The FIVE BEST signings of the summer: Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Bolton get it right!
by Mr Comfort on July 23rd, 2008As the summer of fun heats up with transfers and transfer speculation coming from all angles, this is a good time to discuss the transfers.
Luka Modric (Tottenham)
A much-targeted player finally put pen to paper on a deal to take him to Tottenham. He then promptly went to the Euro 2008 finals and performed heroically for his country, his performance against the Germans was nothing short of sensational, giving Spurs fans a sneak preview of what he will hopefully achieve at White Hart Lane.
Samir Nasri (Arsenal)
Nasri’s move to Arsenal took a while to complete, but the stylish French attacker appears willing and able to wow the fans at the Emirates. The 21-year-old has a very promising career ahead of him and alongside Wenger’s other impressive youngsters, he should be a big hit.
Deco (Chelsea)
Slightly longer in the tooth than the first two mentioned, Deco’s inclusion on this list may surprise many, but his transfer to Stamford Bridge could be an inspired move. The 30-year-old still has a lot to offer and could be an important figure in the Chelsea midfield this coming season (even more so if Frank Lampard leaves the club). The Portuguese player is very adaptable and, at £8m, could be considered a bargain in today’s inflated market.
Fabrice Muamba (Bolton)
Muamba is a class act and a player that Gary Megson was very wise to pick up from Championship-bound Birmingham City. The 20-year-old always looks effortless on the ball and seems to have time to ponder his options in the midfield, a steal at £5m (especially if you consider other big money moves this summer that seem to be way overpriced, Dave Kitson and Bobby Zamora spring to mind!). The kind of player that could help push Bolton nearer mid-table and away from another relegation battle.
Andrea Dossena (Liverpool)
Stylish left-back who impressed greatly at Udinese and will be a very useful replacement for a rapidly-worsening John Arne Riise. The Italian international should provide solidity and the ability to break quickly. With a solid grounding of top level experience, he could well be a player who helps Rafa’s title push.
Also worth a mention…
Scott Carson (West Brom) – An absolute bargain in this day and age, to get an England international keeper for less than £4m is a steal!
George Boateng (Hull City) – The kind of purchase that could be a big key to the Tigers avoiding a swift return to the Championship.
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) – Wenger fought off allcomers for one of the most promising talents around. Sure to be a big star for the future.


Bernard - July 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I rate Muamba very much!
Rob - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
No mention of Bosingwa? UEFA’s team of the tournament, after all.
Phil - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
To Rob, is that a joke? 16m, Chelsea got ripped off for Boswinga!
scltt - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Or dos Santos, What a young talent he is, He’s going to be great for spurs this season.
COME ON YOU SPURS - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Gio Dos Santos. The money paid was minimal and with the reputation he comes with he could very well be the signing of the season!
bobinL.A. - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
nasri is the best signing becouse of the club he has signed for modric is good but i think physicaly he will easly get terrod
robert - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I don’t think that Modric is worth mentioning, because spurs will play him as a central midfielder, and for him to be able to do that in the premier league, he will have to gain at least 15 kilos of muscle…..
Breezer - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
ROBERT (7)
Do you mean like Fabregas?????
Mugggg
Jimi - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Robert have you been talking to Ramos then? You seem pretty Sure. If you followed Ramos at Sevilla you would know he likes to play one up front with five midfielders so the chances are Modric will more likely play just behind a lone front man, I bow down down to your superior knowledge though….
Ramosrules - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Bosingwa please how much and he’s shit.
Nasri he was not impressive @ euro’s - Ben Arfa much better think Marseille defo got the better deal !!
Modric, Dos Santos, Dossena and deco all the best so far !!!
i hate ars5na1 - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
giovani is briliant and got him for 5ml he got 30 fames for barcelona last year
Aaron Ramsey is grap he’s 18 and he 5 games for grap cardif
you se my point
Obvious - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Poor little Luka - slight and frail with only a few years experience of playing in the Bosnian league (which is such a friendly place to play, particularly if you are a Croat - akin to 1970’s English football…), running rings round England’s Gerrard & Lampard twice and then completely dominating the German midfield in Euro2008; a midfield including softies such as Ballack and Frings…..yeah, I reckon that Modric will REALLY struggle in the phyiscal Premiership…… You’d really have to be truy ignorant or a blinkered gooner to believe that Modric will be too lightweight to succeed in the Premiership.
GoonerC - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I hate ars5na1 - i don’t think anyone gets youre point because you can’t spell for Shit!, Idiot!
Nasri is the best signing- full french international- french young player of the year 07 and 4 million cheaper than modric.
gio gio gio - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
robert[7]
can you please ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
please mate ok
Dan - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
stoke getting carson is a great deal
dos santos will shine for spurs
ramsey will be another theo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ars5na1 have no player's - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
coonerC[13]
are you a cunt i think so
jack straw - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Modric did look against ze Germans, but I was not impressed in any of his other Euro matches.
luca toni - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
jack wilshere coming up from the arsenal reserves ,, im tellin ye he looks the real deal , ino hes not a signing bt he deserves a mention , top notch he is
special yid - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Dos santos will prove to be a big hit!!! And for a third of the price of Nasri!!!
smokey - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
considering martin jol agreed to buy bosingwa for 3 mill 2 seasons ago but had second thoughts i think chelscum have been truly ripped off lol,as for ppl saying modric will not cope in prem league,well they obviously know nowt about football,the man is class,not easy to budge of the ball,great footballing brain and no smaller than the brilliant osvaldo ardilles,anyone remember him?
but dos santos is the bargain of the summer so far,what a snip,more tricks than ronaldo and faster than henry,also worth a mention is gomez,surely in the top 5 goal keepers in the world,watch out scum,we are gunning for ya
muppets lol
special yid comeback - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
hey special yid, a third of the price of nasri?
so what does that make him? a tenth of the price of darren bent hahah you mug
spurfect one - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
u know that when supposed football fans start banging on about modric’s size is not big enough for the EPL there actually pissed because deep down they know his quality. if ar5ena1 would of signed him he would have been the signing of the summer.
special yid comeback - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
i actually think modric is an excellent player, its a shame he signed for a useless team
Phill Yorass - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Getting Giovanni on a free transfer was a far better deal for Hull City. I dare say a Top 5 Bargain as things stand.
Dan - July 23rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
ar5ena1 are staying on the same level
while spurs continue to progress
special yid comeback - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
yes, progress down the ladder
good point
top four finish for spurs again is it?
arsenal out of the top four again is it?
spurfect one - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
SPECIAL YID COMEBACK
not bad for a useless team to win a cup last season was it!
BLEACH - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ramsey and nasri are the best transfers
Dan - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
When r ar5ena1 gona win something again
maybe when you buy a couple more 14 year olds
MS - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I think that the logic that Modric will suffer because of his slight frame also applies to Nasri, as they are the same.
But I think this logic is flawed: just look at Benayoun. he has been successful at this level for a number of years.
You don’t need 6ft 10 Africans in the midfield to win games…
Look at Spain!!
Best midfield play by any club or country!!
Xavi and Iniesta!
The best midfield players right now and the best partnership too.
BIGGIE - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
O h Nasri is a full internation…. that good he camoe on as a sub & was subbed… while Modric was in the team of the tournament.. Oh did we also miss out on bargain buy Dos Santos…. 4.6m I think thats the scoop of the season so far. I would also say Boetang for hull at £1m is a scoop.
Banksy - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Dos Santos could be a cracking signing but the fact Barcelona let this supposed wonderkid go for so little money i think personally speaks volumes. Im a Liverpool fan and when we were first linked with him i admit i was excited…but you Yiddoes….just cos he has a good pre-season does’nt mean bugger all… you’ve only got to look at our very Voronin for proof of that
As for saying the likes of Modric are too small, thats bollocks…. if it were the case the Papa Thingy Diop would obviously be the best midfielder to date !!! Good footballers adapt to their surroundings whether their built like a twig or a rhino…..Fabregas is hardly Giant Haystacks now is he ???
Dam - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Special (needs ) yid comeback how do you progress down a ladder?!
Benny - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
All this Arsena1 ‘bravado’ and jealousy of THFC is frankly unbecoming of a Top team….Ooops…I forgot that it has been a few years since you enjoyed that accolade (5-1 still rings true)!
The SAF ‘lies and accusations’ will have damaged the THFC build up for 08/09 but the Modric/De Santos @ Co will go a LONG way to taking Spurs into pastures new this season. The Old Spurs are DEAD…and the NEW era is upon us. Your arch enemy SAF is worried…as is Wenger and that Spanish Muppet (His name escapes me…bit who ever remembers failures? lol).
It makes me sick to hear idiots (usually the Manure, Arsena1, Liverstool or Chelski ones). I admire the quality that some of those teams enjoy but I abhor the ‘blinkered’ view that they vomit upon us. WINNERS do not need to prove themselves to anyone….They win and enjoy the moment. Ramos has even forgotten that THFC won the meaningless Carling Cup….He has bigger ‘fish to fry’! WATCH out world….the quiet bunch are coming and hopefully football will be the winner COYS!
SpudsRShit - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Dos Santos will rise to £9m. And if he was so good why would Barca sell him. Think about it, they are hardly short of cash. Ramsey looks good havn’t seen Nasri
spursforlife - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Well thanks for admitting hes a good player, anyone who thinks Modric won’t succeed in the EPL is a complete wank. Also, Dos Santos will be amazing, that’s a bargain right there. I also think Deco is a great signing and for once Chelsea didn’t get ripped off. Nasri could be good but his performance at the Euro was absolutely terrrible. I have never seen this Liverpool left back so can’t rate him.
Drew Vader - July 23rd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
How the fuck is Dossena included in this shit?? He didnt even make the Italian side!! HA Good signing though Rafa…please keep it up.
Its gotta be Modric for spurs. Looks real quality.
LIVERPOOL FAN - July 23rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Tottenham have easily mede the best value signings and even if you desregard the value aspect Modric/Dos Santos will turn out to be the best signings full stop. This is going to be a 5 horse race this season especially of ronaldo leaves man u leaving them with just a very good team as apposed to an unstopable one.
Tip but some money on CROUCHIE to be top scorer in the premiership
Dinhoshiz on u - July 23rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
You idiots all forgot to mention Ronaldinho to AC MILAN!
dan - July 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
as an afc supporter, spurs look to have strengthened nicely this summer with dos santos and modric(both linked heavily to us btw), however, if keane and berba move on, as well they may, i don’t rate spurs chances this year. as for my guns, arsene needs two midfield dynamos if we are even to compete for trophies this season, our young players have potential but most are not yet first team material. even with one midfield addition on top of what we already have, we do not have backups the way the other big teams have, liverpool, manu, chels have not sold anything worth keeping and still look stronger across the whole squad (deco and bos are quality signing for chels, berba nice for manu, as well as dossena and keane are upgrades for pool). it’s a long hard campaign and we just don’t have the horses to compete for trophies. i expect arsenal to start well and fade away at the end, again. patience indeed.
Eduardo Da Silva - July 23rd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Nasri is a great prospect, and should really shine at Arsenal
gooner - July 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Dos Santos is the next Wright-Phillips, nothing special at all. But Modric is a good signing, Wenger didn’t bought him because we have Fabregas and putting him in the wing wouldn’t be that productive as he is a playmaker.
Not sure about Nasri nor Vela yet, haven’t seen them, but in Arsene we trust. And Ramsey is too young, but promising.
As for Chelsea, I have no idea how Scolari will play Deco, Ballack and Lampard (don’t think he will leave) at the same time. Chelsea is not Portugal nor Barcelona (in terms of playing style), even with Scolari as boss.
James - July 23rd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
haha … Spurs fans always crack me up. Every season “it’s their time” and every season is dross.
You’ll lose Keane and Berbatov and won’t be able to replace them easily and on top of that, you really do have a crap defence.
LIVERPOOL FAN - July 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
James they still won more than you last season not quite dross a
Jon G - July 23rd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I aggree with James
But I must add… they have a really really really REALLY crapy defence
Jon G - July 23rd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Stupid article…liverpool would of gave Scott Carson for free. The fact that we got money was a bonus.
dfsg - July 23rd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
ramsay is crap
Augustus 'Knob cheese" Perriwinkle - July 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
1) Nasri-the resemblances to zidane are uncanny
2) Modric-quality player for a team who needs quality in the middle of the pitch
3) Flamini-free transfer? top quality holding midfielder. Can’t really go wrong, flamini may take some time to overtake gattuso, but he is more skilled and just as aggressive.
4) Deco-Proven quality for a fraction of the price. Working with scolari should be fun to watch.
5) Tie. Aaron Ramsey/Gio Dosantos- Both players have oodles of potential, now it is time to just sit back and see who matures into their games faster.
As for all of the other transfers. I agree Bonsingwa was overpriced, but if you are Chelsea, and can spend 16 million on a outside back then why not, right? Ronaldinho, though a great player, is completely unnecessary at milan, unless Ancelotti goes through with gallianis proposed forward positioning of Kaka. Daniel Alves is an addition to Barca that I also like, he is an extremely skilled attacking wing back, that will make the left side of Barca daunting to say the least–puts the bonsingwa signing to shame, though 30 mill is a lot to play for a defender, but just as I said for chelsea, if you can spend it, why not? alves is certainly a quality player. Brad Guzan, assuming his work permits are accepted, is another signing I am rather fond of, being a former goalkeeper. He is going to be the latest american stopper to blow up in England, I have no doubts about that, he has all the assets necessary to thrive. Hleb at barca was also an excellent signing, he may not be able to fill the shoes of ronaldinho, but he does not have to, he is there to provide aid on both sides of the ball, which we all know dinho never got around to doing. Finally, I would like to add, that I am very curious to see how the signing of amauri at juventus will turn out. He had an excellent season with palermo, and now he will be playing for a top four club, who will provide the brazilian with top notch service. Oh well, thats my take on the transfers thus far. Look out for the possible sale of Sebastian Giovinco, possibly to arsenal, if that goes through, I think my list will be forced to change.
mike - July 24th, 2008 at 12:37 am
you cock hat.
absolute sexwank
Correction - July 24th, 2008 at 4:23 am
@Obvious:
“Poor little Luka - slight and frail with only a few years experience of playing in the Bosnian league…”
He is a Croat who played in Croatian League. Not sure where’d you get that “Bosnian League”, but I’m sure to you Croatian/Bosnian, etc. is the same thing… just like Welsh, Scottish, Irish and English… right?
Although I do agree that he’s skinny/light-weight, that does give him an advantage of speed and agility (which he has demonstrated numerous times…. not to mention that he plays with heart - and I hope he continues to do so!).
Therefore, I believe Tottenham made a great choice buying Modric and this will be a great place for a player like Luka to get accustomed to the Premiere League..
tititarantino - July 24th, 2008 at 6:51 am
greetings from fazana - croatia
Correction of correction - July 24th, 2008 at 7:26 am
In the season 2003/04 (when he was 18) Modri? was loaned from Dinamo (Zagreb) to Zrinjski (Mostar). Mostar is one of the biggest cities in Bosnia&Herzegovinia. He played 22 games, scoring 8 goals and was the best player in the team… and then he came back to Croatia in 2004. Dinamo loaned him to Inter (Zapreši?) - playing 18 games and scoring 3 goals - and played a key role in getting Inter Zapreši? to UEFA Cup first time in club history. In season 2004/05 he was officaly voted as a most promissing Croatian player.
Then Dinamo took him back after a few years of loan spell and he became amongs Eduardo da Silva (Arsenal) the best player in the team.
In the season 2006/07 he was also voted as a captain of Dinamo.
Thrust me I am Dinamo fan and this kid is awsome… I watched him many times and every time it was a whole new experience! Great kid!
fuckfuck - July 24th, 2008 at 8:20 am
i hate the ppl who hate arsenal .. i also want to say them .. . fuck u …
fuck your self …
LOL - July 24th, 2008 at 8:40 am
what a shitty list of signings.
FF - July 24th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Good signings! Modric is an excellent player, you’ll all see when he starts to play “the game”. Fantastic vision and plays with heart. And just to mention all those big and heavy players: Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta, Benayoun, Zola, Romario… Dos Santos could be a hit, Nasri too but Arsenal is in trouble. Bring back Thierry, the one and only…
skinterthanyouthink - July 24th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
boring…….
Ben - July 24th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I love how all spurs fans say they won ‘a cup’ rather than saying they won the carling cup.
Be honest with yourselves, winning the carling cup is the equivalent of winning the egg and spoon race at a limbless child charity event.
Spuds won’t get near the top 4, perhaps the top 4 shitters in the league but nothing else!!!! boring boring tottenham.
Robbie is a scouser, robbie is a scouser da la la la OI!
YNWA
stevey - July 24th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Ben …. what a cunt. the fact of the matter is we won the carling cup and your ever decreasing pile of wank won sweet fuck all …. yet again! you all consider arsenal such a huge team contending for the title but lets face it you have peaked and now begin the slow drop back into mediocre football buying shite like nasri who was the biggest underperformer at the euros. say bye bye to fabregas and your all fucked!
LIVERPOOL FAN - July 24th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Ben So arsenal lost the agg and spoon race then (sniggering quietly)
cris b - July 24th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
NASRI will be best too rite , wenger has made another bacon sandwich signing for a lobster
Ben - July 25th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
stevie you retarded mong, i am clearly a liverpool fan. Truth of it is that Dos Santos isnt fit to lick the sunny side of my bollocks
TeessideMusicLive.co.uk - July 26th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I dont rate Fabrice Muamba, also a mention for a Middlesbrough signing Marvin Emnes who looks to be a bargain, hopefully he shows the best he can do this season.
Terrence Brannon - July 26th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Perhaps mention what position they play… I’m specially interested in the Arsenal singnings.
Anonymous - August 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Do we really need BARRY, isnt he a poor mans ALONSO, and with class like GERRARD, MASHCHRANO, and youth of LEVIA and PLESSIS,
in my humble opinion we need another central defender with Hypia aging Carraghers legs also lacking pace, so if Aggers injury woes return who do we have unknown kids and Skrtel. We also need to offload non liverpool players like Pennant Voronin Benayoun.
The club needs class not journey men like Barry united got the best secondary english mf after Steve G , owen injury prone hargraeves.
Matt - August 24th, 2008 at 5:05 am
Liverpool need pace on the left wing and definatly a defender thats young are players are aging
James Davies - February 19th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Buying Deco for 8 million was a good buy but he still isn’t in the same league as Lampard