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The 2017-18 summer transfer window will be famously known for one transfer which left, not just the footballing fraternity astounded, but the whole world. The ridiculous figure of €222 million for Neymar's transfer raised quite a few eyebrows, but amidst all this, some Premier League clubs still managed to grab the acquisition of some value for money players.
Here is a list of 5 players who will add muscle & firepower to their respective teams.
#1 Kurt Zouma - Stoke City (Loan)
Stoke City signed Kurt Zouma on a season long loan from Chelsea. After the player signed a new six-year deal with Chelsea, the Potters came knocking on the doors to get the services of the player.
Prior to the injury which he faced last season against Manchester United in February, Zouma was growing in confidence and thriving under Conte. It will be interesting to see how Mark Hughes fits the French defender in his system.
The acquisition of his services will prove to be massive for Stoke City as Zouma provides a towering figure of 6'3" who can play in a wide range of positions. The supposed pairing of Zouma and Shawcross will prove very tough for the opponents to breach.
Mark Hughes might play a back 3 and given Zouma's aerial prowess combined with his excellent vision and reading of the game, rainy nights in Stoke are going to be a lot more tougher this season.
#2 Jermaine Defoe - Bournemouth (Free Transfer)
When it comes to lethal finishing in Premier League, there aren't many strikers who come close to Jermaine Defoe. Bournemouth signed the 34-year-old striker on a free transfer from Sunderland who got relegated last year. With over 150 Premier League goals to his name, Defoe's age is not catching up with him anytime soon.
Lethal, deadly and clinical, the ex Sunderland striker scored 15 goals last season for a team whose midfield was run by Lee Cattermole and co. Defoe was on the radar of many Premier League teams after an impressive season. One great thing about the England veteran is that he has always found a way to score goals throughout his entire career irrespective of the club he is playing for.
Eddie Howe knows how to get the best out of his players and Defoe's going to have yet another wonderful season by the looks of it before he hangs his boot.
#3 Dominic Solanke - Liverpool (Fee to be decided by tribunal)
Jurgen Klopp's side played without a proper striker for the majority of last season and it wouldn't be wrong to say that Liverpool missed what a natural striker would've provided them in some of the away games.
While Dominic Solanke might not be the solution to Liverpool's problems, his performances in U-20 World Cup & pre season give you a little hint about what he can offer to the club.
Solanke picked up the Golden Ball award for the tournament's best player as England won the U-20 World Cup. Solanke's movement & style are reminiscent of Harry Kane's younger days but Solanke's pace is one of his biggest assets.
His first touch is unreal for a 19-year-old and he did enough to push Divock Origi away in the pecking order as the Belgian went to Wolfsburg on loan.
While it may be too early to say this but Jurgen Klopp's legacy is more about developing talented footballers into absolute beasts like he did in the case of Lewandowski and Aubameyang. Dominic Solanke ticks all the boxes of what Jurgen Klopp wants in his striker.
#4 Sandro Ramirez - Everton (£5.2 million)
Losing a player like Romelu Lukaku always hurts, especially when you are a fan. The fans generally don't take too much time to launch a rallying cry to replace players like Lukaku with a similar type of player who can guarantee you 15 goals a season.
Everton's signing of ex-Barcelona player Sandro Ramirez from Malaga for a fee close to £5m might not be what the fans wanted but it's an exciting signing nonetheless.
Ex-Malaga star scored 14 goals last season which is quite decent considering the support he had in the team. Sandro has age on his side and given the talent he has, it's not an exaggeration if we say Everton supporters have exciting times ahead of them.
#5 Jay Rodriguez - West Bromwich Albion (£12 million)
It's unbelievable how one injury can hamper a player's career so much. Jay Rodriguez's story is a lesson to all the youngsters out there that anything can go wrong even when you are scoring for fun and having the time of your life. 15 goals in a Premier League season is a great feat and Rodriguez's pedigree has been well proven in the past.
However, Tony Pulis might have taken a risk with his signing given his injury record but if Rodriguez manages to stay fit, it could very well come out as a bargain signing. The former Southampton striker has all the qualities in him required to grab the eyeballs and it wouldn't take much time for him to dazzle the Premier League once again.
