The best value signings of the transfer window thus far.
In a day and age where transfer fees are normally huge, managers are always on the look out for quality players that they won’t have to pay much for. Last summer, Michu was arguably the Premier League’s biggest bargain, scoring plenty of goals for Swansea despite the club only paying £2 million for him. Every club is on the look out for a player like Michu, who has quality but is affordable. In the 2013 summer transfer window, some clubs have already completed some bargain buys and here is a list of the ten best ones.
Joaquin- Malaga to Fiorentina for £1.3m
Fiorentina are looking to build on a successful season where they finished four in Serie A and they have claimed a real bargain by signing winger Joaquin for just £1.3 million. The player had a highly successful spell at Malaga, being one of the sides key men as they reached the quarter-finals of last years Champions League. The Spanish side are currently having financial troubles, meaning they need to sell players to balance their books and had no alternative but to sell Joaquin when Fiorentina came in with a bid. The winger has been capped 57 times by Spain and has been regarded as one of La Liga’s best wingers for many years. Joaquin will bring pace and a wonderful dribbling ability to Fiorentina and the player recently remarked that he had always admired the Italian league and was looking forward to breaking into La Viola’s first team. Joaquin may take some time to settle at Fiorentina but he will surely have a big impact on their up and coming season.
Luis Alberto- Sevilla to Liverpool for £6.8m
Alberto is one of many young Spanish midfielders that is highly rated and the player had an exceptionally strong season while on loan from Sevilla at Barcelona B. Following Alberto’s good performances for Barcelona B, Sevilla had hoped to keep hold of the young Spaniard but the club are suffering financially at the moment and when Liverpool came calling they had no choice but to accept their offer. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers likes to have plenty of good quality midfielders in his squad and is known to prefer a youthful squad as he can mould the team into what he wants. Alberto could be part of Liverpool’s midfielder for a longtime if he reaches his full potential and Rodgers will certainly give him the chance to that. For a player who could have a long career at Liverpool, paying £6.8 million really isn’t that much considering the type of service Alberto could give the Reds over the next few years.
Fernando Llorente- Atletico Bilbao to Juventus for free
The Spanish hit man was regarded as one of Europe’s most dangerous strikers during his spell at Atletico Bilbao, scoring 85 goals for the club. However, his final season at Atletico was difficult to say the least, with the striker falling out with the clubs hierarchy and losing his starting spot in Atletico’s first team. The striker only scored five goals for the club last season, probably because he started most of his matches on the bench. His move to Juventus was agreed in January but he made the move to Turin in June after his contract at Atletico expired. Llorente is a tall and powerful forward and is especially dangerous in the six yard box, with crosses coming in that he can head into the net. At Juventus, Llorente will hope to break into the clubs first team and if he does get a run of games at the club he should become quite prolific. Certainly the striker has a lot to prove after his poor final season at Atletico so he will need no encouragement in trying to impress Juventus fans.
Gerard Deulofeu- Barcelona to Everton on loan
Barcelona have many quality young players but many pundits have tipped Deulofeu for greatness following some excellent performances for Barcelona’s B team. Deulofeu can play in a wide variety of positions and has the knack of scoring plenty of goals wherever he plays. Due to competition in Barcelona’s first team, manager Tito Vilanova thought it would be better for the youngster to go out on loan and gain some experience in playing at the highest level. Everton were only to happy to bring the Spaniard to Goodison Park and the player could play a key role in Roberto Martinez first season as Toffees boss. Martinez has a good record of getting the best out of young players and should he be able to do that with Deulofeu, Everton’s fans will have an excellent time watching the young Spaniard this season. Playing in the Premier League will be a challenge for the youngster but he will gain valuable experience as he will be playing in a different country with a different style of football. This could make him a much better footballer so the move to Everton will benefit both Barcelona and the Toffess.
Nicholas Anelka- Juventus to West Bromwich Albion for free
Anelka has been a regular fixture in the Premier League for many years now and he has terrorized many a defence during his time in England. As a young striker, Anelka forged a reputation as one of the best young players in the world while at Arsenal and continued to make impacts for the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool during his Premier League career. Even though Anelka is now at the end of his career, there is no doubting the quality that he still possesses if he is on his A game and West Brom will feel that they have picked up a bargain in bringing Anelka to the Hawthorns for free. The Frenchman has spent recent years away from England, with his last spell being at Italian Champions Juventus but he will feel at home back in the Premier League and should get back into the rhythm of scoring goals before to long, which will no doubt please the Baggies fans. West Brom manager Steve Clarke has a knack of getting the best out of players and even though Anelka can sometimes be difficult, many are predicting that Clarke can help the Frenchman have an excellent swansong at the end of his career.
Ricardo Carvalho- Real Madrid to AS Monaco for free
Monaco have been very busy during the last transfer window, signing players like Falaco for over £50 million. However, one of their most important buys this summer maybe free. The French club recently signed former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho from Real Madrid on a free transfer and despite his age, their is no doubting that the Portuguese centre back is still a class act. Carvalho was regarded as one of the best centre backs in the world during his time at Chelsea and it is no coincidence that they have become much more defensively suspect since he left. Monaco want to establish themselves as one of French football powerhouses, having only just been promoted back to Ligue One last season. If they are to rival Paris St Germain for the French league title then they will need a strong and resolute defensive base, which is what Carvalho will give them. Signing a player like Carvalho for free is a huge bargain for the big spending French side and was a good piece of subtle business in amongst the massive transfer fees that they have been paying to the likes of FC Porto and Atletico Madrid.
Jesus Navas- Sevilla to Manchester City for £14.9m
At first, £14.9 million may seem quite pricy but it isn’t for a player of Jesus Navas quality. The Spaniard has long been regarded as one of the best and most skilful wingers in world football and many have been surprised that he hasn’t moved to a bigger club sooner. Navas had been at Sevilla for all of his career but this summer he thought a change of scenery would be best for him. Sevilla were also quite happy to cash in on him, with the club being in serious financial trouble. What City are buying is a quality winger that will finally give them the width that they have been crying out for. Many teams seemed comfortable with the narrow way City played last season and new manager Manuel Pellegrini has signalled a change of tactics by signing Navas. The winger is a regular in the Spanish national team, a difficult feat considering the quality that Spain have available. Navas is an excellent signing for City and could prove to be their most important this summer, with his ability to beat several men and then produce wonderful crosses which the likes of Sergio Ageuro will enjoy blasting into the back of the net.
Marco Van Ginkel- Vitesse Arnhem to Chelsea for £8m
Van Ginkel is one of the most highly rated young midfielders in Europe at the moment and has already been earmarked as one of the next great Dutch midfielders. The player had an excellent European under 21 Championships with the Netherlands and decided to make the move to Stamford Bridge from Vitesse Arnhem, with Jose Mourinho promising the player that he will get plenty of first team opportunities this season. That was Van Ginkel’s only worry about coming to Chelsea as the midfielder is desperate to play in next summers World Cup. Van Ginkel has been compared with Frank Lampard and many see the Dutchman as Lamaprds long term replacement. If Van Ginkel does turn out to be as good as Lampard, then the £8 million that Chelsea have spent on him will be considered a bargain. The Dutchman has been ability to be at the heart of the Blues midfield for the next decade and Jose Mourinho will hope that his newest recruit can kick start his second spell as Chelsea boss.
Carlos Tevez- Manchester City to Juventus for £12m
Although sometimes controversial, there is doubting that Tevez is a quality player and the Argentine has played a key role in Manchester City’s recent success, scoring crucial goals at key times. With only one year remaining on his contract, Tevez made it clear to City that he wanted leave the club this summer and he was quickly sold to Italian Champions Juventus. Tevez is a striker who may not score loads of goals but will work hard and do something amazing when his team need it the most. He is regularly regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe and Juventus have managed to pinch him for only £12 million. The striker can be difficult at times but he makes up for that with his sheer quality. He has always admired Italian football as well and could prosper in Serie A next season. Juventus are hoping that Tevez will help them progress in Europe and the striker has plenty of experience in the Champions League, having won the competition with Manchester United in 2008. Although controversial, Tevez is a quality player who will add plenty to Juventus over the coming season.
David Villa- Barcelona to Atletico Madrid for £1.8m
This is undoubtedly the bargain of this transfer window so far and it is doubtful that it will be bettered. Villa is regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in Europe having helped Barcelona become one of the best club teams in football history. The striker didn’t have a great season at the Nou Camp following a long term injury and wants to be playing regularly so many pundits felt that the player would move clubs this summer. Villa had been linked with a move to the Premier League and reports suggested that a move to Tottenham was almost a forgone conclusion. However, Atletico came in at the last minute and made Villa an offer he couldn’t refuse. To sign a striker of Villa’s quality for only £1.8 million is certainly a bargain, even if the fee does rise to around £4.4 million if the striker stays at Atletico for three years. Villa is an excellent replacement for Falaco, who left to join Monaco last month and Atletico’s fans have every right to feel excited about the arrival of such a fantastic striker. Atletico have pulled off a huge coup in bringing Villa to the club this summer.
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