It's been a strange transfer window so far, especially for the top six.
There is very little movement and ironically, given the transfer ban, Chelsea fans feeling like it’s been a great one!
Liverpool supporters are getting edgy as it appears that Jurgen Klopp is satisfied with his existing personnel?
I’d be surprised if we don’t see any movement into Anfield, as last season’s nearly-but-not-quite attempt at the title needs an upgrade to stay with City.
The question is: where do they need to improve?
With Xherdan Shaqiri picking up a calf injury on international duty with Switzerland, perhaps a back-up to the front three might be on the cards?
Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has quietly smashed his club’s transfer record with the signing of Spain international midfielder Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, AKA Rodri on a £63m, five-year deal from Atletico Madrid, eclipsing the £60m they paid Leicester for Riyad Mahrez in last July.
The 23-year-old looks like another astute purchase and will bring an option to City’s midfield similar to Sergio Busquets - intelligent, hardworking and brilliant at winning the ball. Perhaps a signing in the light of Kevin de Bruyne’s continuing injury problems?
Across to the red side of Manchester and nobody knows what the hell is going on. That seems to include the players and coach himself .
David de Gea has still not signed a new contract, Romelu Lukaku is looking to move to Italy, Ander Herrera has already gone to Paris St-Germain and the club are keeping their fingers crossed on someone coming along to pay Alexis Sanchez’s ridiculous wages.
Victor Lindelof’s agent Hasan Cetinkaya said: “He is on the radar of a great European club” and let’s not even start talking about Paul Pogba!
UNITED UPGRADE: Rightback Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Photo: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters.
On the up side, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been brought in for £45m from Crystal Palace, a very tidy rightback who will be a huge step-up from Ashley Young.
What is baffling is the ‘reported’ interest in Chelsea flop Tiemoue Bakayoko. Remember him? The guy we brought in as a replacement for outgoing Man Utd flop Nemanja Matic.
He was possibly the worst player (including Alvaro Morata) that I’ve ever seen run onto the Stamford Bridge pitch. Did he completely turn around his game on loan? Why would anyone want him and for £40m?
I hope for his and your sake I’m wrong. Either way, just a tabloid rumour.
In London, Arsenal fans are revolting AGAIN as chairman Stan Kroenke doesn’t appear to be loosening his belt AGAIN.
Their interest in Wilfried Zaha seems to be fading away, baulking at the huge asking price. For me, Zaha is still one of the best players in the Premier League and would of course be a major plus for anyone.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are both decent, but have never really set the Emirates alight and a switch there could work.
However, it feels like the Gunners issues lie deeper in the squad, midfield, defence and depth on the bench.
It’s a similar story at the New White Hart Lane.
Daniel Levy has pulled off a sci-fi style stadium, but what the fans really want and what the club really needs right now is two or three world-class additions to take their excellent foundation to the next level.
As mentioned, as Chelsea fans, things are great considering the potentially fatal blow of a double transfer window ban (and the loss of Eden Hazard).
Not only has unity returned to the Bridge for both with staff and fans, but we’ve got two world-class signings, Christian Pulisic, ok, he’s still to prove himself in England, but bags of potential and N'Golo Kante! The best holding midfielder on the planet.
When I say "signing", it’s like he disappeared under Antonio Conte, but under Lamps he will return to the role he’s famous for.
So yes, as of today not a mountain of transfers, but it is starting to shape up with just (can you believe it) 24 days until the start of the new season, when Liverpool host Norwich.
Drop me a mail: [email protected] or on Twitter: @thehonestnick