Who won the transfer window? Watch out Arsenal, it’s Man City 

BIG SPENDERS: Manchester City have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

Manchester City’s statement signing of Enzo Fernandez for a record-equalling 146m Euros on transfer deadline day completed a remarkable turnaround at the Etihad which has turned Enzo Maresca’s side back into title contenders just weeks after they had been written off.

Every summer there is a discussion around ‘who won the window’ and few were tipping City for that particular trophy, especially when Arsenal landed Bruno Guimaraes, 

Chelsea paid 136m Euros for Morgan Rogers and Tottenham went on a remarkable spending spree that included 117m Euros on Sandro Tonali.

Manchester United, too, started well by stealing Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa , Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Carlos Baleba from Brighton. But their silence on deadline day dampened enthusiasm and allowed their noisy neighbours to once again make the headlines.

That’s a big turnaround because at one stage City appeared to be in freefall after Pep Guardiola’s announcement that he would be leaving after 10 seasons and 20 trophies on the east side of Manchester.

The bellow of negativity grew even louder when Pep was followed by a string of high-profile sales; players who had been the very heartbeat of a trophy-laden team.

Rodri, John Stones and Bernardo Silva led the list but Savio, Omar Marmoush, Tijjani Reijnders, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji also snuck through the open door (and that isn’t even the full list).

Then there was a miserable performance in the Community Shield as they were comprehensively beaten by champions Arsenal.

So, how has new manager Maresca turned things around? By spending big of course - in true City style.

Elliot Anderson was first to arrive from Nottingham Forest for 135m Euros before Ayyoub Bouaddi joined from Lille for 100m, leaving Fernandez as the last big target on deadline day.

Having failed to heed a warning from Chelsea, who set an early deadline for prospective buyers for the controversial Argentine, they needed a last-minute swoop (and 6m Euros more than the original asking price) to get their man before also adding winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for 76m Euros.

Manchester City have announced the signing of forward Iliman Ndiaye on a five-year deal. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Fernandez’s fee matched the British transfer record fee paid by Liverpool for Alexander Isak on deadline day last season.

That one didn’t work out, of course (or hasn’t done so far) but Fernandez, despite his controversial behaviour for club and country, comes with fewer risks in the centre of a new-look midfield that looks as good as anything in the Premier League.

There will be plenty of people who, rightly, suggest Arsenal remain title favourites, with Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis joining a tight squad that has been together for years. 

But a failure to capture Julian Alvarez on deadline day as he was convinced to stay at Atletico Madrid, having previously missed out on Real’s Vinicius Junior, meant they weren’t quite champions of the window.

Who has done clever business?

Chelsea should take this title after doing business that has transformed their team from one that finished 10th last season to potential title contenders if they can somehow sort out their leaky defence.

The Blues sold big and bought big, which reduced their overall spend.

As well as Fernandez, departures included Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa and Liam Delap to Nottingham Forest as well as Tyrique George to Everton and Axel Disasi to Palace. They did turn down a loan bid from Liverpool for Malo Gusto as the deadline approached.

With that money they brought in Emiliano Martinez, Maxence Lacroix, Geovany Quenda, Marco Palestra and Danny Welbeck, amongst others, to build a new-look squad that feels stronger for it.

They also pounced for Lamine Camara from Monaco for 47m Euros late on deadline day but the deal fell through after Monaco pulled out of the deal at the last hour.

Critics suggest the club’s recruitment policy has once again been scattergun, but there’s no doubt that Rogers and Martinez will make a significant difference for new manager Xabi Alonso.

Rogers has started strongly and played an important role in revitalising the form of his good friend Cole Palmer, who begged him to join from Villa Park, whilst Martinez – a World Cup winner and world-class goalkeeper – should be a major upgrade on the hapless Robert Sanchez.

Not all transfer success is owned by teams in the top six, of course. Brentford’s capture of eye-catching central midfielder Mamadou Sangare has potential to become one of the success stories of the season if he continues his early form – and Callum Wilson could be a handy addition, too, on a free from West Ham.

Meanwhile, Hull and Ipswich have brought in almost an entire team each – but still started the season with victories.

Who has come up just short?

Liverpool’s window reached a crescendo with the 143m Euro capture of winger Bradley Barcola from PSG, ready to fill the shoes of the departed Mo Salah. But the Reds were quiet on deadline day and there remain doubts over whether they have done enough to be serious title challengers under new manager Adoni Iraola.

Who has sold too many?

That has to be Aston Villa who have ripped the entire heart out of their team by selling Rogers, Martinez, Konsa, Tielemans, Ollie Watkins and Donyell Malen. There have been replacements, notably Jackson, Joao Gomes, Zion Suzuki and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, but it feels like a rebuild just at the wrong time.

Who has taken a gamble?

Tottenham, having finished 17th last season, have gone large by throwing money at the situation for manager Robert De Zerbi (over 350m Euros). So, the big question is: will it work?

Their deadline day capture of winger Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea is an interesting one having spent far more on the likes of Tonali, Marmoush, Savio, Mateus Fernandes, from West Ham, Jon Paul van Hecke from Brighton and Andrew Robertson from Liverpool. But a failure to sign a striker on deadline day, losing out to City for Ndiaye, is potentially significant following a poor start to the season that has dampened expectations.

Who has left too much money in their pockets?

Crystal Palace fans must be concerned. They went into the window having spent almost nothing having sold Daniel Munoz to Forest and Lacroix to Chelsea. The only real money spent was 12m Euros on Zavier Gozo from Real Salt Lake, plus swapping Brennan Johnson for Everton’s Dwight McNeil. Not enough for a club that has won the FA Cup, Community Shield and UEFA Conference over the last two years.