It may turn out that Liverpool or Manchester City actually recruited the best players this summer. Certainly Liverpool brought in a lot of youngsters who could feasibly become top players and outshine the other arrivals in the long term.
But Manchester United and Chelsea bought the household names – the fully formed players who are expected to vie for Player of The Season awards and make the difference straight away.
So did Manchester United or Chelsea do the better business this summer? We look at their top buys
Chelsea
Diego Costa
In terms of getting what they needed Chelsea couldn’t have done much better. Costa has picked up a slight injury during his time with the international team but he’s already shown, with 4 goals in 3 games, that he provides exactly what Chelsea lacked last season – namely a striker who takes his chances. 9/10
Cesc Fabregas
Another who has hit the ground running at Chelsea with some super displays and eye of the needle passes through to the strikers. If Chelsea lacked composure and creativity in the midfield last season then they have now found it in bucket loads. The greatest complement that you could pay to Cesc is that he always seems to have so much time on the ball. He has earned that fear factor and the opposition are scared to death of the pass master. 9/10
Filipe Luis
Yet to shine for Chelsea having played only 7 minutes of Premier League football away to Everton so far. The form of Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic on the flanks may lead to an extended stay on the bench for Luis. But at least Mourinho now has a natural left-footer to call on, post Ashley Cole. 7/10
Total – 25/30
Manchester United
Radamel Falcao
On first inspection you might say that this is a luxury signing – albeit an extremely good one – that Manchester United don’t need, with RvP and Rooney already up top. But when the very best players in the world become available, any team with aspirations of becoming No.1 should be in the market for them. Falcao adds pace, dynamism and finishing ability to a forward line that suffered sustained absences, through injury, to RvP last season. 9/10
Angel di Maria
Di Maria has divided opinion in the past but he seems to be maturing into one of the best wingers in the world. Manchester United were desperate for more quality on the flanks and, at 26, United fans are about to see his best years. The way he tore Germany apart last week was mightily impressive. 8.5/10
Luke Shaw
Injury has prevented him from making his competitive debut for Manchester United and his overall fitness has been questioned in some quarters. But we wheel that when he gets going he will be a revelation in the wing back role. Could well prove to be one of the best signings that Manchester United ever make. 8/10
Total 25.5/30
Readers: who do you feel did the better business this summer?
Mike
Sep 10, 2014 at 9:28 am
Yeah of course United did the better business by assembling the most expensive squad in Premier league history, smashing the British transfer record, agreeing to pay one player £350,000 a week and buying the worlds most expensive teenager. Great for football, great business for a team claiming 4th would be acceptable. Jokers
Ibrahim Yunusa
Sep 11, 2014 at 12:58 am
Come May, United will have the better laugh. With Rooney, Falcao, RvP, AdM, Carrick, Shaw, Blind, Rojo, Valencia, Rafael, Herrera, Januzi, Smalling, Jones, Evans, de Gea, etc. No defence in Premier league will contain the fire power of United.
Liverpool, Mancity, Chelsea and our lady Arsenal beware.
BB guy
Sep 11, 2014 at 1:07 am
I am a Liverpool fan, but I fear the attact line of United. I do not like our fixture as we meet United in both matches after a difficult mid-week matches.