The end of the summer transfer window is in sight and with the deadline at 11pm on Friday, now seems like as good a time as any to rate Stevenage's business.

Alex Revell had retained a lot of last year's squad ahead of the 2024-2025 season and so didn't need to go mad in the summer.

He has still brought in nine new faces and five games into the season, most have had at least one runaround.

This is how I would rate the signings so far (admittedly very early into their Boro careers).

Stevenage's summer 2024 signings - rated

1.Louis Appere (Northampton Town) - free

The first in and perhaps the most underused so far.

Started in the Carabao Cup at Norwich but has had to settle for coming off the bench in three others, and wasn't even in the squad for the Bristol Street Motors Trophy match against Crystal Palace.

I think that could change soon and I hope it does. One goal so far, against the Canaries, but should have scored at least once against Huddersfield.

It's his work up top that looks impressive. Holds the ball up but is happy to spin in through the channels and offer himself as a forward runner. Might not always get the ball but defenders have to track him and that creates space for others.

If he can add more goals to his bow, he could put both hands on a starting spot for the next few weeks and months.

Grade: B-

2.Dan Kemp (MK Dons) - free

Now we're talking. Undoubtedly top of the class of the new intake so far.

Yes, he should have at least one goal and probably more but I see nothing to suggest we don't have to wait too long for his first in Boro colours.

And what he offers elsewhere has been hugely impressive. Gets on the ball as often as possible, creates, runs at defences and is a real attacking threat. Often found getting beyond the strikers which I have absolutely no problem with and would actively encourage.

Can't see the grade dipping much over the year either. Tremendous signing.

Grade: A-

3.Lewis Freestone (Cheltenham Town) - £100,000 (as a minimum)

A six-figure fee was announced and sent some scurrying for the record books. Not the most spent to bring someone in but not far off and unheard of in recent years.

Came in with a left-sided centre-half tag but with the ability to play as left-back and it was the latter where he has featured most in his three appearances, two of them starts.

The one time he featured in the middle of the defence, he looked decent and while he has proved to be a competent full-back, that is clearly not his best position.

Good tackler though.

Grade: C+

4.Dan Phillips (St Johnstone) - free

Does a lot of the unseen work in the middle of the park, at least that was my excuse for only giving him a rating of 6 on the opening day against Shrewsbury.

But he does. Sticks his foot in and charges around the pitch being a general nuisance.

That was why Stevenage signed him, to come in and sit in front of the defence and be the point where opposition offence floundered and where Boro's began.

He's changed the thinking of Alex Revell though, performances like that against Coventry City in pre-season and in training have led the boss to think he would be better suite to a more forward-thinking role.

Get that positioning right and he will be one superb signing.

Grade B-

5.Tyreece Simpson (Huddersfield Town) - undisclosed

Has a goal to his name against Crystal Palace in the BSM Trophy but the jury is still very much out on the big forward.

Strongly built, he doesn't seem as quick as I thought he was going to be. Maybe that's my bad but it has coloured my thinking slightly.

His strength is an asset and he is still young, just 22, so he has time on his side, but he needs to learn how to harness that strength and use it to his advantage. He can bounce defenders away, out-muscle them and then use explosive power to get that half a yard to shoot.

I've no doubt that he is getting all the help he needs in training to find that improvement. Fingers crossed for the lad because there are some things he does very well. We just need to see more of them and more consistently than so far.

Grade: D

6.Murphy Cooper (QPR) - loan

Came on and was flung straight into the fray, playing in every game bar the BSM Trophy match.

And he's looked decent, to the point where perhaps he keeps Taye Ashby-Hammond out when he is fit to return.

A traction engine of a boot, his distribution goes long but just needs refined. Seems to communicate well with his defence and is competent under crosses and when face with shots.

Conceded four at Norwich but only one perhaps contained an error on his part. That though would have been a harsh assessment.

I like him.

Grade: B+

7.Charlie Goode (unattached) - free

Played 45 minutes on his debut against Norwich, scored and was probably man of the match. Then played 45 minutes against Huddersfield, was average at best and sacrificed in a half-time tactical switch. 

That might be the issue going forward. Has had plenty of injury problems during his time with Brentford but if those are behind him, then only fitness will stand in his way of being a regular starter.

Will need to add a touch more consistency but the hope would be better legs and lungs allows the rest to come naturally.

Grade: B- (based on that Norwich performance alone)

8.Dean Bouzanis (Reading) - loan

The most surprising of the summer deals but Boro do like a goalkeeping crisis.

This isn't anywhere near that level yet but the deal to bring him in until January was necessitated by the finger problem for Taye Ashby-Hammond and a leg injury for Rylee Mitchell, leaving 16-year-old Max Woodford as the only fit fully signed-on Boro keeper.

Brought in as back-up to Cooper and has only featured in the BSM Trophy so far. Can't see that changing but a solid enough back-up.

Grade: C

9.Eli King (Cardiff City) - loan

The only one yet to feature but then he was only signed last Thursday.

An unused sub at Burton, the boss admitted his fitness levels are not close to where Boro need them to be.

A full week at Bragbury End should have addressed some of that though and while he will probably be set for a set with the subs against Lincoln, this time I would expect to see him.

And he comes with promise. A defensive midfielder, he has the passing range to be an asset according to Revell in the months and year ahead.

We wait with baited breath.

Grade: TBA

Transfer deadline day - Friday, August 31

Comet Sport will be running a live blog all day on transfer deadline day, starting at 7am (or as near as possible, have a rather large carcass to haul out of my pit) and running through to the 11pm close, or maybe later, remember Harvey White last year?

Join me for a full day of mayhem, excitement and ultimate disappointment as absolutely nothing happens at Boro (possibly), or even elsewhere.

Hoping I'll be down at Bragbury End at some point during the day to get the thoughts of Alex Revell, both looking ahead to Lincoln City at home on Saturday as well as how he is finding the bi-annual circus.

Fingers crossed, there might even be a chat with a new player...