Problem is we needed 2-3 players who would strengthen the first XI right now. We haven't come anywhere close to doing that. Arguably Telles is the only that does that but the jury is still out on whether he manages to make the LB position his own.
Signing prospects like Diallo and Pellistri should be in addition to strengthening the first XI, not as a direct replacement. In football you need to have both short term and long term thoughts in your head at the same time. We're somehow always doing one or the other.
This window seems like a 'tanking' of the 20/21 season. While teams around us have strengthened their starting XIs and probably leapfrogged us in the short term, we're hoping our investment works out in the longer run. Problem is we're taking a massive gamble because each season without CL is disastrous from both an economical and a sporting perspective. The likes of Camavinga, Sancho, Haaland will probably be leaving within the next 12-18 months and without CL there is no chance of picking up players of that calibre. We needed to stamp our authority this summer and take the next step but just like any other season after finishing in the top 4 under Woodward, we failed to do so.
Honestly, looking at our first team, don't actually think we need that much improvement.
We just need better coaches.
Not to bring Liverpool into equasion needlesly, but we do need to compare ourselves to the current champions.
Our front three are au pair.
Firminho - Martial.
Rashford - Mane
Greenwood - Salah. (ok, Mason is still much younger but we could argue that there is quality)
Our midfield should be better, at least on paper.
But, as we see, football matches aren't won on paper.
If only someone could properly coach this team, i believe we have a good team.
I see the point you made, we could have gone for Partey, or Havertz, or Werner in order to improve our first XI, but see what prices they went for?
I like the long run planning, and if Cavani can bag a couple of late goals the likes of Crouchy or Fellaini, he'll be a great addition.
And if Telles is good enough, he'll be in the FT in no time.
So, there's prospects, competition for first XI and late winner goals in this window.
What we should be after in the market are coaches!!!
And a new manager, but that's a different topic.