Top 10 Signings - Summer of 2012
Jamie McDonald /
Getty Images Europe
This
summer transfer window has once again seen plenty of players move
across Europe and millions of dollars exchanging hands as clubs use this
opportunity to strengthen their teams.
Some new signings have made us sit up and take notice, while other signings have had us slump back into our seats scratching our heads but for better or worse, these clubs are stuck with the players on their books till January when the transfer madness start all over again.
Here are my picks on the top 10 transfer signings which I believe will make the biggest positive impact on their clubs.
Eden Hazard: LOSC Lille to Chelsea
Speculated transfer fee: €40million
Quite possibly the most exciting young talent in the world of football now, Eden Hazard's brilliance at Lille made him a long time target of top clubs like Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester United and it was only a matter of time before the Belgian would move to an elite club.
Although he had previously made his preference for a move to Arsenal or Manchester United known, Chelsea's success in the Champions League swung Hazard's decision in the Blues' favour.
What he brings to the team
Blessed with extremely quick feet, excellent technical ability and with bags of pace to burn, Hazard's capture is a real coup for Roman Abramovich's outfit and already the 21-year-old has justified the high price paid for him with some sterling displays for his new club in the Premier League.
Santi Cazorla: Malaga to Arsenal
Speculated transfer fee: €16million
It was rumoured that Cazorla was close to securing a move to Arsenal from Villarreal in 2011 before the oil-funded Malaga swooped in and brought the Spain international to Andalusia for a reported fee of €21million.
Malaga, with Cazorla pulling the strings in midfield, thrived in La Liga and finished fourth last season but have since run into financial difficulties, forcing them to sell their most valuable asset when Arsenal came knocking at the door.
What he brings to the team
For a bargain fee of €16million, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has bought himself a gifted playmaker who has the ability to create something out of nothing. The 27-year-old is also one of those rare players who are comfortable using either foot to strike the ball, making him extremely versatile and hard to tackle. He seems to have seamlessly slotted into Arsenal's midfield and has been the main creative outlet for the Gunners so far.
Joe Allen: Swansea City to Liverpool
Speculated transfer fee: €15million
Last season, Swansea thrilled fans and neutrals alike with their sleek passing and attacking style of play under manager Brendan Rodgers. One of the integral cogs to the well-oiled Swansea machine was Joe Allen, who kept the Swans ticking with his metronomic passing and excellent ball retention.
When manager Brendan Rodgers made the move from the Swans to Liverpool, it was only natural that Allen was someone the new Reds manager wanted to bring along with him. Although Rodgers had a gentlemen's agreement not to sign any Swansea players to Liverpool, the Swans could not resist an offer of €15million for a player who had cost them nothing, having risen through the ranks of their academy.
What he brings to the team
The 22-year-old is no stranger to Rodgers' style of possession football and is one of the few Liverpool players who are versatile enough to effectively play the ball on the ground or in the air. Sitting deep, he has the ability to pick out passes from afar and serves as the link between defence and attack for the Reds.
Robin Van Persie: Arsenal to Man Utd
Speculated transfer fee: €24million
Arsenal had Robin van Persie to thank for firing them into the Champions League after the Dutch striker scored an amazing 30 goals for the club in the Premier League last season. Having joined the Gunners from Feyenoord in 2004, Van Persie spent a vast majority of his Arsenal career on the treatment table but was still regarded as one of the club's most important players.
With one year left on his contract last summer, Van Persie declared he would not be signing a new deal and Wenger was forced to cash in on Van Persie or risk losing him on a free transfer the next summer. Along came league rivals Manchester United and although Wenger was loathe to sell the 29-year-old to another Premier League club, the lack of concrete interest from foreign clubs meant that the Frenchman had no choice but to let Van Persie join up with his old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson.
What he brings to the team
Van Persie's quality is apparent for all to see. Deadly in front of goal, the Dutch international also has the vision to create goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates and coupled with his never-say-die attitude, he is the perfect addition to give Ferguson that extra quality upfront.
Alex Song: Arsenal to Barcelona
Estimated transfer fee: £15million
Along with Van Persie, Song was one of the standout players for Arsenal last season and garnered the highest amount of assists (12) for the Gunners that campaign. Having joined Wenger's side from Bastia in 2006, it took some time before the Cameroonian finally found his feet in the Premier League and became one of the world's best midfielders.
Wenger may have invested a lot of time and effort to mould Song into the player he is now but reports of the 24-year-old's poor attitude on the training ground made it easy for the long-serving Arsenal manager to dispense with Song once Barcelona made their interest known.
What he brings to the team
Although Song has been often touted as a defensive midfielder, a closer look at his statistics and playing style suggests he operates more as a deep lying playmaker. Physically strong and imposing, Song can easily outmuscle opponents off the ball and is also capable of shielding the ball extremely well. Despite his ungainly style, the former Bastia player is comfortable with the ball and has the vision and composure to effectively utilise possession.
Luka Modric: Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid
Estimated transfer fee: £33million
Luka Modric established himself quickly in the heart of Tottenham's midfield when he first joined the club in 2008 and the Croatian soon became a crowd favourite at White Hart Lane with his dazzling displays in midfield.
The 26-year-old was soon attracting attention from top clubs around the world, especially from cross town rivals Chelsea. However, despite the promise of silverware and Champions League football from interested suitors, Modric stayed on at the Lilywhites till last summer, when Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy finally sanctioned a move for the highly-rated playmaker to La Liga champions Real Madrid.
What he brings to the team
Possessing a bagful of tricks and full of energy, the former Dinamo Zagreb player has the ability to control the game and is capable of turning the game on its head with a moment of magic. A consummate professional on and off the pitch, Modric will definitely thrive when playing with a group of other top class players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
Jordi Alba: Valencia to Barcelona
Estimated transfer fee: €14 million
Alba started out his footballing career as a left winger at Barcelona but was unable to make an impression and was released by the Catalan club in 2005. He eventually moved to Valencia and was soon converted into a wing-back where he really flourished and was soon a regular starter for Los Che under then manager Unai Emery.
The 23-year-old was in stellar form for Valencia last season and ultimately earned himself a call-up to the Spain national squad for the 2012 European Championships. He was one of the standout performers in the international tournament, earning himself a spot in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in the process, and made a high-profile return to his boyhood club during the summer.
What he brings to the team
Having had experience playing on the wings, Alba offers a devastating outlet of attack down the flanks and is seen as a natural replacement for the unfortunate Eric Abidal. His defensive work is also severely understated and not many players can get the better of him in one-on-one situations. Attacking wise, Alba is no stranger to the tiki-taka style of play Barcelona is used to playing and his pin-point crosses will surely reap a few goals for his side.
Sebastian Giovinco: Parma to Juventus
Estimated transfer fee: €11 million
Sebastian Giovinco is a product of the Juventus youth academy and his excellent performances soon earned him a promotion to the first team, but despite impressing in his sporadic appearances for the Bianconeri, he never really managed to break into the squad and he was loaned to Parma in 2010, before the Crociati decided to make the move permanent in 2011.
It was last season at Parma where Giovinco really shined; the 25-year-old earned the plaudits for his numerous match-winning displays and ended the season leading the Crociati's scoring (15) and assists (11) chart, leading Parma to eight in the Serie A. The Italy international was the subject intense transfer speculation last summer, with English champions Manchester City especially interested, but Giovinco eventually opted to make the move back to Serie A champions Juventus.
What he brings to the team
Due to his diminutive stature, Giovinco has a very low centre of gravity and coupled with his blistering pace and excellent close control of the ball is capable of weaving through defences with ease. Capable of playing on either flanks or through the middle, he is also an accomplished set-piece taker and plays with the maturity and experience of a much older player.
Antonio Cassano: AC Milan to Inter Milan
Estimated transfer fee: Player swap with Giampaolo Pazzini
One of the infamous bad boys of Italian football, Antonio Cassano's immense talent was evident from a young age but a series of disciplinary issues almost ruined his career and for a while, it seemed the Italy international's full potential would never be fulfilled.
Despite his bad boy reputation, AC Milan took a gamble on the volatile Italy international but he never really managed to break into the first team and was often overlooked in favour of strikers Zlatan Ibrahmovic.
His time at AC Milan was also hampered by health issues. Cassano made just 16 league appearances for the club last season after being side-lined for six months following minor heart surgery back in October.
Having grown disillusioned with Milan by their sales of star players Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, Cassano requested for a transfer and made the move to the Rossoneri's arch-rivals Inter Milan.
What he brings to the team
Cassano, who operates primarily as a second striker, is known for his intelligent movement off-the-ball and effectively stretches opposition defences by running into the channels at opportune times. The 30-year-old also possesses a fair amount of flair and brings along with him a wealth of experience and cunning, which will prove useful in unlocking watertight defences.
Javier Martinez: Athletic Bilbao to Bayern Munich
Estimated transfer fee: €40 million
Martinez signed for Bilbao from Osasuna in 2006 and almost immediately became a regular in the side despite then being only 17-years-old. His effective and dominant presence in the middle of the park made him an integral part of the club and he went on to make 251 appearances for Bilbao.
Despite an imposing €40 million buy-out clause in his contract, Bayern Munich had saw enough of Martinez to decide to meet the clause and bring the Spain international to the Allianz Arena; in the process, the 24-year-old became the most expensive player in the history of the Bundesliga.
What he brings to the team
At 1.90 metres tall, Martinez cuts an imposing figure on the pitch and he uses his physical superiority to great advantage. With tons of energy and stamina, he can go from box-to-box with ease and is often the conduit for his side's counter-attacks. Tenacious in the tackle and tactically aware, he also offers sufficient protection for his backline and is technically proficient to recycle possession effectively after winning it.
Some new signings have made us sit up and take notice, while other signings have had us slump back into our seats scratching our heads but for better or worse, these clubs are stuck with the players on their books till January when the transfer madness start all over again.
Here are my picks on the top 10 transfer signings which I believe will make the biggest positive impact on their clubs.
Eden Hazard: LOSC Lille to Chelsea
Speculated transfer fee: €40million
Quite possibly the most exciting young talent in the world of football now, Eden Hazard's brilliance at Lille made him a long time target of top clubs like Arsenal, Real Madrid and Manchester United and it was only a matter of time before the Belgian would move to an elite club.
Although he had previously made his preference for a move to Arsenal or Manchester United known, Chelsea's success in the Champions League swung Hazard's decision in the Blues' favour.
What he brings to the team
Blessed with extremely quick feet, excellent technical ability and with bags of pace to burn, Hazard's capture is a real coup for Roman Abramovich's outfit and already the 21-year-old has justified the high price paid for him with some sterling displays for his new club in the Premier League.
Santi Cazorla: Malaga to Arsenal
Speculated transfer fee: €16million
It was rumoured that Cazorla was close to securing a move to Arsenal from Villarreal in 2011 before the oil-funded Malaga swooped in and brought the Spain international to Andalusia for a reported fee of €21million.
Malaga, with Cazorla pulling the strings in midfield, thrived in La Liga and finished fourth last season but have since run into financial difficulties, forcing them to sell their most valuable asset when Arsenal came knocking at the door.
What he brings to the team
For a bargain fee of €16million, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has bought himself a gifted playmaker who has the ability to create something out of nothing. The 27-year-old is also one of those rare players who are comfortable using either foot to strike the ball, making him extremely versatile and hard to tackle. He seems to have seamlessly slotted into Arsenal's midfield and has been the main creative outlet for the Gunners so far.
Joe Allen: Swansea City to Liverpool
Speculated transfer fee: €15million
Last season, Swansea thrilled fans and neutrals alike with their sleek passing and attacking style of play under manager Brendan Rodgers. One of the integral cogs to the well-oiled Swansea machine was Joe Allen, who kept the Swans ticking with his metronomic passing and excellent ball retention.
When manager Brendan Rodgers made the move from the Swans to Liverpool, it was only natural that Allen was someone the new Reds manager wanted to bring along with him. Although Rodgers had a gentlemen's agreement not to sign any Swansea players to Liverpool, the Swans could not resist an offer of €15million for a player who had cost them nothing, having risen through the ranks of their academy.
What he brings to the team
The 22-year-old is no stranger to Rodgers' style of possession football and is one of the few Liverpool players who are versatile enough to effectively play the ball on the ground or in the air. Sitting deep, he has the ability to pick out passes from afar and serves as the link between defence and attack for the Reds.
Robin Van Persie: Arsenal to Man Utd
Speculated transfer fee: €24million
Arsenal had Robin van Persie to thank for firing them into the Champions League after the Dutch striker scored an amazing 30 goals for the club in the Premier League last season. Having joined the Gunners from Feyenoord in 2004, Van Persie spent a vast majority of his Arsenal career on the treatment table but was still regarded as one of the club's most important players.
With one year left on his contract last summer, Van Persie declared he would not be signing a new deal and Wenger was forced to cash in on Van Persie or risk losing him on a free transfer the next summer. Along came league rivals Manchester United and although Wenger was loathe to sell the 29-year-old to another Premier League club, the lack of concrete interest from foreign clubs meant that the Frenchman had no choice but to let Van Persie join up with his old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson.
What he brings to the team
Van Persie's quality is apparent for all to see. Deadly in front of goal, the Dutch international also has the vision to create goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates and coupled with his never-say-die attitude, he is the perfect addition to give Ferguson that extra quality upfront.
Alex Song: Arsenal to Barcelona
Estimated transfer fee: £15million
Along with Van Persie, Song was one of the standout players for Arsenal last season and garnered the highest amount of assists (12) for the Gunners that campaign. Having joined Wenger's side from Bastia in 2006, it took some time before the Cameroonian finally found his feet in the Premier League and became one of the world's best midfielders.
Wenger may have invested a lot of time and effort to mould Song into the player he is now but reports of the 24-year-old's poor attitude on the training ground made it easy for the long-serving Arsenal manager to dispense with Song once Barcelona made their interest known.
What he brings to the team
Although Song has been often touted as a defensive midfielder, a closer look at his statistics and playing style suggests he operates more as a deep lying playmaker. Physically strong and imposing, Song can easily outmuscle opponents off the ball and is also capable of shielding the ball extremely well. Despite his ungainly style, the former Bastia player is comfortable with the ball and has the vision and composure to effectively utilise possession.
Luka Modric: Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid
Estimated transfer fee: £33million
Luka Modric established himself quickly in the heart of Tottenham's midfield when he first joined the club in 2008 and the Croatian soon became a crowd favourite at White Hart Lane with his dazzling displays in midfield.
The 26-year-old was soon attracting attention from top clubs around the world, especially from cross town rivals Chelsea. However, despite the promise of silverware and Champions League football from interested suitors, Modric stayed on at the Lilywhites till last summer, when Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy finally sanctioned a move for the highly-rated playmaker to La Liga champions Real Madrid.
What he brings to the team
Possessing a bagful of tricks and full of energy, the former Dinamo Zagreb player has the ability to control the game and is capable of turning the game on its head with a moment of magic. A consummate professional on and off the pitch, Modric will definitely thrive when playing with a group of other top class players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
Jordi Alba: Valencia to Barcelona
Estimated transfer fee: €14 million
Alba started out his footballing career as a left winger at Barcelona but was unable to make an impression and was released by the Catalan club in 2005. He eventually moved to Valencia and was soon converted into a wing-back where he really flourished and was soon a regular starter for Los Che under then manager Unai Emery.
The 23-year-old was in stellar form for Valencia last season and ultimately earned himself a call-up to the Spain national squad for the 2012 European Championships. He was one of the standout performers in the international tournament, earning himself a spot in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in the process, and made a high-profile return to his boyhood club during the summer.
What he brings to the team
Having had experience playing on the wings, Alba offers a devastating outlet of attack down the flanks and is seen as a natural replacement for the unfortunate Eric Abidal. His defensive work is also severely understated and not many players can get the better of him in one-on-one situations. Attacking wise, Alba is no stranger to the tiki-taka style of play Barcelona is used to playing and his pin-point crosses will surely reap a few goals for his side.
Sebastian Giovinco: Parma to Juventus
Estimated transfer fee: €11 million
Sebastian Giovinco is a product of the Juventus youth academy and his excellent performances soon earned him a promotion to the first team, but despite impressing in his sporadic appearances for the Bianconeri, he never really managed to break into the squad and he was loaned to Parma in 2010, before the Crociati decided to make the move permanent in 2011.
It was last season at Parma where Giovinco really shined; the 25-year-old earned the plaudits for his numerous match-winning displays and ended the season leading the Crociati's scoring (15) and assists (11) chart, leading Parma to eight in the Serie A. The Italy international was the subject intense transfer speculation last summer, with English champions Manchester City especially interested, but Giovinco eventually opted to make the move back to Serie A champions Juventus.
What he brings to the team
Due to his diminutive stature, Giovinco has a very low centre of gravity and coupled with his blistering pace and excellent close control of the ball is capable of weaving through defences with ease. Capable of playing on either flanks or through the middle, he is also an accomplished set-piece taker and plays with the maturity and experience of a much older player.
Antonio Cassano: AC Milan to Inter Milan
Estimated transfer fee: Player swap with Giampaolo Pazzini
One of the infamous bad boys of Italian football, Antonio Cassano's immense talent was evident from a young age but a series of disciplinary issues almost ruined his career and for a while, it seemed the Italy international's full potential would never be fulfilled.
Despite his bad boy reputation, AC Milan took a gamble on the volatile Italy international but he never really managed to break into the first team and was often overlooked in favour of strikers Zlatan Ibrahmovic.
His time at AC Milan was also hampered by health issues. Cassano made just 16 league appearances for the club last season after being side-lined for six months following minor heart surgery back in October.
Having grown disillusioned with Milan by their sales of star players Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, Cassano requested for a transfer and made the move to the Rossoneri's arch-rivals Inter Milan.
What he brings to the team
Cassano, who operates primarily as a second striker, is known for his intelligent movement off-the-ball and effectively stretches opposition defences by running into the channels at opportune times. The 30-year-old also possesses a fair amount of flair and brings along with him a wealth of experience and cunning, which will prove useful in unlocking watertight defences.
Javier Martinez: Athletic Bilbao to Bayern Munich
Estimated transfer fee: €40 million
Martinez signed for Bilbao from Osasuna in 2006 and almost immediately became a regular in the side despite then being only 17-years-old. His effective and dominant presence in the middle of the park made him an integral part of the club and he went on to make 251 appearances for Bilbao.
Despite an imposing €40 million buy-out clause in his contract, Bayern Munich had saw enough of Martinez to decide to meet the clause and bring the Spain international to the Allianz Arena; in the process, the 24-year-old became the most expensive player in the history of the Bundesliga.
What he brings to the team
At 1.90 metres tall, Martinez cuts an imposing figure on the pitch and he uses his physical superiority to great advantage. With tons of energy and stamina, he can go from box-to-box with ease and is often the conduit for his side's counter-attacks. Tenacious in the tackle and tactically aware, he also offers sufficient protection for his backline and is technically proficient to recycle possession effectively after winning it.
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