Summer Premiership Transfer Round-Up
It’s been a hectic summer of transfers,
with over 200 million pounds spent by the Premiership’s
20 clubs, Chelsea were by far the biggest spenders (surprise,
surprise) dishing out over 50 million pounds of Abramovich’s
money, but Liverpool, Spurs and Man Utd were also prepared
to spend big, paying out over 20 million pounds each.
Here are all the transfer dealings of the top clubs, and
a round-up of the rest:
1) Chelsea
Jose Mourinho was happy to spend more of
Roman Abramovich’s cash, with Andriy Shevchenko
the most expensive of the new boys at a staggering 30
Million pounds. Michael Ballack, Salomon Kalou, wonderkid
Jon Obi-Mikel and Dutch defender Khalid “The Cannibal”
Boularouz completed the Blues summer spending –
no sign of Mr. Ashley Cole of course…
2) Liverpool
Trying not to be outdone by Chelsea, Liverpool
also spent heavily in the summer, with all round good-guys
Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Pennant arriving for a total
of 11 million pounds. (That’s about 1 million per
court appearance) Dirk Kuyt was the other big money signing,
from Feyenoord, having scored an impressive 71 goals in
101 appearances there. Brazilian full back Fabio Aurelio,
Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez and upcoming Argentine defender
Gabriel Palletta also joined to bring a South American
feel to the Reds squad for 06/07.
3) Manchester United
Have United stood still this summer? Or
has Sir Alex gambled that his squad is good enough and
just needs more time to gel. We will soon find out, but
his only major signing this summer was England midfielder
Michael Carrick from Spurs for a rather hefty 18.6 million
pounds. Highly rated Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak also
arrived as back up for Edwin van der Sar. Expect the Red
Devils to be busy Christmas Shopping!
4) Arsenal
With funds still low after the move to the
Emirates stadium, Arsene Wenger has gambled on his youngsters
coming of age this year. Only Tomasz Rosicky (pronounced
Roz-it-shki) has arrived at Arsenal for about 7 million
pounds. Gunners fans hope that Arsene know what he’s
doing – and maybe that Theo Walcott can start to
shine.
5) Tottenham Hotspur
Martin Jol has spent to try and push Spurs
on to the next level, after narrowly missing out on a
Champions League place last year. Highly rated Bulgarian
striker Dimitar Berbatov has signed up having scored 31
goals in 50 International matches, and joining him at
White Hart Lane is much sought after Ivory Coast midfielder
Didier Zokora. Both players setting the club back a total
of over 19 million pounds. Last – minute swoops
for old-boy Mido, Steed Malbranque and Pascal Chimbonda
completed the restructuring.
The Best of the Rest
Newcastle United signed Chelsea cast-off
Damian Duff for a knock down 5 million pounds, but with
Michael Owen injured for the season, the big deal was
the much needed 10 million capture of Obafemi Martins
from Inter Milan. Man Utd striker Paolo Rossi also joined
on loan on deadline day.
Everton also spent heavily on bit-part England
striker Andy Johnson, but with two goals already this
season, he seems to be repaying his asking price. Highly
rated young defender Joleon Lescott also signed up, as
well as Man U goalie Tim Howard on loan.
Wigan Athletic spent most of their transfer
budget on out of form striker Emile Heskey, and will be
hoping that he spends enough time on his feet to bag them
some goals this season. Dutch International midfielder
Danny Landzaat also joined the Latics.
Bolton Wanderers took the plunge on bringing
“Le Sulk’ Nicolas Anelka back to the Premiership
for a club record 8 million pounds – expect him
to storm out by Christmas - with defender Abdoulaye Meite,
and Quinton Fortune also joining up.
Charlton Athletic had a busy summer in the
transfer market, with new coach Ian Dowie bringing in
no less than nine new players. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink,
Irish winger Andy Reid and ‘Champions League Winner’
(that doesn’t sound right) Djimi Traore from Liverpool
the big names.
Blackburn Rovers have brought in strikers
Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy to try and make up for
the loss of Craig Bellamy to Liverpool, with Dutch defender
Andre Ooijer adding steel to their defence.
West Ham Utd have added England Goalkeeper
Robert Green to their squad, along with former Chelsea
man Carlton Cole, Lee Bowyer and Ghanaian defender John
Pantisil. But the deadline day signings of Argentinean
World Cup stars Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez are
the signings that Hammers fans will be talking about!
Fulham manager Chris Coleman has spent wisely
it seems on former Wigan midfielder Jimmy Bullard who
he hopes can keep his side up this season.
Middlesbrough have signed a new back-line
in Robert Huth from Chelsea, and Jonathan Woodgate on
loan from Real Madrid. They join Argentinean wing-back
Julio Arca from relegated Sunderland.
Manchester City have spent little but effectively,
signing the experienced Didi Hamann from Liverpool, French
midfielder Ousmane Dabo from Lazio, and Italian Striker
Bernardo Corradi to help their other new forward signing
Paul Dickov to hit the goals. One time Arsenal target
Hatem Trabelsi also signed for the Blues this summer.
Portsmouth had money to burn, but only signed
big name ex-England defender Sol Campbell on a free along
with comedy England keeper David James. Glen Johnson also
joined on loan from Chelsea, along with ex-England striker
Andrew Cole on deadline day
New boys Reading, Sheffield United and Watford
chose not to gamble, with South Korean Seoul-Ki-Hyeon
Reading’s major signing, Sheffield taking on ex-Everton
midfielder Li Tie, and Watford recruiting Wigan’s
Damian Francis.
Despite a take over by Billionaire Randy
Lerner, Aston Villa have only managed to sign Stilian
Petrov from Martin O’Neill’s former club Celtic.
Signing of the Summer: With 71 goals in
101 games for Feyenoord, Dirk Kuyt has proved that he
is a natural goalscorer. The Dutch International striker
is a great signing for the reds, and manager Rafa Benitez
will hope he is the final piece in his Anfield jigsaw.
