Latter-day Maurizio Sarri has evolved into the grumpy idealogue of the footballing world.
"All this transfer talk does my head in, there’s nothing more dull than that," the former Napoli and Chelsea manager sniffed while in charge of Lazio. But based on the unrelenting churn of the rumour mill, it appears that sulky Sarri is in the minority.
The excitement of endless possibilities conjured during the transfer window outstrips the underwhelming reality of the regular season for many fans - only a handful of clubs harbour any realistic hopes of winning a trophy, and even fewer actually lift any silverware.
However, every club has the chance to make a clever addition in the off-season. Here are some of the best snapped up by the Premier League this summer.
Best signings of the 2023/24 Premier League - ranked
5. Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace)
The true value of this transfer may have been clouded by the announcement video Crystal Palace released upon Jefferson Lerma's arrival. The yellow-card collector infamously has plenty of bite in his tackles but was revealed to his new supporters in a pair of boxing gloves.
It was a reference to the jab which Joachim Andersen delivered onto the bridge of Lerma's nose when Bournemouth visited Selhurst Park last season.
In any case, signing your relegation rival's Player of the Year for free is a real dig in the ribs.
4. Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea)
Chelsea have been burned before when signing a Bundesliga forward on the back of a goal-laden season with a lofty reputation.
However, Christopher Nkunku possesses a more well-rounded game than the speed-merchant Timo Werner and - at £51m - doesn't represent the same tier of financial investment as Kai Havertz.
3. Mark Flekken (Brentford)
Brentford quickly secured David Raya's expected replacement for £11m - a fraction of the £40m demanded for their number one.
Since rising through the German footballing pyramid up to the Bundesliga, Mark Flekken has conceded 11 fewer goals than would be expected of the average goalkeeper.
At 6'4, he is a commanding presence in the box and is capable of the long-range passing that made his predecessor so highly valued. Thomas Frank described Flekken's distribution as 'very impressive' - much like Brentford's scouting.
2. James Milner (Brighton)
James Milner arrives at Brighton soaked in experience. The 37-year-old has made 229 more top-flight appearances than Brighton as a whole club.
As Roberto De Zerbi's side prepares for a first season of Europa League football, having a midfielder with 131 games in European competition under his belt will be invaluable. A player Jurgen Klopp has lauded as 'the role model' at Liverpool is also practically fluent in Spanish, ensuring that he can impart his wisdom to the South American section of Brighton's dressing room.
As the undefeated champion of Liverpool's fearsome pre-season lactate test, Milner still has the fitness to make an impact on the pitch as well.
1. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
After the last game of Brighton's season, De Zerbi hailed Alexis Mac Allister as one of the team's 'big, big players' capable of playing 'in a big, big European team'. Liverpool snapped up the 24-year-old early in the window, ensuring that Mac Allister will have a full preseason to get embedded into Klopp's team.
With the experience of working under De Zerbi and Graham Potter on the south coast, Mac Allister is no stranger to demanding tactical briefs. The World Cup winner offers versatility, energy and end product.
At an initial fee of just £35m, potentially rising to £55m in time, Mac Allister could even prove to be the bargain of the summer.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Best signings of the 2023/24 Premier League - ranked.
