With just over two weeks left until the start of the 2015/2016 English Premier League, a vast number of clubs have been heavily active in the summer transfer window while some clubs still have some work to do.
Let’s take a look at the likely front-runners for the
premiership crown this season analysing the ins, the outs, and the necessary personnel
still required to compete for European Champions League positions.
ARSENAL
Ins
Petr Cech (from Chelsea) – £11 million
Outs
Yaya Sanogo (to Ajax on loan)
Carl Jenkinson (to West Ham Utd on loan)
Lukas Podolski (to Galatasaray) – £1.8 million
Ryo Miachi (to St. Pauli) - Free
Abou Diaby - Released
Arsene Wenger has no doubt picked up a bargain in one of
the top 10 goalkeepers in the world in the form of Czech international Petr
Cech. Cech fell out of favour at Chelsea last season with the induction of Belgian
international Thibaut Courtois and has since desired more first-team football.
If Wenger knows what’s good for him, he will play the four-time EPL title
winner in as many games as possible. With the omission of two strikers in
Sanogo and Podolski, the Gunners are expected to splash the cash for another
striker to help Olivier Giroud up front. Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has
been linked for some time now and with the number nine kit number vacated by
Podolski, Arsenal fans will be dreaming. A second defensive midfielder to
assist rejuvenated Francis Coquelin would also be on Wenger’s list although the
availability of such a player who could make an immediate impact is limited on
the market.
CHELSEA
Ins
Asmir Begovic (from Stoke City) – £8 million
Radamel Falcao (from Monaco on loan)
Outs
Marco van Ginkel (to Stoke on loan)
Josh McEachran (to Brentford) – £750,000
Petr Cech (to Arsenal) – £11 million
In a quiet window by their standards thus far, Chelsea has replaced legend striker Didier Drogba with a
big name in Columbian international Radamel Falcao. Despite Falcao being
criticised for his efforts at Manchester United last season, I think he will
have plenty to offer with the current champions, particularly with the creative midfield
of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard playing behind him. Asmir Begovic has clearly come in to replace Cech, although
Chelsea fans know this is nearly an impossible feat for the Bosnian goalkeeper.
With the likely departure of left-back Felipe Luis, Jose Mourinho will need a
solid replacement to compete with Cesar Azpilicueta. Centre-half John Terry did
not miss one of the 38 season games last season but surely Mourinho knows that
the former England international will be pushing his luck to go another full
season unscathed at 34 years of age.
MANCHESTER CITY
Ins
Raheem Sterling (from Liverpool) – £44 million
Fabian Delph (from Aston Villa) – £8 million
Outs
Stevan Jovetic (to Inter Milan) – £12 million
The Citizens have made the most expensive signing of the
summer transfer window to date with the move for Liverpool winger Raheem
Sterling. Sterling seems to have already slotted in nicely with a
well-constructed goal against AS Roma in the International Champions Cup, which
may irritate Liverpool fans. But it will take at least four or five rounds in to make a better judgement of the England international's influence. Central midfielder Fabian Delph has left Aston
Villa on poor terms being criticised for his loyalty. It’s difficult to see
Delph slot into Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI, which is why most have tipped
the England international to be a benchwarmer. City are still in need of one or
two attacking players as it was very obvious last season that without the
services of Sergio Aguero up front, City looked far from convincing. Belgian attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who left Chelsea a couple of years back, is now heavily linked with City and a second apperance in the English top flight.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Ins
Memphis Depay (from PSV Eindhoven) – £25 million
Morgan Schneiderlin (from Southampton) – £25 million
Bastian Schweinsteiger (from Bayern Munich) – £14.4 million
Matteo Darmian (from Torino) – £12.7 million
Outs
Robin van Persie (to Fenerbahce) – £3.84 million
Nani (to Fenerbahce) – £4.25 million
Man United manager Louis van Gaal has been the busiest of
all the top clubs in England thus far with four notable signings that have the
potential to be all starting by match day one against Tottenham Hotspurs.
Memphis Depay played at his previous club PSV Eindhoven on the wing but talks
suggest that van Gaal is planning on playing the 21-year-old up front in
support of Wayne Rooney. There is no bones about where Schneiderlin and
Schweinsteiger would be included into the team, which is straight into the heart
of the midfield. The pair of ball-winners will provide much more shape and
stability to a United team that conceded 37 goals in the league last season. Matteo
Darmin was rated as one of the best left-backs in Serie A last season and is
expected to finally fill the void of Patrice Evra two years ago. Manchester
United has Champions League football back on the cards this season and will
still need a world-class centre half if they are to compete on all fronts.
LIVERPOOL
Ins
Nathaniel Clyne (from Southampton) – £12.5 million
Roberto Firmino (from 1899 Hoffenheim) - £29 million
Christian Benteke (from Aston Villa) – £32.5 million
Danny Ings (from Burnley) – TBC
Joe Gomez (from Charlton Athletic) – £3.5 million
Adam Bogdan (from Bolton) - Free
Outs
Glen Johnson (to Stoke City) – Free
Raheem Sterling (to Manchester City) – £44 million
Sebastian Coates (to Sunderland) – £2 million
Brendan Rodgers has once again been busy in the market
with six notable new faces to his squad, and counting. All eyes will be on
Brazilian player Firmino and Belgian international Christian Benteke to help
the Kop’s cause to Champions League qualification this season. If Rodgers can
figure out a way to gel his new players with the old, then Liverpool could steadily find themselves up the top end of the ladder this time around. However, if
Liverpool isn’t in the horse race by Christmas I expect Rodgers to be gone, and
I’m sure fans would have to agree. Like Manchester United, Liverpool is still
in need of a world-class centre back with the noticeable frailties of the
current quadruple group of Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel, and Kolo
Toure. But new hopeful Joe Gomez has already shown plenty of signs of promise
in Liverpool’s pre-season tour to Australia.
TOTTENHAM
Toby Alderweireld (from Atletico Madrid) – £11.5 million
Kieran Trippier (from Burnley) – £3.5 million
Outs
Younes Kaboul (to Sunderland) – £3 million
Benjamin Stambouli (to PSG) – £6 million
Etienne Capoue (to Watford) – £6.3 million
Lewis Holtby (to Hamburg) – £4.6 million
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has been quiet by his
standards thus far in this summer transfer window but has picked up a quality
defender in Toby Alderweireld, who showed no signs of discomfort in England’s
top tier last season with Southampton. Kieran Tripper was a revelation for
recent relegation side Burnley, although will have fierce competition for the
left-back position with Danny Rose showing great form last campaign. With the
sold pair of Benjamin Stambouli and Etienne Capoue, Spurs still require a top
quality holding or box-to-box midfielder to help release Ryan Mason and Christian
Eriksen forward more often. Chairman Daniel Levy seems to have successfully
fought off bids for striker Harry Kane but Kane undeniably needs some
assistance on the goal front with Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor falling
well off the mark.
SOUTHAMPTON
Ins
Jordy Clasie (from Feyenoord) – £8 million
Cuco Martina (from FC Twente) – £3 million
Juanmi (from
Malaga) - £5 million
Maarten
Stekelenburg (on loan from Fulham)
Cedric Soares
(from Sporting) - £4.7 million
Outs
Morgan Schneiderlin (to Manchester United) – £25 million
Toby Alderweireld (loaned back to Atletico Madrid)
Nathaniel Clyne (to Liverpool) - £12.5 million
After another great season, Southampton is undoubtedly a force
to be reckoned with in the Premier League, but seem to struggle to hold onto
its big guns year in year out. This transfer window is no different with the
departure of key defenders with loaned out Toby Alderweireld and Nathaniel
Clyne heading off to top-four rivals Spurs and Liverpool respectively.
Alderweireld and Clyne were instrumental in the last campaign giving the Saints
the second best defence in the league. Manager Ronald Koeman has scouted out
hopeful replacements for Clyne in right-backs Cedric Soares and Cuco Martina,
although it is always give or take when making the move across to the English
game. Holding midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has been sold to
Manchester United, which had Koeman bring in fellow countryman Jordy Clasie into
the fold. Clasie is highly rated in world football and if the 24-year-old
midfielder can make an instant impact then he could become one of the signings
of the season.
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