Phil McNulty's deadline day verdict: Manchester United, Arsenal, Man City, Tottenham and Aston Villa

Manchester United fans were universally stunned by the fact that their attacking options were thinner after the transfer window closed than when it opened. Manager Ruben Amorim had effectively discarded Marcus Rashford from his plans, with the 27-year-old being loaned out to Aston Villa, with United stating Villa Park would be covering at least 75% of his wages.

Amorim’s decision to play young English midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine, rather than expensive, established forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, in the 0-2 home defeat by Crystal Palace, was undoubtedly a damning indictment of the personnel at his disposal. The lack of forwards will be the biggest talking point from Manchester United’s transfer window, cruelly exposing their threadbare situation and mocking their status as the third-richest football club in the world.

The root cause is that given Manchester United’s current financial situation and their need to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), they were unable to make big signings without significant sales. This is why there were even rumours that Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, two Old Trafford gems and homegrown players, could be sold to create wriggle room in other markets.

Amorim ultimately kept both young players, while the biggest positive news was that 22-year-old starlet Amad Diallo was handed a new five-and-a-half-year deal. Lecce’s 20-year-old Danish defender Patrick Dorgu was the only significant arrival, in a deal that could be worth £29 million, while England U19 defender Ayden Heaven joined from Arsenal. Few will shed a tear at the loan move of Antony to Real Betis, with the Brazilian widely regarded as the worst signing in the club’s history, having been bought from Ajax by then-manager Erik ten Hag for £81 million in August 2022.

However, what is undeniable is that this was as disappointing a transfer window as Manchester United have had this season, but the new management at Old Trafford can also legitimately argue that they are in a ‘no-win’ situation. Had Manchester United spent on short-term fixes in this window, they would have been criticised for taking financial risks and wasting money; as it is, they will be criticised for not spending, while greater financial prudence in the market could have helped them avoid the pitfalls of the past. The club has lost five of their six home games and are currently 13th in the Premier League, which does little to excite long-suffering Manchester United fans.

This transfer window will only add to the feeling that the rest of this season will be about keeping the operation going and controlling the damage until Amorim can reshape the team more in the summer. Arsenal, at the close of the window, were basking in the glow of a 5-1 demolition of reigning champions Manchester City and the roles played by teenage prodigies Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri. They remain six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, having played a game more, and the biggest question mark is over Arsenal’s failure to bring in an experienced, established goalscorer, which most seasoned observers believe they require.

This is clearly also the view of manager Mikel Arteta, hence their failed attempt to prise England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in this window. There was an air of anxiety when Kai Havertz missed a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 to Arsenal against Manchester City, with social media awash with questions about the lack of a forward, although all was well in the end as the German later scored a stunning goal against City. This was a problem that should have been addressed in the summer when Arsenal were strongly linked with RB Leipzig’s Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko, but ultimately failed to agree a deal.

Arteta will point to the fact that Arsenal are second only to Liverpool not only in the league table, but also in goals scored (49) and are through to the Champions League last 16 automatically as evidence that no panic measures are necessary. He has a point, but there is still a nagging doubt that as the season progresses, Arsenal may pay the price for not having a forward who can win them matches. Final judgement must be reserved. Is Guardiola papering over the cracks at a broken Manchester City?

Their second-half collapse in the 5-1 hammering by Arsenal again highlighted their disappointing season, following the pattern of their 2-4 Champions League defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain, where they also conceded four goals in the second half. Guardiola’s side made history by winning their fourth successive title last season, but they now look old, flawed, vulnerable and a pale shadow of their all-conquering former selves, with opponents exploiting their frailties. The £50 million signing of Porto’s 23-year-old midfielder Nico Gonzalez will add steel to a midfield area where the world-class form of Rodri has dipped this season, exacerbated by the fact that Kevin De Bruyne (33), along with 30-year-olds Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, are starting to look jaded.

Guardiola has finally found a replacement for the Argentine striker Julian Alvarez that he has been craving, signing 25-year-old Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, in a deal that could eventually be worth £63 million. He has also bought two defenders for the future, Abdoukodir Khusanov, 20, from Lens for £33.6 million and teenager Vito Reis from Palmeiras for £29.6 million. The spending is close to £180 million, but is still only a small part of the rebuilding job facing Guardiola. It remains to be seen whether the four will have a significant impact on the ailing champions. These appear to be only the first steps of a rebuild, with the bigger work to be done in the summer.

Unai Emery continues his excellent work at Aston Villa, guiding them into the Champions League last 16 automatically. The rigours of European competition can occasionally leave a hangover on Premier League form, but they remain in the hunt for a top-four finish. Emery’s clear ambition to ask for reinforcements was obvious, particularly after the maverick forward John Duran was sold to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League for £65 million. Arsenal’s pursuit of England forward Watkins was rebuffed, which allowed Villa to back Emery’s ambition with key signings as the transfer window closed.

Emery’s good track record of reviving players will give Villa hope that he can get Marcus Rashford’s career back on track following his loan move from Manchester United, while the three-time Champions League winner from Real Madrid, Marco Asensio, will add experience and street-wise nous. Another loan signing from Chelsea, Axel Disasi, will fill the need for strengthening at centre-back, while the arrival of Donyell Malen from Dortmund will add quality on the flanks and in attack. Meanwhile, Tottenham pulled off a remarkable deal at the death of the window, securing the loan of Bayern Munich’s teenage prodigy forward Mathys Tel, with the option to buy him for £50 million on a permanent deal, with a six-year contract on offer.

The 19-year-old will add vibrancy to Tottenham’s attack, while a deal to snatch Lens’ 26-year-old defender Kevin Danso from under the noses of Wolves will strengthen a defence badly hit by long-term injuries to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. But has manager Ange Postecoglou been backed enough after missing out on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and seeing Axel Disasi choose Aston Villa?