Top 5 Transfers of the Premier League this summer
The Premier League this season is going to be something else. While the English first division has been a two-legged race between Liverpool and Manchester City for the past few seasons, heavy recruitments by fellow contenders like Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal has just levelled the playing field. Not only that, but also the mid-table sides and bottom clubs have been busy in the transfer market to strengthen their squads having bewildered with their own season objectives.
Every signing a club makes is judged on various parameters — The age of the player and the respective investment, how he adds to the squad depth of the existing roster and how fast he will adapt to the likes of the footballing atmosphere in the country. This is exactly what differentiates a 100 million signing with a 20 million one.
Moreover, is also depends on what previous experience a player brings to his new team when an older player is considered, and the dynamism that a young player brings to the squad. With that being said, it’s time to take a look at the top five signings that the English Premier League clubs have made this season. There are some heavyweight names that have arrived to various parts of London, Merseyside and Mancheter — and thus that makes this top five list even more lucrative. Without much ado, here we go!
Ferran Torres (Manchester City)
Manchester City have signed one of the club legends David Silva, from Valencia in the past. This time they have made a heavy investment in the likes of Spain’s next big thing — Ferran Torres.
Though Ferran arrives from Valencia, his roots could be traced back to the Under-17 World Cup back in 2017. A star of the Spanish U17 side who helped his team reach the final of the competition, thanks to his goals and assists, finally switches from his homeland to the blue half of Manchester.
It was an obvious move to be fair. As City lost one of their young stars in Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich, the Manchester-based club was always going to bring in fresh legs for a role on the wings.
Ferran averages 2.20 shot creating actions per game, which in simple terms means that he is an outstandingly creative player who produces many big chances for his team-mates during a game. While Valencia used him in bits and pieces last season, Manchester City could increase his playing time and with so much quality around him, Ferran could turn into a goal-creating machine in some months’ time.
The Spaniard will have to contend with the likes of Riyad Mahrez in the squad, with the Algerian being the first choice for Pep Guardiola on the right flank currently. An additional bonus of Ferran’s ability to play on either flanks means that he could fill in for Mahrez and Sterling both in case of injuries or any tactical changes.
Sergio Reguilon (Tottenham Hotspur)
Another Spanish young gem following Ferran Torres to the Premier League is Real Madrid outcast Sergio Reguilon. Tottenham Hotspur have secured his signing on a permanent deal from Los Blancos but the Spanish Champions do have a buy-back clause on Reguilon in the deal.
Reguilon was instrumental for Sevilla winning the Europa League last season, as the loanee proved to be one of Julen Lopetegui’s main-men in a wider role. The left-back has been one of the best names in Europe in his position last season.
Tottenham only possess Ben Davies and Ryan Sessegnon in the left-back position and with either of the players being fairly average for the Londoners, it was high time that Spurs would sign a big name in that very role.
The 23-year-old is an epitome of a modern full-back on the left flank. Reguilon can defend, attack and also create a lot of chances for his team-mates thanks to his brilliant crossing abilities into the box.
Jose Mourinho is trying to revolutionize this Tottenham team and with the arrivals of Matt Doherty on the right-back role, Reguilon has a great partner on the other side of the field when moving higher up the pitch during an attack.
The ex-Real Madrid defender’s abilities include his overlapping runs which could come handy as Tottenham have players like Heung-Min Son ahead of him on the left-flank, who likes to cut back inside, leaving space in the wider areas of the pitch.
There is no doubt Reguilon will be part of hugely successful season at Spurs.
James Rodriguez (Everton)
Nobody can ever forget a young Columbian taking the World Cup by storm in 2014. James Rodriguez lit football’s biggest stage by carrying Columbia to the last stages of the World Cup single-handedly with his mammoth impact in front of the goal.
The World Cup was so successful for James that Real Madrid went all-in to secure the signing of the young attacking midfielder and add him to the superstar roster which included the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Angel Di Maria.
But destiny had other plans. James’ career has been more of a downfall rather than his predicted rise to fame.
After failing to live up to the potential at Real Madrid, he was reduced to a squad rotation role and eventually lost his place in the travelling squad. Soon, Madrid signed bigger names in his place and that was the end of it. The midfielder was then loaned to Bayern Munich where he was welcomed by Carlo Ancelotti — the manager who signed him at Real Madrid.
But failed attempts to find his best form has led to a career of disappointments for the talented Columbian.
Last month though, life came full circle for James. With Carlo Ancelotti in-charge of Everton in the Premier League, the Italian legendary manager swooped up Rodriguez without a single thought to bring him to Goodison Park.
James is not an ordinary player. He is a proven goal-scorer and creator who can play in any position in the midfield and his both-footedness means that his versatility knows no limits.
Rodriguez has seen his best days under Ancelotti in the past and there is no doubt he is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle which makes Everton a big contender for an European spot in the English Premier League this season.
Timo Werner (Chelsea)
Turbo Timo — Germany’s first choice striker is now in London. Chelsea have managed to secure the signing of Timo Werner from German club RB Leipzig in a sensational transfer earlier this summer.
To start off about Werner, only one statistic can begin and end the conversation. Timo Werner was only third behind Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi in the entire Europe when it comes to direct goal contributions last season. What is that for a statistic — Incredible.
Since the departure of Diego Costa, Chelsea have never had a striker who is capable of winning them the Premier League and even bigger honours. With Werner, they can dream of even more.
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea has been on a rampage, signing 7 big names in this transfer window, with 100 million man Kai Havertz being the most expensive incoming player. But nothing compares to what Werner can do for the Blues.
The 24-year-old German is a cold-blooded striker who can disrupt Europe’s best defences with his pace being his strongest attribute. Werner is known for his pacey dribbling and finishing abilities, which enables him to play in any position in the front-three for Chelsea and Germany.
In Timo Werner, Chelsea might just have a striker who can score more than 20 goals this season and take them to the very top.
Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool)
Possibly the biggest move of this summer, not only in England, but the entire Europe. Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool is still causing tremors in the red half of Merseyside as we speak.
The Champions League winner of last season, Thiago is one of the best midfielders to walk on this planet. He has been part of the Bayern Munich setup which won multiple Bundesligas and German Cups for the better part of last decade and with Liverpool embarking on a similar route, this might be the perfect destination for Thiago. It seems a win-win for both the player and the club.
The 29-year-old brings his full weaponry of experience and world-class abilities to Anfield. A defensive midfielder or pivot, who never loses possession and can find gaps in the opposition defence sitting in his deeper role, Thiago completes this legendary European and English Champion Liverpool squad.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have been criticized for being too predictable despite proving themselves with results in the past season. With the arrival of the Spaniard, they can finally get rid of these accusations. Thiago will be adding the much needed creativity to the Liverpool midfield, in addition to controlling the tempo of the game.
Thiago is the signing of the season in the Premier League already.
All the Premier League teams have upgraded their squads to the maximum off-late and there is no doubt that this season of the English top flight will be one of the most competitive and hard-fought seasons in the league history.
