Predicting Final Premier League 2017/18 Table After Transfer Deadline
Where will your team finish? Look away Arsenal fans...
The cheques have been signed, the shirts have been printed, and the cringeworthy social media unveilings have been posted; ladies and gentleman the transfer window has shut.
English Premier League clubs took spending to new, ludicrous, eye-rolling heights this summer. Over a half a billion pounds was splashed out on the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Kyle Walker, and Davide Zappacosta - a name so good it is worth £20m alone.
Manchester United’s £75m purchase of Romelu Lukaku was the biggest single transaction of the window by a Premier League club. Manchester City parted with the most cash - £221m in total on the likes of Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, and goalkeeper Ederson.
Newly-promoted Huddersfield Town were the busiest buyers, signing no fewer than 13 players, while Arsenal were the quietest, bringing in only two new faces. And every Gunners fan in the world is happy about that and there is nothing more to say on the matter.
The international break means that there is time for the dust to settle before these newly-formed squads focus on attacking the season ahead. Who were the winners and losers in the transfer market, and what impact has it had on how the final Premier League table may look?
20. Brighton & Hove Albion
Chris Hughton has gambled on a number of cheaper, foreign players in a bid for top-flight safety. Brighton’s signings have largely been plucked from Belgium, Czech Republic, Portugal and the Netherlands; not even the major European leagues.
Unlike Huddersfield, who have followed a similar recruitment pattern under David Wagner, Brighton have started slowly and only have one point on the board at the international break. It is far too early to write them off, but the Seagulls look the poorest equipped of the newly-promoted outfits to make the grade.
It is difficult to see them winning enough games. One of Hughton’s mistakes in his last Premier League managerial stint with Norwich City was that he was too cautious. Already it looks as though he has reverted to that mantra. Draws won’t always be enough for Brighton and they lack the firepower to stay up.