With the final international break before this winter’s World Cup underway, domestic football is on hiatus.
The pause comes less than a month after the drama of the transfer window ended, a window which saw Premier League clubs spend a record £1.9bllion. That dwarfed the rest of Europe as the English top-flight splashed the cash following some conservative years in the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
And it wasn’t only the usual suspects who spent big - although Chelsea and Manchester United were at the top of the pile when it came to expenditure. Elsewhere across the continent, Barcelona were back in the headlines, belying suggestions they were anywhere near a financial meltdown.
Mirror Football takes a look at the biggest 20 deals from the summer window and how they are getting on so far. Fees listed do not include potential add-ons.
20. Lucas Paqueta - Lyon to West Ham (£37m)
The deal to sign the talented midfielder could eventually eclipse £50m and he arrived in East London with a reputation that preceded him. Paqueta impressed with a short cameo on his debut, but has yet to show his best in a West Ham shirt.
David Moyes is still working out how best to deploy the former Lyon star and he will need to find a solution quickly, with the Hammers enduring a difficult start to the season.
19. Matheus Nunes - Sporting to Wolves (£40.5m)
Speaking of reputations, Nunes signed for Wolves after being labelled as ‘one of the best in the world’ by Pep Guardiola. The arrival of the Portuguese international was sanctioned to help Bruno Lage transition to a new formation and enable Wolves to create more midfield.
Nunes has one assist to his name, but the Molineux fanbase have yet to see the best of the 24-year-old. He would be forgiven for casting rueful glances at his former side as well, who sit atop a Champions League group in his absence.
18. Robert Lewandwoski - Bayern Munich to Barcelona (£40.5m)
Who would have guessed that signing one of the most prolific strikers in world football would work out fine? But even Lewandwski would have taken 11 goals from his first eight competitive matches for the club.
He already has eight goals in La Liga, adding to another European hat-trick. Barca will have to be at their best to usurp Real Madrid, but with Lewandowski’s goals they may have a chance.
17. Kalvin Phillips - Leeds to Man City (£44m)
The curious case of Kalvin Phillips. Signed to be the fulcrum of City’s midfield, the England international has played just 14 minutes. Now facing a spell on the sidelines, with surgery on his shoulder set to keep him out of action for a number of weeks.
Even when fit, it is difficult to see him start over the metronomic Rodri. Phillips has plenty of time to become a fixture at The Etihad - what he doesn’t have is time to do that before the World Cup starts next month.
16. Cristian Romero - Atalanta to Tottenham (£45m)
The decision to sign the man affectionately known as ‘Cuti’ was as close to a no-brainer as it comes. Having already proven he was the best defender in Serie A, he quickly established himself as one of the top in the Premier League.
At just 24, the Argentine could be the backbone of Spurs for years to come. He has suffered some injury issues in the early weeks of the season, but that hasn’t hampered his side’s progress, who are unbeaten in the league going into this international break.
15. Jules Kounde - Sevilla to Barcelona (£45m)
Kounde was one of a number of players involved in a transfer tug of war between Barcelona and Chelsea. And like his new team-mate Raphinha, he opted for the move to the Camp Nou.
Despite signing before the season got underway, the Frenchman sat out the first two games as he wasn’t registered in time. That was fixed at the end of August and he’s played all but one game since. In that time, the Blaugrana are yet to concede in LaLiga and he has only lost only once in all competitions.
14. Gabriel Jesus - Man City to Arsenal (£45m)
If the signing of the summer was given out at the end of September, few would argue if Gabriel Jesus made the shortlist. Signed to replace the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, Jesus has instantly provided the kind of focal point the Gunners have lacked for years.
His four goals and three assists are an impressive return, but his performances have arguably been even better than those numbers show.
13. Lisandro Martinez - Ajax to Man Utd (£46.8m)
Few summer signings have been on the journey Lisandro Martinez has been on since his move at the end of July. After two games and two United defeats, the Argentine was deemed too small to ever thrive as a central defender in the Premier League.
Pundits were queuing up to take pot shots at the former Ajax centre-back, failing to take into account any kind of acclimation period. However, since being paired with Rapahel Varane, Martinez already has some eating humble pie and fans believing they have a long-term option for Erik ten Hag at the heart of his defence.
12. Raheem Sterling - Man City to Chelsea (£47.5m)
Sterling may have only been at Stamford Bridge a matter of weeks, but the England international has already become accustomed with a Chelsea tradition - swapping managers. Under Thomas Tuchel, Sterling had predominantly been used as a central striker, scoring three times in his first six Premier League games for his new club.
But with Graham Potter in the dugout and Aubameyang playing centrally, Sterling was back out on the wing vs Red Bull Salzburg. He found the net in Potter’s first game in charge and will continue to play a vital role in yet another new blue era.
11. Richarlison - Everton to Tottenham (£52m)
With Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski already in situ, some eyebrows were raised when Spurs shelled out what could become £60m for Richarlison. But after impressing from the bench, the Brazilian has now started the last four, scoring three in the process.
His double against Marseille proved he was Champions League quality, while his ball-juggling antics showed he was still elite at winding up opponents and pundits alike.
10. Raphinha - Leeds to Barcelona (£55m)
Another player that picked Catalonia over West London and Barca over Chelsea. Raphinha has had somewhat of a slow start following his move from Leeds and has just two goal contributions.
Xavi has few concerns however: "He’s dynamic, he doesn’t just help us in attack, defensively he’s very intense, he understands how to apply the press. He’s a fantastic football player and I have a lot of confidence in him."
9. Marc Cucurella - Brighton to Chelsea (£55m)
Just 12 months after not signing him for around £15m, Chelsea bosses decided to spend £40m more to get him this time around. The Spaniard has quickly shown he is up to the standards required at the Bridge, despite the struggles around him.
Cucurella has also shown he has a handy knack of creating goals, laying on two for his new teammates already. Ironically, weeks after leaving Potter, the pair have been reunited and if anyone knows how to get the best out of the versatile full-back, it’s him.
8. Alexander Isak - Real Sociedad to Newcastle (£58m)
“Isak is not the finished article. There are things he can improve on, and I’m sure he will,” Newcastle legend Alan Shearer said shortly after his record-smashing transfer. But the early signs have tantalisingly suggested that improvement could be a quicker process than anticipated.
Making his debut at Anfield, the Swede instantly made an impact, scoring once and seeing a second cruelly ruled out by VAR. He also showed he has no issues with confidence, converting from the spot against Bournemouth.
7. Matthijs de Ligt - Juventus to Bayern Munich (£60m)
De Ligt’s move to Bavaria could reach close to £80m, but it feels unlikely that will ever look too much considering the calibre of player we are talking about. Bayern haven’t got off to the best start in the Bundesliga, but have a 100 per cent record in Europe. And the Dutchman has admitted the chance of Champions League glory was key to his desire to leave.
“Juve are a great team, but coming here was another step up for me, because Bayern have the ambition to win the Champions League. I didn’t get the sense of that at Juve.”
Oof.
6. Casemiro - Real Madrid to Man Utd (£60m)
Who had ‘Scott McTominay keeping Casemiro out of a starting XI’ on their transfer window bingo card? Anyone? While the Brazilian is having to bide his time at Old Trafford, he feels like a signing that can’t really go too wrong.
When he is called upon - and he will be - Casemiro is sure to step up to the bill and provide the Red Devils with the kind of security blanket they’ve needed for nearly a decade.
5. Erling Haaland - Borussia Dortmund to Man City (£63m)
Has a transfer ever been so annoyingly inevitable? City had almost no glaring weakness anyway, but adding Haaland makes them almost unbeatable.
The question marks over whether he would adapt now look as silly as United not breaking the bank to get him when they had the chance. In seven Premier League games…11 goals. There’s a chance every record he can break will be broken by the time next May rolls around.
4. Darwin Nunez - Benfica to Liverpool (£64.2m)
While Haaland has propelled City to new heights, Nunez has struggled to have the same immediate impact with their title rivals.In a deal which could become a club-record one, Nunez is expected to contribute hugely.
And he got off to a good start, outshining Haaland in the Community Shield, before scoring in the Premier League opener. However, the ridiculous red card vs Crystal Palace has stunted his progress and means he hasn’t found the net since the start of August.
3. Aurelien Tchouameni - Monaco to Real Madrid (£70m)
Despite being just 22, Tchouameni already looks like a veteran presence in the Madrid midfield. Los Blancos spent big to land the Frenchman, but if all goes to plan he will be a key component in their side for the next decade.
In La Liga, he has started all but one game, with the champions of Europe enjoying a perfect start to the season. With 30-year-old Casemiro leaving this summer, Tchouameni has slotted straight in and exudes the calmness his predecessor had for so many years.
2. Wesley Fofana - Leicester City to Chelsea (£70m)
Having skipped training sessions to force a move away from the King Power, it should have perhaps been expected he would take some time to get up to speed. And that has proven to be the case, following a couple of up-and-down showings for his new side.
Fofana was picked out following defeat to Dinamo Zagreb, after he was easily beaten by Mislav Orsic on the way to scoring the winner. Very early days for Fofana however, who has already displayed his Premier League credentials.
1. Antony - Ajax to Manchester United (£85m)
Thanks to the extraordinary fee Ajax held out for, Antony will have to go a fair way to proving he was value for money. But he made himself an instant hero of the Stretford End, scoring on his debut in the win over Arsenal.
He has since played twice in the Europa League without finding the net, but with the schedule disrupted in recent weeks, he has yet to hit top speed.
