It’s almost that time of the year when contracts expire and the transfer frenzy begins, so here’s what’s been happening in England’s Premier League and what the big clubs need to do before the window closes.
Manchester United
Signings: David De Gea (Atletico Madrid - €20m), Phil Jones (Blackburn – £16.5m), Ashley Young (Aston Villa - Undisclosed)
Departures: Corry Evans (Hull City – Undisclosed), Bebe (Besiktas – Loan), Ritchie de Laet (Norwich City – Loan), Edwin van der Sar (retired), Gary Neville (retired), Paul Scholes (retired), Owen Hargreaves (released), Wes Brown (Sunderland – Undisclosed), John O’Shea (Sunderland - Undisclosed)
There seems to be a changing of the guard at Old Trafford, following the retirements of veterans Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes and, to a lesser extent, Gary Neville, while seasoned squad members Wes Brown and John O’Shea have moved on as well.
However, Sir Alex Ferguson is re-building for the future with the acquisition of two promising young England players in Phil Jones and Ashley Jones. Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea is another young addition who has big shoes to fill. Could they land Arsenal’s Samir Nasri too?
Chelsea
Signings: none
Departures: Michael Mancienne (Hamburg SV - £1.75m), Jeffrey Bruma (Hamburg SV – Loan), Danny Philliskirk (Sheffield United – Free), Jack Cork (Southampton - £750k)
The big change at Stamford Bridge this off-season has been upstairs with Carlo Ancelotti sacked after a trophyless season. In comes Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas with the expectation of instant success.
However, the big name signings haven’t followed Villas-Boas into Chelsea, although there has been speculation he could bring some talent from former club Porto, such as Hulk or Radamel Falcao. Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric has been the big target, but no luck so far.
Manchester City
Signings: Emmanuel Adebayor (Real Madrid – Loan Return), Denis Suarez (Celta Vigo - £850k), Gael Clichy (Arsenal - £7m), Stefan Savic (Partizan Belgrade - Undisclosed)
Departures: Felipe Caicedo (Levante - €1m – Permanent), Andrew Tutte (Rochdale – Free), Shaleum Logan (Brentford – Free), Scott Kay (Macclesfield – Free), Mohammed Abu (Stromsgodset – Loan), David Gonzalez (Aberdeen – Loan), Donal McDermott (Huddersfield – Free), Javi Garrido (released), Patrick Vieira (released)
Roberto Mancini delivered a trophy and UEFA Champions League qualification last season, so now the title is in big-spending City’s sights. However, so far, the only additions of any merit are Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy and unheralded Montenegrin Stefan Savic while what the Sky Blues do with Emmanuel Adebayor remains to be seen.
There is plenty of speculation linking the Sky Blues with star players including Samir Nasri and Ezequiel Lavezzi, while heading the other way could be Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jerome Boateng and most importantly Carlos Tevez.The Argentine’s future will be crucial for the club.
Arsenal
Signings: Carl Jenkinson (Charlton - Undisclosed)
Departures: Mark Randall (Chesterfield – Free), Roarie Deacon (Sunderland – Free), Gael Clichy (Manchester City - £7m)
Arsene Wenger is having a tough summer with several big names linked with moves away from the Emirates. The list is headlined by star midfielder Cesc Fabregas who could return to Spain to play with FC Barcelona.
Samir Nasri has also been linked with a transfer to Manchester United, while left-back Gael Clichy has departed for Manchester City. Reinforcements are needed in defence with Blackburn’s Chris Samba a reported target, while in attack, Lille’s Gervinho could be set to join.
Tottenham
Signings: Giovani dos Santos (Racing Santander – Loan Return), Brad Friedel (Aston Villa - Undisclosed)
Departures: Jamie O’Hara (Wolverhampton - £5m Permanent), Steven Caulker (Swansea City – Loan), Jonathan Woodgate (released)
Harry Redknapp’s Spurs have had a busy summer trying to ensure Croatian midfielder Luka Modric remains at White Hart Lane. Tottenham have also moved to remedy their goalkeeping situation by signing American veteran Brad Friedel, with mistake-prone Heurelho Gomes on the outer.
Spurs have also been linked with a move for Villarreal’s Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi, while there has been talk Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar want to move on.
Liverpool
Signings: Jordan Henderson (Sunderland - £16m), Charlie Adam (Blackpool - Undisclosed)
Departures: Stephen Darby (Rochdale - Loan)
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish has made a big deal of signing British players and so far this summer he has backed that stance up, signing midfielder Jordan Henderson in a big-money move from Sunderland, along with Scottish ace Charlie Adam from Blackpool. But are these the type of players to restore Liverpool to former glories?
Liverpool have also been linked with moves for wingers Aaron Lennon and Juan Mata who would give the side extra quality out wide. However, with Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll arriving in January, the Reds may feel they’ve got plenty to work with. Alberto Aquilani’s future needs to be resolved.
Aston Villa
Signings: none
Departures: Brad Friedel (Tottenham – Undisclosed), Ashley Young (Manchester United – Undisclosed), John Carew (released), Isaiah Osbourne (released), Robert Pires (released), Nigel Reo-Coker (released), Moustapha Salifou (released)
Alex McLeish takes up the hotseat at Villa Park, but he’s got plenty of work to do following the departure of key attacker Ashley Young along with goalkeeper Brad Friedel. Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia is being eyed off as a replacement for Young, but Stewart Downing has also been linked with a move away from the club.
Blackburn
Signings: Myles Anderson (Aberdeen - Free)
Departures: Phil Jones (Manchester United – £16.5m), Frank Fielding (Derby County - £400k), Jason Brown (released), Zurab Khizanishvili (released), Maceo Rigters (released), Benjani Mwaruwari (released)
Rovers sold young defender/midfielder Phil Jones is a big money deal which opens up their options this summer, however they haven’t really entered the transfer market yet. Adding a striker seems a priority after Roque Santa Cruz’s failure, with Roma’s Mirko Vucinic and Freiburg’s Papiss Cisse reported targets.
Bolton
Signings: Darren Pratley (Swansea City - Free)
Departures: Johan Elmander (Galatasaray – Free), Ali Al Habsi (Wigan - £4m), Tamir Cohen (released), Joey O’Brien (released), Jlloyd Samuel (released)
Owen Coyle has finally completed the sale of Omani goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi to Wigan, which could trigger plenty of transfer movement. Shaun Wright-Phillips is a target along with retaining Daniel Sturridge, who starred while on loan from Chelsea last season. Gary Cahill’s future is an issue to be resolved too.
Everton
Signings: Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon - Loan)
Departures: James Vaughan (Norwich City – Undisclosed), Iain Turner (released)
David Moyes has been relatively quiet this summer, with little movement at Goodison Park. Sporting defender Eric Dier has joined on a season-long loan in the only piece of major transfer news.
Fulham
Signings: Dan Burn (Darlington - Undisclosed)
Departures: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace – Undisclosed), Zoltan Gera (released), Eddie Johnson (released), Diomansy Kamara (released), John Pantsil (released)
Dutchman Martin Jol has taken over from Mark Hughes at Craven Cottage and it appears his first signing will be Roma defender John Arne Riise. Tottenham’s David Bentley could be a target too.
Newcastle United
Signings: Yoann Cabaye (Lille – Undisclosed), Demba Ba (West Ham – Undisclosed), Sylvain Marveaux (Rennes – Undisclosed), Mehdi Abeid (Lens - Free)
Departures: Kevin Nolan (West Ham – Undisclosed), Ben Tozer (Northampton – Free), Sol Campbell (released), Shefki Kuqi (released)
The Magpies have made a number of French signings this summer, headed by the addition of Lille star Yoann Cabaye. They’ve curiously lost captain Kevin Nolan to relegated West Ham. Alan Pardew may look to France again for talent, with links of a move for PSG’s Mevlut Erdinc or Reading’s Shane Long.
Norwich City
Signings: James Vaughan (Everton – Undisclosed), Steve Morison (Millwall – Undisclosed), Elliott Bennett (Brighton – Undisclosed), Ritchie de Laet (Manchester United – Loan), Bradley Johnson (Leeds United – Free), Anthony Pilkington (Huddersfield – Undisclosed)
Departures: Matt Gill (released), Jens Berthel Askou (released)
Paul Lambert’s newly-promoted Canaries have made a number of signings already, but none appear ready-made Premier League stars and this season could be a battle at Carrow Road.
QPR
Signings: none
Departures: Mikele Leigertwood (Reading – Undisclosed), Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers – Free), Joe Oastler (Torquay – Free), Pascal Chimbonda (released), Gavin Mahon (released), Romone Rose (released), Elliott Cox (released)
Rangers have finally won promotion back to England’s top flight, but their resources hasn’t equated to big spending so far this summer. The future of Moroccan magician Adel Taarabt has been the source of much speculation, along with Wayne Routledge who could move on too.
Stoke City
Signings: none
Departures: Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye (West Ham – Free), Eidur Gudjohnsen (released), Ibrahima Sonko (released)
The Potters are said to be looking to sign English players this summer. Tony Pulis has made a point of that, but there’s been no movement so far, except for the release of a trio of experienced players.
Sunderland
Signings: Ahmed Elmohamady (ENPPI – Undisclosed Permanent), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City – Free), Keiren Westwood (Coventry City – Free), Connor Wickham (Ipswich Town - £8.1m), Craig Gardner (Birmingham City - £6m), Ji Dong-Won (Chunnam Dragons – Undisclosed), Roarie Deacon (Arsenal – Free), Wes Brown (Manchester United – Undisclosed), John O’Shea (Manchester United - Undisclosed)
Departures: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool - £16m), Michael Kay (Tranmere Rovers - Free), Robbie Weir (Tranmere Rovers – Free), Jean-Yves M’voto (Oldham – Free), Nathan Luscombe (Hartlepool United – Undisclosed), Cristian Riveros (Kayserispor – Loan), Boudewijn Zenden (released)
Steve Bruce’s Black Cats have been very busy this summer, using the funds from their sale of Jordan Henderson to Liverpool, along with that generated by Darren Bent’s move to Aston Villa in January. Sunderland now have several promising talents such as Connor Wickham and Keiren Westwood, while they’ve added seasoned players such as Wes Brown, Seb Larsson and John O’Shea. Seems good business.
Swansea City
Signings: Danny Graham (Watford - £3.5m), Steven Caulker (Tottenham - Loan)
Departures: Scott Donnelly (Wycombe – Loan), Dorus de Vries (Wolverhampton – Free), Darren Pratley (Bolton - Free)
Brendan Rodgers’ Welsh side won promotion via the play-offs last term so they’ve got that challenge of making the big step-up now. Losing first-choice keeper Dorus de Vries to Wolves and key midfielder Darren Pratley to Bolton on free transfer hasn’t helped. Ex-Middlesbrough striker Danny Graham is a gamble despite success in England’s second tier.
West Browmich
Signings: Gareth McAuley (Ipswich Town – Free), Billy Jones (Preston North End - Free)
Departures: Scott Carson (Bursaspor – Undisclosed), Borja Valero (Villarreal – Undisclosed), Abdoulaye Meite (released), Giles Barnes (released), Gianni Zuiverloon (released)
Roy Hodgson has made two signings from England’s second tier to boost his defence, while he has allowed goalkeeper Scott Carson to make the move to Turkey. Carson’s departure could mean the Baggies move for Manchester United number two Tomasz Kuszczak.
Wigan
Signings: Ali Al Habsi (Bolton - £4m)
Departures: Steven Caldwell (Birmingham City - Free), Daniel de Ridder (released), Jason Koumas (released)
The Latics finally secured a deal for 2010-11 Player of the Year Ali Al Habsi in a permanent switch from Bolton. Roberto Martinez could be set to lose key midfielder Charles N’Zogbia, while there’s murmurs he’s keen on Getafe striker Adrian Colunga.
Wolverhampton
Signings: Jamie O’Hara (Tottenham - £5m Permanent), Dorus de Vries (Swansea City - Free)
Departures: Steven Mouyokolo (Sochaux – Loan), Adriano Basso (released), Marcus Hahnemann (released), David Jones (released)
Mick McCarthy did well last term to guide Wolves to safety and he’s kept faith in Jamie O’Hara (signing him permanently) after playing a key role in their survival. Irish striker Kevin Doyle has been linked with a move away, while Wolves are said to be keen on Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell.
