'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Premier League showed its financial power once more in the transfer window as the 20 clubs combined to spend a whopping £1.1 billion throughout the summer.
The other leagues were struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Premier League continued to flex its financial muscles in the transfer window, bringing in several world-class players to the shores of England.
Manchester United signed Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Chelsea brought in Romelu Lukaku and Saul Niguez. Manchester City managed to sign Jack Grealish for a record transfer fee while the likes of Leicester City and West Ham United also spent heavily in the transfer market.
Premier League clubs made a few bargain signings during the transfer window
But while some Premier League clubs paid exorbitant money to sign players in the transfer window, there were some signings that looked like bargains considering the caliber of the players.
Here we take a look at five such bargain signings in the Premier League during the summer transfer window:
#5 Connor Roberts - Burnley (£2.5 million)
Over the years, Burnley have been known as a club that makes the most out of available resources. The club had a net spend of just £20 million during the summer transfer window. In such circumstances, and with COVID hitting many clubs hard, it is extremely difficult to find players who are of Premier League quality, but also cheap.
However, Burnley have managed to do that with the transfer of Connor Roberts for just around £2.5 million.
Roberts, who arrived from Championship side Swansea, was a first-choice full-back for both club and country last season, playing more than 60 games. The Welshman is comfortable playing as a right-back and even further up the flank. He has experience playing in a 4-man defense, a 5-man defense, and even played as a right wing-back in front of a 3-man defense.
Roberts has a good eye for a cross and loves to get up and down the pitch. The 25-year-old scored five goals and provided seven assists in 50 games in all competitions for Swansea last season. He is fast and his athleticism is one of his best attributes, which he has shown on a lot of occasions.
Roberts is already one of the most shrewd signings of the Premier League transfer window. Taking into account the ridiculously low fees, Burnley will be absolutely delighted.
#4 Ryan Bertrand - Leicester City (free transfer)
The signing of Ryan Bertrand on a free transfer is definitely one of the bargain deals of the summer transfer window.
While Bertrand represents a departure from the trend of singing young players at Leicester City, the 31-year-old still has plenty to offer, with 258 appearances at Premier League level.
Furthermore, Bertrand is comfortable at either bombing forward as a wing-back or playing a more defensive full-back role, with the England international playing in both systems at Southampton.
Last season saw Bertrand play in a more defensive role in Southampton's 4-4-2, often ending up tucking into a 'back 3', allowing his full-back partner to move forward. This could benefit Leicester City, with Bertrand allowing Timothy Castagne and Ricardo Pereira to utilize their attacking talents.
Adding a proven Premier League player like Bertrand on a free transfer without compromising much on quality is definitely a smart piece of transfer business by the Foxes.
#3 Saul Niguez - Chelsea (Loan)
Several high profile transfers took place in the Premier League on deadline day. But Saul Niguez's arrival at Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid was arguably the best of the bunch.
Saul was hot property during the transfer window and was heavily linked with a move to England, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea apparently courting the player.
But it was Chelsea who signed the midfielder as transfer chief Marina Granovskaia pulled off a masterclass. Saul's Atletico Madrid release clause was set at £128 million. But Chelsea spent nowhere near that figure to land their man.
The Spain international joined Chelsea on an initial loan deal costing £4.2 million, with the Premier League giants having an option to sign him permanently for £34.3 million. That means Saul could cost Chelsea a total of just £38.5 million, a massive £89.5 million less than his release clause. It looks to be an exceptional transfer business by the Blues.
Saul has made more than 340 first-team appearances at Atletico Madrid, scoring 43 goals during his seven years at the club. He also won several major honors, including two Europa League titles and one La Liga.
Already boasting the likes of Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante and Jorginho in midfield, the addition of Saul definitely makes Chelsea the prime contenders for the Premier League this season.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United (£20 million)
Cristiano Ronaldo's surprise signing in the last week in the transfer window sent Manchester United fans into an absolute frenzy. The Portuguese international has finally returned to Old Trafford after spending 12 years away from the club.
United even got an exceptional deal on the forward, signing him for just £20 million including add-ons. That amount of money for a player of Ronaldo's caliber is extremely low. In fact, United would have already recouped Ronaldo's transfer fee from shirt sales.
Coming into the footballing aspect, Ronaldo's addition will definitely boost United's attack. At Juventus, Ronaldo has spent three full seasons and ended his Serie A career with 81 goals in 98 matches. He even won the Serie A top scorer award last season while also claiming the Golden Boot at the recently concluded Euro 2020.
While there will be question marks regarding the lack of a defensive midfielder at Manchester United, Ronaldo's addition definitely bodes well for their Premier League aspirations.
#1 Demarai Gray - Everton (£1.7 million)
Everton star Demarai Gray is perhaps the biggest bargain of the summer transfer window in the Premier League, having signed for just £1.7 million from Bayer Leverkusen.
Gray had burst onto the scene with Leicester City in the Premier League back in 2016, making 12 appearances from January onwards as they sealed a shock title win. He continued to display his talent but never fully emerged as a first-team regular and in 2019-20 only three of his 21 Premier League appearances were as a starter.
This eventually led to a transfer to Bundesliga side Leverkusen in January 2021, after he made just one substitute appearance in the opening stages of the Premier League.
But Everton decided to bring him back to the Premier League in the summer transfer window. The 25-year-old has already repaid their faith in him, scoring twice in three games so far and looking bright on the wings.
Everton have spent a lot of big money on players who have disappointed over the last few years. However, in the deal to bring Gray back to the Premier League, it seems as if they have pulled off a masterstroke.
