In the Mixer: Experts pick their transfer window winners

In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with seven experts in football betting and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.

There were some huge deals that took place during the summer transfer window.  Manchester United managed to secure the return of Cristiano Ronaldo 12 years after he first departed Old Trafford for Real Madrid.  Champions Manchester City made Jack Grealish the most expensive Englishman ever but missed out on Harry Kane, while Chelsea brought in Romelu Lukaku for a second stint at Stamford Bridge after his Scudetto winning exploits with Inter Milan.

Getting the right deals over the line can make a campaign, while getting them wrong can break one, and we’ve asked our experts which Premier League clubs they think did the best business over the summer.

Chelsea’s Lukaku deal stands out as a key capture

Joe Casey

Sports Journalist at Racing Post

Chelsea did so much transfer business last summer that they only needed to add a few pieces this time around, which they did in Romelu Lukaku and Saul Niguez. 

Lukaku provides the focal point that they were missing last season and Saul bolsters their already considerable midfield options.

At the other end of the table, Premier League new boys Brentford have quietly had a good window. They have once again boxed clever with a limited budget, adding players such as Kristoffer Ajer, Yoane WIssa and Frank Onyeka that fit their system well and have significant potential. 

James Milton

Sports Journalist at Racing Post

Chelsea should be significantly improved by the finishing ability and all-round play of Romelu Lukaku while Saul Niguez will add some craft to a powerful Blues midfield.

At the other end of the table, Norwich appear to have spent their Emi Buendia windfall shrewdly, making some intriguing European signings and bringing in exciting loanees Billy Gilmour and Brandon Williams.

And, after much drama, Tottenham can be content with their summer’s work, having kept Harry Kane, signed dynamic Sevilla winger Bryan Gil, and bolstered their defence with Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal from Atalanta and Barcelona. 

Ian Wilkerson

Sports Journalist at Racing Post

Tottenham have made some interesting additions but this is the onset of a rebuild, so it will take time to see if this has been a landmark window and while Aston Villa appear to have reinvested their Jack Grealish windfall wisely, there only seems a limited scope for improvement.

To have the best transfer window, you need to bring in players who are going to make the big difference and the team who appear to have done that are Chelsea.

Romelu Lukaku looks an excellent signing. Thomas Tuchel’s side were title contenders anyway, but the addition of the Belgian striker undoubtedly increases their chances of toppling Manchester City in the table, just as they did in the Champions League final. These are good times at Stamford Bridge.

Jack Ogalbe

Sports Journalist at ICS 

Manchester United’s work in the market shows they mean business but Chelsea will surely be the team most satisfied with their summer exploits.

Signing Romelu Lukaku gives them the focal point they’ve lacked in recent seasons, while Saul Niguez’s quality and versatility provides Thomas Tuchel with even more midfield options.

It was a shame to see academy products Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori leave, and Tomori’s departure coupled with Kurt Zouma’s exit could leave the Blues short at the back.

Even so, Tuchel’s European champions only look set to get better.

Ambitious Villa, West Ham and Leicester praised 

James Mason

Sports Journalist at ICS 

After receiving £100million for Jack Grealish it was important Aston Villa reinvested that money into the squad, and they have certainly done that in what has been another impressive transfer window.

Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey add more creativity and goalscoring options for the Villans, while the signing of striker Danny Ings from seemingly nowhere has already proven to be a sublime piece of business.

Throw in the experience of Ashley Young, a Serie A winner last term with Inter, and the season-long loan signing of Axel Tuanzebe and Villa look stocked in all departments to enjoy a positive campaign.

Aaron Rogan

Football Journalist at Free Super Tips

West Ham have been quietly doing good business for a while now, but this summer’s window looks like a stellar one for the Hammers. Kurt Zouma is an excellent addition, adding more quality to a backline which will be tested by facing European football this term.

Nikola Vlasic is another big money move from Moyes and he adds some guile to their midfield, while the loan signings of Alphonse Areola and Alex Kral round off a squad which is looking stronger than the side which finished sixth last time out.

Gareth Freeman

Football Journalist at Free Super Tips

Manchester United have clearly done some incredible business but the work Leicester did during the summer has perhaps gone under the radar. 

We’ve not seen much of Patson Daka yet but the forward could be a great buy after just over three seasons with a Red Bull Salzburg set-up that just churns out talent, midfielder Boubakary Soumare signed on after helping Lille win Ligue 1 last season and they look stronger in defence too with Ryan Bertrand and Jannik Vestergaard on board. 

Everton also deserve a mention for picking up Demarai Gray for £1.6m – they could have paid ten times that amount and it would still look like a bargain.