There are no prizes – it can even be a poisoned chalice – but after all the wheeling and squealing, who did ‘win’ the EPL transfer window?

If we are talking purely football, it’s a close run between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Both brought in top players where they needed them – striker and central midfield for the Blues and right winger and centre- back for United.

But in terms of hype and headlines, it was no contest – Cristiano Ronaldo knocked Afghanistan out of the news, let alone Lukaku.

The prodigal son broke the Net, but can he still find it on the field?

On Wednesday for Portugal, he became the world’s all-time leading international goal scorer to remind us that he can, and this was more than a celebrity signing.

Even when he’s in his rocking chair, you’d back him to nod one into the top corner.

The quibbles about the deal are that it’s short-term happiness over long-term gain, with United’s much-treasured pathway from the academy getting a roadblock.

Still, many Devils fans are saying ‘enjoy it while we can’. And of course, making it all the sweeter was snatching him from under the noses of neighbours, City.

With the lift he’s already given the club combined with the arrival of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, United look decidedly stronger – and last year they came second.

But Chelsea’s £97.5m swoop for Romelu Lukaku could still be the game-changer as far as the title is concerned.

And now he’s supported by another class act in midfield with the deadline day arrival of Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid.

You could say that United needed the Spaniard more.

Much of the optimism for both clubs is because City messed up. The Blues appeared nailed-on title certs when it looked like they’d get Harry Kane.

But both club and player under-estimated Daniel Levy.

Meanwhile, City spent £100m on Jack Grealish which seemed a bit like buying another 4×4 when you need a Ferrari. And you already have half a dozen 4x4s.

It also ruled them out of trying to get Lionel Messi!

And then they hesitated fatally over Ronaldo. To lose one once-in-a-generation superstar might be regarded as unfortunate but to lose two…

Even so, City are still favourites and have two 5-0 wins already.

Elsewhere, Arsenal opened the window widest – spending the most – but according to their fans, have fallen out of it, while Liverpool got their fingers trapped.

The Gunners shelled out £169m but instead of shopping at Harrods they went to Daiso.

Most of it has gone on Ben White (£50m), Martin Odegaard (£30m) and Aaron Ramsdale (£24m) which seems a lot for B-listers.

Ramsdale has been involved in two relegations and Arsenal let their best keeper, Emi Martinez, go to Aston Villa last year for £20m. He was a hero in Argentina’s Copa America triumph.

No wonder Mikel Arteta is odds-on to win the Sack Race.

Liverpool, who were quick out of the traps to bolster their central defence, have still left some fans wondering if last season’s lessons have really been learned.

Ibrahima Konate, a highly-rated French youngster, looks a decent buy for £35m, but recruitment stopped there.

With Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip already very much back and Joe Gomez on the verge, the Reds now have a surfeit of central defenders. Even Nat Phillips has signed a new contract.

But it’s a very different story up front. Fans fear that a couple of long-term injuries could leave them just as short in attack as they were in defence last season.

And the African Nations Cup will rob them off Mo Salah and Sadio Mane mid-season anyway unless Covid intervenes.

Some fans think a striker should have already been bought as Mane, in particular, does not look the player he was.

Failing to break down Chelsea’s 10 men at Anfield only heightened the frustrations.

On the other hand, the emergence of Harvey Elliott has quietened complaints about not replacing Gini Wijnaldum and the squad does look stronger than the one that won the Champions League.

Dejan Lovren and the Dutchman have gone but Konate, Elliott, Thiago, Tsimikas and Jota have come in.

Still, Danny Ings would have been handy.

Owners FSG’s caution with the cash is taking a big risk with the squad.

As for Spurs, whose fans will spend the international break having copies of the current EPL table framed (!), the mood has totally changed.

Son Heung-Min signed for four more years and director of football, Fabio Paratici, proved his worth in snapping up Bryan Gil, Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal, not to mention Nuno Espiritu Santo as manager.

But the clincher was keeping Kane: Levy has turned what once looked like a Kane-less, manager-less season on its head.

A trophy? Maybe not but watching bottom-placed Arsenal may compensate.

Rubbing salt into the Gunners’ wounds is that other London clubs are thriving.

West Ham have had a good window, hanging on to Declan Rice and doing some shrewd late business for centre-back Kurt Zouma and attacking midfielder Nikola Vlasic.

Crystal Palace have bought well and even have a striker in Odsonne Edouard from Celtic.

And even Brentford, back in the top flight for the first time in 74 years, have not had to sell their stars and have added new (potential) ones.

Arsenal could be complaining about noisy neighbours soon before they all go at it again in January.

It could be a great season.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.