The finest strikers who have moved clubs ahead of the 2014/15 season…
Find out who are the most valuable players in world football.
The transfer market is well and truly in full swing now and there have already been a number of eye-catching moves across Europe.
Here CaughtOffside picks out the 10 best striker deals that have happened so far ahead of the 2014/15 season.
10) Rickie Lambert – Southampton to Liverpool
Lambert may be 32-years-old, but he has hit the peak of his powers later than most strikers, and having signed as part of a deal worth only around £4m, he should more than justify the fee Liverpool paid Southampton to land him. The England international has scored 28 Premier League goals during the last two seasons.
9) Josip Drmic – 1. FC Nürnberg to Bayer Leverkusen
The Swiss international was one of the stand-out players in the Bundesliga last season, as he scored 17 goals in 33 league games for Nurnberg. However, the 21-year-old cold not prevent his team from being relegated, and his exploits instead earned him a move to Bayer Leverkusen.
8) Adrian Ramos – Hertha BSC to Borussia Dortmund
One of the more understated members of the Colombian World Cup squad this summer, the 28-year-old has been the main man for Hertha Berlin since 2009, scoring 57 goals in 150 league games. He will try and help fill the void left by Robert Lewandowski’s departure to Bayern Munich.
7) Ciro Immobile – Torino to Borussia Dortmund
Ramos will not be the only striker trying to replicate Lewandowski’s Dortmund form, as the German giants have also signed this exciting Italian striker. The 24-year-old scored an impressive 22 goals in 33 league appearances last season, earning him a surprise spot in his country’s World Cups squad, and a big money transfer.
6) Didier Drogba – Galatasaray to Chelsea
The legend is back at Stamford Bridge after just two years away. Drogba may be past his peak at 36-years-old, but having signed on a free transfer the Blues have pulled off something of a coup. His experience in both a playing and coaching role will be invaluable, while he will provide useful back-up to Diego Costa and Fernando Torres.
5) Alvaro Morata – Real Madrid to Juventus
Juventus beat-off competition from several European sides, including North London duo Arsenal and Tottenham to land Real Madrid’s 21-year-old starlet, who scored eight La Liga goals last season. Unfortunately for Juve, Morata suffered a knee injury in his very first training session with the club, and is now likely to miss the start of the new season.
4) Mario Mandzukic – Bayern Munich to Atletico Madrid
The big Croatian scored an impressive 33 goals in 54 games for Bayern Munich, during a two-year spell with the German champions. However, following Lewandowski’s arrival, he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Allianz Arena, and the Spanish champions moved swiftly to snap up the 28-year-old, who will replace Diego Costa in the Madrid team.
3) Diego Costa – Atletico Madrid to Chelsea
The 25-year-old Brazilian turned Spaniard will be hoping to prove that he is more Didier Drogba, less Fernando Torres, as he aims to avoid joining the ranks of Chelsea’s big-money flops. Costa netted 27 La Liga goals last season, more than in his previous three campains combined, and he will hope to continue that form at Stamford Bridge.
2) Luis Suarez – Liverpool to Barcelona
Undoubtedly one of the best player’s in the world, but can Barcelona handle the reputation, the controversy and the difficulties surrounding getting him, Lionel Messi and Neymar to all play together. The Barca front-line is unstoppable on paper, but will it prove quite so incredible in reality?
1) Robert Lewandowski – Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich
After two years of waiting, Bayern Munich have got their man, and they will be eager for the 25-year-old Polish international to hit the ground running. After netting 103 goals in four seasons with Dortmund, all the signs point to Lewandowski continuing that form come next season, and that’s without even mentioning the fact that Munich didn’t have to pay their rivals a penny for him.
SEE ALSO: All the Premier League done deals so far.