclosed

    Romeo Beckham [Inter Miami] Undisclosed

    Erion Zabeli [Oxford United] Free

    Out

    David Raya [Arsenal] Loan

    Pontus Jansson [Malmo] Free

    Daniel Oyegoke [Bradford] Loan

    Fin Stevens [Oxford] Loan

    Matthew Cox [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan

    Tristan Crama [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Ben Winterbottom [Welling] Loan

    Alex Gilbert [Middlesbrough] Free

    Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan

    Saman Ghoddos [Released]

    Tariqe Fosu [Released]

    Joel Valencia [Released]

    J’Neil Bennett [Released]

    Lachlan Brook [Released]

    Nico Jones [Released]

    Roco Rees [Released]

    Roy Syla [Released]

    Lucias Vine [Released]

    Brighton

    In

    Joao Pedro [Watford] £30m

    Bart Verbruggen [Anderlecht] £16.3m

    Igor Julio [Fiorentina] £14.5m

    Jacob Slater [Preston North End] Undisclosed

    Mahmoud Dahoud [Borussia Dortmund] Free

    James Milner [Liverpool] Free

    Out

    Moises Caicedo [Chelsea] £115m

    Alexis Mac Allister [Liverpool] £55m

    Robert Sanchez [Chelsea] £25m

    Antef Tsoungui [Feyenoord] Undisclosed

    Taylor Richards [Queens Park Rangers] Undisclosed

    Aaron Connolly [Hull] Undisclosed

    Michal Karbownik [Hertha Berlin] Undisclosed

    Kjell Scherpen [Sturm Graz] Loan

    Abdallah Sima [Rangers] Loan

    James Beadle [Oxford United] Loan

    Marc Leonard [Northampton Town] Loan

    Jeremy Sarmiento [West Brom] Loan

    Carl Rushworth [Swansea] Loan

    Ed Turns [Leyton Orient] Loan

    Toby Bull [Released]

    Billie Clark [Released]

    Matthew Everitt [Released]

    Teddy Jenks [Forest Green] Free

    Todd Miller [Released]

    Sam Packham [Released]

    Haydon Roberts [Released]

    Casey Gabriel-Shann [Released]

    Jack Spong [Released]

    Fynn Talley [Peterborough] Free

    Lorent Tolaj [Released]

    Antef Tsoungui [Released]

    Ben Wilson [Released]

    Joao Pedro is Brighton’s biggest signing of the summer to date. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Burnley

    In

    James Trafford [Manchester City] £19m

    Dara O’Shea [West Brom] £7m

    Luca Koleosho [Espanyol] £2.6m

    Sander Berge [Sheffield United] Undisclosed

    Zeki Amdouni [Basel] Undisclosed

    Jordan Beyer [Borussia Monchengladbach] Undisclosed

    Lawrence Vigouroux [Leyton Orient] Undisclosed

    Michael Obafemi [Swansea] Undisclosed

    Nathan Redmond [Besiktas] Free

    Jacob Bruun Larsen [Hoffenheim] Loan

    Out

    Ashley Barnes [Norwich] Free

    Lewis Thomas [Harrogate] Free

    Wout Weghorst [Hoffenheim] Loan

    Bailey Peacock-Farrell [AGF Aarhus] Loan

    Michael Mellon [Morecambe] Loan

    Will Norris [Portsmouth] Free

    Lukas Jensen [Lincoln] Free

    Luke McNally [Stoke] Loan

    Chelsea

    In

    Moises Caicedo [Brighton] £115m

    Romeo Lavia [Chelsea] £58m

    Christopher Nkunku [RB Leipzig] £52m

    Axel Disasi [Monaco] £38.5m

    Nicolas Jackson [Villarreal] £32m

    Robert Sanchez [Brighton] £25m

    Lesley Ugochukwu [Rennes] £24m

    Kendry Paez [Independiente del Valle] Undisclosed

    Dujuan Richards [Phoenix All Stars Academy] Undisclosed

    Angelo Gabriel [Santos] Undisclosed

    Alex Matos [Norwich] Undisclosed

    Diego Moreira [Benfica] Undisclosed

    Ishe Samuels-Smith [Everton] Undisclosed

    Out

    Kai Havertz [Arsenal] £65m

    Mason Mount [Manchester United] £55m

    Christian Pulisic [AC Milan] £20m

    Mateo Kovacic [Manchester City] £30m

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek [AC Milan] £15m

    Kalidou Kouilbay [Al-Hilal] Undisclosed

    Edouard Mendy [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed

    N’Golo Kante [Al-Ittihad] Free

    Cesar Azpilicueta [Atletico Madrid] Free

    Ethan Ampadu [Leeds] £7m

    Kepa Arrizabalaga [Real Madrid] Loan

    David Datro Fofana [Union Berlin] Loan

    Cesare Casadei [Leicester City] Loan

    Angelo Gabriel [Strasbourg] Loan

    Dujon Sterling [Rangers] Free

    Baba Rahman [PAOK] Free

    Derrick Abu [Released]

    Prince Adegoke [Released]

    Tiemoue Bakayoko [Released]

    Nathan Baxter [Bolton] Free

    Juan Castillo [Released]

    Bryan Fiabema [Released]

    Joe Haigh [Released]

    Henry Lawrence [Released]

    Sam McClelland [Released]

    Silko Thomas [Released]

    Ethan Wady [Released]

    Jayden Wareham [Released]

    Charlie Webster [Heerenveen] Loan

    Dion Rankine [Exeter] Loan

    Chelsea broke the British transfer record to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)Source: AFP

    Crystal Palace

    In

    Matheus Franca [Flamengo] £26m

    Jefferson Lerma [Bournemouth] Free

    Out

    Wilfried Zaha [Galatasaray] Free

    Rob Street [Cheltenham] Free

    Luke Plange [Carlisle] Loan

    James McArthur [Released]

    Luka Milivojevic [Released]

    Jack Butland [Rangers] Free

    Joshua Addae [Released]

    David Boateng [Released]

    Ryan Bartley [Released]

    Maliq Cadogan [Released]

    Reece Hannam [Stevenage] Free

    David Omilabu [Released]

    Daniel Quick [Released]

    Everton

    In

    Youssef Chermiti [Sporting Lisbon] £15m

    Ashley Young [Aston Villa] Free

    Arnaut Danjuma [Villarreal] Loan

    Jack Harrison [Leeds] Loan

    Out

    Ellis Simms [Coventry] £7m

    Yerry Mina [Released]

    Andros Townsend [Released]

    Niels Nkounkou [Saint-Etienne] Undisclosed

    Einar Iversen [Released]

    Isaac Price [Released]

    Tom Davies [Sheffield United] Free

    Harry Tyrer [Chesterfield] Loan

    Lewis Warrington [Plymouth] Loan

    Stanley Mills [Oxford] Loan

    Fulham

    In

    Raul Jimenez [Wolves] £5m

    Calvin Bassey [Ajax] Undisclosed

    Willian

    Out

    Aleksandar Mitrovic [Al Hilal] £50m

    Shane Duffy [Norwich] Free

    Kieron Bowie [Northampton Town] Loan

    Ibane Bowat [TSV Hartberg] Loan

    Luciano D’Auria-Henry [Cheltenham] Loan

    Joe Bryan [Millwall] Free

    Thorsteinn Antonsson [Released]

    Paulo Gazzaniga [Girona] Free

    Sonny Hilton [Released]

    Sylvester Jasper [Released]

    Neeskens Kebano [Al-Jazira] Free

    Ziyad Larkeche [QPR] Free

    Jonathon Page [Released]

    Steven Sessegnon [Released]

    Jean-Pierre Tiehi [Released]

    Raul Jimenez swapped Wolves for Fulham. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Liverpool

    In

    Dominik Szoboszlai [RB Leipzig] £60m

    Alexis Mac Allister [Brighton] £35m

    Wataru Endo [Stuttgart] £16.2m

    Out

    Fabinho [Al-Ittihad] Undisclosed

    Jordan Henderson [Al-Ettifaq] £12m

    Rhys Williams [Aberdeen] Loan

    Calvin Ramsay [Preston North End ] Loan

    Sepp van den Berg [Mainz] Loan

    Fabio Carvalho [RB Leipzig] Loan

    Jakub Ojrzynski [Den Bosch] Loan

    Roberto Firmino [Al-Ahli] Free

    James Milner [Brighton] Free

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain [Besiktas] Free

    Naby Keita [Werder Bremen] Free

    Jack Bearne [Released]

    Liam Hughes [Released]

    Oscar Kelly [Released]

    Fidel O’Rourke [Released]

    Oludare Olufunwa [Released]

    Leighton Clarkson [Aberdeen] Undisclosed

    Harvey Davies [Crewe Alexandra] Loan

    Adam Lewis [Newport County] Loan

    Owen Beck [Dundee FC] Loan

    Anderson Arroyo [FC Andorra] Loan

    Luton Town

    In

    Tahith Chong [Birmingham] £4m

    Ross Barkley [Nice] Free

    Marvelous Nakamba [Aston Villa] Undisclosed

    Tim Krul [Norwich] Undisclosed

    Ryan Giles [Wolves] Undisclosed

    Mads Andersen [Barnsley] Undisclosed

    Chiedozie Ogbene [Rotherham United] Free

    Issa Kabore [Manchester City] Free

    Thomas Kaminski [Blackburn Rovers] Undisclosed

    Out

    Harry Isted [Charlton] Free

    Josh Neufville [AFC Wimbledon] Free

    Sonny Bradley [Derby] Free

    Henri Lansbury [Released]

    Fred Onyedinma [Rotherham United]

    Elliot Thorpe [Shrewsbury Town] Loan

    Jack Walton [Dundee United] Loan

    Joe Taylor [Colchester] Loan

    Manchester City

    In

    Josko Gvardiol [RB Leipzig] £77m

    Mateo Kovacic [Chelsea] £30m

    Spike Brits [AFC Wimbledon] Undisclosed

    Out

    Riyad Mahrez [Al-Ahil] £30m

    James Trafford [Burnley] £19m

    Shea Charles [Southampton] £15m

    lkay Gundogan [Barcelona] Free

    Carlos Borges [Ajax] £17.3m

    Terrell Agyemang [Middlesbrough] Free

    Alex Robertson [Portsmouth] Loan

    Finley Burns [Stevenage] Loan

    Rowan McDonald [Released]

    Benjamin Mendy [Released]

    Morgan Rogers [Middlesbrough] Undisclosed

    Kian Breckin [Wycombe] Loan

    Liam Delap [Hull City] Loan

    Callum Doyle [Leicester] Loan

    Gvardiol arrived to help bolster the City defence. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    Manchester United

    In

    Rasmus Hojlund [Atalanta] £72m

    Mason Mount [Chelsea] £55m

    Andre Onana [Inter Milan] £47m

    Jonny Evans [Leicester] Free

    Out

    Anthony Elanga [Nottingham Forest] £15m

    Alex Telles [Al Nassr] Undisclosed

    David de Gea [Released]

    Zidane Iqbal [Utrecht] £850,000

    Fred [Fenerbahce] Undisclosed

    Ethan Laird [Birmingham City] Undisclosed

    Ethan Galbraith [Leyton Orient] Free

    Issa Kaboure [Luton Town] Free

    Di’Shon Bernard [Sheffield Wednesday] Free

    Nathan Bishop [Sunderland] Undisclosed

    Will Fish [Hibernian] Loan

    Phil Jones [Released]

    Axel Tuanzebe [Released]

    Di’Shon Bernard [Released]

    Eric Hanbury [Released]

    Charlie Wellens [Released]

    Manni Norkett [Nottingham Forest] Free

    Newcastle

    In

    Sandro Tonali [AC Milan] £52m

    Tino Livramento [Southampton] £40m

    Harvey Barnes [Leicester] £38m

    Yankuba Minteh [Odense Boldklub] Undisclosed

    Out

    Chris Wood [Nottingham Forest] £15m

    Allan Saint-Maximin [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed

    Karl Darlow [Leeds] Undisclosed

    Matty Bondswell [Newport] Loan

    Yankuba Minteh [Feyenoord] Loan

    Jamal Lewis [Watford] Loan

    Kell Watts [Wigan] Loan

    Garang Kuol [FC Volendam]

    Max Thompson [Northampton] Loan

    Niall Brookwell [Released]

    Ciaran Clark [Released]

    Dan Langley [Released]

    Matty Longstaff [Released]

    Josh Stewart [Released]

    Isaac Westendorf [Released]

    Tonali scored on his Premier League debut for Newcastle. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Nottingham Forest

    In

    Chris Wood [Newcastle] £15m

    Anthony Elanga [Manchester United] £15m

    Manni Norkett [Manchester United] Free

    Ola Aina [Torino] Free

    Matt Turner [Arsenal] Undisclosed

    Out

    Will Swan [Mansfield] Undisclosed

    Braian Ojeda [Real Salt Lake] Undisclosed

    Sam Surridge [Nashville SC] Free

    Steve Cook [QPR] Undisclosed

    Jack Colback [QPR] Free

    Cafu [Rotherham] Free

    Josh Bowler [Cardiff City] Loan

    Oli Hammond [Cheltenham Town] Loan

    Josh Bowler [Cardiff] Loan

    Andre Ayew [Released]

    Jesse Lingard [Released]

    Jordan Smith [Released]

    Lyle Taylor [Released]

    Billy Fewster [Released]

    Alex Gibson-Hammond [Released]

    Ryan Hammon [Released]

    Nicky Hogarth [Released]

    Adnan Kanuric [Released]

    Lewis Salmon [Released]

    Sheffield United

    In

    Tom Davies [Everton] Free

    Anis Slimane [Brondby] Undisclosed

    Benie Traore [Hacken] Undisclosed

    Yasser Larouci [Troyes] Loan

    Auston Trusty [Arsenal] Undisclosed

    Vinicius Souza [Lommel SK] Undisclosed

    Out

    Sander Berge [Burnley] £12m

    Illiman Ndiaye [Marseille] Undisclosed

    Sander Berge [Burnley] Undisclosed

    George Broadbent [Doncaster Rovers] Undisclosed

    Jake Eastwood [Grimsby Town] Undisclosed

    Harry Boyes [Wycombe] Loan

    Jack O’Connell [Released]

    Billy Sharp [Released]

    Enda Stevens [Stoke] Free

    Kyron Gordon [Released]

    Tottenham

    In

    James Maddison [Leicester City] £40m

    Micky van de Ven [Wolfsburg] £34m

    Alejo Veliz [Rosario Central] £13m

    Ashley Phillips [Blackburn] £2m

    Manor Solomon [Shakhtar Donetsk] Free

    Guglielmo Vicario [Empoli] Undisclosed

    Dejan Kulusevski [Juventus] Undisclosed

    Out

    Harry Kane [Bayern Munich] £100m

    Harry Winks [Leicester] £10m

    Lucas Moura [Released]

    Jamie Bowden [Released]

    Kallum Cesay [Released]

    Malachi Fagan-Walcott [Released]

    Marqes Muir [Released]

    Maddison joined Spurs from Leicester. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    West Ham

    In

    Edson Alvarez [Ajax] £34m

    James Ward-Prowse [Southampton] £30m

    Sean Moore [Cliftonville] Undisclosed

    Out

    Declan Rice [Arsenal] £105m

    Gianluca Scamacca [Atalanta] £21.5m

    Arthur Masuaku [Besiktas] £2m

    Nikola Vlasic [Torino] Undisclosed

    Kamari Swyer [Crawley Town] Loan

    Freddie Potts [Wycombe Wanderers] Loan

    Krisztian Hegyi [Stevenage] Loan

    Manuel Lanzini [Released]

    Brian Kinnear [Released]

    Mipo Odubeko [Released]

    Armstrong Okoflex [Released]

    Wolves

    In

    Boubacar Traore [Metz] £9.5m

    Matt Doherty [Atletico Madrid] Free

    Tom King [Northampton Town] Free

    Out

    Ruben Neves [Al-Hilal] £47m

    Nathan Collins [Brentford] £23m

    Conor Coady [Leicester] £8.5m

    Raul Jimenez [Fulham] £5m

    Ryan Giles [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Jeong Sang-bin [Minnesota United] Undisclosed

    Hayao Kawabe [Standard Liege] Undisclosed

    Tyler Roberts [Doncaster] Loan

    Luke Cundle [Plymouth] Loan

    Dexter Lembikisa [Rotherham United] Loan

    Adama Traore [Released]

    Joao Moutinho [Released]

    Diego Costa [Released]

    Michael Agboola [Released]

    Lee Harkin [Released]

    Luke Matheson [Released]

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  • Liverpool win but star’s reaction says it all as red card drama divides opinion — EPL Wrap

    Liverpool win but star’s reaction says it all as red card drama divides opinion — EPL Wrap

    Tottenham showed there is life after Harry Kane with a 2-0 win over Manchester United as Liverpool shrugged off a red card for Alexis Mac Allister to beat Bournemouth 3-1.

    Spurs were playing for the first time at home since record goalscorer Kane departed for Bayern Munich.

    But in Ange Postecoglou’s first match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the home side showed promising signs of a new era as Pape Sarr’s strike and Lisandro Martinez’s own goal continued United’s sluggish start to the season.

    Ange claims first EPL win against United | 02:46

    Erik ten Hag’s men escaped with a 1-0 victory at home to Wolves on Monday despite being outplayed.

    This time United were punished as they faded after a bright start. Bruno Fernandes should have headed the visitors in front midway through the first-half.

    Spurs ended the opening period in the ascendency as Pedro Porro rattled the crossbar.

    And the Postecoglou’s men got their reward when Sarr smashed home his first goal for the club on 49 minutes.

    A comedy of errors summed up United’s day for the second goal as Ben Davies failed to connect with Ivan Perisic’s cross and Martinez could only turn it beyond the flat-footed Andre Onana.

    United’s decision not to rival Bayern with a bid for Kane will now face more scrutiny as they looked toothless without new striker Rasmus Hojlund due to injury.

    Kiwi Chis Wood the hero for Forest | 01:25

    LIVERPOOL OVERCOME HORROR START TO GET WIN

    Liverpool recovered from a terrible start and the controversial loss of Alexis Mac Allister to get their frist win of the season.

    Bournemouth had lost 9-0 on their visit to Anfield a year ago but led inside three minutes when Antoine Semenyo drilled into the far corner.

    Liverpool needed some inspiration to kickstart their season after a 1-1 draw at Chelsea last weekend.

    Luis Diaz provided it as he flicked up Diogo Jota’s cross and then acrobatically fired an overhead kick into the bottom corner.

    Jurgen Klopp’s men led nine minutes before half-time, but Mohamed Salah needed a second opportunity to tap in the rebound after Neto had saved his penalty.

    The Egyptian has now failed to score three of his last five penalties, but edged ahead of Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s fifth highest scorer of all time on 187.

    Momentum could have swung back Bournemouth’s way when Mac Allister was harshly shown a straight red card for leading with his studs on Ryan Christie, despite minimal contact with the Scotland international.

    “I saw the red card back and for sure we have to talk about it. I understand 100 percent how it looks for a ref in that moment, but when you see it back it is the inside of the foot and no power behind it,” Klopp said.

    Mac Allister was shown a red card. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)Source: AFP

    Former Premier League referee Mike Dean defended the call on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday.

    “His foot’s raised, the guys cleared the ball and the lads caught him,” Dean said.

    “[He’s] probably caught him shin high, foots off the floor, I’ve got no issues with it. It was looked at by VAR, that’s been checked and cleared, it’s the right decision from Tom Bramall.”

    Arsenal legend Paul Merson though disagreed.

    “Because it’s slow motion and it hits his shin, when you look at it you go ‘ooh’. I see what Mac Allister was trying to do, he was trying to play a sidefoot pass but the lad was too quick for him,” he said in response.

    “Sometimes that we have to understand, sometimes if someone is too quick for someone, he didn’t mean it. I’ve seen people do people, I didn’t think it was. Best move before Mike [Dean] says anything.”

    BBC pundit and former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton said: “I thought the McAllister sending off was a shocking decision”.

    A 10-man Liverpool added to their lead within four minutes when Jota pounced after Neto could only palm Dominik Szoboszlai’s effort into his path.

    Japan captain Wataru Endo was then introduced after Liverpool finally landed a defensive midfielder on Friday after losing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.

    HAALAND FIRES BLANKS BUT CITY STEP UP TO CHALLENGE

    Meanwhile, Manchester City laid down an early-season marker in the Premier League title race as Julian Alvarez’s stunning strike earned a 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad.

    A club record 17th consecutive home victory for the treble winners was thoroughly deserved despite their exertions in lifting the UEFA Super Cup in midweek.

    Newcastle’s 5-1 thrashing of Aston Villa last weekend had raised hopes on Tyneside they could be the pick of the challengers to City’s crown as English champions.

    But on this evidence, Pep Guardiola’s men will take some stopping in their quest to become the first side to ever win four consecutive English top-flight titles.

    Guardiola was furious at the Premier League for scheduling the game just three days after his side were forced to penalties to beat Sevilla under baking heat in Athens.

    City’s squad has also been stretched early on in the campaign by the absence of Bernardo Silva and John Stones, while Kevin De Bruyne will be out for up to four months with a hamstring injury.

    But dreams the Magpies could pose a challenge for their frist top-flight league title in 97 years were dampened by City’s dominance before tiredness crept in late on.

    City scored a crucial win. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The visitors were happy to surrender possession before the break, but it took a moment of magic for City to find a way through.

    Alvarez could be one of the benefactors of De Bruyne’s lengthy lay-off. The Argentine scored 17 goals in his debut season in Manchester despite having to play largely second fiddle to Erling Haaland.

    Guardiola may now be forced to pair Alvarez with the Norwegian more often and he showed what he is capable of with a stunning finish into the top corner from Phil Foden’s pass on 31 minutes.

    Haaland was not as accurate moments later as he dragged a shot inches wide when played in by another Foden through ball.

    Newcastle’s more attacking intent in the second half only succeeded in leaving City more space to exploit in behind.

    Erling Haaland reacts after missing a goal opportunity. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    However, a rare off night for Haaland in front of goal continued. Foden stepped up in the absence of De Bruyne and Silva to be the creative spark in the City midfield.

    The England international’s turn and pass picked out Haaland once more on his favoured left foot only for last season’s Golden Boot winner again fail to hit the target.

    Haaland went for raw power with his next effort, but was repelled by the legs of Nick Pope as City were made to wait for a second goal to kill the game off.

    The European champions were nearly made to pay when Rodri’s slack pass presented Callum Wilson with a huge opportunity.

    But 90-million-euro ($99 million) defender Josko Gvardiol showed his worth on his home debut to hold up Wilson and Harvey Barnes’ shot was comfortably held by Ederson.

    Despite his side’s fatigue, Guardiola refused to make a single substitution and told one City fan to take his place on the bench when urged to make some changes.

    But it all ended in smiles for the home side as City maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season to sit second behind Brighton at the top of the table.

    BRIGHTON, BRENTFORD BANK WINS

    Brighton banked a British record transfer fee that could rise to £115 million ($146 million) for Caicedo.

    But the Seagulls continue to soar under Roberto De Zerbi despite seeing their best players picked off by the Premier League’s elite.

    Kaoru Mitoma may be the next big-money departure and the Japanese international opened the scoring in stunning style at Molineux as he slalomed past four Wolves defenders before producing a classy finish.

    In stark contrast to their performance at Old Trafford, Wolves had no answer to Brighton’s speed of passing and movement as the visitors scored three times in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

    Mitoma teed up Pervis Estupinan to smash home for 2-0 before Solly March scored twice from Julio Enciso assists.

    De Bruyne to miss 4 months with injury | 01:17

    Wolves pulled a goal back through Hwang Hee-chan, but a chastening afternoon for Gary O’Neil’s men was rounded off by a red card for Matheus Nunes in stoppage time.

    Brentford are also making light of the absence of the suspended Ivan Toney as they won 3-0 at Fulham.

    Yoane Wissa opened the scoring before Bryan Mbuemo scored twice after Fulham captain Tim Ream was sent off for a second yellow card.

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  • Kiwi’s last-gasp goal as minnows’ gun continues freak scoring run: PL Wrap

    Kiwi’s last-gasp goal as minnows’ gun continues freak scoring run: PL Wrap

    Chris Wood clinched Nottingham Forest’s first Premier League win this season as the New Zealand striker’s last-gasp header sealed a 2-1 win against Sheffield United on Friday.

    Wood netted in the 89th minute at the City Ground to ensure Forest bounced back from their 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in their season opener last weekend.

    Steve Cooper’s side had taken the lead early in the first half thanks to Taiwo Awoniyi’s header.

    Gustavo Hamer equalised before the break on his Blades debut. The midfielder arrived last week from second tier Coventry.

    Wood’s dramatic late contribution made it successive defeats for United on their return to the top-flight after last season’s promotion as Championship runners-up.

    The Blades lost 1-0 at home to Crystal Palace last weekend.

    Dating back to last season, Forest have won four in a row at the City Ground as a top-flight side for the first time since 1996.

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    Chris Wood nailed his last-ditch header to win the game.Source: AFP

    Awoniyi, Forest’s top scorer from last season, repaid Cooper’s faith after being restored to the starting line-up.

    He is just the second Forest player to score in six successive games in the Premier League after Stan Collymore in 1995.

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    In the first top-flight meeting between these sides since the maiden Premier League season in 1992-93, Forest took just three minutes to seize the initiative.

    Serge Aurier’s cross was perfectly placed for Awoniyi to muscle between two defenders and power a bullet header past United keeper Wes Foderingham.

    In the last 15 years, only two players other than Awoniyi have scored six of their club’s goals in a row — Christian Benteke for Aston Villa in 2015 and Erling Haaland for Manchester City last season.

    Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest celebrates with teammate Neco Williams after the first goal.Source: Getty Images

    Morgan Gibbs-White’s low drive from the edge of the area was Forest by Foderingham as Forest poured forward in search of a second goal.

    Awoniyi and Aurier threatened again, with the Nigeria forward only denied another goal by Anel Ahmedhodzic’s last-ditch clearance.

    After a wretched start, United finally mustered a shot when Vini Souza’s 25-yard curler drew a good save from Matt Turner.

    Turner had to save again when John Egan scuffed a close-range effort goalwards from Hamer’s corner.

    The Blades’ pressure was rewarded in the 48th minute as Hamer curled a sublime finish into the far corner from the edge of the area.

    Awoniyi thought he had restored Forest’s lead but his dinked finish was disallowed for off-side.

    Willy Boly’s close-range strike from a corner was repelled by Foderingham before Turner came to Forest’s rescue with a good save from Beni Traore.

    Both sides pushed hard for the winner but it was Forest who hit the jackpot in the 89th minute.

    Once again it was Aurier who provided the assist with a telling cross that Wood flicked past Foderingham to the delight of the raucous City Ground crowd.

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  • State of play at each PL club as every big signing in wild $1.5bn spree broken down

    State of play at each PL club as every big signing in wild $1.5bn spree broken down

    It’s almost that time of year.

    The thudding of thousands of footsteps going down the stairs and into their seats across 20 different stadiums.

    The sound of pints clinking at pubs before games.

    The roar of the crowd as the players walk out onto the pitch and the Premier League anthem blares out across the ground.

    The Premier League is back for the 2023/24 season and there’s three new faces, including a completely new face in the top flight.

    Billions of pounds have also been traded across the continent and the world as the 20 clubs strengthen their squads for the season ahead.

    So, who are the likely contenders this season and who might struggle keeping their head afloat?

    Foxsports.com.au takes a look at every club in a bumper 23/24 Premier League Preview!

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    Spurs embrace SPICY chaos of ‘Angeball’ | 00:34

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    ARSENAL

    Last season’s finish: 2nd

    Biggest summer transfer: Declan Rice (£105m from West Ham United)

    Manager: Mikel Arteta

    Key player: Gabriel Jesus

    Unfortunately, the final round of the season was not one of them as Mikel Arteta’s side simply ran out of juice and opened the door for Manchester City to win their third Premier League title in a row.

    Although the manner in which Arsenal’s season fizzled out, it did not take away from the fact it was their equal-highest league finish in almost 20 years and secured a return to the Champions League.

    It was a season seldom few, if any, saw coming.

    But with what Arsenal have done in the transfer market this summer, they are making all the right noises to prove it was not just a flash in the pan.

    The Gunners shattered the British transfer record to snap up West Ham captain Declan Rice, adding extra steel and guile into their midfield engine room.

    Declan Rice moved to the Emirates for a British record fee. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    In addition to Rice, German International Kai Havertz was snapped up from Chelsea while the Gunners also added versatile defender Jurrien Timber to their ranks to take their summer spending to £208 million ($AUD406 million).

    With a highly impressive – and expensive – trio of summer signings, there can be no excuse for Arteta should Arsenal finish further away from the title this season.

    One player pivotal to Arsenal’s fortunes this season will be Gabriel Jesus, who helped change the way Arsenal played in and around the 18-yard box while also scoring 11 goals.

    However, the Brazilian international likely would have had even more to his name if it were not for a knee injury which ruled him out for 12 games across the festive season and into March.

    Jesus’ goal tally will no doubt be aided by the presence of star winger Bukayo Saka, who provided 11 assists and bagged 14 goals of his own last season.

    If those two enjoy similar seasons at the very least, expect Arsenal to once again be jostling for the title.

    Mikel Arteta received big backing in the transfer market. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    ASTON VILLA

    Last season’s finish: 7th

    Biggest summer transfer: Moussa Diaby (£51.9m from Bayer Leverkusen)

    Manager: Unai Emery

    Key player: Ollie Watkins

    Unai Emery’s stunning revival of the Midlands outfit in the wake of Steven Gerrard’s sacking helped secure a Europa Conference League spot on the final day of the 2022/23 campaign.

    Now, the challenge for Emery and Villa becomes about maintaining the high bar they have set for themselves.

    The club wasted little time in strengthening, signing Youri Tielemans on a free deal from Leicester City, Pau Torres from Villarreal as well as breaking their transfer record for French forward Moussa Diaby.

    Crucially, all three players bring vital experience of European nights along with a manager who has four Europa League titles to his name.

    Although the summer trio add an extra layer of quality to the team, Emery revitalised the fortunes of several players already on the club’s books which raised the collective quality of the team.

    Tyrone Mings worked his way back into the England squad after impressing at centre-back, skipper John McGinn found a new lease of life in the midfield while Ollie Watkins scored 13 goals in 24 games after Emery came through the door at Villa Park.

    As the club’s main striker and a relentless pressing machine up front, Watkins will once again be pivotal to Villa’s success and will look to break the 20-goal mark in the Premier League, a feat no Villa player has been able to achieve to date.

    Emery guided Villa back to European football for the first time since the 2010/11 season. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    BOURNEMOUTH

    Last season’s finish: 15th

    Biggest summer transfer: Milos Kerkez (£18m from AZ Alkmaar)

    Manager: Andoni Iraola

    Key player: Dominic Solanke

    Bournemouth exceeded all expectations last season after a disastrous start including a 9-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool. But after remarkably managing to avoid relegation, there are some key issues they need to address if they are to move up the table.

    The biggest is their miserable record at set pieces – they conceded way more goals from those situations than any other team last year – while they also must stop falling apart and giving away two-goal leads. That was a sign of a poor mentality, which also showed through as they also failed to be up for the fight on too many occasions, particularly with four-straight defeats to end the season.

    But there’s room for optimism. They’ve got a bold new coach in Andoni Iraola, who loves a high press and managed to beat both Barcelona and Real Madrid last year while in charge of Rayo Vallecano.

    David Brooks returned in March after fighting off cancer (Hodgkin Lymphoma) and is a key figure, while their January attacking signings Hamed Traore and Dango Outtara could – and perhaps must – step up to the next level.

    It’s hard to tell how well the Cherries will go this year. They’ll target the top half as their dream finish, while relegation remains a possibility. Prepare for another rollercoaster.

    Dominic Solanke will once again be the focal point of Bournemouth’s attack. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    BRENTFORD

    Last season’s finish: 9th

    Biggest summer transfer: Nathan Collins (£23m from Wolves)

    Manager: Thomas Frank

    Key player: Bryan Mbuemo

    Having finished 14th in their debut Premier League season, there were fears from several pundits Brentford could suffer the dreaded second season syndrome and return to the Championship.

    How wrong those pundits were, as Thomas Frank’s side would finish just two points outside of European qualification.

    A large part of Brentford’s success was down to superstar striker Ivan Toney’s 20 league goals, but the Bees will be without him until January 14 after he was slapped with an eight-month ban due to breaching the FA’s gambling laws.

    The Bees won the three games Toney was absent for – a run which included victories over Tottenham and Manchester City.

    But how will they cope without their premier marksman for half of the season?

    The onus will almost certainly fall on star winger Bryan Mbuemo, who scored nine times and contributed eight assists last season.

    Summer signing Kevin Schade will also be vital to Brentford’s attacking play and should hit the ground running given he spent the second half of last season on loan at the club.

    The Bees also moved to fill the void left by the departing Pontus Jansson by snapping up Nathan Collins from Wolves.

    Without Toney for half of the season, it could be difficult for Brentford to emulate a similar feat to the 22/23 campaign but as Frank’s side have proven on several occasions, underestimate them at your own peril.

    Mbuemo must step up in the absence of Ivan Toney. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    BRIGHTON

    Last season’s finish: 6th

    Biggest summer transfer: Joao Pedro (£30m from Watford)

    Manager: Roberto De Zerbi

    Key player: Moises Caicedo

    Seagulls fans are bullish ahead of their first European campaign in history, especially with the club going against their usual transfer strategy and splashing out a club-record £30m on Joao Pedro from Watford. They’ll need their new arrivals – as well as 21-year-old winger Simon Andingra, back from a brilliant loan stint in Belgium where he scored or assisted 30 times last year – to fire, given the departure of World Cup winner Mac Allister to the Reds.

    The biggest question for the coming weeks will be whether they can hold onto 21-year-old midfield star Moises Caicedo, after rejecting two bids from Chelsea for the brilliant Ecuadorean. The Blues will return with a third bid after seeing an £80m offer knocked back, but Brighton is confident of keeping their star man unless Chelsea meets their £100m valuation.

    Coach Roberto de Zerbi was a standout tactician in the league last year, but opposition coaches will have wised up to Brighton’s innovative possession and counterattacking tactics – like Everton did last season in a 5-1 upset win. Brighton also have to target an improved effectiveness on set pieces, with Manchester United the only team to bag less goals from set pieces (excluding penalties).

    Many teams have struggled to balance European football and the league, so remaining in the top six would be a massive result in their debut season of continental football.

    Brighton are desperate for Moises Caicedo to stay at the club. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for Premier League)Source: Getty Images

    BURNLEY

    Last season’s finish: 1st in Championship (promoted)

    Biggest summer transfer: James Trafford (£19m from Manchester City)

    Manager: Vincent Kompany

    Key player: Josh Brownhill

    The Clarets demolished their Championship rivals last season to finish first on 101 points, led by Manchester City’s former beloved defender Vincent Kompany. He turned the side into a thrilling attacking team – but how much will he have to compromise on those ideals now he’s in the top flight? It’s been a tough transfer window so far, with Southampton refusing to sell Nathan Tella to the team he starred for on loan last year. Expect Kompany to push his bosses to continue bidding until transfer deadline day – it could be a make-or-break transfer for the team. They also had a deal for Soumaila Coulibaly collapse at the final stages, but there’s been other wins – turning loan deals permanent for Michael Obafemi and Jordan Beyer, and signing a Premier League veteran in Nathan Redmond on a free transfer. They’ve bagged a talented young keeper in James Trafford from Man City, while 22-year-old Zeki Amdouni is a gifted striker from Basel.

    Snapping up Sander Berge from Sheffield United for just £12m is a brilliant bit of business from the Clarets too.

    Like any promoted team, survival is the goal – but if they do impress, the offers that are already flying in for Kompany to take on bigger teams will become even harder to resist.

    Vincent Kompany will lead Burnley in their return to the Premier League. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    CHELSEA

    Last season’s finish: 12th

    Biggest summer transfer: Christopher Nkunku (£52m from RB Leipzig)

    Manager: Mauricio Pochettino

    Key player: Enzo Fernandez

    The Blues are coming off the back of their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing with their worst points haul since the 1980s and their lowest goals scored since way back in 1924. Improvements are needed – but so far, it looks like they won’t repeat the outrageous and record-breaking spending spree of last season. That left the squad unbalanced and bloated, and the raft of January signings only destabilised the team further. Add in the managerial changes and it was a disaster from start to finish.

    This time around, their transfer activity has seen a host of players depart – Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and Edouard Mendy headline a list of departures, and there could be plenty more to follow them out the door. Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson add much-needed firepower to a dismal attack although the former will miss several months due to a knee injury.

    In defence, Axel Disasi arrives at centre-back to replace Kalidou Koulibaly after his poor season at Stamford Bridge.

    The only way is up for the Blues, but how far can they rise? Mauricio Pochettino has plenty of work to do, but he thrives when working with a young squad – which is exactly what he’s got here.

    With half a season of English football under his belt, expectations will be extremely high for January signing Enzo Fernandez to justify his nine-figure price tag.

    The team could still be boosted by a big-name signing in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, but the major worry is that the overhaul might have gone too far. They’ve lost a lot of experience and are betting on untested youngsters making an immediate impact in the Premier League.

    There’s no guarantee that Chelsea will charge up the table this season, but the lack of European football will be a blessing to a team that struggled for intensity last time around.

    Christopher Nkunku has arrived at the club from RB Leipzig. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    CRYSTAL PALACE

    Last season’s finish: 11th

    Biggest summer transfer: Jefferson Lerma (free from Bournemouth)

    Manager: Roy Hodgson

    Key player: Eberechi Eze

    The talismanic Wilfried Zaha has gone to Turkey, and he leaves a massive void in the Crystal Palace squad. Five other top players are also being hunted by rival clubs – and Palace will walk a tightrope this month to keep as many as possible. Centre-backs Joachim Andersen and Marc Guéhi, midfielder Cheick Doucouré, attackers Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze are all crucial members of the side and manager Roy Hodgson will be crossing his fingers and toes that the team doesn’t sell for anything less than an exorbitant price. If one or more do depart, Palace will have to work quickly to replace them. So far, they haven’t found a replacement for Zaha’s goals, which is a major worry moving forward, but Jefferson Lerma’s arrival on a free transfer from Bournemouth is a great move.

    Hodgson has publicly stated he’s chasing a top-ten finish with his boyhood club, after guiding them to an impressive 11th after taking over only in March. How achievable that is will become clear when the transfer window slams shut – hopefully without Palace losing any more stars.

    Eberechi Eze will have to shoulder more of the attacking burden now that Wilfried Zaha has moved on. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    EVERTON

    Last season’s finish: 17th

    Biggest summer transfer: Arnaut Danjuma (loan from Villarreal)

    Manager: Sean Dyche

    Key player: Demarai Gray

    It’s hard to find much positivity around the Toffees at the moment. After two difficult seasons saw them narrowly avoid relegation, the prospect of another year on the brink is hard to get excited about. Manager Sean Dyche has begged for reinforcements to his playing squad, but with precious little to show for it. A significant new investment from MSP Sports Capital hasn’t yet been completed, leaving the side with almost no cash to invest. And with the possibility of a points deduction hanging over their head for breaching financial fair play rules (a hearing is in October), things could be about to get even worse. Despite the financial woes, Everton bagged Ashley Young on a free transfer and Arnaut Danjuma on loan – their No. 1 target back in January before Spurs pipped them to a deal. They’ve seen a couple of other deals collapse already, and need to make moves. After a year without any proven goalscorers, Dyche – and the fans – are desperate for an experienced forward who could steer them clear from the relegation battle. Avoiding relegation is the aim. Another 17th-placed finish would be a good result.

    Sean Dyche will hope Everton finish well clear of the relegation zone this season. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    FULHAM

    Last season’s finish: 10th

    Biggest summer transfer: Calvin Bassey (£19m from Ajax)

    Manager: Marco Silva

    Key player: Aleksandar Mitrovic

    Fulham defied their ‘yoyo club’ tag to finally avoid an immediate return to the Championship with an extremely impressive 10th place finish last season.

    Fiery forward Aleksandar Mitrovic was once again vital to the Cottagers’ fortunes, with 14 goals to his name.

    But the Serbian could have had more if he wasn’t suspended for eight games as a result of touching an official during Fulham’s 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

    Although it was largely a strong season from Fulham, their form from March onwards was certainly cause for concern.

    Marco Silva’s side won four games from their final 13, but three wins came against teams who would be relegated and the other was against Everton who survived by the skin of their teeth.

    Granted, a new season brings a fresh start but the worrying run of form certainly presents cause for concern.

    So too does Mitrovic’s summer transfer saga in which he reportedly told relatives he’d never play for the club again after Fulham rejected two bids from Saudi club Al-Hilal.

    As of now, Mitrovic reluctantly returned to the club’s pre-season preparations but there’s still time in the window for him to move on.

    Outside of Mitrovic’s attacking prowess, Fulham are rather weak in the goalscoring department with veteran winger Willian and midfielder Andreas Pereira scoring five league goals last season, the second-most in the team.

    The acquisition of Raul Jimenez from Wolves could help alleviate the goalscoring concerns but he has yet to return to the form he showed prior to his serious skull injury.

    Surviving for a second-consecutive Premier League season for Fulham is going to be the key objective whether the club likes it or not.

    Mitrovic has wanted to leave Fulham this summer but could end up staying at Craven Cottage. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    LIVERPOOL

    Last season’s finish: 5th

    Biggest summer transfer: Dominik Szoboszlai (£60m from RB Leipzig)

    Manager: Jurgen Klopp

    Key player: Mohamed Salah

    Things will look a little different at Anfield this year – and not just because the redevelopment of the Anfield Road stand should finally be finished a month or two into the season. The list of departures includes a host of players who have won the lot with the Reds: Captain Jordan Henderson after a dozen years at the club, Brazilian duo Firmino and Fabinho – with all three of those players heading to Saudi Arabia. Ageless warrior James Milner has gone to Brighton, while Naby Keita is off to Werder Bremen. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also out the door, while Arthur Melo has been punted after his flop of a season. That’s SIX central midfielders departing, with only two coming the other way so far: Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for €70m and Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for €42m.

    The club is pushing hard to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton, while Jurgen Klopp started the transfer window also wanting to reinforce on defence. There’s been no movement in that department so far. Liverpool’s ageing squad needed a rebuild last season and didn’t get it. A year later, they are stuck needing to get more work done in the last weeks of the transfer window to bolster a thin-looking squad.

    One key question will be whether Trent Alexander-Arnold starts at right back put pushes into the midfield in possession – the hybrid position that revitalised Liverpool later in the season – or whether he will actually be converted into a full-time midfielder.

    Meanwhile, they’re stuck in the Europa League, a far cry behind the Champions League glory Klopp delivered just a few years ago.

    A return to the top four is the only acceptable outcome this season – but a return to top spot might just be a step too far.

    Dominik Szoboszlai added some needed quality to Liverpool’s midfield. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    LUTON TOWN

    Last season’s finish: 3rd in Championship (promoted via play-offs)

    Biggest summer transfer: Marvelous Nakamba (£3.4m from Aston Villa)

    Manager: Rob Edwards

    Key player: Carlton Morris

    The Hatters have enjoyed a remarkable rise over the last decade, going from the fifth tier – non-League football – to the Premier League in just nine years. That included back-to-back promotions From League Two and League One in 2017-18 and ’18-19, before winning the Championship playoff final via a penalty shootout to earn their spot in the top flight.

    Their status as minnows is summed up by the unique Kenilworth Road stadium, knows as the ‘Kenny’ or the ‘old girl’ to the Luton faithful. The tiny stadium has a capacity of just over 10,000 and has hosted the club since 1905, and fans enter the turnstiles for one stand between a row of terrace housing. So small and dated is the ground that the club was forced to spend around £10m upgrading one stand to bring it up to scratch for media needs – though they’re set to move to a new stadium in the next couple of years.

    The club’s success has come from squad stability (five current players were around back in their League Two days!) as well as signing talented young players for bargain prices, ensuring financial sustainability.

    Since promotion, they have broken their transfer record three times, but their new record is only €5.85m for 23-year-old wingback Ryan Giles, who starred in the Championship last season with 11 assists for Middlesbrough. They’ve also picked up former Manchester United winger Tahith Chong from Birmingham (23), Ross Barkley on a free transfer and 22-year-old Issa Kabore on loan from Manchester City, but will probably be hoping for another experienced signing or two in the coming weeks.

    Their composed transfer strategy is married with a hardworking style of play – aggressive, rapid on the counter-attack, and with plenty of intelligent runs off the ball.

    They’ll be underdogs all the way, but there’s plenty to like about them. As coach Rob Edwards told The Guardian: “In the Premier League there is a lot of order, and I want to bring a little bit of chaos to that and do things our way.”

    Luton manager Rob Edwards will need to perform a minor miracle to keep the Hatters in the top flight. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    MANCHESTER CITY

    Last season’s finish: 1st

    Biggest summer transfer: Josko Gvardiol (£77m from RB Leipzig)

    Manager: Pep Guardiola

    Key player: Kevin De Bruyne

    For just about the entirety of last season, Manchester City sat in second place in the Premier League.

    But Pep Guardiola’s side finished at the top of the pile when it mattered most, making it three consecutive league titles.

    A large part of the success was down to the freakish form of Norwegian goal scoring machine Erling Haaland, who found the back of the net a staggering 36 times.

    Haaland will once again be expected to shoulder a significant amount of the goalscoring burden and he’d love nothing more than to eclipse his own record.

    But the 23-year-old will need the likes of Jack Grealish and superstar midfielder Kevin De Bruyne to once again be at their best, as the duo provide plenty of on and off-ball assistance for Haaland to shine.

    The club have also recruited wisely, snapping up Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in a £77m deal to strengthen an already-stacked defensive unit while adding Mateo Kovacic to their midfield ranks.

    However, they have lost two members with vital experience in the form of Ilkay Gundogan (free to Barcelona) and Riyad Mahrez (£30m to Al-Ahli).

    It’s not just their leadership they’ll miss either, as Mahrez scored five goals and chalked up 10 assists while Gundogan bagged eight league goals.

    Although Kovacic isn’t exactly a like-for-like Gundogan replacement, he brings bags of Premier League experience and will hit the ground running.

    Expect City to once again be in the title conversation towards the season’s end, but they’ll face stronger competition this season as Arsenal have made significant improvements on their squad and so too has Liverpool, while Chelsea will provide a tougher challenge under new boss Mauricio Pochettino.

    However, don’t look terribly shocked if Guardiola’s men make it a staggering four Premier League titles on the trot, a feat no team in history has been able to achieve.

    Can Haaland match his absurd goalscoring feats from his debut Premier League season? (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    MANCHESTER UNITED

    Last season’s finish: 3rd

    Biggest summer transfer: Rasmus Hojlund (£73m from Atalanta)

    Manager: Erik ten Hag

    Key player: Bruno Fernandes

    After two losses from their first two games last season, the mood at Old Trafford was incredibly downcast.

    But eight wins and just two losses from their next 12 games proved new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag could turn the ship around as Manchester United slowly found their groove.

    Although Cristiano Ronaldo’s ugly exit threatened to derail the team, United stayed on track as Marcus Rashford went on a staggering run of 10 goals in as many games once the Premier League resumed from its mid-season break for the World Cup.

    Ten Hag’s side jostled with Newcastle United for third place in the league and eventually won the battle in the final two games, proving there is plenty to like about this Red Devils outfit.

    However, the stakes will no doubt be higher for Manchester United this season given the significant investment the club has taken to improve the squad.

    Rashford will once again be expected to deliver goals by the bucketload this season but he will have some help in the form of 20-year-old Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, who arrived in a £73m deal from Atalanta.

    United have invested heavily in Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)Source: AFP

    It is an almighty outlay for a young forward that hasn’t even scored 30 senior goals in his career and isn’t fit at the time of writing, but clearly the Red Devils believe he is the answer to strengthen their attack.

    The signing of Mason Mount, a player ten Hag craved, is also another statement of intent that United mean business this season as they return to the Champions League and look to push their noisy neighbours the whole way.

    There’s also added expectation on the shoulders, or arm, of Bruno Fernandes after he was given the club captaincy.

    Fernandes will be crucial to providing Hojlund with chances to score, so it is vital the two can find a rhythm early on in the season.

    However, the club will be without David de Gea in goals for the first time since 2011 as United opted to bring in Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana.

    Onana is competent with the ball at his feet but has already had a few blooper reel moments throughout pre-season.

    If Onana and Hojlund can justify their lofty price tags, this United team could be a fun one to watch this season.

    If not, ten Hag will face plenty of scrutiny and no doubt be questioned why he placed so much faith in a new goalkeeper and a striker who isn’t exactly blessed with senior experience.

    Sounds like just another normal season at Old Trafford!

    Erik ten Hag has brought in some big names in this summer window. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    NEWCASTLE UNITED

    Last season’s finish: 4th

    Biggest summer transfer: Sandro Tonali (£60m from AC Milan)

    Manager: Eddie Howe

    Key player: Alexander Isak

    After a decade away, Champions League nights have returned to Newcastle as Eddie Howe’s side finished fourth in the league last season.

    Yes, Howe received significant backing in the market to bring in the likes of Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak, but his ability to improve the players he already had at his disposal was something to behold.

    Joelinton was a player transformed, Callum Wilson earned an England recall amid scoring 18 league goals while Kieran Trippier proved to be one of the best defenders in the league.

    Most impressively, Newcastle held the equal-best defensive record in the league alongside champions Manchester City, conceding 33 goals all season.

    Safe to say, no-one expected the Magpies to be that good last season.

    But now the bar has been set much higher for Howe’s troops as they look to once again gatecrash the so-called ‘Big Six’.

    Newcastle wasted little time in bringing players in during the summer, signing Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan in a major coup while also adding Leicester winger Harvey Barnes.

    There’s also hope January signing Anthony Gordon can maintain the form that made him such a dangerous weapon for the England U21 team that won the European Championship after initially struggling in his first months.

    Of course, the big question surrounding Newcastle will be how they adapt to the congested schedule that comes with playing European football.

    Another element of intrigue is whether the players like Joelinton, Miguel Almiron and Joe Willock can continue improving and heavily contribute both domestically and across the continent.

    Very few pundits are tipping the Toon to qualify for the Champions League yet again given how much their rivals have strengthened, but securing another top six finish would be extremely impressive.

    Tonali linked up with the Magpies as they return to the Champions League. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    NOTTINGHAM FOREST

    Last season’s finish: 16th

    Biggest summer transfer: Anthony Elanga (£15m from Manchester United)

    Manager: Steve Cooper

    Key player: Brennan Johnson

    Nottingham Forest signed a whopping 32 players over the course of last season as they braced for life in the Premier League.

    Granted, the monster influx of players was a necessity given how few were at the club after they had won the Championship playoff final in 2022, but it is a lot of players for Steve Cooper to integrate into his squad.

    Although Forest had a very shaky start and had won just once in their opening 11 games, Cooper survived the axe and slowly but surely turned things around, adopting a defensive approach.

    The Tricky Trees had another wobble in the second half of the season when they lost eight games from 11, yet Cooper again pulled a rabbit out of the hat and kept the team up.

    Forest winger Brennan Johnson was inspirational in keeping the club up, as was Morgan Gibbs-White.

    This summer has been significantly quieter, with Anthony Elanga the main transfer of note as well as turning Chris Wood’s loan into a permanent deal.

    But keeping Johnson has been an even bigger win for Forest as they have turned several bids from Brentford for his services.

    Even though Cooper has had a full season to work with this set of players and find a system that extracts results, the objective once again is to simply not get relegated.

    However, should Cooper oversee another barren run of results to start the season, the axe will certainly be sharpening over his head.

    Brennan Johnson was in solid form towards the end of last season (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    SHEFFIELD UNITED

    Last season’s finish: 2nd in Championship (promoted)

    Biggest summer transfer: Auston Trusty (£5m from Arsenal)

    Manager: Paul Heckingbottom

    Key player: Oli McBurnie

    The Blades are back in the top flight after two years in the Championship. Last time they were in the Prem’, Chris Wilder’s team stunned the world with the incredibly innovative tactic of overlapping wide centre-backs and finished all the way up in ninth. This time, 46-year-old Paul Heckingbottom is the man in charge – but he knows the team could be in for some pain unless they make some dramatic moves in the transfer window in the coming days. The team sold star attacker Iliman Ndiaye to Marseille and arguably their best player Sander Berge to Burnley for just £12m. They’ve only signed four players, all of them youngsters and two of those only arriving in August. And with injuries always a problem, the side is decidedly thin.

    Asked if he was happy with the shape of his squad, Heckingbottom said: “Fitness-wise, yeah [happy]. Where we are numbers-wise, no. You can see we are way short, which is plain to see in that first game and the second game (of preseason).

    “I’m concerned we haven’t got the players in and we’ve got a lot to do … That’s my message and what I keep banging on about.”

    If the Blades can’t make some moves, and quickly, they could be in for a rough start to the season – and they might never recover.

    Many pundits are not giving Paul Heckingbottom and his Sheffield United side a chance for survival. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    TOTTENHAM

    Last season’s finish: 8th

    Biggest summer transfer: James Maddison (£40m from Leicester City)

    Manager: Ange Postecoglou

    Key player: Harry Kane

    Death, taxes and chaos at Tottenham.

    It was once again the story of their 22/23 campaign as fiery Italian boss Antonio Conte left the club after a scathing attack on the players and hierarchy in a press conference before his replacement Cristian Stellini was sacked four games in charge, leaving Ryan Mason to steer the ship.

    Fabio Paratici also left his post as the club’s director of football after he was convicted of financial malpractice during his time at Juventus.

    Spurs ultimately finished 8th in the league and missed out on European football altogether, although superstar striker Harry Kane’s 30-goal haul single-handedly kept the club competitive in the league.

    Kane’s future has dominated the summer given he is out of contract at the end of the season and has been the subject of heavy interest from Bayern Munich.

    But as of now, he is in the new manager’s plans for the season ahead after Tottenham rejected Bayern’s third bid for the talismanic striker.

    That new manager is Australia’s own Ange Postecoglou, who finally gets a shot in the Premier League after leading Celtic to the domestic treble last season.

    He’s brought in a number of intriguing talents to the club, none more so than England international James Maddison from Leicester City.

    Postecoglou’s rhetoric, which Australian football fans know all too well about, has struck a chord with the Spurs fan base as he looks to transform the club’s fortunes on the field.

    If Postecoglou is given the most valuable commodity in modern football — time — then he could slowly but surely have Spurs firing on all cylinders.

    However, he is a notoriously slow starter when he moves to a new club as shown in his first seasons at Celtic and Yokohama F. Marinos.

    Another intriguing appointment at Spurs is fellow Aussie Scott Munn filling the vacancy left by Paratici.

    With two Aussies leading the charge at one of the world’s most recognised teams and a superstar striker leading the line, at least for now, Spurs fans have a reason to be cautiously optimistic.

    But then again, it’s Spurs.

    Ange Postecoglou is at the helm for Tottenham this season. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)Source: AFP

    WEST HAM

    Last season’s finish: 14th

    Biggest summer transfer: N/A

    Manager: David Moyes

    Key player: Jarrod Bowen

    The biggest question hanging over the Hammers this year is whether – or how – they can cope with the loss of captain Declan Rice. After the joy of winning the Europa Conference League, it felt like the end of an era, with Rice finally earning his big-money exit to a top team. But David Moyes opted not to go out on a high, and the manager who was almost sacked at multiple points last season will be under pressure from the start if things go south.

    Is this just another season of transition and short term focus? Or can they actually make a decent fist of the Premier League while trying to bag another European trophy, this time in the Europa League?

    They’ll need to make some solid signings to make up for Rice’s exit. But their recruitment has been shambolic for years, characterised by signing players that don’t fit the system or playing them out of position. The bizarre parade of ill-fitting players features names like Gianluca Scamacca, Sebastien Haller, or even Felipe Anderson – great players who never had a hope of shining when they are stuck like square pegs in round holes. You can add January signing Danny Ings to that list.

    Hopefully the arrival of new technical director Tim Steidten (previously Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen) changes things – a director offering direction!

    That direction could arrive in the form of Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse, as West Ham have reportedly agreed fees for both with Manchester United and Southampton respectively.

    You get the feeling that the Hammers can’t quite hit the same heights as last year … but Moyes does love to prove the doubters wrong.

    David Moyes ended West Ham’s wait for a trophy but he’s already under the pump going into the season. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    WOLVES

    Last season’s finish: 13th

    Biggest summer transfer: Boubacar Traore (£9.5m from Metz)

    Manager: Gary O’Neil

    Key player: Matheus Cunha

    For the last three seasons, Wolves have averaged less than a goal a game. Three years running!

    However, they’re in a truly dire financial situation, and that’s led to a lack of signings. Meanwhile, they’ve lost Raul Jimenez, Ruben Neves, and Joao Moutinho, as old coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad has been broken up.

    It’s not just on the playing front that Wolves have undergone a serious change, with Julen Lopetegui leaving his post just days before the season was set to start having not seen eye-to-eye with the board on several issues.

    Former Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil was swiftly announced as Lopetegui’s replacement, but a big change like this on the eve of the 23/24 campaign certainly sounds alarm bells for how Wolves could go this season.

    They still have plenty of quality in the squad, but they’ll need a bit more creativity to spark their attack. Pablo Sarabia has been moved to a more central role in pre-season and could be the source of that creative spark, but refreshing their forward line is a priority. A couple of midfield signings and perhaps a centre-back would do wonders too – but given their financial constraints, don’t expect that. The fans are demanding excitement – especially with ticket prices copping a hefty raise this year – but they’ve got a brutal run of fixtures early on. Even if they don’t improve too much from last year’s finish, there’s hope that they’ll play a better style of football. As long as that doesn’t come at the cost of relegation, that would be a positive result for a team that is hamstrung by off-field issues.

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  • Champs bolster defensive ranks with stunning $150m coup: PL Done Deals

    Champs bolster defensive ranks with stunning $150m coup: PL Done Deals

    Manchester City have completed the signing of Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol on a five-year deal from RB Leipzig, the Premier League champions announced Saturday.

    No financial details were revealed but Pep Guardiola’s side are understood to have agreed a fee of €90 million ($AUD150 million) for the Croatia international.

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    Gvardiol, 21, has impressed in his two seasons at Leipzig which he joined from Dynamo Zagreb in July 2021.

    “I have always dreamed of one day playing in England and to be doing so now with Manchester City – after the season they have just had – is a real honour for me,” said Gvardiol of joining a team which won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last year.

    “Anyone who saw Manchester City play last season knows they are the best team in the world. To win the Treble says everything you need to know about the quality this team has.” Gvardiol becomes Man City’s second signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, following fellow Croatian international Mateo Kovacic.

    Gvardiol has signed for Manchester City. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “To be joining City is something very special for me and my family,” continued Gvardiol.

    “To have the chance to work with Pep Guardiola, too, will be amazing for me. “I know I am not yet the finished article and I am sure my game will progress under the best coach in football.

    “To be linking up with Mateo Kovacic will also be special. He’s a top footballer and I hope we can both help City achieve another successful season in 2023/24 and then beyond.” Capped 21 times for Croatia, Gvardiol made 87 appearances across two seasons for Leipzig winning back-to-back German Cups.

    He won two league titles with Zagreb before moving to the Bundesliga.

    PL DONE DEALS

    ARSENAL

    In

    Declan Rice [West Ham] £105m

    Kai Havertz [Chelsea] £65m

    Jurrien Timber [Ajax] £38m

    Out

    Granit Xhaka [Bayer Leverkusen] £21m

    Pablo Mari [AC Monza] £6m

    Nikolaj Moller [FC St. Gallen] Undisclosed

    Mazeed Ogungbo [Barrow] Undisclosed

    Ben Cottrell [NS Mura] Undisclosed

    Mauro Bandeira [Colchester United] Loan

    Auston Trusty [Sheffield United] Undisclosed

    Tom Smith [Colchester] Free

    Ainsley Maitland-Niles [Released]

    Matt Smith [Released]

    Joel Ideho [Released]

    George Lewis [Released]

    Tom Smith [Released]

    Zach Awe [Released]

    Kaleel Green [Released]

    Alexandar Kovacevic [Released]

    Tino Quamina [Released]

    Mathaeus Roberts [Released]

    Declan Rice moved to Arsenal for a British record fee. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    ASTON VILLA

    In

    Pau Torres [Villarreal] £35m

    Youri Tielemans [Leicester] Free

    Moussa Diaby [Bayer Leverkusen] Undisclosed

    Out

    Marvelous Nakamba [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Wesley [Stoke City] Undisclosed

    Morgan Sanson [Nice] Loan

    Kaine Kesler-Hayden [Plymouth Argyle] Loan

    Louie Barry [Stockport County] Loan

    Finn Azaz [Plymouth] Loan

    Ashley Young [Everton] Free

    Declan Frith [Released]

    Hayden Lindley [Released]

    Arjan Raikhy [Released]

    Ruben Shakpoke [Released]

    Myles Sohna [Released]

    Jed Steer [Released]

    Brad Young [Released]

    Aston Villa broke their transfer fee record to snap up Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    BOURNEMOUTH

    In

    Justin Kluivert [Roma] Undisclosed

    Romain Faivre [Lyon] Undisclosed (sent on loan to Lorient)

    Hamed Traore [Sassuolo] £20m

    Milos Kerkez [AZ Alkmaar] Undisclosed

    Andrei Radu [Inter Milan] Loan

    Out

    Siriki Dembele [Birmingham] Undisclosed

    Jefferson Lerma [Crystal Palace] Free

    Jack Stacey [Norwich City] Free

    Ben Pearson [Stoke] Undisclosed

    Will Dennis [Kilmarnock] Loan

    Mark Travers [Stoke] Loan

    Junior Stanislas [Released]

    Josh Popoola [Released]

    Tarik Gidaree [Released]

    Matthew Burgess [Released]

    Christopher Francis [Released]

    Brooklyn Genesini [Released]

    BRENTFORD

    In

    Nathan Collins [Wolves] £23m

    Kevin Schade [Freiburg] £22m

    Mark Flekken [Freiburg] £11m

    Kim Ji-soo [Seongnam] Undisclosed

    Ethan Brierley [Rochdale] Undisclosed

    Ethan Laidlaw [Hibernian] Undisclosed

    Romeo Beckham [Inter Miami] Undisclosed

    Erion Zabeli [Oxford United] Free

    Out

    Pontus Jansson [Malmo] Free

    Daniel Oyegoke [Bradford] Loan

    Fin Stevens [Oxford] Loan

    Matthew Cox [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan

    Tristan Crama [Bristol Rovers] Loan

    Ben Winterbottom [Welling] Loan

    Alex Gilbert [Middlesbrough] Free

    Paris Maghoma [Bolton] Loan

    Saman Ghoddos [Released]

    Tariqe Fosu [Released]

    Joel Valencia [Released]

    J’Neil Bennett [Released]

    Lachlan Brook [Released]

    Nico Jones [Released]

    Roco Rees [Released]

    Roy Syla [Released]

    Lucias Vine [Released]

    Collins moved from Wolves to Brentford. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for Premier League)Source: Getty Images

    BRIGHTON

    In

    Joao Pedro [Watford] £30m

    Bart Verbruggen [Anderlecht] £16.3m

    Igor Julio [Fiorentina] £14.5m

    Jacob Slater [Preston North End] Undisclosed

    Mahmoud Dahoud [Borussia Dortmund] Free

    James Milner [Liverpool] Free

    Out

    Alexis Mac Allister [Liverpool] £55m

    Robert Sanchez [Chelsea] £25m

    Antef Tsoungui [Feyenoord] Undisclosed

    Taylor Richards [Queens Park Rangers] Undisclosed

    Aaron Connolly [Hull] Undisclosed

    Kjell Scherpen [Sturm Graz] Loan

    Abdallah Sima [Rangers] Loan

    James Beadle [Oxford United] Loan

    Marc Leonard [Northampton Town] Loan

    Jeremy Sarmiento [West Brom] Loan

    Carl Rushworth [Swansea] Loan

    Ed Turns [Leyton Orient] Loan

    Toby Bull [Released]

    Billie Clark [Released]

    Matthew Everitt [Released]

    Teddy Jenks [Forest Green] Free

    Todd Miller [Released]

    Sam Packham [Released]

    Haydon Roberts [Released]

    Casey Gabriel-Shann [Released]

    Jack Spong [Released]

    Fynn Talley [Peterborough] Free

    Lorent Tolaj [Released]

    Antef Tsoungui [Released]

    Ben Wilson [Released]

    BURNLEY

    In

    James Trafford [Manchester City] £19m

    Dara O’Shea [West Brom] £7m

    Luca Koleosho [Espanyol] £2.6m

    Zeki Amdouni [Basel] Undisclosed

    Jordan Beyer [Borussia Monchengladbach] Undisclosed

    Lawrence Vigouroux [Leyton Orient] Undisclosed

    Michael Obafemi [Swansea] Undisclosed

    Nathan Redmond [Besiktas] Free

    Jacob Bruun Larsen [Hoffenheim] Loan

    Out

    Ashley Barnes [Norwich] Free

    Lewis Thomas [Harrogate] Free

    Bailey Peacock-Farrell [AGF Aarhus] Loan

    Michael Mellon [Morecambe] Loan

    Will Norris [Portsmouth] Free

    Lukas Jensen [Lincoln] Free

    Luke McNally [Stoke] Loan

    CHELSEA

    In

    Christopher Nkunku [RB Leipzig] £52m

    Axel Disasi [Monaco] £38.5m

    Nicolas Jackson [Villarreal] £32m

    Robert Sanchez [Brighton] £25m

    Lesley Ugochukwu [Rennes] £24m

    Kendry Paez [Independiente del Valle] Undisclosed

    Dujuan Richards [Phoenix All Stars Academy] Undisclosed

    Angelo Gabriel [Santos] Undisclosed

    Alex Matos [Norwich] Undisclosed

    Diego Moreira [Benfica] Undisclosed

    Ishe Samuels-Smith [Everton] Undisclosed

    Out

    Kai Havertz [Arsenal] £65m

    Mason Mount [Manchester United] £55m

    Christian Pulisic [AC Milan] £20m

    Mateo Kovacic [Manchester City] £30m

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek [AC Milan] £15m

    Kalidou Kouilbay [Al-Hilal] Undisclosed

    Edouard Mendy [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed

    N’Golo Kante [Al-Ittihad] Free

    Cesar Azpilicueta [Atletico Madrid] Free

    Ethan Ampadu [Leeds] £7m

    David Datro Fofana [Union Berlin] Loan

    Dujon Sterling [Rangers] Free

    Baba Rahman [PAOK] Free

    Derrick Abu [Released]

    Prince Adegoke [Released]

    Tiemoue Bakayoko [Released]

    Nathan Baxter [Bolton] Free

    Juan Castillo [Released]

    Bryan Fiabema [Released]

    Joe Haigh [Released]

    Henry Lawrence [Released]

    Sam McClelland [Released]

    Silko Thomas [Released]

    Ethan Wady [Released]

    Jayden Wareham [Released]

    Charlie Webster [Heerenveen] Loan

    Dion Rankine [Exeter] Loan

    Nkunku is Chelsea’s big-money signing this summer. (Photo by Mike Stobe / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP

    CRYSTAL PALACE

    In

    Jefferson Lerma [Bournemouth] Free

    Out

    Wilfried Zaha [Galatasaray] Free

    Rob Street [Cheltenham] Free

    Luke Plange [Carlisle] Loan

    James McArthur [Released]

    Luka Milivojevic [Released]

    Jack Butland [Rangers] Free

    Joshua Addae [Released]

    David Boateng [Released]

    Ryan Bartley [Released]

    Maliq Cadogan [Released]

    Reece Hannam [Released]

    David Omilabu [Released]

    Daniel Quick [Released]

    EVERTON

    In

    Ashley Young [Aston Villa] Free

    Arnaut Danjuma [Villarreal] Loan

    Out

    Ellis Simms [Coventry] £7m

    Yerry Mina [Released]

    Andros Townsend [Released]

    Niels Nkounkou [Saint-Etienne] Undisclosed

    Einar Iversen [Released]

    Isaac Price [Released]

    Tom Davies [Released]

    Harry Tyrer [Chesterfield] Loan

    Lewis Warrington [Plymouth] Loan

    Stanley Mills [Oxford] Loan

    FULHAM

    In

    Raul Jimenez [Wolves] £5m

    Calvin Bassey [Ajax] Undisclosed

    Willian

    Out

    Shane Duffy [Norwich] Free

    Kieron Bowie [Northampton Town] Loan

    Ibane Bowat [TSV Hartberg] Loan

    Joe Bryan [Millwall] Free

    Thorsteinn Antonsson [Released]

    Paulo Gazzaniga [Girona] Free

    Sonny Hilton [Released]

    Sylvester Jasper [Released]

    Neeskens Kebano [Al-Jazira] Free

    Ziyad Larkeche [QPR] Free

    Jonathon Page [Released]

    Steven Sessegnon [Released]

    Jean-Pierre Tiéhi [Released]

    LIVERPOOL

    In

    Alexis Mac Allister [Brighton] £35m

    Dominik Szoboszlai [RB Leipzig] £60m

    Out

    Fabinho [Al-Ittihad] Undisclosed

    Jordan Henderson [Al-Ettifaq] £12m

    Rhys Williams [Aberdeen] Loan

    Calvin Ramsay [Preston North End ] Loan

    Sepp van den Berg [Mainz] Loan

    Fabio Carvalho [RB Leipzig] Loan

    Roberto Firmino [Al-Ahli] Free

    James Milner [Brighton] Free

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain [Released]

    Naby Keita [Werder Bremen] Free

    Jack Bearne [Released]

    Liam Hughes [Released]

    Oscar Kelly [Released]

    Fidel O’Rourke [Released]

    Oludare Olufunwa [Released]

    Leighton Clarkson [Aberdeen] Undisclosed

    Harvey Davies [Crewe Alexandra] Loan

    Adam Lewis [Newport County] Loan

    Owen Beck [Dundee FC] Loan

    Anderson Arroyo [FC Andorra] Loan

    Dominik Szoboszlai adds plenty of quality to Liverpool’s midfield. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    LUTON TOWN

    In

    Tahith Chong [Birmingham] £4m

    Marvelous Nakamba [Aston Villa] Undisclosed

    Ryan Giles [Wolves] Undisclosed

    Mads Andersen [Barnsley] Undisclosed

    Chiedozie Ogbene [Rotherham United] Free

    Issa Kabore [Manchester City] Free

    Thomas Kaminski [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Out

    Harry Isted [Charlton] Free

    Josh Neufville [AFC Wimbledon] Free

    Sonny Bradley [Derby] Free

    Henri Lansbury [Released]

    Fred Onyedinma [Rotherham United]

    Elliot Thorpe [Shrewsbury Town] Loan

    Jack Walton [Dundee United] Loan

    MANCHESTER CITY

    In

    Josko Gvardiol [RB Leipzig] £77m

    Mateo Kovacic [Chelsea] £30m

    Spike Brits [AFC Wimbledon] Undisclosed

    Out

    Riyad Mahrez [Al-Ahil] £30m

    James Trafford [Burnley] £19m

    Shea Charles [Southampton] £15m

    lkay Gundogan [Barcelona] Free

    Carlos Borges [Ajax] £17.3m

    Terrell Agyemang [Middlesbrough] Free

    Finley Burns [Stevenage] Loan

    Rowan McDonald [Released]

    Benjamin Mendy [Released]

    Morgan Rogers [Middlesbrough] Undisclosed

    Kian Breckin [Wycombe] Loan

    Liam Delap [Hull City] Loan

    Callum Doyle [Leicester] Loan

    MANCHESTER UNITED

    In

    Mason Mount [Chelsea] £55m

    Andre Onana [Inter Milan] £47m

    Jonny Evans [Leicester] Free

    Out

    Anthony Elanga [Nottingham Forest] £15m

    Alex Telles [Al Nassr] Undisclosed

    David de Gea [Released]

    Zidane Iqbal [Utrecht] £850,000

    Ethan Laird [Birmingham City] Undisclosed

    Ethan Galbraith [Leyton Orient] Free

    Issa Kaboure [Luton Town] Free

    Di’Shon Bernard [Sheffield Wednesday] Free

    Nathan Bishop [Sunderland] Undisclosed

    Will Fish [Hibernian] Loan

    Phil Jones [Released]

    Axel Tuanzebe [Released]

    Di’Shon Bernard [Released]

    Eric Hanbury [Released]

    Charlie Wellens [Released]

    Manni Norkett [Nottingham Forest] Free

    Mason Mount moved from Chelsea to Manchester United. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    NEWCASTLE UNITED

    In

    Sandro Tonali [AC Milan] £52m

    Harvey Barnes [Leicester] £38m

    Yankuba Minteh [Odense Boldklub] Undisclosed

    Out

    Chris Wood [Nottingham Forest] £15m

    Allan Saint-Maximin [Al-Ahli] Undisclosed

    Karl Darlow [Leeds] Undisclosed

    Matty Bondswell [Newport] Loan

    Jamal Lewis [Watford] Loan

    Kell Watts [Wigan] Loan

    Niall Brookwell [Released]

    Ciaran Clark [Released]

    Dan Langley [Released]

    Matty Longstaff [Released]

    Josh Stewart [Released]

    Isaac Westendorf [Released]

    NOTTINGHAM FOREST

    In

    Chris Wood [Newcastle] £15m

    Anthony Elanga [Manchester United] £15m

    Manni Norkett [Manchester United] Free

    Ola Aina [Torino] Free

    Out

    Will Swan [Mansfield] Undisclosed

    Braian Ojeda [Real Salt Lake] Undisclosed

    Sam Surridge [Nashville SC] Free

    Jack Colback [QPR] Free

    Cafu [Rotherham] Free

    Oli Hammond [Cheltenham Town] Loan

    Josh Bowler [Cardiff] Loan

    Andre Ayew [Released]

    Jesse Lingard [Released]

    Jordan Smith [Released]

    Lyle Taylor [Released]

    Billy Fewster [Released]

    Alex Gibson-Hammond [Released]

    Ryan Hammon [Released]

    SHEFFIELD UNITED

    In

    Anis Slimane [Brondby] Undisclosed

    Benie Traore [Hacken] Undisclosed

    Yasser Larouci [Troyes] Loan

    Auston Trusty [Arsenal] Undisclosed

    Out

    Illiman Ndiaye [Marseille] Undisclosed

    George Broadbent [Doncaster Rovers] Undisclosed

    Jake Eastwood [Grimsby Town] Undisclosed

    Harry Boyes [Wycombe] Loan

    Jack O’Connell [Released]

    Billy Sharp [Released]

    Enda Stevens [Stoke] Free

    Kyron Gordon [Released]

    TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

    In

    James Maddison [Leicester City] £40m

    Manor Solomon [Shakhtar Donetsk] Free

    Guglielmo Vicario [Empoli] Undisclosed

    Dejan Kulusevski [Juventus] Undisclosed

    Out

    Harry Winks [Leicester] £10m

    Lucas Moura [Released]

    Jamie Bowden [Released]

    Kallum Cesay [Released]

    Malachi Fagan-Walcott [Released]

    Marqes Muir [Released]

    England international James Maddison moved to Tottenham. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)Source: AFP

    WEST HAM UNITED

    In

    Sean Moore [Cliftonville] Undisclosed – joining U21 squad

    Out

    Declan Rice [Arsenal] £105m

    Arthur Masuaku [Besiktas] £2m

    Kamari Swyer [Crawley Town] Loan

    Freddie Potts [Wycombe Wanderers] Loan

    Krisztian Hegyi [Stevenage] Loan

    Manuel Lanzini [Released]

    Brian Kinnear [Released]

    Mipo Odubeko [Released]

    Armstrong Okoflex [Released]

    WOLVES

    In

    Boubacar Traore [Metz] £9.5m

    Matt Doherty [Atletico Madrid] Free

    Tom King [Northampton Town] Free

    Out

    Ruben Neves [Al-Hilal] £47m

    Nathan Collins [Brentford] £23m

    Conor Coady [Leicester] £8.5m

    Raul Jimenez [Fulham] £5m

    Ryan Giles [Luton Town] Undisclosed

    Jeong Sang-bin [Minnesota United] Undisclosed

    Hayao Kawabe [Standard Liege] Undisclosed

    Tyler Roberts [Doncaster] Loan

    Dexter Lembikisa [Rotherham United] Loan

    Adama Traore [Released]

    Joao Moutinho [Released]

    Diego Costa [Released]

    Michael Agboola [Released]

    Lee Harkin [Released]

    Luke Matheson [Released]

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  • Why Reds star is ‘undroppable’; City come back down to earth: PL Talking Pts

    Why Reds star is ‘undroppable’; City come back down to earth: PL Talking Pts

    Two moments of stoppage-time madness helped Arsenal return to the Premier League summit, although they were certainly aided by a misfiring Manchester City.

    An England star’s absurd goalscoring return since the World Cup continues to help Manchester United’s top four surge while two wins in two for Liverpool has their fans believing once again.

    Catch up on the weekend that was in the latest edition of Premier League Talking Points!

    Son on scoresheet as Spurs do Hammers | 00:55

    MORE COVERAGE

    PL Wrap: Red-hot star rescues ‘rubbish’ Man Utd; under-pressure coach’s woes deepen

    PL Wrap: City star blasts ‘unacceptable’ result as late Arsenal drama provides major title twist

    ‘Don’t think they’re right’: Chelsea boss fires back at fans calling for his head after shock defeat

    GUNNERS SHOW CHAMPION MENTALITY IN FIVE-MINUTE MADNESS

    As if losing to Manchester City just 63 hours earlier wasn’t bad enough, Arsenal found themselves on the ropes again at Aston Villa on Saturday.

    Mikel Arteta’s side trailed to Ollie Watkins’ opener, equalised through Bukayo Saka, then fell behind again to Philippe Coutinho’s strike.

    With their title dreams starting to fade, Arsenal proved they have the character needed to cope with the strain of slugging it out with serial winners City.

    Oleksandr Zinchenko, lured from City in the close-season, blasted Arsenal level before an incredible denouement.

    Deep into stoppage-time, Jorginho’s shot hit the bar and cannoned back into play before striking Villa’s former Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez on the head and rebounding into the net for an own goal.

    Arteta and his players celebrated with abandon and Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up a crucial victory with virtually the last kick.

    Arsenal’s first win in five games in all competitions gave them renewed belief that a first title since 2004 is still on the cards.

    “I think the last five minutes tell me how much we want it and that we have the quality, the unity and the belief that we can do it,” Arteta said.

    “When we have clarity and intentions and we raise the level we can beat anybody and they’ve done it.”

    Arsenal back on top after downing Villa | 00:58

    LIVERPOOL STAR BECOMING ‘UNDROPPABLE’ AMID TOP FOUR CHARGE

    After failing to register a win in 2023, it was all doom and gloom at Anfield.

    But now, the mood has certainly lifted at Liverpool after two wins in two games.

    Critics may have pointed out that a Merseyside Derby triumph over Everton came against a side mired in a fight for survival, but there was nothing to dispute about the win over Newcastle.

    Two goals in seven minutes was all it took for Jurgen Klopp’s side to take the advantage over Newcastle at St. James Park, although the hosts did themselves no favours when Nick Pope was sent off for handling the ball outside the box.

    With the 2-0 win, Liverpool handed Newcastle their first loss at home and just their second league defeat all season long.

    Ironically, it was the Reds who gave the Magpies their only two league defeats although they had a late, late winner from Fabio Carvalho to thank for the first win.

    This time around, it was the Darwin Nunez show.

    Has Darwin Nunez finally turned a corner for Liverpool? (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    The Uruguayan has struggled at various times this season, whether that be the various missed chances or a red card in one of his very first games since moving in a $A112m deal from Benfica in the summer.

    His goal return in the Premier League also hasn’t quite been what Liverpool had hoped for given the large fee, with just six goals to his name so far.

    But his strike against Newcastle, according to The Athletic’s Caoimhe O’Neill, “might well be his most important” and indicate Nunez may finally be turning a corner.

    “It was a composed finish from Nunez, who looks like he is coming into his best form so far this season, and his timing could not be better with a top four race now alive and Real Madrid to come in the Champions League,” O’Neill wrote.

    O’Neill also described the Uruguayan sharpshooter as “becoming an undroppable figure in Liverpool’s attack.”

    With Liverpool now back in the hunt for a top four spot and Nunez firing, we can’t discount Klopp’s side just yet.

    Jurgen Klopp’s side are finding form at just the right time. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    CITY BROUGHT BACK TO EARTH AS WAYWARD ATTACK EXPOSED

    Manchester City’s brief spell at the top came to a frustrating end as Chris Wood’s 84th minute equaliser punished the champions for a series of missed chances in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

    Pep Guardiola’s side had knocked Arsenal off top spot with a 3-1 win in north London on Wednesday and, although the Gunners had reclaimed pole position with their win at Aston Villa, City would have finished the weekend in first place if they had beaten Forest.

    They were on course to do just that when Bernardo Silva fired them ahead in the 40th minute.

    But Erling Haaland hit the bar and blazed the rebound over before missing another golden opportunity as City stumbled.

    Although they are now two points behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand, City defender Kyle Walker warned the Gunners that his team will not give up on a fifth title in six seasons.

    “We’re not down and we’re not out, we’ll keep going and keep fighting until the very end and put this down as a blip,” he said.

    “It’s not ideal trailing Arsenal. We just need to make sure that these performances don’t happen again, we finish our chances and defend well as a team, and we stick together.”

    Forrest stun City with late equaliser | 01:05

    ENGLAND STAR’S ABSURD FORM SPARKS RED DEVILS FORM

    Marcus Rashford is spearheading Manchester United’s bid to win a first piece of silverware since 2017.

    United forward Rashford scored twice in Sunday’s 3-0 win against Leicester at Old Trafford, lifting his third placed side to within five points of Arsenal.

    Rashford has scored 24 times in all competitions for United this season, the highest goal tally he has ever managed in a single campaign.

    Remarkably, 16 of those goals have come in 17 appearances since he returned from the World Cup in December.

    “It’s a nice feeling to be scoring goals and ultimately winning games,” Rashford said.

    “There’s always something to push for and look forward to. I don’t feel like slowing down, I’m just trying to improve.”

    Rashford will be the key for United in a pivotal week featuring the League Cup final against Newcastle on Sunday and the second leg of the Europa League knockout play-off against Barcelona on Thursday, with the tie balanced at 2-2.

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  • City star blasts ‘unacceptable’ result as late Arsenal drama provides major title twist: PL Wrap

    City star blasts ‘unacceptable’ result as late Arsenal drama provides major title twist: PL Wrap

    Arsenal regained pole position in the Premier League title race on Saturday as the Gunners fought back for a thrilling 4-2 victory at Aston Villa, while Manchester City were held to a damaging 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest.

    Just three days after surrendering first place with a 3-1 defeat against City, Arsenal bounced back in impressive style to move two points clear of the champions.

    Watch the world’s best footballers every week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE coverage from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

    With just minutes left at Villa Park, Mikel Arteta’s side were in danger of slipping up again in their bid to win the title for the first time since 2004.

    Arsenal twice trailed to goals from Ollie Watkins and Philippe Coutinho, only for Bukayo Saka and then Oleksandr Zinchenko to haul them level.

    Deep into second half stoppage-time, Arsenal received a helping hand from their former keeper as Emiliano Martinez inadvertently deflected Jorginho’s shot into his own net after it hit the bar.

    Gabriel Martinelli capped Arsenal’s remarkable escape when he tapped into the empty net in the final seconds after Martinez was caught upfield at a Villa corner.

    “We are back with more belief than before because you have to turn performances into results,” Arteta said.

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta celebrates with the travelling Gunners support after a crucial win against Aston Villa. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    MORE COVERAGE

    Britain’s richest man and Qatar make rival offers for Man Utd in $8.75 billion bidding war

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    “Win in any context. We’ve always talked about that. Today we had a really difficult context, especially with what happened after five minutes.

    “The team showed a lot of emotional qualities that are needed. I’m really happy.”

    Arsenal’s first victory in five games in all competitions will give them renewed belief they can pip City to the title.

    The Gunners, who have a game in hand on the champions, were given a massive boost by their title rivals’ stumble just hours later.

    CITY LEFT TO RUE MISSED CHANCES AS PLUCKY FOREST FRUSTRATE

    Bernardo Silva put Pep Guardiola’s men ahead four minutes before half-time, taking Jack Grealish’s pass in his stride and drilling a clinical finish past Keylor Navas from 20 yards.

    But the tension mounted as City searched for a second goal and Guardiola was booked for manhandling the fourth official after Erling Haaland’s penalty appeal was rejected following Joe Worrall’s challenge.

    City were undone by their profligacy as Haaland’s drive hit the bar before the Norway star blazed the rebound over.

    Haaland missed another chance moments later and Forest made the champions pay with their first shot on target in the 84th minute.

    Morgan Gibbs-White fired a low ball across the area and New Zealand striker Chris Wood tapped into an empty net to leave Guardiola stunned.

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was booked for his protests to the referee in his side’s 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    Guardiola conceded City were the victims of their own downfall after such sloppy finishing.

    “It was a brilliant performance, we played really good but we didn’t score. At this level you have to score and that is why we dropped points,” he said.

    “The first half should already be 2-0 or 3-0, we conceded one shot on target and we dropped points. We are sad and disappointed but the way we played was really good.

    “We missed goals that were one metre to the goalkeeper, not just one, a few. That is why we didn’t win. What can I say?”

    City defender Kyle Walker was equally frustrated at the result.

    “I’m not blaming anyone,” Walker told Match of the Day.

    “If the strikers aren’t getting the luck or hitting the target, us as a defensive unit need to hang onto the 1-0 victory and secure the three points.

    “We know that’s not acceptable. That’s not me being downbeat but we’ve set such high standards over the last few years that it should be four or five nil, game done and we move onto the next game.”

    CHELSEA STUNNED BY LAST-PLACED SAINTS IN MAJOR UPSET

    Under-fire Chelsea boss Graham Potter suffered another blow as bottom of the table Southampton won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

    James Ward-Prowse scored his 17th Premier League free-kick — one behind David Beckham’s record in the competition — to give Southampton the lead in first half stoppage-time.

    Stuart Armstrong was fouled on the edge of the area and with Saints fans chanting Ward-Prowse’s name, the midfielder curled a superb set-piece past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

    Chelsea were booed off at full-time after a result that left them languishing in 10th place, with just two wins in their last 14 games in all competitions and none in their last five.

    Chelsea boss Graham Potter is under pressure after the Blues slipped to a shock defeat to lowly Southampton. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    DYCHE DELIGHT AS TOFFEES BEAT RELEGATION RIVALS LEEDS

    Everton moved out of the relegation zone with a valuable 1-0 win against fellow strugglers Leeds at Goodison Park.

    Seamus Coleman netted in the 64th minute when Everton’s veteran defender hooked over a cross that caught out Leeds keeper Illan Meslier, who left a gap at his near post for the ball to squeeze into the net.

    Sean Dyche’s side have won two of their three matches since he replaced the sacked Frank Lampard and now sit one point above the bottom three, while managerless Leeds are in 19th place.

    FULL PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS

    Aston Villa 2-4 Arsenal

    Brentford 1-1 Crystal Palace

    Wolves 0-1 Bournemouth

    Brighton 0-1 Fulham

    Everton 1-0 Leeds United

    Chelsea 0-1 Southampton

    Nottingham Forest 1-1 Manchester City

    Newcastle 0-2 Liverpool

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