CaughtOffside takes a look at the best bargains that could be picked up by Premier League clubs this summer.
Everyone likes to grab a bargain, with Premier League football clubs being no different, meaning that all 20 clubs will be sniffing out the best value in the transfer market this summer.
It doesn’t matter how much money a club has, even the biggest and richest of the Premier League giants will be hoping to secure value-for-money in deals this summer, with both Manchester City and Chelsea featuring on our list of five bargain deals that could go through this summer.
1) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea)
With Spanish international Diego Costa all-but signed from Atletico Madrid, Chelsea are likely to be in the market for some cheaper cover and competition for their new spearhead this summer.
Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund has emerged as a surprise contender, with the Blues being linked with a move for the lightning quick forward.
With suggests of a release clause worth as little as £6 million, the fee required to bring the former St. Etienne forward to the Premier League could well be a snip for a player who scored 13 Bundesliga goals last season.
2) Bruno Zuculini (Racing Club to Manchester City)
Manchester City look all set to announce the signing of holding midfielder Bruno Zuculini from Argentinian club Racing Club, with the Mail suggesting that the fee could be in the region of £3m.
This would represent fine business from Manuel Pellegrini, who would be securing one of the world’s most competent young defensive midfielders, with Zuculini also having interested Barcelona and Manchester United.
The 21 year-old has more than 90 appearances in the Argentinian Premier Division to his name, making him a particularly experienced player for his age who should be a good capture for City.
Miguel Lopes (Tottenham Hotspur)
New Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a move for defender Miguel Lopes from Sporting Lisbon, according to French newspaper Mercato, with Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais unlikely to activate a clause allowing them to make his loan deal permanent.
The 27 year-old is an experienced campaigner in European football, having also played for FC Porto, Real Betis and Braga, with Lopes perhaps being the man to finally nail down a place alongside Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the Spurs defence.
With Lyon unlikely to bring him in permanently and Sporting Lisbon having shown few signings of wanting Lopes back at the club, Tottenham could be able to negotiate a bargain deal with the Portuguese side.
4) Serge Aurier (Toulouse to Arsenal)
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Toulouse and Ivory Coast right back Serge Aurier all summer, with the Gunners reportedly having agreed an £8 million fee with the Ligue 1 club for the player.
This would represent a bargain deal for Arsenal, who are required to replace experienced right back Bacary Sagna after he opted to join Manchester City on a free transfer this summer.
Aurier is an excellent, powerful full back who would be likely to take to Premier League football like a duck to water, making such a fee a fine investment.
5) Guillermo Ochoa (AC Ajaccio to Arsenal/Liverpool)
After Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa’s display in his country’s 0-0 draw with hosts Brazil at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the news that his contract at AC Ajaccio had expired and he was available on a free transfer got Premier League fans very excited.
Arsenal and Liverpool have been suggested as potential destinations for Ochoa, who would be an incredible signing on a free transfer after his fine displays for club and country over the last twelve months.