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For some football fans, summer is the part of the calendar they look forward to the most – and it’s not just because it’s filled with a World Cup every four years! Rather, it’s because the end of the season only means one thing: it’s transfer time! The 2026 window is likely to be shattered once again, with some big names set to make significant investments before the September 1 deadline.
We know that some transfers go well for all parties involved, but there are many where at least one of the clubs, or even the player, wonders what could have happened if they had made a different decision at the negotiating table.
AIM is here to make sure you know who made the best of each massive deal before the players are even officially revealed. Throughout the summer window, we’ll be assessing each deal as it happens, allowing you to track the big winners – and losers – of the transfer season.
For Liverpool: An emotional release. Robertson easily ranks among the best signings in the club’s history, a key figure in the Jurgen Klopp era acquired for just £8 million from Hull City in 2017 and, in his glory, was arguably the best left-back in the world. There is no denying, however, that age had started to catch up with the 32-year-old – which is why Liverpool moved early to replace him by bringing in Milos Kerkez last summer, and would have even sold Robertson during the winter window if they could have recalled Kostas Tsimikas from Roma. The problem now, however, is that Kerkez still hasn’t fully settled in at Anfield, while it has become painfully clear during a grueling 2025-26 campaign for the Reds that Robertson’s experience, tenacity and personality will be sorely missed on Merseyside. Indeed, the worry among fans now is that Robertson’s departure, along with that of Mohamed Salah, will only lead to an even greater drop in standards next season.
For Tottenham: Another surprising decision. The Spurs obviously tried to sign Robertson in January, but it was difficult to understand why exactly. Tottenham’s team may have lacked quality and depth in several areas of the pitch, but left-back wasn’t really one of them. Ben Davies had of course just broken his ankle, but Spurs still had a choice between Destiny Udogie and the versatile Djed Spence, while Brazilian teenager Souza had just arrived from Santos. The argument was that Robertson would have been an important addition to a dressing room in disarray – and he could certainly help new coach Roberto De Zerbi cultivate a new culture of 100 per cent commitment within the squad. The fact that he arrived late for free is a nice little bonus, but the feeling persists that Tottenham didn’t necessarily need Robertson.
For Robertson: A confusing decision. It’s understandable why Robertson was ready to leave Liverpool in January. He had been relegated to second place behind a player who was not performing particularly well and who wanted to play regularly in the Premier League in the run-up to the World Cup – something Spurs were apparently prepared to offer him. Robertson ended up starting more games in the second half of the season than he probably expected, meaning he is in good form as he heads to North America, but there was never any chance of him staying at Anfield, as Liverpool didn’t offer him an extension at any point. However, he had other options besides Spurs, with Juventus among those reportedly interested in signing the Scottish skipper. So it’s a bit strange that he decided to join a club that narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season. However, Robertson might actually find Tottenham to be a more attractive option now than they were in January, given that De Zerbi is undoubtedly capable of significantly improving Spurs over the summer. However, we’re still not convinced that Robertson will play much more in north London than he did at Liverpool last season.
For Atalanta: Another demonstration of their brilliant economic model. Atalanta signed Ederson from Salernitana in 2022 for around €23 million and could now almost double that amount if all additions are met by selling him to United after four years of fantastic service which included historic Europa League success. There’s no doubt that replacing the Brazilian will be difficult, but that’s what Atalanta does: they unearth diamonds in the rough then sell them to the highest bidder a few seasons later. Remember, Atletico Madrid also wanted Ederson, but Atalanta remained firm on the fee and United ultimately agreed to pay what they demanded for a player with only one year left on his contract. Another great job from one of the best recruiting teams in the industry.
For United: A shrewd signing from a club renowned for reckless recruitment. With Casemiro bidding farewell to Old Trafford, United needed another midfielder. They therefore opted for an identical replacement by calling on another Brazilian winning ball who can also play. Ederson’s stock has fallen somewhat over the past year – which is why he is not in Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad and Casemiro is. However, this arguably has a lot to do with Gian Piero Gasperini’s departure from Atalanta last summer, as Ederson was previously seen as “the lynchpin” of the formidable team that dismantled Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the 2024 Europa League final. At the time, Ederson was linked with Liverpool and Manchester City, and if he could rediscover that form, he could form a formidable midfield partnership with Kobbie Mainoo – because while Ederson may not be as good as Casemiro was in his prime, he is a serious improvement over Manuel Ugarte!
For Ederson: The big change he has long deserved. Ederson has never hidden his interest in playing in the Premier League, and he will now have the opportunity to test himself in a league that should suit his particular skillset. Ederson is excellent when it comes to winning back and maintaining possession, whilst also being a threat in the box. It could of course be argued that he would have been better off joining Diego Simeone’s Atletico, but Michael Carrick was an excellent defensive midfielder himself and, more importantly, he appears to have restored some stability to Old Trafford, which was previously seen as a very dangerous destination for talented footballers hoping to take their game to the next level. As far as we are concerned, Ederson has everything to make a big impact at the ‘Theater of Dreams’, which would undoubtedly contribute to his return to the Brazil team.
For Newcastle: A revealing change in approach. Newcastle fought tooth and nail to retain Alexander Isak last summer before belatedly allowing him to join Liverpool. Sad as it is, it would have been far better to give in immediately and let him leave as soon as he filed a transfer request, as the disruption caused by the striking Swede did Eddie Howe and his players no favors. So Newcastle moved quickly to offload another unstable striker – and for a fantastic fee. Gordon is a hard-working, talented and versatile striker – but he has never done anything for club or country that would suggest he is worth £69m. Of course, the challenge now for Newcastle is to invest the money wisely, as they completely squandered what they got for Isak, and attracting top talent won’t be any easier this summer. The Magpies can no longer offer Champions League football to potential new signings, and their pathetic 12th place finish in the Premier League, coupled with Gordon’s desire to follow Isak to St. James’ Park, proves that Newcastle no longer pose a serious threat to England’s top flight under increasingly disinterested Saudi owners.
For Barcelona: A truly worrying sign. Barcelona have been unable to spend big on players for some time now due to their well-documented problems with complying with La Liga’s strict financial regulations. So it doesn’t bode well that their first move after finally getting their house in order is to spend €80 million on Gordon. The England international should certainly prove a useful addition. He can play just about anywhere across the front three and is a pressing machine – unlike Marcus Rashford – so it’s easy to see why Hansi Flick gave the green light for Gordon to arrive. However, it is simply undeniable that Barca overpaid. Certainly, Gordon could have a good World Cup, casting the award in a more favorable light, while it was also pointed out that the Scouser has scored 10 times in the Champions League this season – but six of those goals came against Qarabag and Union Saint-Gilloise, and half from the penalty spot. Twelve goals in his last 60 Premier League appearances is a much better indicator of the kind of strike rate Barca fans should expect from their latest signing. So while Gordon is more likely to give Flick what he wants from a winger and will be on a lower salary than Rashford, there was better value elsewhere, suggesting Barca are back with more money than sense.
For Gordon: What dreams are made of. Despite very inconsistent performances in the Premier League, particularly over the last two years, Gordon has managed to join a big club that he has clearly coveted for some time now. He himself admitted that his previous links with hometown club Liverpool, who he also supported as a child, turned his head, when it initially looked like he was going to join Bayern Munich this summer. However, the Bavarians understandably balked at the asking price and therein lies the big challenge Gordon now faces. The possible arrival of Julian Alvarez would take quite a bit of attention away from the 25-year-old, but he will still be under enormous pressure to justify his fee – as Barca did not pay 80 million euros for a small player. Gordon must prove he’s worthy of starting for a star-studded team, and it won’t be easy. Just ask Rashford, who now appears surplus to requirements at Camp Nou despite racking up a total of 28 goals and assists in his first season at Barca. Still, Gordon probably can’t believe his luck. He will move from the role of Anthony Elanga to that of Lamine Yamal!
