LONDON, England – This summer, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool are in the lead. The 2023–24 Premier League season will begin in a few weeks, as the majority of the English top-flight teams are nearing the end of their preseason travel and are returning from the United States. After winning an unprecedented treble last season, Manchester City will once again be the club to beat, but other teams have, at least on paper, had better summer transfer windows. A few teams may already be headed for relegation, but it appears that a dark horse may be developing to contend for a UEFA Champions League position.

Before the big game on August 11 begins, take a look at some of the finest and worst summer transfer windows to date.

Positive – Chelsea

Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, and Angelo are major ins.

Major absentees include Tiemoue Bakayoko, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta, and N’Golo Kante. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s team already appears more manageable after a massive exodus this summer, despite losing Wesley Fofana to yet another long-term injury. Due to the players that have gone since the end of the previous season, the locker room is less crowded thanks to Levi Colwill’s return. The team has made some excellent acquisitions, particularly in the attack, and further deals will be made before prospects are loaned to teams like Strasbourg to help them develop some of the new talent.

Negative – Manchester City

Mateo Kovacic, major inclusion.

Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez are major absentees.

It is difficult to declare right now that Pep Guardiola’s team is better this year than last, while you could also make the case that it isn’t significantly worse. Kyle Walker might possibly leave, though, and Bernardo Silva might be needed elsewhere, which would further change the situation. It is fair to argue that this summer could be going better for City if one takes into account the fact that the deal to sign Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig is still in limbo and could deliver another damage to City’s chances after they missed out on Declan Rice.

Positive – Arsenal

Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Jurrien Timber are major ins.

Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari are notable absences.

Mikel Arteta has not only had three excellent signings made to the team, but he has also spent a significant amount of preseason with his new-look group, which might make a significant difference when the new season begins. The Gunners’ business was precise, targeted, and completed with great efficiency, suggesting that this summer’s transfer market is proceeding mostly according to plan. Folarin Balogun may also be ready to command a sizable fee if he departs permanently in the coming month as anticipated.

Negative – Tottenham Hotspur

James Madison, Pedro Porro, Dejan Kulusevski, Manor Solomon, and Guglielmo Vicario are significant additions.

Harry Winks and Lucas Moura are big no-nos.

To get Spurs moving again, Ange Postecoglou has a lot of work to do. His roster has only really been improved thus far by James Maddison when you take into account that the most of the other additions were loan agreements made permanent. Harry Kane’s departure would drastically alter the squad, and there are still whispers that he could yet sign with Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain. Although the England captain would bring in a large sum of money, he would also leave a huge void and a squad without its talisman.