Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City, Southampton, Fulham, QPR, Swansea City and Manchester City comings and goings feature in our top 10.
Transfer deadline day was a busy one for all concerned. We ran a live blog from 8.45am right through to past 11pm to keep you up to date. Now the dust has settled, who were the big winners?
Who didn’t do enough? We’ll let you ponder that one while we present our list of the top 10 deals for Premier League clubs…
Hugo Lloris to Tottenham
French international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was a steal for Spurs at just £11.8 million, with Daniel Levy edging out Lyon’s Jean Michel Aulas in a true battle of Europe’s toughest negotiators. Brad Friedel’s days may not be numbered yet, but when a player of Lloris’ quality comes onto the market, you don’t hang around. It is surprising that Spurs did not face more competition from across Europe for his signature, and indeed that he was still available come deadline day.
Javi Garcia to Manchester City
Selling Nigel de Jong on deadline day to AC Milan left a void in City’s midfield, and they acted quickly to fill it by signing classy midfielder Javi Garcia from Benfica. The £16 million price tag was roughly £8 million less that it had been speculated they could pay, making it good business for City. Garcia honed his skills at Real Madrid and his ability to play at centre-back too makes him the perfect new addition.
Charlie Adam to Stoke
Perhaps a bit of a controversial one this, and many feel Charlie Adam and Stoke are made for each other. But Adam is effective, and has the ability to turn matches via his set pieces or goals from midfield. He was excellent for Blackpool in their brief Premier League spell, prompting Sir Alex Ferguson to say his set pieces were worth £10 million alone. Stoke bought him for half that, and with their ‘big men’ hoping to thrive off his service, the combination could be lethal.
Gaston Ramirez to Southampton
The fact Southampton beat both Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City to the Uruguayan’s signature says it all. If ever there was a statement of ambition from Southampton’s quiet owners, this was it. Ramirez cost them £12 million, and he will not want to be playing Championship football next year. The Saints are currently pointless, but have shown promise. Ramirez’ spark could turn their positives into points.
Dimitar Berbatov to Fulham
Signing the Bulgarian was Fulham’s biggest victory over Juventus since 2010. The former £30 million striker had been all set to join the Serie A giants before Fulham snapped him up for a knock down price. He came off the bench against West Ham with Fulham already 3-0 down, but still created five chances for his teammates, his almost every touch a moment of sheer class. Martin Jol has described him as the biggest signing in the club’s history.
Joey Barton to Marseille
This was a terrific deal for QPR. To get rid of their troublesome former captain was the one piece of transfer business they desperately wanted to accomplish. It would have been no good having the midfielder knocking around the place, kicking his heels and moaning about. With Barton’s hot head it would have been a PR disaster. Now he is dispatched as far away as the South of France, they just need to hope the loan move is such a complete success l’OM want to buy him.
Clint Dempsey to Tottenham
Dempsey may have been a bit of an afterthought to Tottenham, but signing him for a bargain £7 million was an incredibly astute piece of business. The American will have a point to prove, and will take no time to settle in being a Premier League veteran. He guarantees goals, and if he can get 15 plus this year it could be enough to propel Tottenham to where they want to be.
Pablo Hernandez to Swansea
The fact Pablo Hernandez was persuaded to swap Champions League football for Swansea City says everything about the pull of Michael Laudrup. Check out Mathew Nash’s article on why this could be the best deal of the whole summer. Hernandez cost just £5.5 million, or half a Matt Jarvis in English money. Bargain.
Scott Sinclair to Manchester City
Scott Sinclair was the man Hernandez replaced at Swansea, and many are asking whether the winger has made the right move in joining the champions. He will point to the glamour clashes in the Champions League against Real Madrid as evidence in favour of that. Joining City can enhance his England prospects, and City have bought him for less than they sold Adam Johnson for, making it good business.
Maicon to Manchester City
Maicon’s reputation went from ‘world class’ at World Cup 2010, to ‘not that good after all’ after he was run ragged by Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane months later. The truth may be somewhere in between, but for just £3 million, the deal looks a good one. Brazilians have had mixed fortunes in English football, and at 32 he could find it tough going, but its hard to leave the 2010 Champions League winner off this list entirely.
Who else should be on our list?
image: © nicksarebi
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