Premier League Transfers: Grading Each EPL Side on Its Transfer Window Moves

The summer transfer window rages on, and every English Premier League club has been busy to some degree.

As we'll see, some have been busier than others, and some have done much better or worse than their peers.

With the new season just over a month away, here are progress reports—complete with letter grades—on the transfer dealings of all 20 English Premier League clubs.

Think a grade is too high? Too low? Leave a comment.

Arsenal

In: Lukas Podolski (from Köln), Olivier Giroud (from Montpellier)

Out: Denilson (loaned to São Paulo)

Apart from all the speculation over Robin van Persie's future, it's been a decent summer for Arsenal in the transfer market.

Lukas Podolski (pictured) and Olivier Giroud should prove valuable additions to Arsenal's attack, with or without van Persie. Denilson, meanwhile, needed a change.

Now, if only the Gunners can find a way to hold onto RvP. A holding midfielder and a quality defender would be nice too.

Grade: B, with the potential for higher. Or lower too.

Aston Villa

In: Matthew Lowton (from Sheffield United), Karim El Ahmadi (from Feyenoord), Brett Holman (from AZ Alkmaar)

Out: Carlos Jimenez Cuellar (to Sunderland)

New manager Paul Lambert has raided the Eredivisie for Dutch-Moroccan midfielder Karim El Ahmadi (pictured) and Aussie forward Brett Holman. Villa fans will be hoping the two will improve on their combined total of five league goals during the 2011-12 league campaign.

Also coming in is Matthew Lowton, a defender with experience in League One.

Will any of them be ready for the Premier League? Will they really help Villa improve on that 16th-place finish last season?

Doubtful.

Grade: C-minus, but at least Lambert is doing something.

Chelsea

In: Eden Hazard (from Lille), Marko Marin (from Werder Bremen)

Out: Salomon Kalou (to Lille), Didier Drogba (to Shanghai Shenhua)

Chelsea's dealings with Lille this summer have been profitable for both clubs. Chelsea got highly rated Belgian winger Eden Hazard, while Lille got a wad of cash and Salomon Kalou (for free in a separate deal).

German midfielder Marko Marin, meanwhile, is an intriguing signing with talent and potential. In Chelsea's crowded midfield, however, he's far from a safe bet.

Didier Drogba (pictured) left this summer after eight outstanding years with the club. He likely would have been productive for at least another year in London, but moving now seemed like the right option for both parties.

As ever, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has shown a willingness to throw around money. If it continues, this could be a memorable summer, even by Chelsea's standards.

Grade: B-plus, potentially rising if Oscar also joins.

Everton

In: Steven Naismith (from Rangers)

Out: James Wallace (to Tranmere Rovers), João Silva (to Levski Sofia)

Everton's only addition so far this summer has been Scotland international forward Steven Naismith (pictured), formerly of Rangers. Naismith will add depth to an attack that already features Nikica Jelavic, a 2012 winter-window signing.

That might seem like a boring summer, but that's a good thing for manager David Moyes and his tight-budget team. For the Toffees, keeping key players like midfielder Marouane Fellaini around is just as important as signing new ones.

Grade: B-minus

Fulham

In: George Williams (from Milton Keynes Dons), Mladen Petric (from Hamburg), Sascha Riether (from Köln), Hugo Rodallega (from Wigan)

Out: Danny Murphy (to Blackburn), Andrew Johnson (to QPR)

Fulham have been busy.

Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega (pictured) signed on a free transfer after scoring 24 goals in 112 league appearances for Wigan.

Defender Sascha Riether, who has two caps for Germany, joined on a season-long loan from relegated German club FC Köln.

Croatian striker Mladen Petric, the player who scored the goal that kept England out of Euro 2008, signed on a free transfer from Hamburg.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old former captain Danny Murphy left for Blackburn and Andrew Johnson went to QPR.

Creative midfielders Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey remain in West London. In the case of Dempsey, that might not be true for long.

But Fulham's summer signings should soften that blow, if and when it comes.

Grade: A-minus, for getting a lot for a little and knowing when to say goodbye.

Liverpool

In: Fabio Borini (from AS Roma)

Out: Dirk Kuyt (to Fenerbahce)

Liverpool and new manager Brendan Rodgers missed out on Gylfi Sigurdsson, but the revolution is under way with the signing of Italian striker Fabio Borini (pictured) from Roma.

Borini is the only new addition so far this summer, but midfielder Alberto Aquilani appears set for a return to Anfield after his loan to AC Milan.

Fulham's Clint Dempsey could follow in the coming days, but for now, we're left to wonder how Liverpool will play under Rodgers' new style.

Grade: B-minus, with plenty of potential to improve. Liverpool haven't done much, but after the expensive misses of 2011, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Manchester City

In: n/a

Out: Wayne Bridge (to Brighton on loan), Greg Cunningham (to Bristol City)

It's almost impossible to believe, but it's true. Manchester City have yet to buy a player this summer.

That's not to say nothing has happened. City once again found someone to take Wayne Bridge and (some of) his exorbitant salary off their hands for a little longer. Also, former youth player Greg Cunningham left for Bristol City (hooray for player development!).

Carlos Tevez is being linked yet again with a move away from the Etihad, Emmanuel Adebayor is reportedly close to a permanent transfer to Spurs, and Arsenal's Robin van Persie is, well, you know.

Grade: Incomplete, but probably not for much longer.

Manchester United

In: Shinji Kagawa (from Borussia Dortmund), Nick Powell (from Crewe Alexandra), Sean Goss (from Exeter City)

Out: Park J-Sung (to QPR), Tomasz Kuszczak (to Brighton), Fabio da Silva (to QPR on loan)

After last season's disappointing finish, Manchester United needed help in the midfield.

Japanese international Shinji Kagawa (pictured) will help United there immediately, and exciting 18-year-old Nick Powell should help in the future—and maybe even some this season.

Meanwhile, Park Ji-Sung has been offloaded to Queens Park Rangers, with Fabio da Silva heading to the same club to gain loan experience.

Grade: A-minus, potentially rising

Newcastle United

In: Romain Amalfitano (from Stade de Reims), Gael Bigirimana (from Coventry City)

Out: Daniel Taylor (to Oldham Athletic), Leon Best (to Blackburn), Danny Guthrie (to Reading), Fraser Forster (to Celtic), Peter Lövenkrands (to Birmingham), Alan Smith (to Milton Keynes Dons)

What to make of Newcastle?

The list of players leaving is long, but most of those deals were fat-trimming moves. The list of players coming in is short, and the names aren't all that well-known.

So is it a case of addition by subtraction? Have Newcastle and Alan Pardew found a couple more diamonds in the rough? Or are more players on the way?

Regardless, it's good news that Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye and Cheik Tiote all remain in black-and-white stripes. Keeping them there will be as valuable as most transfers.

Grade: Incomplete. C-plus for now, right in the middle of the pack. Where they go from there depends on who else they sign and how many existing players they can keep.

Norwich City

In: Steven Whittaker (from Rangers), Jacob Butterfield (from Barnsley)

Out: Adam Drury (to Leeds United), Aaron Wilbraham (to Crystal Palace)

Adam Drury, a 33-year-old defender who featured in 12 league matches last season, left for Leeds. Aaron Wilbraham, a 32-year-old forward who scored one league goal in 11 appearances last season, left for Crystal Palace.

Steven Whittaker (pictured), a 28-year-old defender who played in 25 league matches last season, joined from Rangers. Jacob Butterfield, a 22-year-old defender who appeared in 24 league matches last season, joined from Barnsley.

All four deals were free. All four made Norwich younger and better.

These are the kinds of deals that keep teams of Norwich's financial means in the Premier League. They're not sexy, but they should produce results.

Grade: B

Queens Park Rangers

In: Ryan Nelsen (from Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (from West Ham United), Andrew Johnson (from Fulham), Samba Diakite (from AS Nancy Lorraine), Fabio da Silva (loan from Manchester United), Park Ji-Sung (from Manchester United)

Out: Paddy Kenny (to Leeds United)

Queens Park Rangers narrowly avoided relegation last season, and immediately afterwards, manager Mark Hughes vowed such a situation would never arise again (via ESPN.co.uk).

By the looks of QPR's summer dealings, Hughes will be proven right. Park Ji-Sung (pictured) will give Rangers a veteran, experienced, level-headed presence (read: not Joey Barton) in the midfield, and Fabio should find regular playing time in the defense or midfield.

The verdict is out on a few of the other signings, but at least Hughes and QPR are doing something. After last spring's harrowing run-in, changes were needed.

On that score, it's mission accomplished. So…

Grade: A-minus, with potential to improve based on player performance.

Reading

In: Garath McCleary (from Nottingham Forest), Danny Guthrie (from Newcastle United), Pavel Pogrebnyak (from VfB Stuttgart), Pierce Sweeney (from Bray), Nicky Shorey (from West Bromwich Albion)

Out: n/a

The Royals are back in the Premiership, and they clearly want to make a splash.

Forward Garath McCleary was signed in May, not long after he dished out nine goals and seven assists for Nottingham Forest in the Championship.

Another forward, Russian Pavel Pogrebnyak, followed in July. Pogrebnyak scored six times in a 12-match loan cameo with Fulham last season.

Also interesting will be the form of Danny Guthrie (pictured) following his move from Newcastle. Will Guthrie and the rest be enough to keep Reading up?

Grade: B. Let's see if Pogrebnyak and McCleary can cut it at the Premier League level for a full season.

Southampton

In: Jay Rodriguez (from Burnley)

Out: Harlee Dean (to Brentford), Bartosz Bialkowski (to Notts County), Ryan Doble (to Shrewsbury Town), Lee Holmes (to Preston North End), Aaron Martin (loan to Crystal Palace)

Former England U-21 forward Jay Rodriguez scored 21 goals in all competitions last season for Burnley, including 15 in the Championship.

That's a decent number, but Rodriguez is Southampton's only signing so far. A proposed move for Vitesse Arnhem defender Alexander Buttner seems to have fallen apart at the last hurdle.

Regardless, the Saints will need more—that is, both goals and signings—to survive in their first season back in the Premier League.

Unless, that is, Rickie Lambert (pictured) can repeat his 27-goal haul from last season.

Grade: Incomplete for now, but heading for a D-plus or worse.

Stoke City

In: n/a

Out: Jonathan Woodgate (to Middlesbrough), Andrew Davies (to Bradford City)

Stoke finished 14th last season, nine points above the relegation zone and 11 behind Everton in seventh place.

If that sounds boring, get ready for a repeat. Stoke haven't signed anyone yet, though a deal for former Rangers midfielder Jamie Ness is still unresolved (per ESPNSoccernet).

Also, a move for former England striker Michael Owen (pictured) has long been rumored (Daily Telegraph), but not yet realized.

Grade: Incomplete. More time is needed to evaluate, but it's not looking good.

Sunderland

In: Carlos Jimenez Cuellar (from Aston Villa)

Out: Trevor Carson (to Bury), George McCartney (to West Ham United), Asamoah Gyan (to Al-Ain), Jordan Cook (to Charlton Athletic), Marcos Angeleri (Estudiantes La Plata)

It's been a summer of clearing out the cupboards for Martin O'Neill and Sunderland. Asamoah Gyan is off to the Middle East, along with a number of less renowned players.

The Black Cats' only addition so far is 30-year-old defender Carlos Jimenez Cuellar on a free transfer from Aston Villa. Cuellar played 27 league matches over the last two seasons for Villa.

So is this a case of addition by subtraction? Or does O'Neill have more up his sleeve?

Grade: Incomplete, but the in-progress grade is a D-plus.

Swansea City

In: Chico (from Genoa), Jonathan De Guzman (loan from Villarreal)

Out: n/a

Swansea spent £2 million on Chico, a defender who most recently played for Mallorca on loan from Genoa.

But the most important names of Swansea's offseason won't appear on the transfer list.

Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson (pictured), who had spent the latter half of last season with the Swans on loan from Hoffenheim, moved on to Tottenham Hotspur. Former manager Brendan Rodgers has moved to Liverpool.

Without those two, the current season will feel different—and uncertain—for Swansea.

But how uncertain?

Grade: C-minus.

Tottenham Hotspur

In: Gylfi Sigurdsson (from TSG Hoffenheim), Jan Vertonghen (from Ajax)

Out: Ryan Nelsen (to Queens Park Rangers), Vedran Corluka (to Lokomotiv Moscow), Niko Kranjcar (to Dynamo Kiev), Lee Angol (to Wycombe Wanderers), Ben Alnwick (to Barnsley)

The Andre Villas-Boas revolution is under way at Spurs, and so far, it involves nearly three departures for every new signing.

Admittedly, the new signings have been impressive.

Gylfi Sigurdsson was Swansea City's most dangerous player during the second half of last season. That Spurs managed to sign him ahead of Liverpool, and new manager Brendan Rodgers (formerly of Swansea) must be seen as a coup.

While Sigurdsson will strengthen Spurs' midfield, Belgian Jan Vertonghen (pictured) will strengthen the defense. If Hugo Lloris and Emmanuel Adebayor (permanently, that is) are signed, AVB will have strengthened every phase of Spurs' lineup.

And yet Croatian midfield maestro Luka Modric could be set for a move to Real Madrid.

Grade: A-minus for now, with the potential to rise or fall based on future moves.

West Bromwich Albion

In: Ben Foster (from Birmingham City), Yassine El Ghanassy (loan from KAA Gent)

Out: Keith Andrews (to Bolton Wanderers), Joe Mattock (to Sheffield Wednesday), Lateef Elford-Alliyu (to Bury), Nicky Shorey (to Reading)

The departure of manager Roy Hodgson will be felt, as will the loss of defensive midfielder Keith Andrews (though he wasn't around for long).

English goalkeeper Ben Foster's permanent deal will be a welcome move, but few fans will be familiar with Belgian forward Yassine El Ghanassy.

El Ghanassy, 22, scored four times in 24 league games last season for KAA Gent and has made one senior appearance for Belgium.

Make of that what you will.

Grade: C-minus.

West Ham United

In: Stephen Henderson (from Portsmouth), George McCartney (from Sunderland), Jussi Jaaskelainen (from Bolton Wanderers), Mohamed Diame (from Wigan Athletic)

Out: Sam Cowler (to Barnet), Frank Nouble (to Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jordan Brown (to Barnet), Robert Green (to Queens Park Rangers), Oliver Lee (to Barnet), Pablo Barrera (to Cruz Azul), Fred Sears (to Colchester United), Marek Stech (to Yeovil Town)

Big Sam has been busy ahead of his return to the Premier League.

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has signed four players this summer and sold eight. Almost all of the deals have been free transfers.

George McCartney, a 31-year-old defender, will add experience to the back line. Jussi Jaaskelainen will give the Hammers a solid and sometimes spectacular (if also aging) set of hands in goal. Stephen Henderson, meanwhile, will either compete with Jaaskelainen or replace him.

Midfielder Mohamed Diame has made the switch from Wigan, and Sochaux forward Modibo Maiga could be next. Or will it be a loan for Andy Carroll?

How about that big-dealing Big Sam?

Grade: B-plus, with plenty of potential for more.

Wigan Athletic

In: Mauro Boselli (from Estudiantes La Plata)

Out: Mohamed Diame (to West Ham United), Chris Kirkland (to Sheffield Wednesday), Hugo Rodallega (to Fulham)

Oh, Roberto. What's going on?

Roberto Martinez led Wigan's fantastic escape act last spring, but on the current course, this summer could prove costly.

Forward Hugo Rodallega, goalkeeper Chris Kirkland and midfielder Mohamed Diame have left, and only 27-year-old journeyman forward Mauro Boselli has joined.

Then again, we all second-guessed Martinez too often last year. Should we give him the benefit of the doubt?

Grade: C-minus. Martinez gets the benefit of the doubt for now.

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