The big six in the Premier League have their spending scrutinised in every transfer window, with every player needing to be a success at the top level instantly, especially with the money spent on them.
We’ve seen the likes of Darwin Nunez join Liverpool this season, and for all his entertainment, he is partial to missing a plethora of sitters. The Uruguayan really is a frustrating watch at Anfield.
But then you have the undeniable unbelievably good transfers such as Erling Haaland’s to Manchester City. From the best to the worst, you can waste huge sums of money if the transfer isn’t the right one, just look at Chelsea resigning Romelu Lukaku. The Athletic have ranked every £20 million+ signing at the big six since the summer of 2019, and the results are questionable.
Liverpool’s transfers ranked
Since 2019, there have been no major flops in the transfer market for Jurgen Klopp’s men who continue to impress with their efficient, no nonsense approach to the transfer market. Thiago, Ibrahima Konate, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have all been ranked as hits, and given their success and impressive individual performances, it’s hard to argue against that.
The same can’t be said for Darwin Nunez, who has been hit with the ‘jury’s out’ ranking after his chaotic start to his Anfield career. Cody Gakpo is the latest man on the list after The Reds mugged Manchester United off to hijack their deal. He’s a Red as of tomorrow, so he can’t be judged yet, although it looks like unreal business.
Arsenal’s transfers ranked
Out of 11 incomings, only two aren’t hits for Arsenal, with big money signing Nicolas Pepe branded a miss by The Athletic. The fact he’s already left the club tells us everything we need to know about his time in the capital. The jury is still out for Fabio Vieira, but after that it is green after green for The Gunners.
Gabriel, Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney, William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Ben White are all hits according to the publication. Whilst some may be debateable at this stage compared to players at other clubs, the table topping Gunners have been on another planter this season compared to previous years, so it’s no surprise the players are ranked like they are.
Tottenham Hotspur’s transfers ranked
The other side of North London paints a very different picture. Understandably, Bryan Gil, Ryan Sessengon, Emerson Royal, Steven Berwijn, Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele have all been branded as a miss, with all struggling to make any impact in London. Yves Bissouma received the jury’s out rating, but is slipping more towards the miss section rather than hit.
Spurs have just the two hits in the time frame, but one is incredibly questionable. Let’s start with Cristian Romero. The World Cup winner is rightly deemed a hit for Antonio Conte’s side, but putting Richarlison in the same bracket after his £60 million move seems incredibly premature.
Chelsea’s transfers ranked
Staying in the capital, it’s a much more mixed bag at Stamford Bridge. So let’s kick off with the misses, with all three players easily identifiable given their shortcomings. Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku have all suffered for The Blues, so seeing them in this pile is no surprise. After a steady start to the season, new signings Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana still have the jury out on them.
There’s just the three hits for Chelsea since 2019, with Edouard Mendy and Ben Chilwell celebrated for their success, but possibly the best of them all is Kai Havertz as the young German fired them to the Champions League title in 2021.
Manchester United’s transfers ranked
Another list with plenty of controversial takes. Understandably though, we kick off with Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the miss category, but a high profile name is surely missing? Harry Maguire, who somehow has been deemed a hit, we’ve no idea how but he has! Real Madrid duo Casemiro and Raphael Varane are deemed hits too, along with Bruno Fernandes and new fan favourite Lisandro Martinez.
Jadon Sancho has been fortunate to make the jury’s out list after a woeful start to life back in sunny Manchester, with Antony also joining him. Obscenely expensive youngster Amad Diallo has been given the benefit of the doubt after his upturn in form on loan at Sunderland.
Manchester City’s transfers ranked
What better place to finish than the Premier League champions? They’ve had just the one miss, and no, it’s not Jack Grealish. Instead, Ferran Torres takes up a lonely spot in that category all on his own. Grealish has somehow been deemed in the ‘jury’s out’ section with fellow disappointment Kalvin Philips.
It all turns to green for the Citizens from there as Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo, Rodri and Ruben Dias are all big hits, but the biggest of them all simply has to be the main man himself, Erling Haaland. The big Norwegian has set the Premier League alight this season, breaking record after record.
Do you agree with these rankings? We’re sure there’s plenty you’d change, as would we!
