5 teams who have had a disappointing transfer window

The transfer window holds paramount importance, solely for the fact that it is the best available way for clubs to improve their squads by recruiting new players.

This summer's transfer season, as its predecessors have done, has had a good number of gripping sagas in store for us. Ranging from Eden Hazard's highly anticipated move to Real Madrid to Manchester United's failure in securing the services of Toby Alderweireld, this season has given us many things to brood over and talk about.

While the likes of Barcelona, Liverpool and Juventus have had a memorable summer, some clubs have had one they would like to wipe out from their memories. While a lack of quality arrivals will be a challenge to cope up with as the new season kickstarts, here are 5 clubs who were and have been highly incompetent in the transfer market this season.

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#5 Real Madrid

Florentino Perez is yet to find an able-bodied replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo

After Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Juventus to Real Madrid, everyone anticipated Real Madrid to go rampant in the transfer market in order to find a suitable replacement. The expectations, however, are far from being completely fulfilled.

It's not as if finding an heir to CR7 was the only problem Los Blancos had to tend to this summer. By signing Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea they have finally put their longstanding goalkeeper woes to bed. They have also roped in Alvaro Odriozola to bolster their defence and a future prospect in the form of Vinicius Junior. But the faltering forward line has yet to be attended to.

With Ronaldo gone, Real Madrid are short of a world-class finisher. Karim Benzema had a horrendous 2017/18 campaign in front of goal. Gareth Bale returned to his form at the end of the season, but it's tough to say whether he can carry on consistently, knowing how injury-prone he is.

Real Madrid have been linked with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Eden Hazard, Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah but have been disappointed on all fronts. Should they fail to sign a world-class striker, Los Blancos could well be on their way to another intractable season.

#4 Manchester City

Manchester City broke their transfer record to sign Riyadh Mahrez

Manchester City may have had a historic campaign in 2017/18, but that's far from guaranteeing them an equally prolific season this year. Sure, Pep Guardiola forked out a handsome amount to sign Riyadh Mahrez from Leicester and make him the club's costliest player to date. But, he has left another equally serious issue unattended.

The Citizens are still short of a worthy deputy for Fernandinho. Although they did try their best to sign one, the defending champions were thwarted by Chelsea in their respective chases for Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic while Manchester United beat them to the signing of Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Ilkay Gundogan is touted as the closest alternative to replacing him. However, the German is far from being reliable given his injury woes, and is more of a deputy for Kevin De Bruyne than the Brazilian. It would be imprudence to put youngster Phil Foden under pressure to perform, considering his tender age. Then they have Oleksander Zhinchenko and Douglas Luiz, none of whom are trusted performers who could take to the mantle should Fernandinho get injured.

Make no mistake, Manchester City have a squad worthy of having another historic season, but an injury scare or two could well deprive them of having one.

#3 Manchester United

Manchester United may have started with a win, but their display was far from convincing

And now we come to the red side of Manchester, who were under intense scrutiny in the transfer window. Manchester United had a fine 2017/18 season, but their improvements were entirely shadowed by the extraordinary campaign of their cross-town rivals.

Jose Mourinho and Ed Woodward did good business in bringing Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk to Old Trafford, but the signings of a 35-year-old third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant and a 19-year-old right-back in Diogo Dalot are far from convincing and strengthening their squad.

The Red Devils finished as the team to concede the least number of goals last season, a testament to Jose Mourinho's defensive-minded philosophy. But that did little to mask the frailties of their leaky backline.

To start with, United had to find an able defender to partner Eric Bailly at the back, considering how the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were ineffective in protecting the goal last season. They chased Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire and Jerome Boateng for a large amount of time in the transfer market but with futile attempts.

First-choice captain Antonio Valencia, too, has been unimpressive, given his incompetency in providing dangerous crosses from the flanks during attacks. The situation on the left is no different, with both Young and Shaw yet to earn the trust of the United faithful as worthy starters.

Manchester United started the 2018/19 with a win, but their performance did little to convince the fans that the team could be a force to reckon as the season commences. And should they fail to fulfil the expectations, an incompetent summer will lie as the most crucial amongst all their reasons for failure.

#2 Napoli

Carlo Ancelotti will be the new steward of Napoli for the 2018/19 campaign

Napoli emerged runners-up in the Italian Serie A after losing out to Juventus for the league title in 2017/18. However, it's hard to say whether they will be able to replicate the feats they achieved last season.

To start with, Maurizio Sarri has handed them enough misery by taking Jorginho away with him to Chelsea. While the Biancocelesti have replaced their coach with an able general in Carlo Ancelotti, the lack of quality signings mixed with a change in philosophy of play due to the arrival of a new manager could dearly harm their chances of having a good season.

Secondly, other Italian clubs like Juve, Inter and Roma have been highly active in the market, making their transfer campaign look even more disappointing.

Napoli have signed Kevin Malouit, Vinicius Morais, Fabian Ruiz, Simeone Verdi. However, the quality of these players is far from matching the signings their rivals have made. If Carlo Ancelotti fails to find the right balance, the Biancocelesti might struggle for a Champions League spot, leave alone contesting for the Scudetto.

#1 Tottenham Hotspur

Mauricio Pochettino has no new faces to look at in his squad

The Tottenham chairman had promised the Spurs fans about making important signings, one that he has miserably failed to fulfil. Manager Mauricio Pochettino saw off an extremely disappointing window as Spurs failed to make a single signing this summer.

That doesn't go to say the club didn't try buying players. Tottenham were said to be chasing Aston Villa's Jack Grealish and Bournemouth's Lewis Cook as reinforcements as the moves eventually failed to go through.

With the Lillywhites surprising maintaining a silence in the transfer market and their rivals strengthening themselves, Pochettino and co could find themselves fighting really hard for a Champions League spot this season.