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A number of signings in the recently concluded summer transfer window left many dazed.
The summer transfer window never ceases to amaze, does it? A whole host of players switch clubs, bringing smiles across the faces of fans of clubs that sign them, leaving the ones who miss out in disappointment and dismay. And that is exactly what happened when the transfer window in England slammed shut at 11 PM on the 31st of August.
A lot of deals, including Serge Aurier’s move to Tottenham and Chelsea's acquisition of Leicester star Danny Drinkwater, were done but they weren’t the only ones to grab the attention of the fans across the world.
In fact, throughout this three-month period, a number of deals left many shocked for as to how a club ended up signing that player. And we rank the most shocking transfers that involved England in the recently concluded summer transfer window.
#5 Nemanja Matic: Chelsea to Manchester United
Before this actually ended up happening, reports had linked the Red Devils with a move for Nemanja Matic, but a capture of Fabinho from Monaco seemed more likely than that of the Serbian. But when Chelsea sold an important player of theirs to a title rival, eyebrows were raised.
The Old Trafford faithful couldn’t believe their luck when Matic shone in all three of their Premier League games, making United look like a side that is very dangerous going forward. He happens to be the same man without whom the Blues would not have won the title in the 2014-15 season and was regular alongside N’Golo Kante last season when Antonio Conte won the title by trumping Spurs.
And if United do win the title, Chelsea may well have themselves to blame for letting go of their prized asset to their former manager, presuming it doesn’t make too much of a difference in the race for silverware.
#4 Fernando Llorente: Swansea to Tottenham
Fernando Llorente happens to be one of those players who was linked to Chelsea since this past January and having played under Antonio Conte at Juventus, it seemed obvious and a matter of time before the big Spaniard would have joined Chelsea. But Spurs swooped in when no one expected.
In what can well be dubbed as a trademark deadline day signing, Tottenham signed the former Athletic Bilbao man for a fee in the region of £13.5 million in a bid to have an effective second choice for hitman Harry Kane. Vincent Janssen has scored only two Premier League goals since joining from AZ last summer and hasn’t shown too many signs of acting as a proper replacement for the English superstar.
The Dutchman rejected the opportunity to seal a loan move to Brighton on deadline day and has now fallen down the pecking order.
Negligible reports had linked Spurs with a move for the former Spain international and it left many rattled.
#3 Grzegorz Krychowiak: From Paris Saint-Germain to West Brom
Before having joined Paris Saint-Germain from Sevilla last season, Polish star Grzegorz Krychowiak had drawn regular links with clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United. This summer, after having endured a truly frustrating spell at the French capital, Krychowiak was on AC Milan’s radar, but it was Tony Pulis who pulled off a masterclass two days before the deadline.
While it is a loan deal, the very fact that a club like West Brom have signed a player like Krychowiak comes as a certain surprise. The defensive midfielder, who has to be one of the most underrated players in Europe when playing, will slot right into a Baggies side that thrives on using physicality and in playing direct football. Not just that, but the former Stade de Reims’ man’s capture has made many wonder if Pulis’s men can challenge for Europa League qualification, after having finished tenth last season.
It’s a massive revolution for a side that has already signed Oliver Burke from RB Leipzig and hasn’t lost a single game in its first three outings.
#2 Jese Rodriguez: From Paris Saint-Germain to Stoke City
Two or three years ago, young Jese was one of the most promising youngsters in football. A number of injuries and the infections that followed hindered his progress, as a move to PSG came about from Real Madrid. And then out of the blue, Stoke City of all people added another Champions League winner to their ranks.
Mark Hughes’s men already have the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri and Ibrahim Afellay in their side and Jese’s acquisition on loan from PSG added further firepower to an attack that seems potent of beating any team in the country on its day. The 24-year-old Jese made only one start for PSG during his stay there and didn’t impress too much during his loan stint at Las Palmas last season. It’s said that he was losing the love he once had for football, but being the fulcrum of an unpredictable Premier League side like Stoke can help him a lot in recovering that love for the game.
He has already found the back of the net once in Stoke’s 1-0 win over Arsenal and we can expect a player like him to make more of an impact.
#1 Renato Sanches: From Bayern Munich to Swansea
After having failed to impress in his debut season in Germany with Bayern Munich, Renato Sanches seemed to be on the move for regular playing time. Clubs like Liverpool, AC Milan and Monaco had drawn heavy links with the youngest winner of a UEFA EURO trophy, but Paul Clement pulled off a massive coup in signing a much-coveted youngster.
It’s said that the former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid assistant manager used his relationship with Carlo Ancelotti to impeccable effect in signing a player who needs to prove everyone of his true credentials. Sanches could never break into the first team at Bayern last season and needs more time on the pitch to get back to his best and come close to becoming what was expected out of him when he starred in Portugal’s Euro win in 2016.
It could turn out to be a move that will not just help Swansea survive the dreaded red zone, but can also help them replace the now departed Gylfi Sigurdsson too, with the former Spurs man now an Everton player.
If he does well, Bayern will be licking their lips at the prospect of getting him back. If it doesn’t work out, they’ll know what to do with him.
