Summer Transfer Window Heats Up as Deals and Rumours Keep Flying In – Part 2

By Rob Dean @robdean321

With the summer sales staring to heat up, each team’s squad and season ambitions are starting to take shape.Here is the second installment in my weekly series judging how the big deals will affect the clubs involved.

Isco, 21, from Malaga to Real Madrid

• Status – £23m done deal
• Benefit to Real Madrid – Madrid receive one of the games most exciting young talents for what, in modern day terms, is a very reasonable fee. Isco was the standout star of the UEFA Under-21 Championships this summer and new real coach, Carlo Ancelotti, will be hoping he can recreate that form in the Spanish capital. However, playing time may be limited early on as Los Blancos already have the like of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di maria and Luka Modric in his position.
• Affect on Malaga – Malaga were enjoying a swift rise to prominence under manger, Manuel Pellegrini, and were unlucky not reach the Champions League semi-final this season. However, ongoing financial troubles involving chairman, Sheikh Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani, and a subsequent ban from European competition, has meant star name departures have become inevitable. Isco was their prized asset and will be a big loss to the squad but in truth they have more important things, such as staying in business, to worry about.

Paulinho, 24, from Corinthians to Tottenham Hotspur

• Status – Undergoing medical on a £17m deal
• Benefit to Tottenham – Whilst Paulinho might not be a household name in England, he does have considerable clout in his home nation of Brazil. Paulinho was the star of a hugely successful Corinthians team that won the Brazilian Serie A, the Copa Libertadores –  the South American equivalent of the Champions League and the FIFA World Club Cup in a two year period. He has also received 17 caps for the Brazilian national side and came third place for the Player of the Tournament at this summer’s Confederations Cup. Paulinho is a physical, box-to-box midfielder who has an all action style and also scores his fair share of goals.
• Affect on Corinthians – Corinthians are a storied club in Brazil, who were interestingly inspired by lowly Isthmian League side Corinthian Casuals. They have now lost their star man and will now be looking to former AC Milan prodigy, Alexandre Pato to pick up the slack.

Jonjo Shelvey, 21, from Liverpool to Swansea

•  Status – £5m done deal
• Benefit to Swansea – Swansea get a player who has shown bags of potential in his short career. Whilst he has not always been the pillar of consistency, he has at times shown an expansive passing range and the ability to score exceptional goals. He also seems perfectly suited to Swansea’s famed style of play.
• Affect to Liverpool – Many Liverpool fans might feel like they have given up on Shelvey too early. Maybe Brendan Rogers did not fancy the uncertainty of a player who might never make the grade but could just just as easily become an England regular. He may one day rue this decision.

A look at The Premier League’s new kits for 2013/2014

Arsenal

This unofficial picture has been leaked online but has not yet been confirmed.

• Aston Villa

• Cardiff

• Chelsea

Crystal Palace

• Everton

• Fulham

 Not yet released other than this preview.

• Hull

• Liverpool

• Man City

• Man Utd

• Newcastle

• Norwich

• Southampton

• Stoke

• Sunderland

• Swansea

• Tottenham

Not officially released until 8.07.2013. Here is an unofficial leak.

• West Brom

• West Ham

 

 

 

 

Summer Transfer Window Heats Up as Deals and Rumours Keep Flying In – Part 1

By Rob Dean @robdean321

With the summer sales staring to heat up, each team’s squad and season ambitions are starting to take shape. This is the first in a weekly series that will judge how the big deals will affect the clubs involved.

Carlos Tevez, 29, from Manchester City to Juventus

• Status – £12m fee agreed
• Benefit to Juventus – Juventus have just come off an impressive season by finishing nine points clear at the top of Serie A, to retain their title. The one criticism of the squad, however, was a lack of world class fire power up front. This looks set to change as the signing of Spain international Fernando Llorente is already tied up and Tevez seems certain to follow. This could give them the boost they need to compete with Europe’s big boys in the Champions League.
• Affect on Man City – Tevez’s time at City will most likely be remembered for his shameful, off the field antics. However what cannot be denied was his value to the team when he did feel like showing up. He notched up a highly respectable 73 goals in 148 appearences and these goals will definitely need to be replaced. I wonder whether this will affect City’s decision to meet the £53m buyout clause on Napoli’s Edinson Cavani. On the plus side it is reported the club will save up to £25m in wages and bonuses by shedding his huge contract.

Simon Mignolet, 25, from Sunderland to Liverpool

• Status – £9m Done Deal
• Benefit to Liverpool – Liverpool gain a proven, top quality keeper who is still relatively young for his position. Mignolet has shown in recent years that he is a fantastic shot stopper and more than capable of competing at the highest level. However, this will more than likely spell the end for the long serving Pepe Reina, who has been linked with moves to Barcelona and Arsenal.
• Affect on Sunderland – Sunderland will be loathed to lose their prized asset who was one of only a few plus points in a disappointing campaign, last time out. It remains to be seen if  Sunderland will look for a replacement as they already have a highly competent reserve in Republic of Ireland international, Keiren Westwood.

Andre Schurrle, 22, from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea

• Status – £18m done deal
• Benefit to Chelsea – Chelsea receive a skilled attacking player who brings great versatility to the side. Schurrle is comfortable playing on either wing, in the hole or as the the number nine. He scored 11 goals in 34 league appearances last season and has seven goals in 24 caps for the German national side. With an embarrassment of riches in attack, Jose Mourinho faces a tough task getting them enough playing time to keep everyone satisfied. Could be tough for players like Marko Marin and Victor Moses.
• Affect on Bayer Leverkusen – Andre Schurrle is a big star in Germany and Leverkusen will undoubtedly miss his industry and goals in their Champions League campaign next season. However, they have already signed a ready made replacement in the Shape of Hamburg’s, Son Heung-Min. The 20-year-old, South Korean international scored 12 goals in the Bundesliga last year and was previously a Tottenham Hotspur target.