PREMIER LEAGUE 2020 SUMMER TRANSFER REVIEW
It has been a real crazy year in life, let alone football, where the pandemic has effected any and everything. This naturally had a knock-on effect in the summer transfer window and Premier League clubs had to get creative with their deals and negotiations to bring players in.
However, contrary to popular belief, Premier League clubs didn’t seem to be effected that much, as they spent 1.24billion this window, which is only slightly less than the 1.4billion spent in the 2019 summer window.
Below is my team by team review of the incomings this window…..Please note: all totals/fees are estimated with loan fees included.
ARSENAL: Spent £81.2m, Sold £20m
Willian (Chelsea) Free
Pablo Mari (Flamengo) 7.2m
Cedric Soares (Southampton) Free
Gabriel (Lille) £27m
Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) Loan
Alex Runarsson (Dijon) £1.8m
Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid) £45m
I am pretty sure Arsenal fans will be very happy with their summer window and very optimistic for the season. The deadline day purchase of the strong, tough tackling Ghanian, Thomas Partey, is seen as the final puzzle in Arteta’s season project, to at least return them to the Champions League and maybe challenge for another trophy.
I’ve already been impressed with Gabriel, who looks a real quality defender. Cedric is a good full back, who is decent on the ball and will bring Premier League experience. Time will tell what Mari will bring to the team, but he is highly rated. The free transfer of Willian could be seen as a shrewd signing with his experience and quality. However, Ceballos resigning for another season could be real key with his ability on the ball in midfield.
ASTON VILLA: Spent £81.2m, Sold £0
Matty Cash (Notts Forest) £16m
Ollie Watkins (Brentford) £28m
Emiliano Martinez (Arsenal) £18m
Bertrand Traore (Lyon) £18m
Ross Barkley (Chelsea) Loan
Aston Villa have done some really good business this summer. The record fee paid for Watkins seems to have already paid dividends with his hat-trick over the champions and he looks as though he will flourish. I also feel Martinez is a huge signing and I was surprised Arsenal let him go, he could be the difference between a relegation fight and a more comfortable season.
Traore will be an interesting signing but I feel his success will be based on how quickly he can adapt to the Premier League. Cash is a full back who came in for a decent fee and will be hoping to get valuable minutes to make an impact in the top fight. Although it’s only been one game, Barkley seems to have already settled and will enjoy a season linking up with Grealish, to hopefully get his career back on track with less pressure and expectations
BRIGHTON: Spent £21.1m, Sold £16.5m
Adam Lallana (Liverpool) Free
Joel Veltman (Ajax) £900,000
Lars Dendoncker (Club Brugge) Free
Jan Paul van Hecke (NAC Breda) £.1.8M
Andi Zeqiri (Lausanne-Sport) £3.6M
Michal Karbownik (Legia Warsaw) £4.9m
Jakub Moder (Lech Poznan) £9.9m
Although Brighton had a few back from loan such as White and Andone and purchased many free youth players, they still managed to bring a few in. Lallana for one could be a very useful signing, if they can keep him fit, which is very debatable. He is neat and tidy footballer that fits right into the way Potter likes to play football.
Zeqiri is a young Swiss striker who has an excellent scoring record at youth level for his country and was once on Juve’s books. Moder is a strong, athletic midfielder who has been loaned back to his club. Karbownick is a teenage left back. Van Hecke & Dendoncker are both young centre backs. Also, Veltman is an experienced Dutch total football centre back looking to make a name for himself.
BURNLEY: Spent £1.1m, Sold £0
Will Norris (Wolves) Undisclosed
Dale Stephens (Brighton) £1m
It was a very quiet window for Burnley for in coming and out goings. Depending on how you look at things, you could see it as a positive or a negative. On one hand, we all know in order to progress in this demanding league, you need to continue to strengthen and though Stephens will bring defensive experience to the squad, would it be enough?
However, on the other hand, Burnley have a settled squad, where everyone knows what their job is, and to be fair, they are not really pushing for European positions, so the criteria to maintain their Premier League status is to be settled, which is exactly where they are. However, time will tell what method will be better
CHELSEA: Spent £222m, Sold £66.2m
Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) £48m
Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) £36m
Ben Chilwell (Leicester) £45m
Malang Sarr (Nice) Free
Thiago Silva (PSG) Free
Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) £71
Edouard Mendy (Rennes) £22m
You cannot deny that Chelsea have had an impressive summer window and have really made up for their transfer ban by spending over £200m. Werner looks as though he is made to play in the Premier League, although he has not got off to a great start, I feel he has all the tools to become a success. Harvertz, the younger of the two German strikers has struggled a bit more, but he also has the quality and just needs time to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, then he may flourish.
We have yet to see the talents of Ziyech due to injury and many think he could be the key to knit everything together in midfielder with his passing ability and vision. Chilwell has settled in very well, and has shown how valuable it is to have experience in this league. Chelsea will hope the experience of Silva can really help them at the back, although he’s had a rocky start. That would also go for goalkeeper Mendy who comes with a big rep.
CRYSTAL PALACE: Spent £19.5m, Sold £18m
Nathan Ferguson (West Brom) Free
Eberechi Eze (QPR) £17m
Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea) Loan
Goals, or the lack there of, was very much an issue with Palace last season and that is reflected in their summer business. They brought in Eze for an estimated £17m and although he has not lit up the Premier League yet, for me, he’s already done enough to tell me he will be a promising signing and as he is still only 22, has time to develop.
I think bringing Batshuayi back was a good move, he is an experienced striker who has been there before and knows the place, as well as the staff, so he shouldn’t need any settling in period and is expected to hit the ground running. Ferguson is a young defender hoping for some games in England’s top division.
EVERTON: Spent £87m, Sold £4m
Niels Nkounkou (Marseille) Free
Allan (Napoli) £22.5m
James Rodriguez (Real Madrid) £22m
Abdoulaye Doucoure (Watford) £21m
Ben Godfrey (Norwich City) £20m
Robin Olsen (Roma) Loan
Everton has kept up with their recent tradition of having a very productive transfer window, however, this window seems slightly different. This time the players have come in and made an instant impact. Non more so than Colombian superstar Rodriguez, who seems to be enjoying a new lease of life in English football and could be the catalyst for success. However, he will be helped by a bonafide stopper in midfield in the Brazilian Allan, who has already impressed in a very short space of time in England.
Doucoure’s experience and energy in midfield with his ability to get up and down the pitch will be invaluable to their cause. It will be interesting to see how centre back Godfrey does, he has come in for a decent price tag, so the pressure might be on. Olsen is a very experienced goalkeeper who is expected to challenge Pickford for the no1 jersey.
FULHAM: Spent £21.5m, Sold £0
Antonee Robinson (Wigan) £2m
Mario Lemina (Southampton) Loan
Harrison Reed (Southampton) £5.8m
Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain) Loan
Kenny Tete (Lyon) £3m
Ola Aina (Torino) Loan
Ademola Lookman (RB Leipzig) Loan
Joachim Andersen (Lyon) Loan
Tosin Adarabioyo (Manchester City) £2m
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea) Loan
Anthony Knockaert (Brighton) £10.5m
Ademola Lookman (RB Leipzig) Loan
Fulham’s done the best they could have possibly hoped for in what will undoubtedly be a tough season ahead. They have made some interesting signings, none more so than Areola in goal, who has already shown his quality and will now know how tough the season ahead will be. The likes of Knockaert, Loftus-Cheek & Lemina all have the potential to be excellent signings. They bring a mixture of experience, goals, passing ability, steel with ability and maybe are all looking to prove something.
I am interested to see what Lookman can do back in England, a former exciting young prospect, now with experience in another league, Fulham are hoping he has really matured. Tete is a full back and another with experience who has played at all levels for Netherland’s. Adarabioyo is a centre back, who has been capped at all youth levels for England. Aina is a wing back who has also been capped at all youth levels for England, but now a fully fledged Nigerian international. Anderson is a Danish centre back who has been capped at all levels and Reed is a midfielder hoping to make an impact.
LEEDS UNITED: Spent £96.4m, Sold £0
Helder Costa (Wolves) £16m
Illan Meslier (Lorient) £6M
Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia) £27m
Robin Koch (Freiburg) £11m
Diego Llorente (Real Sociedad) £18m
Raphinha (Rennes) £17m
Leeds are optimistic about their Premier League season and will be more optimistic by their summer business. Getting Costa on a permanent basis was great business, considering the role he played last season in helping them win promotion. They have very high hopes for record transfer Rodrigo, who has not hit the ground running yet but has time to provide the goals they are expecting.
Koch is another decent signing at centre back who has already showed his ability. As well as the keeper Meslier, who will no doubt have a busy season but looks up for the fight. Spanish centre back Llorente comes with extensive experience playing in La Liga and was a former Real Madrid youth. Raphinha is a quick, exciting looking winger, who could be perfect for the way Leeds play, but the question is can he adapt to the physical side?
LEICESTER: Spent £57m, Sold £46.6m
Timothy Castagne (Atalanta) £21.6m
Cengiz Under (Roma) Loan
Wesley Fofana (Saint-Etienne) £30m
There wasn’t much done by Leicester but I still feel they did impressive business this summer. Castagne came in as a somewhat unknown figure, but there was no doubting how his team Atalanta burst onto the scene last season with their attacking football at home and in Europe. Castagne has brought that into Leicester, with several already superb displays this season and he looks a real good signing.
Under has a new lease of life coming to Leicester, he has undoubted talents but needs the right setting or surroundings to thrive and unlock his potential. Fofana seems another unknown quantity but the price tag suggests he is definitely rated. The 19 year old is a tall, imposing 6ft 3inch defender, who had a string of fine performances in Ligue 1 and will hope that form can continue in the Premier League.
LIVERPOOL: Spent £78.5m, Sold £37.71m
Konstantinos Tsimikas (Olympiacos) £11.7m
Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich) £20m
Diogo Jota (Wolves) £45m
Marcelo Pitaluga (Fluminense) £1.8m
The question for Liverpool was, how do you improve the best team in the land? Well, you go and purchase one of the best midfielders in the world. In Thiago, Liverpool have an elite footballer who has literally won everything and performed at the highest of levels. He has all the tools to fit in perfectly at Liverpool and the Premier League.
Tsimikas is an all action attacking left back, from the same mould as Robertson and he is expected to challenge the Scotsman for a starting place, rather than be just a back up. Pitaluga is a teenage, Brazilian goalkeeper who if the rumours are true, was recommenced by the Alisson family and they have high hopes for. The Jota signing surprised everyone, but the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. His two footed abilities and running with the ball seems a perfect fit and he has already made an impact this season.
MANCHESTER CITY: Spent £138.6m, Sold £67.7m
Pablo Moreno (Juventus) £9m
Ferran Torres (Valencia) £20.7
Nathan Ake (AFC Bournemouth) £41m
Scott Carson (Derby County) Loan
Ruben Dias (Benfica) £65m
It was a pretty low key transfer window for Man City, just the 130 odd million this time around, with the emphasis firmly on defence. Time will tell if Ake will be the Kompany replacement they so dearly need, but either way, he is a very good defender who will improve them. If not him, then they are hoping Dias could be that Kompany replacement they so dearly need. He comes with a big reputation and even bigger price tag, so the pressure will be on to hit the ground running.
Torres is a tricky, versatile attacking midfielder, who can play anywhere in the front line, he comes with big ambitions and hopes to break into the first team. Moreno is a young centre back, but one they hope to develop for the future, so they will not be in this position again. Carson comes in with bags of experience in goal, but obviously not expected to get much game time.
MANCHESTER UTD: Spent £87m, Sold £13.6m
Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua) Loan
Donny van de Beek (Ajax) £39m
Alex Telles (Porto) £15m
Edinson Cavani (Unattached) Free
Facundo Pellistri (Atletico Penarol) £10m
Man Utd’s transfer exploits were the talk of the summer, with it more being about who they didn’t get, rather than who they did. However, many have their opinions on Cavani, even for a free, but if he draws on a portion of the abilities from the past, it could be a real shrewd signing. However, the one signing everyone is sure about is Van de Beek, a total football merchant who scored on his debut, albeit in a losing effort but more sure to come.
Ighalo signed on a permanent basis, he had limited opportunities and didn’t make much of an impact on is loan spell, so will be hoping his permanent move will be better. Telles is a highly experienced and successful left back from Porto who will give Shaw a real run for his money. Pellistri is a teenage winger from Uruguay with quite an exciting reputation.
NEWCASTLE: Spent £34.88m, Sold £248k
Jeff Hendrick (Burnley) Free
Callum Wilson (AFC Bournemouth) £20
Ryan Fraser (AFC Bournemouth) Free
Jamal Lewis (Norwich City) £16m
I think Newcastle can be satisfied with their summer spending, especially with the shrewd signings of both Wilson & Fraser, capitalising of their already good working relationship. Either way, Wilson has already adapted to life on Tyneside, notching a few goals already and I am sure there will be many more. Fraser on the other hand, has not started as fast, but his few cameo appearances have already been fruitful and can only get better.
Hendricks is another who has already made an impact and seems to have settled in nicely, playing like he has been there for years. Lewis, who thought he was going elsewhere, has started his Newcastle life well and at just 22, looks as though he will develop and improve.
SHEFFIELD UTD: Spent £50.58m, Sold £0
Wes Foderingham (Rangers) Free
Aaron Ramsdale (AFC Bournemouth) £18m
Jayden Bogle (Derby County) £5m
Max Lowe (Derby County) £3m
Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea) Loan
Oliver Burke (West Brom) Undisclosed
Rhian Brewster (Liverpool) £23.5m
After such an inspiring first season, I’m sure Sheff Utd are under no illusions on how difficult their second season will be. Due to Henderson going back to his parent club Man Utd, signing Ramsdale was a must, he will know, after being relegated with Bournemouth how tough his season ahead will be and will not want to end it with back to back relegations. Ampadu on loan looks a decent acquisition as he continues to develop his game in the league.
I am sure many raised their eyebrows at the deal that brought Brewster to Sheff Utd, but there is no doubt he has talent and certainly knows where the goal is, so if they can supply him, he will score goals. Scottish international Burke is a winger who they hope can be part of the supply line. Bogle is a right back and Lowe is a left back both hoping to get some game time in the Premier League. Foderiringham is an experienced goalkeeper who will provide back up.
SOUTHAMPTON: Spent £36.27m, Sold £22.77m
Kyle Walker-Peters (Spurs) £12m
Mohammed Salisu (Real Valladolid) £14m
Ibrahima Diallo (Brest) £10.8m
Theo Walcott (Everton) Loan
I think it was a mixed summer window for Southampton, however I am sure everyone is happy to welcome Walcott back home. The only question is, how fit and injury free is he? If they can keep him fit, his experience and forward play will be invaluable. Walker-Peters has already shown himself to be a decent acquisition since last season and it made sense to acquire him on a permanent basis.
Salisu is a young, strong and imposing Ghanaian centre back, who has decent experience for his age playing in La Liga and will hope to develop his game further in the Premier League. Diallo is a young, French midfielder, who has been capped at most youth levels for his country, he is known to be tough talking defensive midfielder and is the brother of PSG’s Abdou Diallo.
TOTTENHAM: Spent £64.76m, Sold £11.97m
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Southampton) £15.5m
Joe Hart (Burnley) Free
Matt Doherty (Wolves) £16m
Sergio Reguilon (Real Madrid) £32m
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) Loan
Carlos Vinicius (Benfica) Loan
It was a productive window from Mourinho and he can be really satisfied with his business. Naturally, its dominated by Bale’s return, we know how much quality he possesses but will he or can he still do it in the Premier League after being in La Liga for so long? Also, can he stay fit for a sustained amount of time? If he can, then Spurs are in for a real treat. Left back Reguilon’s big money transfer was overshadowed by Bale’s return, but I think that went in his favour as he had time to settle and adapt, without the media attention and Spurs are already reaping those rewards.
Doherty seemed a good signing, however, he has not started his Spurs career in blistering form. I think the extreme difference in playing styles from Wolves to Spurs has taken some getting used to, but we know his quality from the last few seasons and it should be just a matter of time. Hojbjerg on the other hand, has slotted in neatly, adding that much needed steel in midfield. Hart will add his experience to the squad, hoping to get some games and Vinicius is a clinical striker with a very good goal scoring record from Portugal.
WEST BROM: Spent £28.32m, Sold £990k
Matheus Pereira (Sporting) £8.1m
Cedric Kipre (Wigan) £1m
Grady Diangana (West Ham) £18m
David Button (Brighton) £1m
Callum Robinson (Sheff Utd) Undisclosed
Branislav Ivanovic (Zenit Saint Petersburg) Free
Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) Loan
West Brom are another club under no illusions of how tough their season is going to be, so securing Pereira on a permanent deal, after the season he had helping them to promotion was a must. As well as Diangana, who between the two of them were both instrumental in getting WBA to the Premier League. If they both can continue that form, then Premier League survival will be very likely. Naturally goals will be needed, so they will hope Robinson can provide them, the good thing is, he’s already off the mark.
Eyebrows were raised at the loan signing of former Chelsea player Ivanovic, no doubt at the ripe old age of 36 he comes with experience, but the jury is out on if he has the legs to help WBA. Gallagher is a young midfielder who spent last season with Swansea and will hope for some minutes in the top flight. As does Kipre, who is a French defender who spent last season at Wigan. Button is an experienced goalkeeper who has been at no less than 16 clubs, but has previously been capped at most youth England levels.
WEST HAM: Spent £20.98m, Sold £20.03m
Tomas Soucek (Slavia Prague) £15m
Vladimír Coufal (Slavia Prague) £5m
All things considered, with the two that came in, it wasn’t a bad window for West Ham, although they could have done more. However, their summer was more about the players that left, as the selling of Diangana to WBA didn’t go down very well. But in terms of incomings, securing Soucek on a permanent basis was an excellent move. He did enough last season to show he was a valuable member of the first team and has already started well this season.
After just one game, Coufal already looks a decent signing. He had a debut to remember, which came only three days after playing his last game for Slavia Prague in the Europa League. With minimal training with his new team mates, he helped West Ham to an almost flawless 3-0 away win at Leicester, which must have impressed the West Ham faithful
WOLVES: Spent £81.62m, Sold £71.28m
Matija Sarkic (Aston Villa) Free
Fabio Silva (Porto) £35m
Fernando Marcal (Lyon) Undisclosed
Vitinha (Porto) Loan
Ki-Jana Hoever (Liverpool) £10m
Nelson Semedo (Barcelona) £36.5m
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Angers) Loan
This summer Wolves kept up their recent tradition by purchasing another Portuguese player, this time it was the young superstar Silva, who has a big reputation in Portugal after breaking a few records as the youngest player to start and score for Porto, but he will need time to adapt to the tough Premier League. Semedo is the signing I am most excited about, a fully fledged Portuguese international, he has blistering pace and will give defenders nightmares.
Vitinha is another young Portuguese who plays in midfield and capped at most youth levels for his country. Marcal is an experienced left back from Brazil. At the other end of the scale, Hoever is a Dutch teenage defender who was highly touted at Liverpool and was part of the Jota deal. Ait-Nouri is a young French left back and Sarkic is a relatively young Montenegro goalkeeper.
