Tottenham have completed the signing of Leeds midfielder Archie Gray in a player-plus-cash deal which sees Joe Rodon return to Elland Road.
The 18-year-old Gray won plaudits in an impressive breakout season at Leeds and Brentford had a reported £35 million ($AUD66 million) bid rejected last weekend.
That allowed Spurs to come in for the England Under-21 international, who has signed a six-year deal.
No fee has been disclosed, but British media reported Gray had signed in a deal worth up to $AUD57 million, with the added inducement of former loanee Rodon returning to Leeds on a permanent basis.
Leeds’ failure to gain promotion to the lucrative Premier League from the second-tier Championship in May put pressure on the Yorkshire club to make big-money sales to comply with financial fair play rules.
In Gray’s first in-house interview with the club, he spoke about how Postecoglou was a “massive factor” in wanting to join Tottenham.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” Gray said.
Gray becomes Tottenham’s first signing of the summer window. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I’m a massive Celtic fan, so I love him, my whole family love him.
“I haven’t really said this to be fair, but he’s a massive factor because playing under a really good manager is really important for me as well. I’ve still got loads to learn because I’m only 18 so that’s really important.
“It still hasn’t sunk in to be honest and I don’t think it will for the next few days and until we’ve played a few games and I’ve got to meet everyone.
“I’m just really excited and looking forward to it. It’s massive opportunity for me and I’m really excited.
“When Spurs came and I had the opportunity to play in the Champions League eventually and the Europa League this year, you know I couldn’t really say no.”
Gray, who can play at both right-back and in central midfield, became a regular under Leeds boss Daniel Farke last season. The teenager made 52 appearances in all competitions following his league debut against Cardiff in August.
Postecoglou was a big factor behind Gray’s decision to join Tottenham. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Gray’s great-uncle Eddie was a star of the successful Leeds teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Grandfather Frank also played more than 300 games for the club. Father Andy also played for the Elland Road side. All three were Scotland internationals.
Archie won the Championship Young Player of the Year award last season. Wales international Rodon has now headed in the other direction, bringing to an end his four-year stay at Spurs.
Rodon signed from Swansea in 2020 but only played 24 times for Tottenham with his last appearance as a late substitute against Burnley towards the end of the 2021/22 season.
After spending the last two seasons on loan at French club Rennes and then Leeds, the 26-year-old has returned to Elland Road after signing a four-year deal.
ANGE MAKES EARLY TRANSFER SPLASH AS $49M STAR LINKED WITH EXIT
Tottenham’s off-season has barely begun but it hasn’t stopped Ange Postecoglou from making his first signing for next season as Timo Werner will return to the club on loan from RB Leipzig.
Once again, Tottenham will have the option to make the deal permanent if the German international impresses.
However, the fee to sign Werner has dropped from $AUD28 million to $16 million.
Werner joined Tottenham in the January window until the end of the 2023/24 season, scoring twice and providing three assists in 14 appearances before thigh issues ruled him out of the final five games.
With Werner now retained for the season, Postecoglou may have to turn his attention to adding a defender amid reports Emerson Royal could be on the way out.
According to Sky in Italy, AC Milan have made Royal one of their main targets for the window as they look to bring in a right-sided defender.
The 25-year-old, who is a right back by trade, was forced to deputise at left back and even centre back amid an injury crisis that exposed Tottenham’s lack of depth in defence.
Royal moved to Tottenham from Barcelona for $49.9 million in September 2021, so the club will no doubt look to recoup as much of that figure as possible should Milan decide to swoop for the Brazilian.
Timo Werner has returned to Tottenham for next season. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
GERMAN GIANTS REFUSE TO RULE OUT SHOCK SWOOP FOR CONTROVERSIAL RED DEVIL
Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl refused to rule out a shock move for Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.
Per the Daily Mail, German reports claim Dortmund could sign Greenwood on loan for next season.
And Kehl, speaking to media prior to Dortmund’s Champions League final against Real Madrid, did little to quash any speculation.
“I don’t want to talk about any rumours at the moment because it doesn’t make sense,” Kehl said.
“Let’s play the final on Saturday first.
“Of course, we have plans for next season and we have discussed many scenarios but let’s focus on Saturday and then we’ll see how we move on.”
When asked if Greenwood is a player Dortmund may be keen on, Kehl responded: “I don’t want to talk about that now.”
Greenwood has not pulled on a shirt for the Red Devils since January 2022 after he was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault.
All charges against Greenwood were dropped in February 2023 but was immediately suspended from training and matches by the Red Devils until further notice.
There were plans to bring Greenwood back into the fold at United but severe public backlash forced the club to change their approach as the 20-year-old was loaned out to La Liga side Getafe for the season, scoring eight goals from 33 league appearances.
Greenwood is reportedly wanted by Borussia Dortmund. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LEEDS BRACE FOR $57M EXIT AS PL VULTURES PREPARE TO SWOOP
The vultures are preparing to pick apart Leeds after the club failed to achieve promotion back to the Premier League, with star forward Crysencio Summerville the likeliest to move on.
Summerville was pivotal to Leeds’ promotion tilt with 19 league goals but could not make the desired impact in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the playoff final.
Having missed out on the riches of the Premier League, Leeds will have little choice but to sell some of their star players.
Summerville was previously linked with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool, but a switch to Chelsea would be somewhat surprising given their plethora of young forwards.
Summerville looks almost certain to leave Leeds in the summer. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
NEW UTD BOSS EYES TOFFEES GUN IN BOLD STATEMENT OF INTENT
Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to be wasting little time in improving Manchester United’s squad and is eyeing up an Everton defender to kickstart the club’s business.
According to The Sun, Ratcliffe is hoping to bring Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite to Old Trafford in a $76 million deal.
Branthwaite quickly cemented himself as one of the best young defenders in the Premier League, playing a key role in Everton conceding 51 goals, the fourth-fewest in the entire competition.
Unfortunately for the Toffees, uncertainty regarding 777 Partners’ takeover of the club could force cut-price exits of some of their key players, including Branthwaite.
The arrival of Branthwaite would be a major statement of intent from Ratcliffe after his INEOS group took control of the Red Devils’ football operations via his acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in the club.
SERIE A STAR CATCHES LIVERPOOL’S EYE
Liverpool scouts attended an Atalanta match with the intention of watching Teun Koopmeiners.
However, a report from Tuttosport claims Koopmeiners’ teammate Ederson wowed the Reds so much that they’re prepared to make a play for him.
Ederson, a midfielder, scored six goals and assisted one in 35 Serie A games for Atalanta and even earned a call-up to the Brazil team for the upcoming Copa America.
Should Ederson end up moving to Liverpool, he would be new manager Arne Slot’s first signing since replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Premier League clubs will be given the chance to scrap VAR from next season when they vote on the controversial review system at their annual general meeting next month.
It comes as Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon declared the league has to “either get rid” of the VAR “or get better” after being denied a penalty in a 3-2 loss to Manchester United.
Wolves have submitted a resolution to abolish VAR to the Premier League, triggering a vote of the top flight’s 20 teams on June 6.
In order for VAR to be axed by the Premier League, 14 of the 20 clubs will have to vote against it.
Wolves are expected to canvas other clubs in order to gain support before the meeting.
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“The foundations are quite fragile” | 00:53
VAR was introduced in the Premier League in 2019 with the aim of helping referees avoid clear and obvious errors that had marred matches in the past.
But there have been numerous controversies surrounding the technology this season as Premier League managers and fans grow increasingly vocal in their disdain for the system.
Gordon became the latest player to decry the current system after he was seemingly fouled by Sofyan Amrabat in the loss to United.
“I don’t mind the referee getting it wrong on the pitch, but I don’t understand the point of VAR,” Gordon said.
“Either get rid of it or get better. It’s that simple, there’s too many mistakes.”
Wolves said VAR is “undermining the value of the Premier League brand” after another season marred by a host of debatable decisions.
“The introduction of VAR in 2019/20 was a decision made in good faith and with the best interests of football and the Premier League at its heart,” a Wolves statement said.
“However, it has led to numerous unintended negative consequences that are damaging the relationship between fans and football, and undermining the value of the Premier League brand.
“The decision to table the resolution has come after careful consideration and with the utmost respect for the Premier League, PGMOL and our fellow competitors.
“Our position is that the price we are paying for a small increase in accuracy is at odds with the spirit of our game, and as a result we should remove it from the 2024/25 season onwards.”
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Wolves boss Gary O’Neil revealed he has regularly received apologetic phone calls from Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb after VAR decisions that went against his team.
The impact of VAR on goal celebrations, the length of time taken for checks and a lack of communication in the stadium are all issues that have irked supporters and cited by Wolves as reasons for scrapping the system.
However, the Premier League believes VAR is still a valuable tool. The English top flight, which is in regular dialogue with referees’ governing body PGMOL, believes the number of incorrect decisions would increase without VAR which could damage the competition’s reputation.
“The Premier League can confirm it will facilitate a discussion on VAR with our clubs at the Annual General Meeting next month,” a Premier League spokesperson said.
“Clubs are entitled to put forward proposals at Shareholders’ meetings and we acknowledge the concerns and issues around the use of VAR.
“However, the League fully supports the use of VAR and remains committed, alongside PGMOL, to make continued improvements to the system for the benefit of the game and fans.”
Ange Postecoglou insisted Tottenham will stick to his attacking philosophy in the crucial north London derby against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Postecoglou’s side cannot afford to lose to their bitter rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they try to stay in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
Fifth placed Tottenham are six points behind fourth placed Aston Villa, who can extend that advantage to nine if they beat troubled Chelsea on Saturday.
Tottenham will have three games in hand on Villa by the time they kick off against Arsenal, but Postecoglou knows only victories will do in the battle to finish in the top four.
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Toffees dent Reds’ title push | 01:34
With that in mind, the Australian has no intention of sending his team into the derby with a defensive mindset, even though Arsenal showed their attacking prowess with a 5-0 rout of Chelsea.
“It’s just about making sure you embrace the challenge and try to tackle it in the way that got us into this position in the first place,” Postecoglou told reporters.
“From our perspective we’ve had some inconsistencies and challenges this year, but when we’ve played well we’ve played a certain way and gone about things in a certain way.
“There’s no point now when you get to the most important part of the year to shy away from that or change your approach.
“You’ve got to double down on it and focus on playing our football. That’s a great measure for us because otherwise you’ll never know where you’re short or whether you can be successful in doing it our way.”
Ange Postecoglou knows what is at stake. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Arsenal are one point clear of second placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta’s men.
Postecoglou know a Tottenham win this weekend would be a major blow to Arsenal’s bid to win the title for the first time in 20 years.
“We understand the importance of being at home in these kind of games to not let our biggest rival win in the biggest derby for us,” he said.
“We understand the consequences of that. I’m not going to dictate how our fans feel and what they feel is important.”
Massimo Luongo had all but given up on a Socceroos recall – until his form revival at Ipswich Town.
For the first time since 2019, the 31-year-old midfielder is in the national squad, and is a chance to play against England at Wembley on Saturday morning (AEDT).
“I’ve only been thinking about it for the past year that maybe there’s a chance.” 2015 Asian Cup winner Luongo said.
“I’m buzzing now but I never really got my hopes up and thought it was ever a thing again. It’s a great surprise.”
Luongo’s “buzz” was once instead a feeling of mental anguish as he battled injuries and form woes – particularly during a three-year spell at Sheffield Wednesday – in what was a dark time in his career.
He left Wednesday in September last year to join Middlesbrough but it wasn’t until he moved to Ipswich – currently in second spot on the English Championship ladder – that he truly got himself back on track and back on the selection radar of Socceroos coach Graham Arnold.
“For a long time it was … about (me thinking) I’m getting older and maybe there was a new pathway the manager (Arnold) wanted to take, wanting to bleed in some younger players, so it’s a difficult one, when you’re not part of the set-up for a while, how to get back in,” Luongo said.
Luongo has impressed since moving to Ipswich Town. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I went to Sheffield Wednesday and my injury record wasn’t too great.
“It wasn’t a good period mentally as well, so I wouldn’t expect to be called up after a little period like that. I know how much the manager values minutes and playing.
“It was probably good for me. I could just focus on my club, focus on playing and getting back to a decent level.”
Since being in camp this week, Sydney product Luongo has noticed a more professional Socceroos set-up compared to four years ago.
“There’s more backing. There are no corners cut. Things you wouldn’t even think of are covered. They’re trying to create an atmosphere that’s as top-level as you can get,” he said.
Luongo said Arnold and Ange Postecoglou – who gave him his Socceroos debut in March 2014 – were “completely different – like most managers”.
“Ange has his ways, ‘Arnie’ has his ways … but it was definitely an enjoyable time,” he said in reflecting on playing under former Socceroos coach and current Tottenham manager Postecoglou.
“What he’s doing now (at Spurs) is incredible. Every Aussie is following Tottenham now, every Aussie is secretly a Tottenham supporter.
“It’s great to watch from afar … he always leaves an impression.
“He’s just a genuine person. You can see that in his media interviews. He’s got so much passion for the game.
“He’s just hungry for success, and that’s what we have here (with Arnold).”
Ange Postecoglou has dismissed Jurgen Klopp’s call to have the Tottenham and Liverpool game replayed but has said the VAR should be scrapped in its current form.
Luis Diaz’s strike was given offside by the on-pitch officials, but England mistakenly thought they had made an onside call.
Diaz was onside and England confirmed that decision before realising the misunderstanding meant he had given the green light for the game to restart with the goal disallowed.
Tottenham boss Postecoglou on Friday accepted Liverpool were denied a “legitimate goal” due to the mistake.
Reds goal robbed after VAR offside error | 00:34
Referees body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited admitted it was a “significant human error”, with Liverpool manager Klopp saying a replay was the fairest solution.
There is no suggestion of a replay being considered by Premier League chiefs, but Postecoglou was willing to admit his side had a lucky break.
“The facts of it are that it was a legitimate goal Liverpool scored that wasn’t given,” the Australian said.
“You kind of look at why it’s not given because that’s the first thing you question: obviously something has broken down.
“It became clear it wasn’t an integrity issue. It wasn’t a misappropriation of the law. It was an error in communication, a mistake, a mistake which cost Liverpool.”
Postecoglou though did not agree with Klopp that replaying the game would be the fair solution.
Ange Postecoglou reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“There’s got to be some sort of threshold and I don’t think a mistake is the threshold for that,” he said.
“If we strayed into integrity or misappropriation of the law then maybe there’s something there, but ultimately, when you strip it all back, it was a mistake.
“It was unique and unprecedented, but it was still a mistake.
“If your threshold for a replay is mistakes by individuals, then that’s 365 games a year I reckon.”
Postecoglou went on to claim the VAR should be scrapped in “its current form”.
“I just don’t think that technology is ready for our game,” he said.
“I’ve got zero against goal-line technology. It’s a no-brainer and it works for our game.
“Our game is unique.
“People say, ‘Let’s get referees explaining their decisions’. Oh my God – seriously? Could you imagine sitting there listening to a referee explaining every decision in the game?
“I’m going to the gridiron on Sunday – I love American football. But it’s three and a half hours.
“The measure of who was a good referee was the ones you never noticed and now we’re trying to make them the stars of the show.
Reds, City & United fall in upset losses | 03:11
“We’re analysing, in slow motion, yellow cards. We, as managers and players, are the worst for it because we talk about integrity but I bet if you watch a game tonight, the first throw-in, both teams will appeal for it. We’re trying to take advantage and there’s nothing wrong with that.
“With VAR, the more we use it the worse it’s going to get. Clear and obvious error? It seems like everything is getting scrutinised.
“It’s not our game. We’re not rugby, we don’t have those stoppages. What I always loved about our game — especially in England — was the frenetic pace. Why are we trying to take that out? None of us liked it when they were taking too long over a decision and last week it sounded like they were rushing it. Maybe that’s a consequence.
“That suggests to me the technology in its current form is not suitable to our game but I know I’ll be in the minority with that.
“I don’t know what the game’s going to look like in 20 years and I’m not sure I’m going to like it.”
Is VAR good for the game? (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Postecoglou also pleaded for understanding to be shown towards the widely-criticised England.
“It’s a significant error but it’s a human being that’s made that error,” he said.
“I don’t think that there’s anything that needs to go too far-reaching.”
Elsewhere, Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has called for the VAR system to be simplified, saying he “trusts the car but the driver is the problem” following the costly Liverpool goal blunder.
Pochettino is in favour of the technology, but the Argentine would like to see it simplified.
“I trust in the VAR and how we manage the VAR. I trust in the car but the driver? That is the problem,” he said on Friday.
“For me it is about simplifying the situation. After many years seeing how things work, the most important is to return and give the power more to the referee.”
Pochettino wants offside and goal-line calls checked by VAR, but would prefer other on-pitch decisions to be left up to the referee and his assistants.
“Offside and goal-line decisions, they are the only two to keep (for VAR),” he said.
“Trust in the referee because at the moment we are not happy with VAR, we are not happy with the people that manage the VAR, but worse is we are not happy with the referee and that is the problem.
“We need to think a little bit in the future. Maybe one step back, maybe make things easier and more clear.”
A new Premier League season brings new stadiums, some new players but more importantly, new kits.
For the jersey enthusiasts among us, the lead-up to the season is like Christmas as teams release their new kits left, right and centre.
Some sections of fans will curse their team for daring to partner with certain manufacturers while others will be quick to sleep with the shirt in their bed like a child cuddles a stuffed toy.
Granted, these rankings have arrived well after the season has kicked off.
But, if anything, it’s allowed this reporter to further justify the ratings having seen them on the field as opposed to the marketing shoots.
Without further ado, here’s Foxsports.com.au’s 23/24 Premier League Kit Rankings!
Arsenal and adidas partnership has once again delivered a solid kit.
But the gold trim on the sleeves and badge do leave some questions.
The marketing speak is that the gold touches are a tribute for the 20th anniversary of the Gunners’ ‘Invincibles’ season in the 2003/04 campaign.
They’ve even added Arsenal’s record from that season somewhere on the jersey because Gunners fans reminding you they are the only club to go undefeated for a full Premier League season wasn’t enough.
However, we have our suspicions the gold touches were applied in the hope Arsenal would go on to win last season’s Premier League title given how far ahead the design process begins.
At the end of the day, it probably depends on who you ask.
The gold accents are an interesting touch. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Rating: 8
Aston Villa
What in the Burnley circa-2011 monstrosity is this?
The mid-tier sponsor, the tacky design supposedly inspired by soundwaves taken from fans singing at Villa Park, it just doesn’t work.
At least this jersey might end up being a collector’s item with the new badge on the shirt.
But even that has an embarrassing backstory given the club’s fans voted for it last season as their new badge, only for Villa to hold fire on rolling out the badge on a full-time basis, meaning this one is a tribute to the 1982 team who won the Champions League.
A very chaotic kit in every possible way.
That sponsor … our eyes! Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Rating: 3.5
Bournemouth
Hold on a minute, the black stripes are thicker than the red ones?
Is this the end of days?
Probably not.
But it’s a cool and inoffensive way to usher in a new era at Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola as the Cherries don a kit that makes them look like AC Milan.
AC Milan in disguise? Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Rating: 6
Brentford
Brentford has once again adopted the two-year kit cycle, meaning this one will be in the rotation for this year and the next, so kudos to the Bees for that move.
But if you’re going to take that approach, at least serve up something better than this.
The black patches under the arm and on the collar look out of place and take away from what could very easily be a great kit.
There’s also the sad element of being sponsored by a betting company when their best player was diagnosed with a gambling addiction.
Umbro filled the very simple brief for Brentford. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 5
Brighton
The strange yellow pinstripe on last season’s Brighton’s shirt has vanished and been replaced by, well, nothing.
The Seagulls have returned to their traditional blue and white stripes, finally moving away from trying to anything and everything to jazz up what is a very simple design brief.
It’s certainly worked well for this year’s jersey, although Brighton fans will be careful not to buy it with any youngster’s name on the back given they’ll probably be sold in the next three years to Chelsea.
Warning: Players who wear this jersey have a high chance of being sold for a significant profit. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Rating: 6
Burnley
Somehow it appears Castore and Umbro’s designs for Aston Villa and Burnley respectively fell into the wrong hands.
Because this Burnley kit just screams Aston Villa.
On an unrelated but equally amusing note, it’s great to see W88 keep up their insane record for sponsoring a promoted team.
They were on the front of Wolves’ jersey in 2018, Villa’s in 2019, Fulham’s last season and now Burnley.
But back to the kit.
No matter how Vincent Kompany’s troops get on this season, at least they’ll do it in style.
Burnley? With a classy kit? Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Rating: 8
Chelsea
Not even a funky 90s-themed photo shoot is enough for this Chelsea shirt to really make its mark.
The Blues supposedly took inspiration from the kit they wore in 1997/98, but that’s a little hard to stomach when that one had a collar and this does not.
The kit also features an iridescent Chelsea and Nike badge which, according to the kit release, “highlights the prestige and glamour of the famous King’s Road in the 90s.”
Well, if you secure your worst league finish in almost 30 years having spent silly amounts in the transfer market, perhaps it really is best to keep thinking about the good ol’ glory days.
What an expensive photo shoot this would have been. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Rating: 6
Crystal Palace
Oh dear.
Crystal Palace have abandoned their usual stripes and gone for the half-and-half jersey split.
The Eagles’ kit is inspired by the 10-year anniversary of returning back to the Premier League, a frightening prospect if that’s how recent teams will go to justify a retro design.
They went for a half-and-half split back then and it didn’t look quite right, even if our very own Mile Jedinak led the team back then.
There’s also an added touch of the Crystal Palace monument on the jersey which is where the club was founded, although those who know their history will know the final fate of that building was not a happy one.
It adds something extra to the shirt, but it’s difficult to see it on the red half which basically makes it redundant.
Can we just go back to the happy little crayon squiggles they had last year?
Let’s hope Crystal Palace’s season doesn’t end in similar fashion to the landmark they were named after. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Rating: 3
Everton
Less really is more.
Everton have kept it simple for this year’s kit, which is basically a blue polo with a white collar.
But wait! There’s some minor design elements!
Aside from the traditional Hummel chevrons on the shoulders, the collar features a nod to the old stands at Goodison Park in a fitting tribute to the famous stadium given it is the Toffees’ last season there before moving to their fancy new ground on the Bramley-Moore Dock.
But given Everton’s on-field struggles and failure to address glaring needs in the transfer market, Goodison Park might not be the only thing the Merseyside club moves on from at the end of the season.
Is there such a thing as a jersey too good to go down? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 7
Fulham
No. Just no.
Crystal Palace might have gone for the half-and-half kit as a whole, but Fulham doing that for the stripes?
Call us a sucker for symmetry, but it just doesn’t look right.
It’s either all-in or the red stripes or the white stripes, you don’t get to dip your fingers into both pies.
If Fulham went for only red or white stripes, this rating would be significantly higher.
Alas, they did not and therefore their rating is not.
The law dictates you’re not allowed to have different colours of the famous three stripes. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 4
Liverpool
Liverpool have really tested the design waters with this year’s number.
Having gone for a plain red jersey last season in seriously groundbreaking areas, Liverpool have tacked on a white trim on the neck and sleeves!
Granted, it’s meant to be a throwback to the Reds’ 1973/74 jersey which, upon investigation looks exactly the same.
As mentioned earlier, less can be more in the world of kits but for Liverpool to pull off two incredibly basic designs in consecutive years reeks of laziness.
Is it too much to ask for ANY designs on Liverpool home kits these days? (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 4.5
Luton Town
If ever there was a jersey that gave off serious 2000s Coca-Cola Championship vibes, this is the holy grail.
Unfortunately for Luton, orange is a colour that’s rather difficult to work with when it comes to kits but they’ve at least made an effort.
But we haven’t had an orange home kit in the Premier League since the days of Blackpool, so it’s a welcome change.
Sadly for the Hatters, it’s hard to see this jersey befitting a team likely to survive the drop.
It’s been a minute since an orange home jersey has graced the Premier League. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 5
Manchester City
Shut up and take our money.
Puma have dished up some serious clangers over the years (the away kits for their World Cup teams in Qatar, anyone?) but credit where credit is due, they deliver when it comes to their Manchester City kits.
The collar is perfect and so too is the design of the spiralling walkways outside the Etihad Stadium.
We can’t put emojis in these stories but if we could, one of a chef’s kiss would perfectly encapsulate City’s jersey.
It’s just so damn good. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 9
Manchester United
There’s just something about black accents on a Manchester United jersey that feels so right.
Adidas have once again delivered for the Red Devils this season, while the Team Viewer logo also managed to somehow grow in size.
The most intriguing design element of this kit is the incorporation of the Lancashire Rose in the form of the pattern on the Trafford Road Bridge.
Well, at least that’s how it was explained when the kit was released.
Otherwise it’s just a bunch of incredibly confusing lines that made little sense.
There’s more than meets the eye, or shirt. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 7.5
Newcastle United
It’s rare to hear the words “Castore” and “good kit” in the same sentence, but here we are.
They’ve served up a quality kit for Newcastle this year as they return to the Champions League, even if it is alarmingly similar to last year’s.
The key differences are the shape of the collar and having dominant black stripes instead of white ones as well as losing the blue Castore logo and sponsor.
However, the Magpies do lose points for having a very questionable front-of-shirt sponsor.
They inked a £25 million-a-season deal with a company called Sela, a Saudi Arabian events company who are owned by the nation’s Public Investment Fund (PIF)
Conveniently, the PIF owns 80 per cent of Newcastle.
For reference, Newcastle’s previous sponsor Fun88 paid £6.5 million-a-year to feature on the front of their kit.
The Premier League gave the green light for Sela’s sponsorship but it has done little to stop the questions from fans regarding the deal being fair market value.
On a more positive note for Toon fans, this year is Castore’s last as the club’s manufacturer with Adidas set to take over from next season.
All’s well that ends well?
A quality jersey with a questionable sponsor. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 8
Nottingham Forest
A quick glance at Nottingham Forest’s online club shop shows states their home kit is available for $AUD125.
That’s awfully expensive for a kit that’s essentially a glorified template kit with a Forest badge slapped on.
Seriously, you could save yourself plenty of cash if you hopped on adidas’ website, picked out a red sport shirt and got someone to stitch on the club’s badge.
It’s borderline pathetic how little effort has gone into this Forest shirt.
“Wait, is that someone who just bought our template jersey?” (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 2
Sheffield United
Brentford, take note.
Sheffield United have shown how you jazz up a red-and-white-striped kit without going overboard with the design.
The kit oozes class which is a real shame given there could be a serious lack of it on the field given the quality of the Blades’ squad.
This could become an iconic shirt for all the wrong reasons. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 7
Tottenham Hotspur
If there was ever a shirt that made you just shrug your shoulders and say, “meh,” then this would take the cake.
It fills the main objective of a Tottenham kit in that it’s white, which is pretty hard to mess up.
The blue trim on the cuffs are kind of cool?
We’re really having to clutch at straws here to find anything interesting about this one.
Lucky that Spurs have Ange Postecoglou at the wheel to make up for lack of excitement when it comes to the design on the kit.
Arm sleeves are not included. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Rating: 6
West Ham United
We get it, West Ham, bubbles are your thing!
You have the song, you have the bubbles before the game but do we really need bubbles on a jersey?
Without the bubbles, this would be a quality kit for the Hammers but the bubbles add an unnecessary and childish touch to it.
It’s not for us.
But if that fish from Finding Nemo who exclaims “bubbles” every time he sees a bubble in the fish tank was doing these ratings, it would be a different story.
Taking their anthem to a whole new level. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied
Rating: 4.5
Wolves
Honestly, we’re struggling to find anything wrong with this kit.
The black and white on the collar complements the dominant ‘old gold’ perfectly.
Sometimes there really isn’t much that needs to be said for a kit and that’s the case with this Wolves number.
A tidy little number for Wolves. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
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!
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.
A former England international was left raving about a key tactical tweak from Ange Postecoglou that already looks to be paying dividends for Tottenham Hotspur while the three promoted teams are learning the hard way about life in the Premier League.
Elsewhere, Liverpool fans are wondering if their star striker has finally turned a corner in what could prove to be a scary warning for the rest of the division.
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at the weekend that was in Premier League Talking Points!
THE KEY ANGE TWEAK THAT HAS EX-ENGLAND STAR DROOLING
With every Tottenham game that passes, English pundits are slowly but surely turning into Ange Postecoglou fans.
The Postecoglou era began with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Brentford but it was a 2-0 win over Manchester United that really got the UK media to sit up and take notice.
A comfortable 2-0 win over Bournemouth continued Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the season and, for at least a few hours, Postecoglou’s side was top of the Premier League.
James Maddison’s opener left fans drooling as Dejan Kulusevski’s second-half strike sealed the three points.
Yet it was none of the midfielders or attackers that caught the eye of former England international Joe Cole during the game.
“The fullbacks in particular was an area of concern last year,” Cole said on TNT Sports’ broadcast.
“I looked at that and thought they never looked quite comfortable. But the (second) goal in particular came from (Destiny) Udogie in midfield.”
Destiny Udogie has been a shining light under Ange Postecoglou. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Cole asked Postecoglou if there was “some kind of trigger you’re using” for the fullbacks to tuck into the midfield.
“Because he’s in midfield, the ball comes out to (Ivan) Perisic and he just goes. It almost seems like they’ve been together forever. He went straight away and attacked that space.
“They look like they’re playing with freedom.”
However, Postecoglou refused to give any of his secrets away and had a brilliant response.
“I’m just copying Pep, mate,” Postecoglou replied.
Udogie, who operates on the left flank, hadn’t played for Tottenham until this season but has taken to Postecoglou’s style of play like a duck to water.
On the right, Pedro Porro has also impressed in his ability to get up and down the touchline while also adhering to the Aussie’s tactical instructions.
Who knows what element of Postecoglou’s game will be noticed in Tottenham’s next fixture, but it seems the English pundits are finally seeing ‘AngeBall’ for what it really is.
Pundits are waking up to ‘AngeBall’ (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
REDS’ ‘PERFORMANCE FOR THE AGES’ AS STAR FINALLY ARRIVES
What a performance from Liverpool. After conceding an early goal and playing with 10 men for an hour, Jurgen Klopp’s men showed remarkable grit and tactical intelligence to fight back and claim a smash-and-grab win.
Klopp was asked after the game what the comeback said about his team’s spirit. He replied: “Absolutely everything. In my more than 1,000 games as a coach, I never had a game like this, that is the truth.
“There have been other games, but with 10 men in an atmosphere like this against an opponent like this … It’s not that I can’t remember, I’m pretty sure it never happened because these moments are rare and super-special.”
“It was unbelievable, something very special,” captain Trent Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sport. “You come here with a game plan, dictate the play and kill the atmosphere as that’s an advantage for them.
“But we had to do it the hard way, a very hard way. We dug deep and pulled together. A performance for the ages, one of our best performances. There was some outstanding performances.”
Klopp now has 11 wins in a row against opposite manager Eddie Howe – the longest win streak between any two Premier League managers. The German mastermind was a class above Howe on the day – his reshuffle after the red card narrowed Liverpool’s formation and stifled Newcastle’s attack, before his substitutes Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez had an ideal impact.
Nunez had a tough first season after his club-record arrival for £85m last year, scoring 15 times in all competitions from 42 appearances – but missed plenty of chances with a lack of composure in front of goal. Per Opta Stats, he scored 12 big chances and missed 28.
Has Darwin Nunez finally turned a corner? (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
That lack of consistency saw him drop down Liverpool’s pecking order in attack – and he was clearly ‘fired up’ by that demotion, having not started any of Liverpool’s matches this season.
Klopp told Sky Sports it was a ‘super performance’ from Nunez: “We calmed the game down and brought on Darwin, he was obviously fired up from not starting.
“It’s clear he’s not happy. It’s early in the season, we need to find stability and results. He will play, there’s no doubt about that. We need everyone. We need to find a way of playing. This is a new team with new key players. It needs time.
“He scores two goals and can’t get the smile off his face. For the team, it was super important. You need these things together. You cannot force it. I enjoyed that in the last second.”
There was plenty of pressure on Nunez last season given his price tag, but his maiden Premier League season began by losing his head and copping a red card. A year later he made himself the team’s saviour after Van Dijk was red.
As Manchester United great Gary Neville told Sky Sports of Nunez’s first goal: “It’s a huge moment in this match but an even bigger moment for Darwin Nunez.”
At 24, this might be the turning point in the gifted Uruguayan’s Premier League career. If he can develop the consistency and clinical edge that was lacking last campaign, he could play a key role in lifting Liverpool back into the title picture.
Nunez’s stoppage-time winner secured a vital three points for Liverpool. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BRUTAL REALITY FOR TRIO OF PL NEWBIES
For the newly-promoted trio of Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United, they would have gone into this Premier League season with varying levels of optimism.
Burnley steamrolled the Championship last season to finish top of the ladder, Sheffield United also went up via automatic promotion while Luton Town did it by winning the playoffs.
But it’s taken just a handful of games for the three to remember just how brutal life in the Premier League is.
All three teams have failed to gain at least a point from their opening games and it is only Everton’s miserable start that is preventing them from being in the relegation zone.
In fairness, Burnley have faced defending champions Manchester City and Aston Villa in their opening two games, losing 3-0 and 3-1 respectively.
Same goes for Luton Town who lost 4-1 to Brighton and 3-0 to Chelsea in a rough start.
Sheffield United have also faced one of the Premier League’s big hitters and came up short, losing 2-1 to Manchester City on Sunday.
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has a big job on his hands to avoid relegation. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However, the Blades had two fixtures which they felt they had a chance in but ultimately ended in defeats against Crystal Palace (0-1) and Nottingham Forest (1-2).
As Burnley boss Vincent Kompany pointed out after his side’s loss to Aston Villa on Sunday, the step up from the Championship to the Premier League is a big one.
“Learning comes at a price in the Premier League,” Kompany said.
“When you get punished you have to learn from it really quickly.
“You play against the good sides and everything happens a little bit faster.”
There is still a long, long way to go this season so it is far too early to write off any of these teams.
Luton are yet to play at their famous Kenilworth Road ground, Burnley’s new signings will take some time to gel while Sheffield United have proven they won’t roll over for anyone.
But the longer these teams go without a win, let alone a draw, the pressure could quickly become insurmountable.
Vincent Kompany has learned life as a Premier League manager is not easy. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LUCKY LIVERPOOL AS CAPTAIN EXPOSED AGAIN
Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the finest attacking fullbacks in the world, with his creativity on the ball delivering record assists in recent years. That’s why both Liverpool and England have experimented with playing him as a midfielder – with the Reds having him make underlapping runs to overload the midfield and get him on the ball as much as possible.
But his defensive deficiencies were badly exposed last year and he was given nightmares by Anthony Gordon against Newcastle. First he was given a yellow card for throwing away the ball after being shoved by Gordon – who appeared to have fouled him. Then he escaped a second yellow and a sending-off when he collected Gordon with a stray arm on a counter-attack.
Alexander-Arnold was also at fault for Newcastle’s opener, when he failed to control a Mohamed Salah pass and allowed Gordon to race through and score.
But the fact that the Liverpool fullback – and the team’s new captain – was even on the field caused significant debate.
Asked about the second Alexander-Arnold infringement, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said: “For me, yes. You don’t want to see a player sent off but, for me, that’s a clear red card.”
He added there were “two moments that are key in the game [Van Dijk’s red being the other] and the referee got the first one wrong. We’re not looking at that as the reason we didn’t win the game – that has to fall on our laps.”
Legendary former player Alan Shearer declared: “I think referee John Brookes had a really poor start to the game. The first 10 minutes, I think he got two big decisions wrong.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was perhaps a little fortunate to escape a red card against Newcastle. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I thought it was a clear foul from Anthony Gordon on Trent but he gets a yellow card for time wasting or chucking the ball away and rightly so, that was the right decision but that should have been a foul on Trent.
“And then a couple of minutes later, he’s on a yellow card and that should have been another yellow card. The only thing I can say for the referee is he probably thinks it’s too early in the game to be giving another yellow but that’s not right.”
And Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “The first booking is a needless one, we’re still getting used to the new rules. He just throws it away, which is now a standard booking. He feels hard done by and is pushed and throws the ball away.
“The second incident is too big for him [the referee]. He doesn’t want to make the decision.
“Alexander-Arnold is lucky. He steps out to the left and puts his arm across Gordon. He knows one more and he’s done. I’m convinced that if he wasn’t on a yellow card, he would get one for that.”
Liverpool had Alexis MacAllister’s red card against Bournemouth overturned. For the second week running they had a sending off – but they could have easily have seen Alexander-Arnold off the park as well.
Asked after the match if he thought he would be sent off, Alexander-Arnold said: “It’s always difficult. Especially when you’re away from home, they [decisions] can go against you. It was a bit of a mistake from me and it didn’t help with the crowd on top of me and the team.”
While his attacking ability is unquestionable, there’s no doubt that opposition teams will be putting the fullback firmly in their sights as a potential weakness to exploit.
Saudi Arabia’s billion-dollar transfer market assault on football’s traditional order has gone to another level, with Al Ittihad making a bombshell play for Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah.
Al Ittihad, one of four clubs owned by the nation’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), have already signed Liverpool’s Fabinho for £40m this off-season, as well as French stars Karim Benzema (the reigning Ballon d’Or winner for the world’s best player) and N’Golo Kante.
But 31-year-old Egyptian Salah has been labelled their top target, though a move was rejected by Liverpool and Salah earlier in the transfer window.
Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, took to social media earlier this month to write: “If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to LFC.”
Salah is the highest-paid player in Liverpool history on a reported deal worth around £350,000 per week, and has two seasons remaining on the deal (including this year).
But the prospect of an astronomical pay rise appears to have tempted the player.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said today that earlier this month Salah had “no intention to enter into any negotiations”, but Al Ittihad this week drastically improved their offer.
He added: “To raise their bid to the player… the financial package proposed from Al Ittihad to Mo Salah is now way bigger, almost double the offer from the beginning of August.”
“From what I’m hearing, there’s been direct contact from Salah’s side to Liverpool to discuss that,” he continued, but declared that the club’s response was firm – that Salah would not be allowed to depart.
The Athletic reported on Thursday that Liverpool have told Al-Ittihad that Salah is “not for sale”, with Sky Sports also stating the Reds would not sell regardless of how much they were offered.
According to multiple reports, the improved salary offer is around £65m or $A127.6m per year over three seasons, not including bonuses or endorsements that could take his earnings above even Cristiano Ronaldo. Other reports have claimed the figure is even higher.
A major complicating factor for Liverpool and other English clubs is that their transfer window closes on the 1st of September, while the Saudi Pro League’s transfer window remains open until the 20th – meaning Premier League sides could lose players and have no chance to replace them.
At the start of this month, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp complained about that fact.
“The influence of Saudi Arabia is massive at the moment,” Klopp said.
“Pretty much the worst thing is that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia is open three weeks longer. If I am right, I heard something like that, then at least in Europe that’s not helpful.
“Uefa or Fifa must find solutions for that. It’s already influential for us but we will have to learn to deal with it.”
