Top 5 Premier League transfers of the season
With the January transfer window now firmly shut and all transfer activity in the Premier League this season now completed, now seems like as a good a time as ever to look at the best top flight transfers of the season to date. Whilst January was a quiet month on the transfer front, last summer was a hot bed of activity as Premier League clubs tweaked their squad for the upcoming season. The following list is full of defenders for a change, with those at the back leading the way as far as 2009/10 bargains are concerned:
5 – Roger Johnson – Birmingham City have been the overachievers in the Premier League so far and Roger Johnson has been at the heart of their success. Signed from Cardiff City for £5m, the solid defender has helped the Blues to the top half position that they currently occupy. An ever present in the league this season, Johnson has typified the doggedness and determined nature of the St Andrews club, and alongside fellow new signing Scott Dann has impressed immensely. Jonhson has effortlessly made the step up, and manager Alex McLeish will be delighted with his signing, as well as the acquisitions of Lee Bowyer and Joe Hart in goal in particular.
4 – Carlos Tevez – The Argentinean forward has surged into this list with his form in recent weeks that has been out of this world. An expensive transfer fee aside, Tevez has done everything that has been asked of him at Manchester City and he has added goals to his work rate that is second to none. Tevez has netted 18 times to date in a City shirt and is now one of the first names on Roberto Mancini’s team sheet. The diminutive forward almost single-handedly got City to the Carling Cup final, and his form and goals will be vital if City are to finish in the top four this season.
3: Richard Dunne – An exit from Eastlands in the summer was a result of Manchester City’s new superstar criteria in which Dunne didn’t fit the bill. But City’s loss is Aston Villa’s gain and the Irish international has more than proved to be worth the £5m price tag. Whilst a mention has to go to his centre back partner James Collins, it is Dunne who has stolen the show at Villa Park this season. The solid centre half has been a dream for Villa manager Martin O’Neill and if the midlands club can overturn United at Wembley this month, then Dunne will finally get some well earned silverware.
2: Niko Kranjcar – As far as value for money goes, Tottenham’s purchase of Niko Kranjcar from Portsmouth cannot be sniffed at. A £2.5 million deal represents a real bargain for Spurs and Harry Redknapp’s raid on his former club has proved to be extremely successful. Not only has the Croatian international filled in admirably when his compatriot Luka Modric was out injured, but the creative midfielder has given Harry something of a pleasant selection headache. Kranjcar’s 7 goals have also helped to quickly endear him to the White Hart Lane faithful this season and you suspect that there is more to come.
1: Thomas Vermaelen – Signed from Ajax for £10m, the Belgian defender has smoothly settled in at the Emirates and alongside William Gallas has formed a strong central defensive partnership for Arsenal this season. Unknown to many Premier League fans before the season started, Arsene Wenger looks to have pulled another transfer coup out of the bag. The defender looks calm and composed at the back, is comfortable on the ball and has already shown that he is a threat in the air and can strike a good ball, even chipping in with 6 Premier League goals from the back to date.
Mentions also go to Darren Bent whose 14 goals made him a certainty for this list a few months ago but like Sunderland his form has tailed off recently, and Landon Donovan whose loan signing looks like being a great bit of business for Everton. But is there anyone else who you feel deserves to be regarded as amongst the top five Premier League transfers of the season? Have your say at the new Football FanCast Fans Forum!
Certainly agree with numbers one, two and three, but Tevez has played well, but he was very expensive, and he’s not played *that* well too.
Not seen many G’ham games, so can’t comment on 5.
Maybe you should say something else about Vermaelen, people who haven’t seen him play won’t understand why he’s number one on the list otherwise.
I think dunne should be 1 bec he was bought for onli 5m and is the best defender in the epl so far.. Vermalean is double the value has gallas who is a very experienced defender with him.. So for me dunne is the best… Vermalean 3rd secon has to be bent.. He’s been the best non top four striker this season scored more goals and does not have a very good team for support but has scored against almost all the top 4 kranjar is 4th and is followed by tevez
Bent was close to getting in DJ but recent performances tend to stick in your head the most.
As regards Vermaelen Fabgooner, I think the biggest compliment you can pay him is that it looks like he’s been alongside gallas for years and has few weaknesses.
Tevez is very expensive? Well, if it is 47m pound, he can be said expensive, but that is just for Premier League standard, because Premier League never have had such expensive signing before. Robinho’s 32.5m is the current record. Big signings rarely came to England.
But if it is for Spanish La Liga or Italian Serie A, it’s a bargain already.
However, if it is 25m pound, with the caliber of Tevez, that is BARGAIN OF THE CENTURY already! Where the hell can you find player as good and as cheap like that today?
certainly agree with Vermaelen nr 1!
I knew he would be a important player for Arsenal. He was my favourite ajax-player.
” I think the biggest compliment you can pay him is that it looks like he’s been alongside gallas for years and has few weaknesses.”
What weaknesses? xD
Wenger bought an unknown defender from the Dutch league, and he’s one of teh best defenders in the world in his first season. Amazing.