1. West Brom
Notable Ins: Jay Rodriguez, Gareth Barry, Kieran Gibbs, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Ahmed Hegazi, Oliver Burke
Notable Outs: Darren Fletcher, Sebastien Pocognoli, Craig Gardener
West Brom won’t top many Premier League categories, but no club performed smarter and more efficiently during this transfer window.
The Baggies improved their talent at every area of the team. Such improvement owes everything to a clutch of smart signings, with each one representing excellent value.
It’s hard to pick the best deal, but the loan signing of Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi has to be close. He’s made a fast start to life in the Premier League, per WhoScored.com:
Ahmed Hegazi: Is the only Premier League player to have earned the WhoScored man of the match award in each of his first two apps pic.twitter.com/5gePLsjaym
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) August 21, 2017
If Hegazi has been solid the same will be expected of veteran Gareth Barry. The 36-year-old signed on a cost-effective and short-term deal to anchor midfield.
Barry’s efforts will be aided by the stunning loan capture of Grzegorz Krychowiak. Landing the bruising Poland international from Paris Saint-Germain represents a major coup for Baggies boss Tony Pulis.
Krychowiak’s uncompromising and defensive style will quickly endear him to Pulis.
The West Brom manager is likely to feel the same way about Gibbs, who arrived from Arsenal for a very reasonable £7 million fee. If he can stay healthy, Gibbs will prove a true bargain.
Pulis’ vision for progressive football isn’t tied to the intricate, combination passing through the middle common in the modern era. Instead, this is a manager still faithful to exploiting width on the flanks.
Gibbs’ forward-thinking qualities will help the Baggies do exactly that.
There is already more pace in forward areas after the arrival of Rodriguez. He’s a nifty and intelligent mover, one who has already opened his account for West Brom this season, earning a point against Pulis’ old side Stoke in the process.
The Baggies deserve plaudits for keeping key centre-back and skipper Jonny Evans out of the clutches of interested clubs.
If Pulis can keep his new charges fit, a seemingly unlikely challenge for a Europa League spot could be on the cards.