2026/27 Transfer Window: Expensive Deals Are Pushing Tottenham, Man Utd, and Liverpool into Crisis

After five rounds of the 2026/27 Premier League season, the picture is sobering: the more clubs spent, the harder they fell. Tottenham Hotspur are 18th after seven hours without a league goal. Manchester United and Liverpool are also struggling. Tottenham's transfer window was chaotic: Omar Marmoush, Savio and Mykhailo Mudryk arrived despite having Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel already. The attacking congestion made it harder for Roberto De Zerbi to build a cohesive system. United paid £50m for Andrey Santos, a 22-year-old who is not yet the midfield shield the team needs. Liverpool signed Bradley Barcola late, but he has yet to produce meaningful numbers. Nottingham Forest spent £45m on Liam Delap, who scored only once in 28 league appearances last season. Chelsea signed Emmanuel Emegha on a seven-year deal and loaned him back to Strasbourg, raising concerns about amortization and internal transfer pricing. The early criticism may be premature. Savio has created chances despite poor finishing from teammates, and five games is too small a sample to judge. The biggest lesson is the difference between strategy and opportunism in recruitment. Clubs need time, patience and a clear tactical structure before expensive signings can deliver value. The pressure is high, but the season is long, and several high-profile deals could still turn around.