Chelsea and Spurs bargain transfer decisions revealed as Arsenal deal questioned

Transfer news as Tottenham and Chelsea secure bargain deals whilst Arsenal face early questions after a summer window of overspending in the Premier League

Given Chelsea's lavish spending this summer it's hard for many to say that they've got good value for money. Once more the club have gone above and behind to smash transfer records on individuals and for the overall squad. In the midst of doing it they also raised £270million ($336m) from sales.

Getting perceived value for these players, who do not score or assist as much as creative No.10s or forwards, is tougher on paper than with those that grab the headlines. However, it is unarguable that they impact the game just as much. In the list of the top 20 players with the most touches so far in the Premier League, or those with more than 300 so far in the opening four matches, seven are players of the No.6 style.

Fernandez and Rice and both included, as is Tottenham's Yves Bissouma and Chelsea summer sale, Mateo Kovacic. In the 20 throughout last season there were seven once more but with Moises Caicedo and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also included.

Arsenal, however, proceeded to pay a premium for a player that Nkunku would effectively replace when they shelled out £65million ($81m) for Havertz. The effective Premier League 'tax', a London-to-London transfer and the promise of Havertz as a 24-year-old all played into that but Nkunku's track record and form are both much stronger.

Spurs, who sold Harry Kane after bringing in Maddison early on, managed to get more than their star striker was worth, according to Transfermarkt, and sign their attacking fulcrum for less than his. Overall it demonstrates a shrewd bit of operation and, with Maddison, represents one of just two Premier