Grading Every Premier League Team's 2026 Summer Transfer Window So Far

The summer transfer window is the time for Premier League clubs to go wild. 

Each year, teams from the English top division accumulate to spend more than any other league, dwarfing the investment in Spain, Italy and Germany. This year is proving no different, with gigantic fees already agreed for star signings and players considered vital to taking the next step.

Time to get the report card out with an in-progress examination of how things are going…

Arsenal

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Christos Tzolis

Notable incomings: Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge), Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen), Illan Meslier (Free agent)

Notable outgoings: Leandro Trossard (Besiktas), Jakub Kiwior (Porto)

Plenty of teams would give anything to be in Arsenal's position right now, trying to figure out how to improve a squad that just secured a league title. 

It's not as easy as it sounds, as Liverpool wouldn't hesitate to explain. So far, the Gunners have relied on a one-in, one-out policy that has seen Christos Tzolis arrive and Leandro Trossard depart, and the respective permanent signing and sale of Piero Hincapie and Jakub Kiwior.

Meanwhile, Illan Meslier has arrived on a free transfer to bolster the goalkeepers' union in a low-stakes move. 

However, Bruno Guimararães will turn up at the Emirates imminently, according to Fabrizio Romano, bumping Arsenal's transfer activity up a notch and providing a huge addition to an already solid midfield. 

The north Londoners might be tempted to stock up at center back after William Saliba's back injury. But with the defense already well stacked, the Frenchman's absence could probably be absorbed by squad options and a shuffling of the ranks, perhaps making a new signing in that area less of a must. 

Without the Guimarães deal confirmed at the time of publication, Arsenal will have to settle for a C. But if the 28-year-old does turn up, the grade becomes a solid B+.

But a sensational move for Vinicius Junior cannot be ruled out at this stage, with The Athletic's David Ornstein reporting the club is "all-in" on the Brazilian. Should the Real Madrid star arrive, the grade would surely jump to an A+.

Grade: C

- Leo Collis

Aston Villa

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Johan Manzambi

Notable incomings: Johan Manzambi (Freiburg), Joao Gomes (Wolves), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea, loan), Modou Keba Cissa (LASK)

Notable outgoings: Morgan Rogers (Chelsea), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United), Donyell Malen (Roma), Lewis Dobbin (Southampton), Enzo Barrenechea (Benfica).

It's been a pretty hectic start to the window for Unai Emery, who has seen two of his best players move to rivals in the race for Champions League football. 

There's no way Aston Villa could pass up the £117 million fee for Morgan Rogers; that's extortionate money for a very good player - a theme of this window. Good money for Youri Tielemans, who is 29 years old and slowly suffering increased injuries, also represents decent business.

Villa have moved quickly to bring in quality alternatives. Johan Manzambi's performance at the World Cup put him on the radar of many big clubs, so to get that one done is an exciting prospect for the division. Newcastle looked to have the talented forward wrapped up, but Villa moved decisively to get it done.

Joao Gomes, too, is an excellent addition. The former Wolves midfielder is built for Premier League football; he's strong, athletic, and will fight for every ball. His passing will slot in where Tielemans no longer stands.

Alejandro Garnacho's loan arrival is the most curious of all, with Emery once again acting like a man who thinks he can change the fortunes of a player who has lost all focus. He managed it for Marcus Rashford, and didn't for Jadon Sancho. Which way will this one go?

Grade: B-

-Nick Akerman

Bournemouth

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Álvaro Rodríguez

Notable incomings: Álvaro Rodríguez (Elche), Antonio Silva (Benfica)

Notable outgoings: Hamed Traoré (Marseille), Luis Sinisterra (Cruzeiro), Marcos Senesi (Tottenham), Romaine Faivre (Auxerre), Alex Jiménez (Fiorentina)

While Bournemouth have so far avoided a similar exodus of players to last summer, the biggest change took place in the dugout. Andoni Iraola's departure raises a huge question: How much of the Cherries' transfer success in recent years has been down to the now-Liverpool manager?

The biggest remaining concerns may be defensively, where Marcos Senesi's departure leaves 3,288 league minutes to be replaced. Antonio Silva's arrival from Benfica should address some of those concerns, but Bournemouth still look light at both centre-back and right-back after Álex Jiménez's exit.

Álvaro Rodríguez's arrival from Elche is an exciting one. Data analyst Spencer Mossman has highlighted the 22-year-old as one of the most unique young forwards in the game, with a rare combination of both excellent aerial and dribbling ability. This is also a player who registered just 12 goal involvements last season, though, so it's also reasonable to expect a lengthy period of adaptation.

Bournemouth's recent transfer record suggests things will work out nicely for them, but for now, they still appear to have a reasonable amount of work to do to prepare for a season that will see them juggle European and domestic campaigns.

Grade: D+

- Calum Rogers

Brentford

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Mamadou Sangare

Notable incomings: Mamadou Sangare (Lens), Jaidon Anthony (Burnley), Jannick Schuster (RB Salzburg), Callum Wilson (West Ham), Joseph Wheeler-Henry (Chelsea)

Notable outgoings: Frank Onyeka (Coventry), Ethan Laidlaw (Falkirk).

Brentford narrowly missed out on European football last season. That looks to have put the club in a mode of keeping things pretty similar, consolidating, and finding decent deals where they can to improve the squad's depth.

Jaidon Anthony was Burnley's best player in a campaign that saw them relegated, scoring eight and providing two assists in a poor side. He's an experienced Premier League goalscorer who will fit nicely into how Keith Andrews wants his side to play, with quick wingers feeding Igor Thiago. 

Callum Wilson's arrival on a free transfer will allow Thiago a bit more of a break next campaign, without Andrews needing to change tactics too much. Young centre-back Jannick Schuster may need time to adjust to the demands of the division, but he's played Europa League football for Salzburg and looks a decent prospect at 20 years old. 

Last week's club record fee for Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangare could be one of the sleeper deals of the summer. The Mali international is an exciting, all-round addition who could easily have a breakout season before bigger clubs begin to circle.

Grade: B

-Nick Akerman

Brighton & Hove Albion

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Luka Vuskovic

Notable incomings: Luka Vuskovic (Tottenham Hotspur), Zadok Yohanna (AIK), Pascal Struijk (Leeds United), Costinha (Olympiakos), Michael Svoboda (Venezia)

Notable outgoings: Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Welbeck (Chelsea), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Jeremy Sarmiento (Middlesbrough), Adam Webster (Released), Solly March (Released), Joel Veltman (Released), James Milner (Retired)

Brighton & Hove Albion have been busy. 

The club is used to wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, and this summer is no different. 

Luka Vuskovic is the headline arrival from Tottenham Hotspur, with the Croatia international set to be the Seagulls' starting center-back after a fine season with Hamburg in the Bundesliga. 

With the 19-year-old heading to the Amex Stadium, Jan Paul van Hecke has gone in the opposite direction, with the nearly tenfold profit made on the Dutchman another feather in the cap of the club's scouting department. 

Elsewhere, center-back Pascal Struijk has arrived from Leeds after Brighton took advantage of his soon-to-be-expiring contract. The Dutchman brings valuable Premier League experience in a position the club has needed to get younger at for some time. 

Costinha provides a back-up option at right-back on the cheap, and Michael Svoboda further bolsters the center-back corps for little outlay.

Zadok Yohanna, meanwhile, could be another wing diamond that the Seagulls have plucked from the rough. 

The next mission is to replace Danny Welbeck, who has made a surprising switch to Chelsea. In truth, the club had needed to do that anyway, but it's an urgent requirement now that the veteran striker has departed. 

A typically solid window from the south coast club so far, with plenty of time to add more quality and boost its grade.

Grade: B+

- Leo Collis

Chelsea

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Danny Welbeck

Notable incomings: Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP), Emmanuel Emegha (Strasbourg), Marco Palestra (Atalanta), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Danny Welbeck (Brighton and Hove Albion), Valentin Barco (Strasbourg), Jordan Henderson (Brentford)

Notable outgoings: Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid), Tyrique George (Everton), Andrey Santos (Manchester United), Alejandro Garnacho (Aston Villa)

A typically busy summer for Chelsea has seen a sharp change in strategy for the west Londoners. The $158 million fee for Morgan Rogers is by far Chelsea's biggest single-transfer spend in the last three years and is a far cry from the gambles on untested youngsters.

Quibble about the fee if you want, but this is the new going rate for Premier League-proven match-winners. While greater value could perhaps be found elsewhere, those players would also come with more risk of struggling to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League. 

Danny Welbeck's arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion also represents an acknowledgement that Chelsea have been light on experience in recent years, while Maxence Lacroix should provide value in that regard and immediately improve the team's defensive options.

With the future of Enzo Fernández unresolved and Marc Cucurella's departure to Real Madrid confirmed, there are still gaps to fill. Marco Palestra may be viewed as an option to take Cucurella's spot, but the 21-year-old is more experienced as a right wing-back and will likely require some seasoning to be ready for such a significant role already. The Blues' latest addition, Valentin Barco, could also come under consideration for a prominent role both at left-back and in midfield, but that would be a significant gamble given his lack of physicality.

While questions remain, Chelsea's leadership has taken significant steps to address the issues they've caused in recent years.

Grade: B+

- Calum Rogers

Coventry City

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Frank Onyeka

Notable incomings: Aurele Amenda (Frankfurt), Loum Tchaouna (Burnley), Frank Onyeka (Brentford)

Notable outgoings: Jamie Allen (Released)

For Premier League fans of a certain vintage, it's great to see Coventry City back in the English top flight after a 25-year absence.

Despite cruising to the Championship title last season, manager Frank Lampard has a difficult task in trying to keep the Sky Blues in the division. Work has begun on strengthening the squad, but no truly headline-grabbing arrivals have come through the door just yet.

Aurele Amenda has arrived to shore up the back line after a breakout season with Frankfurt. However, he only really broke into the first-team conversation in the second half of the campaign, so it will be interesting to see whether he has legitimate top-level quality.

Loum Tchaouna and Frank Onyeka have arrived from Burnley and Brentford, respectively, offering some Premier League experience. Tchaouna impressed in flashes with the Clarets, but Coventry will need more than the two goals and one assist he earned in 2025-26 if he's to help the Sky Blues survive. 

Meanwhile, Carl Rushworth is set to join the West Midlanders permanently after playing a crucial role in the club's promotion. The touted £22.5 million ($30 million) switch from Brighton & Hove Albion, per The Athletic, would represent a club-record signing. It seems like a bit of an overpay for a goalkeeper who never played for the Seagulls' first team, but he obviously impressed enough on loan to warrant the big outlay. 

There's still time, but as it stands, Coventry don't look nearly strong enough to make their Premier League return last. 

Grade: D-

- Leo Collis

Crystal Palace

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Oscar Mingueza

Notable incomings: Oscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo)

Notable outgoings: Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea)

Crystal Palace have been quiet this summer, but most areas of this squad look in good shape. There's impressive depth in attack and midfield, which will be crucial as new manager Pierre Sage navigates a UEFA Europa League campaign alongside the domestic season. 

That's good news, because their one addition so far, Oscar Mingueza, looks likely to be more of a rotational utility player than a meaningful upgrade.

While there are impressive areas of the squad, though, it is light on quality and depth in defence. Maxence Lacroix's departure has only exacerbated the issues caused by Marc Guehi's exit in January, and while Jaydee Canvot has shown promise and Chris Richards may be expected to step into a more prominent role, there is a notable lack of experience in this back line.

That's usually a recipe for disaster. Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is currently training with Palace as a free agent, but the south Londoners should be looking for further additions if they want a chance of more success in Europe. 

The good news is that it seems certain that they will make those additions, but it would be troubling if Palace enter this season as currently constructed.

Grade: D-

- Calum Rogers

Everton

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Hayden Hackney

Notable incomings: Merlin Röhl (Freiburg), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Tyrique George (Chelsea)

Notable outgoings: Seamus Coleman (Released), Idrissa Gueye (Released)

Everton have made a steady start to the window, but fans may have hoped for more action after a 13th-place finish last season.

There are still areas of this team that could be upgraded, with both full-back positions and the forward line chief among them. There are also concerns over the future of Illiman Ndiaye, who is the subject of interest from Al Hilal, according to Patrick Boyland of The Athletic.

For now, though, Everton have secured two promising young players in midfielder Hayden Hackney and winger Tyrique George, while The Athletic's David Ornstein has reported they have an agreement in place for experienced midfielder Christian Norgaard from Arsenal. 

The additions of Hackney and Norgaard should help replace the outgoing Idrissa Gana Gueye, and Everton may look to repeat that strategy by adding a more experienced winger to compete with George on the left flank. 

There's more work to do, but the Toffees can be reasonably satisfied for now.

Grade: C+

- Calum Rogers

Fulham

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Gonzalo Garcia

Notable incomings: Jonah Kusi-Asare (Bayern Munich), Gonzalo Garcia (Real Madrid), Cesar Palacios (Real Madrid) *Garcia and Palacios are reportedly close

Notable outgoings: Issa Diop (Ipswich), Raul Jimenez (Released), Harry Wilson (Released)

Craven Cottage could soon look like a La Masia dumping ground—although that's not necessarily the worst thing in the world.

Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios are due to arrive from Real Madrid, according to ESPN, with new manager Alvaro Arbeloa taking advantage of his previous experience with the club to bring young talent to the English capital.

Garcia's potential arrival in a club-record deal is particularly exciting, with the club long needing an upgrade on Raul Jimenez and a top goal-getter to finally replace Aleksandar Mitrovic. The 22-year-old was highly thought of at the Santiago Bernabeu, grabbing six La Liga goals in 30 appearances (nine starts) last season. 

Meanwhile, Palacios and Jonah Kusi-Asare are low-risk, low-fee moves for potential talents of the future. 

Harry Wilson's departure will sting, though, especially with the Welshman making a bit of a sideways move to Leeds United. If the 29-year-old—who scored 10 and provided seven assists in the Premier League in 2025-26—made a step up, his exit might have been more understandable.

Good and bad from the Cottagers so far. At least breaking the transfer record would show some kind of intent from a club that has been far too comfortable in midtable for too long. 

Grade: C+

- Leo Collis

Hull City

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Jack Butland

Notable incomings: Jack Butland (Rangers), Oscar Zambrano (Maribor), Matt Targett (Newcastle), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP)

Notable outgoings: Ivor Pandur (Rangers), Kyle Joseph (Middlesbrough)

In late July, Hull owner Acun Ilıcalı suggested the team would be aiming for 14 total signings this summer in a somewhat bizarre post on X. Four are confirmed thus far, although 18-year-old centre-back Lucas Herrington and 23-year-old goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis are likely the next arrivals, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein and GiveMeSport's Ben Jacobs, respectively.

The activity is encouraging, but Hull still has a long way to go to shake off their tag as relegation favourites.

Matt Targett and Jack Butland are experienced additions, although neither has stood out much in previous Premier League stints. Butland now looks likely to be Tzolakis' backup, though, with the Greek international possessing greater upside.

Herrington would be the most exciting addition. Liverpool and Barcelona reportedly showed interest in the Australian previously, and his talent is clear after becoming an MLS All-Star in his first season in the competition. However, the jump from MLS to the Premier League is huge, and Herrington shouldn't be expected to become a key player for Hull too quickly.

The Tigers' promotion was a surprise to many, possibly including several people within the club, and the smartest move for them financially may be to play it conservatively while stronger foundations are built. 

But with that said, this process is about assessing where clubs stand at this point of the summer. While the early activity has improved the team, it's hard to give too much credit when Hull are still so far off from looking competitive.

Grade: D

- Calum Rogers

Ipswich Town

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Daizen Maeda

Notable incomings: Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Issa Diop (Fulham), Abdul Fatawu (Leicester), Chuba Akpom (Ajax), Kjell Scherpen (Union Saint-Gilloise), Emersonn (Toulouse), Kayne van Oevelen (Volendam), Cedric Kipre (Reims).

Notable outgoings: Arijanet Muric (Sassuolo), Conor Chaplin (Leicester), Ashley Young (retired), Sammie Szmodics (Derby, loan).

Ipswich need to be careful not to fall into the same trap that led them straight back down to the Championship in 2024/25.

Kieran McKenna's side made a lot of signings, including Liam Delap, Jack Clarke and Sammi Szmodics, in a bid to try and fight fire with fire in the Premier League. It didn't work. The heart of the promoted side was lost, and Ipswich went straight back down.

Gary O'Neil probably has a more difficult task on his hands. He really struggled with Wolves during his last spell in the division and will need to get the most out of a squad that currently looks up against it to survive. 

Daizen Maeda's running and industry are a huge addition, while Issa Diop is a proven entity in defence at this level. Abdul Fatawu, Emersonn and Chuba Akpom come in knowing they need to regularly hit the back of the net. It'll be interesting to see what business looks like after a full summer, as right now, it's hard to see the grand plan.

Grade: C+

-Nick Akerman

Leeds United

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Harry Wilson

Notable incomings: Harry Wilson (Fulham), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo). 

Notable outgoings: Karl Darlow (Man United), Pascal Struijk (Brighton), Ilan Meslier (Arsenal), Jack Harrison (New England Revolution).

Leeds fans should be really excited by the early signs of this transfer window. The club moved quickly to pick up Harry Wilson, one of last season's best players, on a free. He's exactly the right type of player to fit in at Elland Road; a heart-on-his-sleeve hard worker whose fantastic delivery should mesh well with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Tarik Muharemovic is also a smart pick-up to fill the Pascal Struijk spot. He may even be an upgrade in the long run, immediately impressing on his recent debut for the club. So far, it seems Daniel Farke is prioritising players who can come in and impact the team without needing to be bedded in, a smart move considering the club's slight brush with relegation last year.

Although Leeds missed out on rumoured target Julian Brandt, just being in the conversation for a player of his level should be seen as a positive. It's certainly an indicator of what the club is trying to do.

Grade: B-

-Nick Akerman

Liverpool

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Jeremy Jacquet

Notable incomings: Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Jeremy Jacquet (Rennes)

Notable outgoings: Mohamed Salah (Released), Andy Robertson (Released), Ibrahima Konate (Released)

After a huge summer of spending, Liverpool still has gaping holes to fill.

Jeremy Jacquet's transfer has finally been completed after an agreement was struck in February, with the Frenchman helping to plug the hole left by Ibrahima Konate's departure. 

The arrival of Victor Munoz, though, was a bolt out of the blue, with the Spaniard joining to inject some pace back into the Reds' wing play. 

Neither feels like an immediate first-team option, although Jacquet seems closer to the starting XI based on both necessity and immediate quality. But Liverpool could really use an experienced center-back, with Joe Gomez perpetually injured, Giovanni Leoni steadily working his way back and still raw, and little else to speak of in the squad.

The pursuit of Bradley Barcola could deliver the star quality the Reds are crying out for, but another nine-figure outlay on a single player could lead to more questions than answers from onlookers. 

Andoni Iraola will still be figuring out his current squad options, but it can't have escaped his attention that reinforcements are desperately needed. With Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea already busy in the transfer window, the new boss might be looking over his shoulder as he tries to get his Liverpool career off to a good start. 

Grade: D-

- Leo Collis

Manchester City

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Elliot Anderson

Notable incomings: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)

Notable outgoings: John Stones (Inter Milan), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid), Nathan Aké (Fenerbahce)

It still feels surreal that Pep Guardiola is no longer the Manchester City manager after 10 seasons in charge, and the changes won't stop there. Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Aké have also departed after having made 932 appearances for the club between them.

While Stones and Aké had become infrequent starters of late, Silva played 2,872 league minutes last season and was still a key figure as the team looked to chase down Arsenal at the top of the table. He leaves big shoes to fill, and it may be unfair to expect Elliot Anderson to do that job on his own even after City spent $156 million on him, especially with the question marks over Rodri's departure.

There were always going to be issues to address for City this summer, and while any team with a front line of Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo has no reason to panic, they're in danger of taking a clear backward step entering the season.

Grade: D

- Calum Rogers

Manchester United

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Youri Tielemans

Notable incomings: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Karl Darlow (Leeds), Tynan Thompson (Tottenham)

Notable outgoings: Rasmus Hojlund (Napoli), Andre Onana (Trabzonspor, loan), Jadon Sancho (released), Casemiro (Inter Miami), Tyrell Malacia (released)

Michael Carrick's first summer in charge simply had to yield midfield signings. So far, Man United have captured the promising Andrey Santos from Chelsea and the excellent Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa. The club has clearly decided not to get into bidding wars for the ultra-expensive players like Elliot Anderson, a significant change since INEOS took control.

Supporters will feel more is needed in the middle, perhaps with an eye on a specialist defensive midfielder. In an ideal world, United should also look to land new full-backs, a left winger, and a striker to compete with Benjamin Sesko. Newcastle's Lewis Hall and Arsenal's Miles Lewis-Skelly are two names that reportedly interest United. Both would be very good signings.

Cutting the fat of Rasmus Hojlund, Jadon Sancho and others is a reminder that there's a lot of work to be done in the Old Trafford reset, but an increased focus on proven Premier League stars stood United in good stead last season, and looks to be the route forward again.

Grade: B-

-Nick Akerman

Newcastle United

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Bazoumana Touré

Notable incomings: Aladji Bamba (Monaco), Bazoumana Touré (Hoffenheim), Sean Steur (Ajax), Ewen Jaouen (Reims)

Notable outgoings: Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Sandro Tonali (Tottenham), Kieran Trippier (Wolves), Odysseas Vlachodimos (Sevilla, loan), John Ruddy (released), Emil Krafth (released), Matt Targett (released).

Every day seems like a nightmare at Newcastle right now. 

Anthony Gordon, gone. Sandro Tonali, gone. Bruno Guimaraes…likely gone soon. That's three pivotal players from the Eddie Howe era who have left, with the manager also calling time on his tenure at St. James' Park. It's not quite what fans expected when Saudi investment came in.

Newcastle looked to have a deal for Johan Manzambi sealed before Aston Villa whisked him away at the last moment. The BBC reports Victor Munoz was in a similar situation before Liverpool took him. It's a repeat of last season, which saw Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and others turn their nose up at joining the Magpies.

Nearly £120 million has been spent on youngsters so far, with Aladji Bambi brought in to strengthen the midfield, and Bazoumana Touré on the wing after five goals and nine assists for Hoffenheim last season. Add in new goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, and you have three 20-year-olds filling in for much more established departing stars. 

Then there's Sean Steur, the midfielder who was filmed training in a Man United kit in a viral social post. Although the optics on that are bad, he looks like an intriguing prospect at 18 and has some Champions League experience behind him.

A lot will continue to change at the club in the coming weeks. Matthias Jaissle's appointment needs to be backed by cash to spend on ready-made players. The summer weeks have been a disaster so far.

Grade: F

-Nick Akerman

Nottingham Forest

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Xaver Schlager

Notable incomings: Xaver Schlager (Free agent)

Notable outgoings: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City), Stefan Ortega (Released), Willy Boly (Released), Angus Gunn (Released)

Nottingham Forest needs to get moving. 

A relegation battle last season was surprising for a team that looked so bright in 2024-25, and there is certainly quality in the squad to work with.

However, the departure of Elliot Anderson will be keenly felt, with the Englishman's bite and energy in the middle of the park—not to mention his telepathy with Morgan Gibbs-White—hard to replicate. 

At least there was a hefty injection of cash from Anderson's switch to Manchester City, but Forest haven't yet taken advantage of the windfall, only bringing in one player on a free transfer as it stands.

Oliver Glasner was obviously attracted by something in Forest's sales pitch, but for a manager who was frustrated by a lack of signings while at Crystal Palace, the glacial pace of business at the City Ground must be giving him some regrets. 

The clock is ticking. 

Grade: F

- Leo Collis

Sunderland

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Thomas Meunier

Notable incomings: Thomas Meunier (Free agent)

Notable outgoings: Eleizer Mayenda (Rennes), Bertrand Traore (Released)

When Sunderland made their Premier League return last season, the club brought in 16 players on permanent deals to handle the rigors of the English top flight.

After securing an extended stay in the division, it's been a quieter window this time around, with only Thomas Meunier arriving on a free transfer to build on the Black Cats' surprising run to seventh in 2025-26.

With a spot in the Europa League, they'll need a bit more strength in depth to keep up with the expanded fixture list. Finances might be holding them back, though, with the specter of profit and sustainability rules lingering over the club after such a hefty outlay last summer. 

The club will have to utilize the loan market and pick up a few more free agents to stay on the right side of financial rules, but whatever ways Sunderland choose to add players, it needs to get cracking.

With a little less than three weeks to go until the start of the season, the Black Cats will fear a run of bad luck now that they don't have the element of surprise that served them so well last season. 

Manager Regis Le Bris has proved a capable coach who can pick up valuable points against overmatched teams, but he'll no doubt be worried that a change in fortunes is just around the corner without investment in the squad. 

Grade: F

- Leo Collis

Tottenham Hotspur

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Sandro Tonali

Notable incomings: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth), Martin Dubravka (Burnley), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton), Matheus Fernandes (West Ham), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)

Notable outgoings: Yves Bissouma (released), Radu Dragusin (Fiorentina), Luka Vuskovic (Brighton), Will Lankshear (Middlesbrough)

Tottenham Hotspur have committed over $250 million in spending this summer, and it's unlikely they're done. Spurs smashed their transfer record to sign Matheus Fernandes for $115 million, and then broke it again days later to add Sandro Tonali for $135 million and complete a revamp of their midfield.

That splurge followed defensive additions that were more reserved by comparison, but still included a $70 million fee for centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke as a replacement for Cristian Romero, who looks likely to depart. 

The free-agent deals for centre-back Marcos Senesi and left-back Andy Robertson feel risky in combination. Neither player is the strongest defender in isolation, and Spurs are gambling that the value they provide in possession can mitigate those concerns.

But while question marks remain over whether they have got value for money and how far these moves alone can take them, Spurs have added two clear upgrades to their starting eleven in Tonali and Fernandes, and Van Hecke could also be an improvement purely in terms of availability (he's made 70 Premier League appearances compared to 41 for Romero over the past two seasons).

They still need additions in forward areas, but this has been a promising start for a club that needed to address a baffling lack of quality and experience.

Grade: B+

- Calum Rogers