The transfer window has slammed shut last night, and once again a record amount of money was splashed out by Premier League clubs. Which clubs did the best business, and who failed to land their key targets? Below is a club by club guide to the ke ins, outs and those deals that didn’t quite get over the line…
ARSENAL
The Gunners went into the market boasting of their £70m war chest, and linked with a plethora of big name signings, but once again waited until the last minute to conduct their best bit of business.
However, the capture of Mezut Ozil, which shattered the clubs previously stringent financial model, was arguably the deal of deadline day, if not the whole window, while the loan signing of Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano gives much needed competition to Polish duo Wojciech Sczcesney and Lukas Fabianski.
The club also re-signed Mathieu Flamini, and brought in France U20 striker Yaya Sanogo though they may live to regret not strengthening in defence, with a protracted move for Swansea City captain Ashley Williams not materialising.
Manager Arsene Wenger has also substantially trimmed his squad by moving on a number of fringe players, including Andriy Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh, Denilson, Gervinho and Andre Santos.
ASTON VILLA
The Villains bought seven new players in this summer, thought their most crucial deal of the summer was undoubtedly Christian Benteke’s signing of a new contract.
The Belgium international had handed in a formal transfer request, and looked set for a move away from Villa Park before making a dramatic U-turn on his decision and committing himself to the club until 2017.
The new arrivals have an average age of just 21, and continue manager Paul Lambert’s policy of buying young, promising talent.
The most expensive deal came on deadline day, with the club laying out £5m for Czech Republic striker Libor Kozak, while the other six player’s services were secured back in June.
Stephen Ireland and Darren Bent were the highest profile departures, with the pair moving on season-long loans to Stoke City and Fulham respectively while Richard Dunne moved on a free transfer to Queens Park Rangers.
CARDIFF CITY
Cardiff were one of a number of clubs to not only break their transfer record, but do so on multiple occasions this summer
The club have splashed out over £30m since gaining promotion to the top flight for the first time in over fifty years – three biggest deals being striker Andreas Cornelius from Copenhagen, defender Steven Caulker from Tottenham Hotspur and defensive midfielder Gary Medel from Sevilla.
They also brought in striker Peter Odemwinge from West Bromwich Albion on deadline day, as well as securing deals for defensive trio John Brayford, Maximiliano Amondarain and Kevin Theophile-Catherine, and goalkeeper Simon Moore.
The most notable departure from the Cardiff City Stadium is that of striker Heidar Helguson, who called time on his twenty-year career at the end of his one and only season with the club, in which he was their top scorer on route to winning the Championship.
CHELSEA
Interestingly, neither of the two biggest stories to come out of Stamford Bridge this summer regards new arrivals within the playing staff.
The return of manager Jose Mourinho was unquestionably the Blues signing of the summer, while their inability to secure a deal for England international Wayne Rooney filled nearly as many column inches.
They have however spent almost £70m on new players, with almost half of that going on Anzhi Makhachkala winger Willian, while they raided the same club for striker Samuel Eto’o, who signed a lucrative, one-year deal with the club but didn’t command a transfer fee.
Veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was another arrival on a free and will provide cover for Petr Cech, while Germany forward Andre Schurrle cost close to £20m.
No less than 23 players have left the club on temporary deals, the most notable being striker Romelu Lukaku, who joined Everton for the remainder of the season yesterday.
CRYSTAL PALACE
The Eagles have completely overhauled the squad that won them promotion to the Premier League against all odds, with manager Ian Holloway making fifteen new signings, five of which joining on deadline day.
The club broke their transfer record to bring in striker Dwight Gayle, who scored in the victory over Sunderland at the weekend.
Midfielders Adlene Guediora and Barry Bannan, defenders Jack Hunt and Adrian Mariappa and striker Cameron Jerome (loan) put pen to paper yesterday, while of the other recent arrivals, Jason Puncheon (loan) and Marouane Chamakh both bring top flight experience.
Eight players have left the club, though it is the departure of Wilfred Zaha that has been the toughest for Palace fans to take.
The England international spent the second half of last season back on loan at Selhurst Park, having become Sir Alex Ferguson’s last ever signing as Manchester United manager back in January.
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