Winners/Losers in the Transfer Window

Today concluded the summer transfer window, closing at 11 PM BST or 5 PM ET. Many interesting deadline deals took place, and there were clear winners and losers from the window.

WINNERS

QPR - Newly promoted last year from the Championship, Queens Park needed to add some experience to their squad in order to stay in the Premier League. They were able to add controversial midfielder Joey Barton, who will add some intensity along with his unorthodox style of play, winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, defenders Armand Traore and Luke Young from Arsenal and Aston Villa respectively, and today center back Anton Ferdinand. Experience in the back is key in the Premier League, and QPR have got that with their signings. SWP will provide speed on the outside and Barton will help settle the midfield. I think the most important move QPR made was one that they didn't make - they were able to keep talismanic midfielder Adel Taarabt at Loftus Road. With this squad, I think QPR is safe from relegation by a good amount, and will have the opportunity to finish in the top half of the table.

Stoke - Stoke lost Danny Welbeck this summer as his loan deal expired, but added Peter Crouch, Cameron Jerome and Wilson Palacios on deadline day. They were also able to add Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate over the summer. Crouch brings a different option for any team to defend against, and should fit perfectly into Stoke's long-ball style. Palacios brings more physicality in the midfield to a team already notorious for its physical play. Upson and Woodgate are both out of their primes, but give Tony Pulis solid, experienced options to play alongside Ryan Shawcross. Well done this summer by Stoke yet again.

Bolton - Bolton were also winners this window, most importantly holding onto defender Gary Cahill, while also signing Gael Kakuta on loan, Dedryck Boyata on loan, and signing David N'Gog for an undisclosed fee. Bolton have the talent to play with some of the bigger clubs, and keeping their best player will allow them to remain exciting for the remainder of the season. Boyata provides some young talent to bolster the back and while Kakuta has yet to fill his potential on the wings, Owen Coyle is a great coach who could help his development. N'Gog also provides another attacking option for Coyle going forward.

Inter Milan - Inter watched Samuel Eto'o depart the San Siro this summer, but cashed in on his move to Anzhi, and were able to bring in Diego Forlan and Mauro Zarate to replace him. Inter also were able to hold on to Wesley Sneijder, their most important midfield player. Inter now have a plethora of attacking options, and maintained the solid core (minus Eto'o) that has helped them to their recent successes.  Inter should be a close challenger to AC Milan this season for the Scudetto.

LOSERS


Arsenal - Yes, I know they just added Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos, and Park Chu-Young in recent days, but this a disastrous window for Arsenal. They lost star left-back Gael Clichy and arguably the EPL's best midfielder, Samir Nasri, to rivals Manchester City. Captain Cesc Fabregas moved to Barcelona. Emmanuel Eboue also moved on to Galatasaray, leaving the midfield even more thin. Arsenal's new acquisitions will help them compete for a Champions League place, but nothing more. Selling three of your best players in one summer is never a good idea, and even a squad as deep as Real Madrid or Barcelona would be weakened by such moves. There are many issues surrounding each player's move, but Arsenal will be set back a few years by the departures this summer.

Everton - The club no one wants to buy saw their summer go from bad to worse. The club lost prominent midfielder Mikel Arteta to Arsenal and forward Jermaine Beckford to Leicester. They were able to secure a loan for Roysten Drenthe, but really Everton has done nothing of note. Manager David Moyes said it would be a challenge to finish in the top ten given his transfer funds, and that will be even more difficult now. Everton have a decent core so they should be safe from relegation, but Everton's saga will drag on the players and the team's results.

Valencia - Valencia sold Juan Mata to Chelsea very late in the transfer window, leaving little opportunity to find a replacement, and Joaquin to Malaga in June. Valencia have often sold many of their best players and still been a good side in the La Liga, but their Champions League campaign does not look promising against Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea. It took a near-miraculous comeback in the first week of fixtures to defeat lowly Racing Santander for Los Che, and they could struggle to reach the Champions League places this year because of their weakened squad.