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Deadline day winners and losers: Arsenal and Tottenham stand still, West Ham impress and Manchester United take a huge gamble

Anthony Martial has much to do to live up to his mammoth fee

Tom Sheen
Wednesday 02 September 2015 12:53 BST
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(Twitter/West Ham United)

At the end of a record breaking summer Premier League clubs spent £90million on a relatively subdued deadline day, largely because of Manchester United's massive move for a relatively unknown teenage striker. We look back on the final day of the window to see who did the best and worst business.

WINNERS

West Ham

In: Alex Song, Victor Moses, Nikica Jelavic, Michail Antonio

Out: Matt Jarvis

Verdict: The busiest team on deadline day added four quality players who will add much needed pace and depth to Slaven Bilic's squad. With Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia out for a while another striker was needed and Jelavic arrives knowing how Bilic works. Song is a truly excellent performer, as he showed at Upton Park last season, while Moses adds dynamism to a team that already looked dangerous on the counter-attack; Antonio is another speedy winger with a great eye for goal. Top marks all round.

Everton

In: Ramiro Funes Mori, Aaron Lennon

Out: None

Verdict: Crucially held on to John Stones and added the intriguing Mori to a squad that was extremely light on centre-backs. Lennon was excellent on loan in the second half of last season and will give Roberto Martinez attacking options for almost any situation.

Southampton

In: Virgil van Dijk

Out: None

Verdict: Like the Toffees it is more about the players that they kept than the ones they brought in, although Van Dijk is highly-rated after a near flawless spell with Celtic. Victor Wanyama, Sadio Mane, Jose Fonte and Graziano Pelle were all linked with moves away from the club this summer, but all remain at St Mary's for the next few months at least.

LOSERS

Arsenal

In: None

Out: None

Verdict: Covered in greater detail here and here but Arsenal's flaws are obvious - they need a defender, holding midfielder and a striker - and were not addressed, not just on deadline day but throughout a summer that had started so brightly after the coup of signing Petr Cech.

Tottenham

In: None

Out: Aaron Lennon, DeAndre Yedlin

Verdict: Failed to bring in their two top targets, Saido Berahino and Victor Berahino, despite both players making it clear that they are open to leaving their current clubs. Daniel Levy is known to drive a hard bargain but the Berahino bid (reported to be £5m up front with the rest in installments and incentives) is a step too far. The unwanted Erik Lamela and Emmanuel Adebayor also remain at White Hart Lane for the moment.

Manchester United

In: Anthony Martial, Regan Poole

Out: None

Verdict: The deal for an almost unknown teenage striker seems ludicrous at this moment. A £36m move that could reach £58m is a mighty gamble for a player who has scored just 11 Ligue 1 goals, he clearly has potential, but that is an almighty price to pay. David De Gea remains at the club but who knows where his head is at.

Chelsea

In: Papy Djilobodji, Michael Hector

Out: Victor Moses, Nathaniel Chalobah

Verdict: Fans of the Blues started the day dreaming of John Stones and Paul Pogba arriving at Stamford Bridge. What they got was two cheap centre-backs that a fair few will know little about. Hector is already out on loan and Djilobodji provides a bit of needed depth at centre-back. A new four-year contract for Moses before an immediate third straight loan deal appears pointless.

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