Premier League transfers: Who to watch out for

As there are only five weeks to go until the start of the Premier League season, here at Kettle we are going to look at a group of teams each week and analyse their transfer incomings and outg

As there are only five weeks to go until the start of the Premier League season, here at Kettle we are going to look at a group of teams each week and analyse their transfer incomings and outgoings and how they’re likely to fair when it all kicks off on August 16th.

 

 

From what we’re seeing so far, it is clear to see that Arsene Wenger is still having a clear out after finishing a respectable 4th at the end of last season; we have seen Bacary Sagna, Lukasz Fabianski and Nicklas Bendtner all either let go or released in an operation that is designed to make this squad a real contender for the title.

 

There have only been two major incomings so far but the strength that they will be able to give Wenger’s side is significant. The first is the arrival of Chilean international Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona for £32m after a successful World Cup that saw him play a crucial role for his country.

 

What Arsenal have got in Sanchez is an all-rounded who has the capability of providing and impact with both width and depth which is something that the Gunners crave. 

 

The second is French right-back Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle United for £10m who is to be used as a like-for-like replacement for Sagna who has joined Manchester City on a free transfer. A fellow Frenchman, Wenger will know how to utilise Debuchy’s skill and make him fit in well with an impressive back line.

 

 

Aston Villa have opted for a system of grabbing out-of-contract and out-of-form veterans for free in the hope that manager Paul Lambert will be able to show them a youthful mentality and the willingness to do well, it will also provide the young squad with some much needed experience.

 

A lot of teams with smaller budgets tend to do this but its success rate depends on how well they can be utilied. So far Villa have claimed Philippe Senderos and Kieran Richardson with Fulham and midfielder Joe Cole from West Ham.

 

 

Here we have the first of the Premier League new-boys and, like Aston Villa, they are on the lookout for bargains. Their current side isn’t very ripe with top-flight experience but the Clarets are changing that with the addition of players such as Michael Kightly, Matt Gilks, Matt Taylor, Marvin Sordell and Steven Reid.

 

From what we have seen so far, manager Sean Dyche is looking to replicate the successes of teams such as Southampton who have come into the league and managed to compete with the big-boys with a stylish brand of football that took the Championship by storm.

 

Although he hasn’t made any superstar big name signings that would induce fear into his opponents, you can never underestimate a team with ambition and that is certainly what Burnley are.

 

 

Chelsea Football Club, under the management of Jose Mourinho, are always likely to be a force to be reckoned with and the Spaniard is making sure that everyone knows it with an array of signings that whet the appetite and make other clubs weep with jealousy.

 

Having met a £32m buy-out clause in his contract at Athletico Madrid, Chelsea have managed to secure Spanish international striker Diego Costa who is visibly one of the most versatile players on the scene.

 

The London club have struck gold with this buy and his effectiveness and ability to fit into almost any structure means he is likely to disappoint. Add this to Cesc Fabregas, who has joined from Barcelona for £30m and it’s fair to say that Chelsea feel like they want to prove a point to their rivals by showing them how big signings can hopefully produce big results.

 

With these big names arriving at the club, competition for places is going to be high therefore the exit of Demba Ba, who has signed for Beskitas for £4.5m comes as no surprise. Mourinho has been relentless in letting players who have past it or don’t really want to be there find themselves new homes.

 

An example of this is left-back Ashley Cole, who has move to Roma on a free transfer and been replaced with Felipe Luis who has joined Costa in moving from Athletico Madrid. Chelsea have also bagged themselves a cool £40m from the transfer of Brazilian David Luiz to PSG and they’ll be rubbing their hands in delight following his less than impressive World Cup campaign.