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The Premier League's global appeal has helped English top-flight sides invest heavily in the transfer market. The financial clout of Premier League sides has grown exponentially in recent years and this has helped smaller teams make much better use of the transfer window.
We have seen teams outside the traditional top six making big-money signings in recent times. They are not here to just participate anymore and the English top-flight has got a lot more competitive.
With players like Harry Kane and Jack Grealish tipped to switch clubs in the summer, we could see quite a few transfer records getting broken. But the transfer window is not just about big-money signings. Bargain deals for players that fit the needs of a team to a T are also just as important.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best signings made in the Premier League so far.
#5 Albert Sambi Lokonga - Arsenal
Arsenal's signing of Albert Sambi Lokonga has been much awaited. Lokonga has reportedly arrived in North London for his medicals and will soon be announced as an Arsenal player.
The Belgian midfielder signed his first professional contract with Anderlecht in 2017. He made 37 appearances for them across all competitions in the 2020-21 season. He scored three goals and provided three assists.
The Gunners have reportedly agreed to pay €17.5 million for his services. Mikel Arteta's side are in desperate need of bolstering their midfield after losing both Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard to their parent club Real Madrid.
Lokonga excels in a deep role in midfield and is good at breaking up play and leading his team into attack. He is also a decent passer of the ball but it's his relentlessness and tenacity that makes him stand out. He could bring in a lot of energy to Arsenal's midfield. It is something they have lacked in recent seasons.
#4 Boubakary Soumare - Leicester City
With Youri Tielemans refusing to rule out an exit, Leicester City have been on the lookout for a central midfielder. They've landed themselves a great deal by signing Boubakary Soumare from Lille for a reported sum of €25 million.
The Ligue 1 outfit were resigned to the fact that they will have to let their star midfielder leave this summer. There has been too much interest in him and since they signed him on a free transfer from PSG in 2017, they've made a lot of profit out of nothing.
Soumare is worth way more than €25 million though. He is one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe. The 22-year-old midfielder has a great first touch and is a good passer of the ball. He helps his side recycle possession and will be a great addition to the Foxes' midfield.
#3 Patson Daka - Leicester City
Jamie Vardy is 34-years-old and it is the right time for the Foxes to have roped in a young, promising striker in Patson Daka. The 22-year-old has scored 68 goals in 125 games for RB Salzburg. He has been a vital cog in the side that has dominated the Austrian Bundesliga in recent times.
RB Salzburg had to settle for a sum of €25 million as prices got slashed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It's a deal that works out perfectly for Leicester City. They are one of the best-run clubs in England and they have once again acted at the right time to make one of the best signings of the summer.
Daka scored a whopping 34 goals and provided 12 assists in 42 appearances for Salzburg this past season.
#2 Ibrahima Konate - Liverpool
Liverpool spent the majority of the 2020-21 season without their first-choice centre-backs. Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip were all sidelined through injuries as Liverpool struggled to replicate their form from the 2019-20 campaign.
It took them a resurgent run towards the end of the season to earn a spot in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League.
At 22, Konate is one of the most promising young defenders in Europe and he could prove to be a great partner for Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Liverpool now have ample cover at the back, and for €41 million, it's a great piece of business for the Merseysiders.
Konate is strong, agile and has great technique. Liverpool became world-beaters following the signing of Van Dijk in the 2017-18 season. Now that he has a solid partner in Konate, sky is the limit for Jurgen Klopp's men.
#1 Jadon Sancho - Manchester United
The Jadon Sancho-Manchester United transfer saga is one of the longest we have seen in recent times. The Red Devils have had a concrete interest in the Borussia Dortmund winger for years and were trying to strike a deal for him last summer.
However, the Bundesliga outfit weren't willing to compromise on the transfer fee and Manchester United deemed their valuation to be too high. The Red Devils have reportedly agreed personal terms with Sancho long back and the deal was almost certain to happen this summer. And it did.
Manchester United have been in desperate need of a right winger and have secured the services of one of the best in the business. The fee is yet to be disclosed but Sancho is reportedly all set to be announced after passing his medical.
He scored 16 goals and provided 20 assists for Borussia Dortmund in 38 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season. There is no doubt that Sancho will improve Manchester United and with him added to the mix, the Red Devils now have one of the most dangerous frontlines in Europe.
