The Premier League transfer window slammed shut after one of the most dramatic Deadline Days in recent memory, capping a summer in which English top-flight clubs spent an eye-watering £3.2billion on new signings.
The highest-profile deal of the window came when Manchester City matched the British record transfer fee of £125million to sign Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea. But plenty of shrewd business was also done elsewhere, with Brentford's £40million capture of Mamadou Sangare already looking like a bargain.
Daily Mail Sport's panel of writers has picked out the clubs they believe won, and lost, the transfer window.
Brentford's bargain business
Ian Ladyman named Brentford as his pick of the window, pointing out that the Bees had not lost any of their big names over the summer while adding a midfielder "everyone in the game is talking about." He said Sangare "looks one of the signings of the year already" and questioned why no bigger club had come in for striker Igor Thiago.
Chelsea's transformation under Alonso
Several panelists picked Chelsea, crediting new manager Xabi Alonso for turning "chaos" into "cohesion," in the words of Craig Hope, who said the fee recouped for Fernandez was "remarkable." Hope praised the signings of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, and said Morgan Rogers could provide "stardust" alongside Cole Palmer.
Matt Barlow said he "rather liked" Chelsea's business, highlighting a spine of experience running from defender Maxence Lacroix through Henderson to Welbeck, though he added he disliked any talk of "winning" the transfer window.
Tom Collomosse praised Chelsea for signing "two of Aston Villa's best players," plus Welbeck and Henderson, alongside what he called a possible breakout talent in Marco Palestra. He noted Chelsea kept Joao Pedro while selling Fernandez, describing him as "an outstanding midfielder but perhaps not always the easiest character to manage."
Kieran Gill said Chelsea had promised fans they would move away from their "Youth Club obsession" and had delivered, signing ready-made players and selling a player who no longer wanted to be there for a fee equalling the British record. Chris Wheeler added that despite the collapse of a move for Lamine Camara from Monaco, it had been "a great window" for Chelsea following a strong start to the season under Alonso.
Manchester City rebuild their midfield
Isaan Khan picked Manchester City, noting that signing Fernandez and Elliot Anderson had "massively bolstered" a midfield left short by Rodri's departure, while sales of Savinho, Omar Marmoush, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez and James Trafford brought in "good fees."
Nathan Salt also went for City, saying the club were at "a really delicate moment" following Pep Guardiola's departure and needed a big summer. He said City already had the best striker in the league and one of the world's best goalkeepers, and had rebuilt their midfield with Anderson, Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi, calling it "ruthless levels of execution."
Arsenal consolidate their title bid
Bobby Manzi named Arsenal, saying the champions had consolidated from their title-winning season and, while another winger could have been added, remained "well-placed to go back-to-back."
Aston Villa and Coventry left exposed
Among the losers, Ian Ladyman pointed to Aston Villa, noting that six starting members of the side that won the Europa League had left, including their goalkeeper, centre half and striker.
Matt Barlow named Coventry, managed by Frank Lampard, saying he was "not sure" the club had strengthened enough to survive after starting the season with back-to-back defeats.
Manchester United's muddled rebuild
Manchester United were named as losers by three of the panel. Craig Hope said United had been in a position of strength, back in the Champions League, but had failed to capitalise, adding that Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, who managed one Premier League goal between them last season, "are not the answer," and that the club had let down head coach Michael Carrick.
Tom Collomosse questioned paying £50million for Santos, saying there was little to suggest United would be different from last season and remained heavily reliant on Bruno Fernandes. Chris Wheeler said the momentum built under Carrick in the second half of last season was in danger of being lost, calling the midfield rebuild muddled and the unresolved issues at left back "a disaster waiting to happen."
Liverpool and Crystal Palace left short
Kieran Gill named Liverpool, saying that although they eventually completed the signing of Bradley Barcola, it had been "a deflating outcome" after the club were left scrambling on Deadline Day to fill gaps that still exist, following heavy spending the previous year on players yet to live up to the hype.
Nathan Salt also picked Liverpool, saying the club had left themselves "woefully short" in central midfield and unbalanced at full back, despite praising manager Andoni Iraola and the signing of Barcola. Salt said Liverpool were "asking Iraola to build a house and only giving him half the tools required to do so."
Isaan Khan named Crystal Palace, noting the club had lost key players including Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix, with forwards Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta also candidates to leave before the deadline. He said that after losing Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi the previous season, it "could well be a tough season" for Palace.
Fulham's gamble
Bobby Manzi also flagged Fulham, saying the club had "plenty of potential" but questioned whether they had the experience to make a good fist of the league, calling it "not a total write-off" but one with "lots of risk and little certainty."
