The British football transfer window shut last Friday. Premier League teams will not be able to add players again until January. There is no way of telling how a football transfer will work out, but that shouldn’t discourage people from making up awards to give to players and clubs.
Least Favorite Transfer: Jadon Sancho to Chelsea
It’s hard to fathom that Jadon Sancho’s solution to get more game time was to go to a club with 1,000 wingers. Sancho is a brilliant player, there is no arguing that. He was integral in helping Borussia Dortmund reach the Champions League Final. However, this was the wrong move.
Another problem I have with the Sancho transfer is more about European football’s state than Sancho himself. High-profile players at big clubs who don’t play can only choose a few clubs to go to. Their choices are limited due to the fact many clubs can’t pay those wages AND a transfer fee.
Sancho will struggle to start in Chelsea’s front three due to his lack of versatility. He doesn’t play through the middle and is limited to the two wing positions.
Favorite Transfer: Federico Chiesa to Liverpool
A player of Chiesa’s quality should not be available for 10 million pounds. Yet, due to a contract running down, injuries, and poor play over the last couple of years here we are.
When evaluating a transfer it’s good to look at what system the player is coming from, and what system they’re entering. At Juventus, where Chiesa was, they scored 54 goals, one less than 10th place Napoli. By contrast, Liverpool scored 86 goals last season in the same amount of games.
At Feyenoord, Arne Slot, the new Liverpool manager, got his side to score 92 goals in 34 games.
Chiesa is going into a more attacking side, with less pressure now he’s not a starter and should flourish. He was special during the 2020 Euros for Italy. If he can get back to terrorizing defenders with his pace, size, and rocket for a shot, Liverpool may find the bargain of the century.
With questions over Mo Salah’s future, this transfer could look even more like a genius move in a year.
Underrated Transfer: Iliman Ndiaye to Everton
After losing their first three games, it would seem odd to put an Everton player anywhere near a positive award. However, Ndiaye came off when Everton was 2-0 up to Bournemouth on Saturday. Everton lost 2-3.
Ndiaye gives Everton something they’ve lacked since the departure of James Rodriguez, a fancy dribbling playmaker who unlocks a defense. Ndiaye looked great in preseason, but since Sean Dyche is Sean Dyche, he didn’t see the pitch much during the first two games.
If Ndiaye can contribute to double-digit goals or assists this season then Everton will stay in the Premier League. That is certainly worth a lot more than the 17 million pounds they paid for him.
Overrated Transfer: Leny Yoro to Manchester United
This hurt to write down. I’m a huge fan of Leny Yoro. Any player who can play center-back as a teenager should be applauded. However, that doesn’t mean after only 46 appearances for French club Lille you can drop said player into the pressure cooker of Manchester United.
Yoro got injured in his preseason debut at SoFi in Los Angeles. But I would’ve thought this move was overrated regardless. Yoro should’ve stayed in France or made a move to Germany. The Premier League will prove to be too physical, and Manchester United is somewhat of a tire fire.
I believe Yoro will be a great player eventually for Manchester United. However, after finishing eighth in the Premier League last season, the solution to make it into the top four wasn’t to sign an 18-year-old center-back for 50 million pounds.
Please name me the last great 18-year-old or 19-year-old center-back in the Premier League.
Team That Had The Worse Transfer WIndow: Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham missed out on Champions League qualification by two points last season. They proceeded to spend 120 million pounds this summer. Over half of that was spent on teenagers.
As mentioned earlier, “I don’t trust like,” when it comes to giving teens real minutes in Premier League games. I’m sure Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert, and Lucas Bergvall will have successful careers, but are they enough for Tottenham to push on THIS season? These players were an investment for the future, which is good for the long term. However, if Tottenham doesn’t make the Champions League places this year, everyone’s favorite Australian manager Ange Postecoglu will lose his job.
Their big signing was Dominick Solanke, and he has all the red flags I hate for a new signing. First, he is coming from a superior manager in Andoni Iroala, who will be the manager of Manchester City when Pep leaves (mark my words). Second, Solanke is coming off a career year in which the whole attack was built around him. This won’t be the case at Spurs. Lastly, he’s their only real option at striker, so if isn’t firing, Spurs fans will start to turn on him.
The teams that ranked in the top three in the Premier League for minutes given to teenagers finished 8th, 11th, and 19th. Tottenham needed to sign some dogs in the midfield instead they bought a bunch of puppies.
Best Transfer Window: West Ham United
I hate signing teenagers and acting like it won’t take them two to three years to adjust to the Premier League. West Ham’s two most expensive signings were 27 and 31. They bought the best player from the Championship (second division) Crysencio Summerville, which I think is a great strategy.
They brought Jean Clair-Tobido in on loan who was linked previously to Manchester United. He will likely partner Max Kilman at centerback who has spent the last three seasons in the Premier League with Wolves.
The one teenager they spent real money on was Brazilian wonder-kid Luis Guilhmere, who won’t be expected to play right away.
West Ham signed Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bisaka, who has made 166 Premier League starts. Plus Carlos Soler (loan) and Guido Rodriguez (free) were brought in to help bolster the midfield.
West Ham added proven experience and a dash of youth for the future. The team got better and didn’t lose anyone important. The Hammers signed a new manager, Julian Lopetegui who was wanted by AC Milan, and they backed him in his first window.
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Featured Image: Manchester United/Getty Images
