'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The transfer window has finally slammed shut with a number of Premier League clubs making last-gasp signings on the final day. England's top-flight teams have now concluded their summer business, with the next opportunity to tweak their squads only coming in January.
Many Premier League sides were not expected to spend heavily in the transfer window due to the lingering financial constraints of the coronavirus pandemic. But that was not the case as the overall spending of the Premier League clubs passed the £1 billion mark during the summer transfer window.
Which of them had the best transfer window though? So without further adieu, let's take a look at the:
5 Premier League clubs with the best summer transfer window.
#5 West Ham United
David Moyes had to be patient in the transfer window despite West Ham's qualification to the Europa League. But the former Everton manager will no doubt be pleased with the options at his disposal following a late flurry of activity.
The most notable signing in the transfer window was the arrival of Kurt Zouma from Premier League rivals Chelsea for £29.8 million, adding much-needed athleticism to the club's defensive options. The club also brought in Nikola Vlasic from CSKA Moscow to add some creativity and goals following the departure of loanee Jesse Lingard.
The Hammers were keen to secure a deal for Lingard but found the Manchester United midfielder's price tag prohibitive. Nevertheless, they did manage to bolster their defensive midfield by adding to their Czech contingent with the loan signing of Alex Kral.
The lack of a recognized centre-forward cover for Michael Antonio is a concern, but Moyes will no doubt be happy with the transfer window. Especially considering how they were slow to begin their business in the first place.
#4 Aston Villa
The departure of Jack Grealish to Premier League champions Manchester City in the transfer window is a huge blow to Aston Villa. But Dean Smith's side have wasted little time in reinvesting the big bucks received for Jack Grealish into the squad.
Villa have grand ambitions after re-solidifying themselves as a Premier League force, and the surprise signing of Danny Ings could definitely become one of the signings of the season. The former Southampton man has been a consistent goalscorer over the past few seasons and will go some way to plugging the gap left behind by Jack Grealish.
Jamaican star Leon Bailey will also be someone to watch out for after finally making the move to the Premier League. Villa also managed to sign Emi Buendia in the transfer window and the 24-year-old looks like a solid purchase and he already has experience playing in the Premier League.
Axel Tuanzebe and Ashley Young have also been added to bolster their backline. Villa's squad looks stronger overall despite losing their talisman and it could work in their favor.
#3 Tottenham Hotspur
It was an incredible transfer window for Spurs with the Premier League club beginning their rebuild under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo and new sporting director Fabio Paratici. The latter especially played a big part in utilizing his knowledge of Italian football to seal deals for Pierluigi Gollini and Cristian Romero.
The north London club also managed to bring in tricky playmaker Bryan Gil from Sevilla, while the club also managed to clear a lot of deadwood with the likes of Serge Aurier, Joe Hart and Danny Rose leaving the club.
Spurs also brought in Barcelona defender Emerson Royal on the final day of the transfer window to solve the club's right-back conundrum.
However, the key success of Spurs' transfer window has undoubtedly been to keep Harry Kane out of the clutches of Manchester City. The club had no Champions League football to offer and as such Kane was constantly linked with a move to the Premier League champions. Yet Tottenham kept him at the club and even managed to agree a new long-term contract for Heung-min Son.
#2 Manchester United
Even the most optimistic of Manchester United fans would not have envisaged the transfer window that followed this summer. The Red Devils secured the long-awaited signing of Jadon Sancho followed by the capture of serial winner Raphael Varane and the return of the prodigal son, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo's return to the Premier League was a statement signing of the summer, with the forward having scored 29 league goals to finish as Serie A's leading scorer last season.
The addition of Varane has given the Red Devils at long last a remedy to their questionable defense.
United also managed to offload Daniel James to Leeds for £25 million on the last day of the transfer window, while youngsters Axel Tuanzebe and Brandon Williams secured season-long loans to Aston Villa and Norwich respectively.
The Red Devils have added three of the highest quality players to their areas of need. However, the failure to sign a defensive midfielder is the only blot in an otherwise perfect transfer window for the club.
#1 Chelsea
Chelsea smashed their transfer record this summer by bringing in Romelu Lukaku to the club for around £98 million.
The signing of an elite centre-forward was a priority for the Blues this summer and Lukaku's arrival has certainly fulfilled that. The Belgian could certainly prove the difference in the Premier League for Chelsea, who boast one of the most talented and deepest squads in world football at the moment.
Chelsea also made the signing of Saul Niguez in the dying stages of the transfer window, with the Spaniard adding another layer of quality to the Premier League side's midfield.
Another reason for Chelsea to be ranked No. 1 was despite spending a huge sum on Lukaku, they managed to end the transfer window in profit after trimming a bloated squad. They raised £77 million from the sales of academy graduates Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi alone, with plenty of other fringe players also departing the club.
Although the Premier League giants failed to agree a deal for Sevilla's Jules Kounde following Kurt Zouma's exit, the rise of academy starlet Trevoh Chalobah counts as a potential remedy.
Chelsea already have a strong squad but with such key additions in the transfer window, they could definitely be one of the favorites to lift the Premier League this season.
