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As the Premier League season has gotten underway, the closure of the transfer window provides us a good overview to analyze the transfers that took place in the summer. Accordingly, there were some interesting moves too, and here I list down five such transfers.
These moves were unexpected, surprising, yet quite interesting and they would be beneficial for the respective clubs. Without further ado, here I present the list.
#5 Mateo Kovacic to Chelsea
Mateo Kovacic was a part of Croatia’s squad for the World Cup that progressed to the finals of the recently concluded FIFA World Cup. However, the midfielder’s playing time was extremely limited at Real Madrid last season as he ended up starting only 10 La Liga games for them.
For a player of his caliber, it is important to start matches regularly. Clearly, Madrid would not be keen to sell him, given the fact that Kovacic could potentially be a direct replacement for Luka Modric. While Modric is looking for a move to the Serie A, Real Madrid’s President Florentino Perez made a shrewd move.
He loaned off Kovacic to Chelsea with no option to buy and has managed to keep Modric in Madrid. It would have been tricky to lose Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo in the same window, and hence the Real Madrid hierarchy avoided stumbling in such a situation.
Moreover, Kovacic would surely return with some valuable Premier League experience and could be slotted in Madrid’s lineup next season. Chelsea could reap the benefits of having such a gifted player in their roster for the current season, but the Croatian is obviously deemed to return to Madrid by next summer.
#4 Xherdan Shaqiri to Liverpool
Liverpool possess possibly the most skilful front three in European football currently, but they need some depth to ensure that their players do not tire down by the business end of the season. After having invested heavily in strengthening their midfield and backline, it was important for them to look for a clever move in order to bolster their forward line.
Accordingly, after having unsuccessfully chased Nabil Fekir, Liverpool turned their attention towards Xherdan Shaqiri. The Swiss forward was relegated last season with Stoke City, and hence Jurgen Klopp’s side triggered the relegation clause in his contract to lure him for a little over £13.5 million.
The Swiss international could play from the right wing, and his change of pace coupled with the tendency to deliver some sumptuous balls into the box would benefit Liverpool to open up stringent backlines.
Moreover, Shaqiri plays in the same position in which Mohammed Salah does, and his presence in the squad would surely provide the Egyptian with some much-required rest during the busier portion of the season. His ability to score some mesmerizing goals occasionally would delight Anfield, and Liverpool’s swift action to buy the 26-year-old is definitely interesting.
#3 Lukasz Fabianski to West Ham United
West Ham United have been unable to replicate and justify their relatively expensive transfer business on the field. Last season, despite having spent smartly in the 2017 summer transfer window, they finished in the lower half of the table and were in involved in the relegation battle for a major portion of the season.
David Moyes managed to bail them out, but the Hammers’ board made a good move by roping Manuel Pellegrini to manage the side. This time too, they addressed some dire situations in the squad, and the decision to buy Lukasz Fabianski from the relegated Swansea side is an astute one.
The Hammers deployed Joe Hart and Adrian as their goalkeepers last season, and neither of them displayed enough mettle to justify their place in the squad. Hart especially looked way off his previous form, and it was necessary for West Ham to appoint a better alternative as their custodian.
Despite playing behind a fragile, weakened Swansea defence last season, Fabianski had made 136 saves in the Premier League. In fact, he recorded the second most saves for any goalkeeper only behind Jack Butland. Fabianski’s shot-stopping is great, and so is his confidence while claiming crosses and corners.
If Pellegrini decides to ward off his defensive high-line approach, then he could utilize Fabianski’s reflexive, shot-stopping strengths. Accordingly, he could minimize his weakness that is the inability to command a higher defensive setup.
#2 Jean Michael Seri to Fulham
Jean Michael Seri, the Ivorian midfielder who played for OGC Nice until last season was subject to some intense speculation regarding his future. The central midfielder had attracted interest from FC Barcelona last season, but an official move failed to materialize due to a minor disagreement over the transfer fee.
Seri is a complete midfielder, as his vision and creativity with the ball help him to break the opposition’s backline with some edgy passes. He is a workhorse at the centre of the park, as he relies on his defensive abilities coupled with the tendency to drive the team ahead from deeper positions. He is athletic and can affect the proceedings in both the boxes.
Seri is technically equipped and physically dominant, something that might allow him to adapt quickly in the Premier League. Moreover, his move a club who had just been promoted to the first division came as a surprise, and Fulham might have pulled out a wicked transfer coup by luring the Ivorian midfielder.
Maybe, due to his inconsistent performances in the previous season, the interest from big clubs cooled down, and Seri had to settle for Fulham. However, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that the player deserves to play in a better, higher-ranked club.
Anyways, whatever the circumstances that led to this transfer might have been, it is inarguable that Fulham have unearthed a gem by landing Seri.
#1 Lucas Torreira to Arsenal
Arsene Wenger might have attained a legendary status due to his work at Arsenal, but there were some glaring issues in the squad that he failed to address in the final years of his management. The lack of quality defensive midfielders in the squad has surely troubled Arsenal over the years, as the Gunners have failed to find a decent replacement ever since Patrick Vieira departed from the club.
Now, Unai Emery has finally brought in a player in Lucas Torreria who could well be deemed to shield the defence and break the opposition’s attacking moves. Torreira is a typical Uruguayan player, who likes to play the game hard and would break every sweat to ensure that his side emerges victorious in the end.
Torreira’s inclusion adds energy and a bite that Arsenal’s midfield has lacked over the years. The 22-year-old is an exceptional defensive midfielder, whose primary instincts are to block the opponent’s passing lanes and to disrupt their moves whilst instantly driving the team ahead to transition it into an attacking situation.
With some amazingly creative players in the forward line, Torreira would be included in a purely defensive role. The transfer fee is worth £26 million, which can be termed as a bargain for a player of Torreria’s utility.
