There has been plenty of transfer activity already in the Premier League summer transfer window, here we pick out our top five deals done so far.
1. Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United to QPR, undisclosed)
Park was always a big-game player for Manchester United and often the ‘go-to’ man for Sir Alex Ferguson when he wanted someone to step up to the plate and attack from midfield. He won four Premier League titles, three League Cups and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford and appears to be a very astute, and surprise, signing by Mark Hughes.
Officially, the fee is undisclosed but reports say the Hoops (9/2 – To be relegated) have only paid £2million for the South Korean and that could well be the bargain buy of the summer.
2. Hugo Rodellaga (Free agent to Fulham)
Rodallega’s release by Wigan came as somewhat of a surprise, although it is probably more a case of the Colombia international wanting to move on rather than Roberto Martinez deciding the striker was surplus to requirements at the DW Stadium.
While the 24-year-old can be inconsistent, he can also be devastating on his day and his overall goalscoring record is good despite just finding the net three times for Latics last season.
Martin Jol may have brought Rodallega in as a replacement for Clint Dempsey, who is set to leave the Cottage this summer, and he has landed himself an established Premier League forward who can hit double figues – or more – if he stays fit and gets the right support (Fulham 8/1 – to be relegated).
3. Olivier Giroud (Montpellier to Arsenal, undisclosed)
Arsene Wenger has failed with some big summer purchases in recent years – take Marouane Chamakh for example – but this deal should be one that comes off.
The 25-year-old notched 21 goals in 36 league appearances to help Montpellier claim their first Ligue 1 title last season and, while he is not in Robin van Persie’s class yet, he is highly-rated and a skilful addition to the Gunners frontline.
It is another officially undisclosed transfer but it is thought Wenger has paid in the region of £13million which may seem a tad pricey, but only if he doesn’t go on to fulfil his undoubted potential in the next few seasons at the Emirates (Arsenal 4/9 – Top 4 Finish).
4 – Steven Naismith (Rangers to Everton)
This transfer is still awaiting international clearance due to the ongoing financial wrangling at newco Rangers but Everton (18/1 – Top 4 finish) should eventually profit from another piece of apparent clever trading by David Moyes at Goodison Park.
Naismith has regularly been linked with a move south to the Premier League in recent years and now he has landed at probably the best club for him to make an impact. Under Moyes’ guidance the Scotland international can flourish and re-engage his old Rangers partnership with another similarly astute signing, Nikica Jelavic, in the new campaign.
5 – Pavel Pogrebnyak (Free agent to Reading)
The Royals (2/1 – Top Promoted Team) have bought well so far this summer as they hope to stay in the Premier League and this could end up being one of the deals of the transfer window.
The Russia international, who was part of his country’s Euro 2012 squad, impressed at Fulham while on loan at the end of last season, scoring six goals in just 12 games and, in the process, became the quickest player to reach five goals in Premier League history.
He is strong, powerful and clearly has an eye for goal so Brian McDermott’s side’s survival this season may just be dependant on him coming up with the goods.
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The 2011 January transfer window has been a bit of a strange one so far, despite numerous rumours and plenty of speculation, very little business has been done. There have been a couple of deals that have gone through though, and here is a run through of what the new faces could do for their respective Premier League clubs.