EPL transfer window slayers

Our inaugural article ushers in the new premiership season and has us on the edge of our seats as always. We start by looking at the transfer window winners and losers amongst the recently coined “Top 6” clubs in the EPL.

•   Arsenal :

1. Players joined – Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac.
2.  Analysis – Lacazette is a very good buy who is proven goal scorer in europe and Ligue 1, he should fit in very well with Wenger’s free flowing style. Kolasinac should provide some needed steel, versatility, & aerial strength in the defence especially if Arsene sticks to the 3-4-3 formation. He can fill the minor defensive weakness on the left side.
3. Ranking – Joint 1st (This position can be affected by the departure of Sanchez as this current team have no obvious weakness and have good depth).

•   Spurs

1.  Players joined – None
2. Ranking – Joint 1st (Everyone stayed on from last season apart from Walker who departed to City and is going to be replaced by Trippier, they don’t have any obvious weakness but might require an extra striker to rotate with Kane if Jansen still underperforms. They are stronlgy linked with Ross Barkley).

•   Chelsea :

1. Players joined – Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Alvaro Morata.
2. Analysis – Caballero is a like replacement for Begovic;  Rudiger can slot in to the right side of the back & fill the height weakness of azpilicueta or rotate with the center backs; Bakayoko will be replacing Matic and brings a better all round ability and athleticism to the role which means Kante can be rotated if needed;  Morata is a good striker and should have no problems scoring once he hits the ground running.
3. Ranking – Joint 2nd ( The team requires depth in the right wing back and wide forward position due to the increased no of games which the UCL will bring).

•   Man City:

1.   Players joined – Bernardo Silva, Ederson Moraes, Douglas Luiz, Kyle Walker, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy.
2. Analysis – Moraes looks like a decent enough keeper; Silva with 11 goals and 12 assists for Monaco  should be a good replacement for an aging Yaya; Luiz is one for the future; Walker, Danilo, & Mendy were brought in specifically for Pep’s reliance on his full backs to play centrally and also run down the wings to create the numerical offensive advantage he craves a lot.
3. Ranking – Joint 2nd ( Their overeliance on Kompany has plagued them for too many seasons, without him the other center backs look very ordinary and error prone. They might need some reinforcements in that department).

•  Liverpool:

1.  Players joined – Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke, Andy Robertson.
2. Analysis – Salah should increase their wing play width & creativity and takes off pressure from Mane, Solanke might be the surprise bargain of the season as he should help rotate with Firmino & Origi at the striking position, Robertson is a great addition as he provides that natural left footed defending which Liverpool missed so much last season and he has good stats to back him up as he created 19 goalscoring chances for Hull last season & made no errors that led to a shot on goal.
3. Ranking – Joint 3rd (They badly need a good CB to form a partnership with Lovren or preferably Matip. They also require strengthening in the strikers role due to the share no of games that comes with the UCL).

•  Man Utd

1.  Players joined – Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku
2. Analysis – Lindelof can form a good partnership with Bailly since the other center-backs are not very reliable or injured. With Lukaku comes goals and speed to run in behind defenses for the counter-attacking play Jose favors a lot, he should link up well with Pogba.
3. Ranking –  Joint 3rd ( United needs to get a solid holding MF and left back as those are obvious weak spots that requires strengthening).

•  Notable mention – Everton and West Ham have done very good transfer business with some significant additions

By Ayo Laiye