I know Henry Winter is an esteemed journalist, but how does he know all of this will happen in 1 week.
Itās been quite the deluge of info from him in the last few hrs.
Wanted something like:
Wirtz
Garcia
Hato
Gyƶkeres
Williams
With Trossard, zina and Kiwior likely making way.
Gonna get:
Zubimendi
Kepa
Norgaard
Mosquera
Gyokeres
Madueke
Eze
Canāt say Iām thrilled but if we land Hato and Gyok itās at least 2/5 I wanted and both logical deals to make. Zubi was necessary in the end so happier with it, just hope he can be half as good as TP5.
Hard to really decide how I feel, one minute Iām mad that we spend all this money but let wirtz go elsewhere, I had convinced myself the last two windows were us saving up for him, couldāve lived with holes elsewhere for a superstar like him. Next min I can rationalise all the signings as necessary, useful and not that bad in reality. I think what weāve done is more āblandā than anything, nothing sexy but pretty sensible.
I think the key to turning this window from fine to good is not signing eze and getting an actual top left winger. Just canāt see who is available to achieve that, Barcola would get me most excited.
I think the window has been good so far. If we pull off the rest of our business the 1st XI looks elite and 2nd XI look like a really high PL/Cup side. Can have healthy competition, rotation and tactical adjustments
I donāt think a major LW signing is coming tbh
You didnāt want us to replace Partey & Jorginho?
No I wanted and expected Partey to stay given the talk most of the season.
Even if he did leave, I thought Rice finally goes into the 6 role that Iām sure he was originally bought for. Jorginhoās minutes could be covered by MLS.
The second list looks better with Zubimendi, Gyokeres and Eze being first team players and although Wirtz would have been the best LW, realistically we were never going to spend 120m on him, as well as another 250m on the others.
If we get Gyokeres and Eze with the signings we already have, it would be a very good window.
I thought Wirtz was a CAM?
Wasnāt Arteta trying to get Zubimendi for the last 2 seasons though knowing heād play the 6?
Well itās what I assumed anyway 
Yes, agreed.
Solid 7.5/10
If we get both Gyokeres and Eze then it will be a nice window.
He is and thatās where Iād have played him. Hence also wanting Williams.
We wouldāve had:
Raya
Timber Saliba Gabriel MLS
Odegaard Rice Wirtz
Saka Gyokeres Williams
With an outlay of around 300m, leaving a backup team of:
Garcia
White GAP Hato Calafiori
Trossard Partey Merino
Nwaneri Havertz Martinelli
Personally feel like that wouldāve been almost perfect, so many options and rotation possibilities. 50-60m returned in sales to bring the net spend closer to 200-250m. Saved up for 2 windows, should be possible.
Wirtz Gyokeres and Williams wouldāve been first team players.
Fair point but it was only last summer we were strongly linked wasnāt it? So when we signed rice Iām sure it was with the idea to be the 6.
Arteta then made him an 8 because we had better balance with Partey deeper, but if the latter was to leave I think we should be putting rice back where he was signed for really.
Donāt have a huge issue with Rice at 8 but I think we can add more creativity higher up the pitch if we move him back.
Thatās true but I donāt think our budget would have stretched that far with Zubimendi, Norgaard, Mosquera and Kepa already needed for strengthening as well.
This could be a record breaking window anyway without Williams and Wirtz so thatās probably why Arteta has gone for Eze and Madueke instead.
I wanted Wirtz too, and think he would have been a great signing for us, but his best position is as a No.10 and thatās what Liverpool have bought him as. Williams, as evidenced by signing a new contract, wasnāt available for transfer.
Kepa is arguably a better backup GK than Garcia would have been, plus has given us more money to spend elsewhere.
Personally, I think we are still could be on track for our best ever window. The clubs aim seems to be to get two good players in each position.
So would we. Odegaard can play a slightly deeper role on the right side (he does a lot anyway) and Wirtz be the most advanced midfielder.
The chance has gone with Wirtz now but thatās the type of midfield Iām still looking for personally. Barca and City under pep have set the template, but weāve got a 110m DM in the iniesta/gundogan/bernardo slot, hence Iād rather have put him deeper and sign a creator.
Iām not following the money argument tbh, if we get everyone rumoured itās basically the same expense with my previous assumption Partey was staying (we can add 12m Norgaard now we know more).
Wirtz - 120m
Garcia - 25m
Hato - 40m
Gyokeres - 60m
Williams - 50m
Norgaard - 12m
Total = 307m out
Assume we recoup at least 77m (Kiwior 30, Trossard 30, zina 17) that leaves us spending 230m.
Vs actual:
Zubimendi - 60m
Kepa - 5m
Norgaard - 12m
Mosquera - 20m
Madueke - 50m
Gyokeres - 60m
Eze - 65m
Total: 272m out
Take the same 77m off and leaves 195m.
Thatās 35m difference, coincidentally roughly the same cost of us signing merino last year 
If we sign Eze, we will be signing a creator who can play alongside Odegaard in the left-No.8 position, but we are also buying a player who will be happy to play a squad role for the team. I think you are also underestimating the impact that Zubimendi will have on the team, in dictating the play and progressive passing from deep.
Plus donāt rule out us still going for Rodrygo towards the end of the window.