Trevor Steven: Liverpool are winning the transfer window so far, plus my verdict on Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal | City A.M.
With the window closing in just two weeks’ time, the most surprising thing about this summer’s Premier League transfer activity is just how little business has been done so far.
Of the top six teams to have traded, however, Liverpool stand out as having made the strongest signings by a distance.
Alisson, whose £67m move from Roma to Anfield has made him the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, looks the best acquisition of the window so far in terms of the difference he will make to his new team.
Read more: West Ham showing ambition ahead of Premier League season
Goalkeeper has been a problem position for Liverpool for a while and the man preferred by his national team to Ederson – himself a game-changer for Manchester City last season – promises to fix that issue.
Xherdan Shaqiri, a £12m signing from relegated Stoke, may be a bit of a journeyman but is tried and tested in the division and is a good deal at that price.
Take into account midfielders Naby Keita, a £53m arrival from RB Leipzig, and Fabinho, who cost £44m from Monaco, and Liverpool have played a really strong hand.
The Champions League finalists have spent big and early in the close season to build on the progress of the last two years. In short, they have laid down the gauntlet.
Tottenham inactivity a concern
At the other end of the spectrum, it’s hard to believe that Tottenham haven’t signed a single player yet and it makes me wonder whether we are seeing the impact of their stadium project.
The cost has gone up dramatically since planning for their new home started and, now it is about to open, it could be having an effect on their budget, as Arsenal’s relocation did.
Spurs still look over-reliant on Harry Kane for goals (Source: Getty)
My concern for Spurs is goals: Harry Kane will get injured at some point and if the burden rests squarely on him, Dele Alli and Heung-Min Son then things could go wrong very quickly.
By not signing anyone, club chiefs are saying they the believe players who didn’t win anything last year are going to do so this year. Yet without changes they will only be more predictable to opponents.
Chelsea light up front
Chelsea’s position looks precarious, with uncertainty around the futures of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard.
I like their solitary signing so far, Jorginho, who has followed new manager Maurizio Sarri to west London from Napoli.
He is a really gifted footballer who has pace, scores goals and can play in front of N’Golo Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko in midfield.
Diego Costa’s departure has left Olivier Giroud with big shoes to fill (Source: Getty)
The worry is up front, where they have lacked a focal point since Diego Costa’s departure last year.
Olivier Giroud has done well but are they going to win the league with him?
Costa’s replacement Alvaro Morata hasn’t worked out yet and, while he should improve in his second season, I still think they need a prolific marksman.
Mahrez a good fit for Man City
By far the best team last year and still a young squad, Manchester City’s task is to tweak it enough to retain the title without changing the winning formula too much.
The £60m signing of Riyad Mahrez from Leicester therefore makes sense. He has shown how effective he can be; the challenge for him is now to be more consistent.
Riyad Mahrez is the sole addition to Man City’s title-winning side (Source: Getty)
Youthful talents such as Phil Foden are waiting for a first-team chance.
If he doesn’t get more games this season then England have a bit of a problem, but perhaps that’s a factor in City’s lack of activity.
Having lost out to Chelsea in the hunt for Jorginho and with Fernandinho now 33, if Pep Guardiola’s team are light anywhere it’s probably in central midfield.
United still seeking identity
Across Manchester, I’d imagine United fans were perturbed to hear Jose Mourinho say this week that they are “not a team” yet.
It adds to the sense they are grasping around, unsure of their direction.
Brazil midfielder Fred, who has joined from Shakhtar Donetsk for £52m, is a really good, exciting player, although he has no Premier League experience so may need time to settle.
Jose Mourinho is yet to give United a clear direction (Source: Getty)
Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld has been a target and, as a non-nonsense player who can also pass, would be a good signing.
His arrival would probably spell the end for either Phil Jones or Chris Smalling.
United’s biggest issue, however, is their identity and how they are going to play, because they surely can’t repeat the forgettable displays of last season.
Emery the main attraction at Arsenal
Of Arsenal’s collection of signings, probably only Switzerland captain Stephan Lichsteiner will be familiar to most fans.
He joins defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, goalkeeper Bernd Leno and midfielder Lucas Torreira – a fairly random bunch – in joining the Gunners.
Unai Emery replacing Arsene Wenger is the most significant change at Arsenal (Source: Getty)
This summer at Arsenal it isn’t so much about the new players as the new manager.
Nobody knows exactly what to expect from Unai Emery in north London but I think he’s the right man for the job.