Grading Every Premier League Team's Transfer Window

The biggest league in football.
The biggest league in football.

#6 Chelsea

Players in: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jorginho, Robert Green and Mateo Kovacic

Players out: Thibaut Courtois, Kurt Zouma, Mario Pasalic, Eduardo, Matej Delac, Todd Kane, Nathan, Matt Miazga, Jamal Blackman, Lewis Baker, Nathan Baxter, Wallace Oliveira and Michy Batshuayi

Maurizio Sarri may have failed to deliver in the window.
Maurizio Sarri may have failed to deliver in the window.

Chelsea's transfer window may just be one of the most polarizing ones. After they finally fix their midfield issues, adding Jorginho and Kovacic to bolster them. They seem to have downgraded in every other position. No additions in the defense and attack, with a major change in their goalkeepers, means a lot of Chelsea's window is up for interpretation.

No centre-back additions mean that no one knows what is the best defensive pairing for Sarri's Chelsea. If a four-man system is going to be followed, Azpilicueta is probably moving back to the wing-back position, leaving the CB positions for aged David Luiz and Gary Cahill to fight over with Andreas Christensen.

Batshuayi has left again, leaving Morata to fight Giroud for his spot again. The biggest change is Courtois leaving for Real Madrid, while young Kepa replaces him. Regardless of the price, that is a massive gamble. This writer believes Kepa is going to be a tremendous player but that is an opinion and yet to be rooted in fact. A weird window for Sarri, which hopefully means he can make changes down the line.

Grade: C


#7 Crystal Palace

Players in: Cheikhou Kouyaté, Jordan Ayew, Vicente Guait and Max Meyer

Players out: Damien Delaney, Yohan Cabaye, Jaroslaw Jach, Diego Cavalieri, Bakary Sako and Cheong-yong Lee

Will the Palace come crumbling down?
Will the Palace come crumbling down?

A window that was relatively productive for Palace means that Roy Hodgson's men need to translate business into performance to stay up this season. Only simple additions which bolster their team was a good idea on Hodgson's part, and holding onto Wilfried Zaha will turn out to be a season-saver if it starts to go South.

Adding Kouyate in midfield is an average change as he had trailed off for West Ham last season, but his dynamism may help Palace this season. Jordan Ayew will do his best to help the misfiring Christian Benteke and possibly create a sound attacking system with the help of Zaha. The biggest addition has to be Max Meyer, as the ex-Schalke youngster is a prospect that can make a difference this season, as well as in the long run. A functional window for Palace, with adequate additions and no big losses.

Grade: B

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