Liverpool, Manchester United Lead the Transfer Window Losers | OneFootball

I recognize how my position might stir up a little controversy. Liverpool losers? Didn’t they just win their first three games, one of three undefeated teams remaining in the league? Are you hitting the ayahuasca again? But let me make my claims before you sacrifice me on the altar of social media.

Liverpool

Total Spend: $601M (9 players)Total Sold: $281.5M (16 total: 8 sold, 8 loaned out)Net: -$391.5Hooligan Grade: C

Please hear me out on this call. Liverpool are gorging from the transfer trough like they’ve never seen food before. And consuming too much, too fast leads to one thing: an upset stomach.

Food analogies aside, I think Liverpool made some excellent decisions over summer. Hugo Ekitiké is a monster signing, and Miloš Kerkez has slotted into the left back position so brilliantly few folks are asking “Where’s TAA?” Jeremie Frimpong, prior to his injury, was looking good. But this excellence is tempered, bogged down if you will, by the following.

It’s harsh of me, but Florian Witrz has been a complete dud so far. He’s got time to grow into the role, but for $157M I expected a bit more. I think the Alexander Isak signing is a mistake. It was too expensive, and with Ekitiké firing like this where are you going to put him? I know Arne Slot is a big believer in having backup and rotating players, but you do not drop $170M on a rotating forward.

Most importantly, Liverpool failed to secure another center-back. Ibrahima Konaté has been Liverpool’s weakest player so far, and Marc Guéhi added to this roster would have made the Reds nearly invincible. But he ain’t there, and I think that will bite them sometime in the near future.

And the spend. My god, look at that spend. Ridiculous.

Manchester United

Total Spend: $310.7M (5 players)Total Sold: $83.8M (2 sold, 13 loaned out, 4 released on free, 1 retired)Net: -$226.9MHooligan Grade: D

Sorry, Man U apologists, but this transfer window stinks worse than your performance against Tottenham in the Europa League final.

Congrats on selling Alejandro Garnacho and Antony. Getting anything more than spare change for them is a win. Of course, those are the ONLY two players you managed to sell. Not Casemiro, Jadon Sancho or Marcus Rashford. The latter two you had to loan out (but I suspect you’re still carrying a hefty portion of their wage bill).

On the buying side, Benjamin Šeško already looks like a classic United-type bust (what striker doesn’t step up to take a penalty kick?). It’s too soon to judge Matheus Cunha (particularly as he pulled up 15 minutes into the Burnley match), but Bryan Mbuemo was outstanding business and keeps this window from being a “F”. Oh, and avoiding the Emi Martínez dumpster fire, instead picking up Senne Lammens. Expect to see the Belgian start after the International Break.

Tottenham Hotspur

Total Spend: $237M (8 players)Total Sold: $49.6M (2 players, 1 undisclosed, 12 loaned out, 4 released on free)Net: -$187.4MHooligan Grade: C-

It seems like hating on Spurs is a bit of a thing here at Hooligan Soccer, but in my defense if they stopped making it SO EASY I’d gladly turn my ire elsewhere.

Although Spurs are on my loser list, I have to give props for some cagey moves over the summer. Lifting Thomas Frank and key members of his staff from Brentford was a stroke of genius. Well played. Same goes for signing Mohammed Kudus. OK, praise over.

I’m not sure the club will ever live down Arsenal swooping in at the last minute to snatch Eberechi Eze from under their nose. That was embarrassing, like having your date leave with someone else whilst you were busy arguing over the check. I’m really not snubbing Xavi Simons, but he’s no Eze, and you overpaid. Mathys Tel will never amount to anything, and now you’ve got him on the books for six years!

Fulham

Total Spend: $47.5M (3 players)Total Sold: $21.8M (14 total: 2 sold, 1 undisclosed, 5 loaned out, 6 released on free)Net: -$25.8MHooligan Grade: F

A team that makes little to no transfers is usually a loser (the exception was last season’s Liverpool). Up until deadline day Fulham had a total of ONE inbound player on loan, and ONE signing (for $584K). No disrespect to Brazilian winger Kevin, signed on deadline day from Shakhtar Donetsk, but this seemed like a big-time desperation move by the Khan family to avoid a full-blown uprising from angry supporters.

Oh, and they still didn’t make any profit!