A quick glance at that (and without checking my memory) it seems that the teams that sign the most players were the ones that came up through the playoffs rather than automatic
This is what i feel too. also this stat backs us up
"Brighton have failed to score in their first three Premier League games of 2017-18. Before this season, 11 teams had done this and none of those sides ended the season in the relegation zone."
Man Utd pulled out of the van nistelrooy deal a year before they signed him because of concerns about a knee issue/injury, and days later he got injured. Its not exactly uncommon