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The Football Transfer season hasn’t reached its apex yet as more than a month remains until the deadline of the Summer Transfer window at least in the Premier League. Moreover, the World Cup has delayed much of the action in the transfer windows. Yet, that doesn’t mean the transfer window has not seen some major signings.
In fact, this transfer window (in the Premier League) has already seen the transfer of the world’s most expensive goalkeeper (Alisson), one of the most creative players in the Premier League (Riyad Mahrez) and three of the best young midfielders in the world (Fabinho, Naby Keita and Jorginho).
So what have been the best Premier League transfer signings so far in the summer transfer window based on the quality of player and the value of money of the signing?
Note: All Statistics are from WhoScored (unless otherwise noted) and all transfer fees are from the Guardian.
Honourable Mentions:
Alisson Becker
To be perfectly honest, Alisson Becker is only in the honourable mentions because of the huge transfer fee that Liverpool had to pay for his signings. While the Reds can’t be criticized for the fee considering the value of a relatively young goalkeeper, Alisson has only had one starring season for Roma. Moreover, his struggles with the aerial cross were evident in the World Cup (though his shot-stopping is world class).
Riyad Mahrez
The second biggest fee of the transfer window so far, the signing of Mahrez has made the Manchester City juggernaut even more impressive.
Over the past four seasons, there have only been six players with 10 goals and assists in a Premier League season. Mahrez is the only player to achieve that twice (according to The Ringer’s Ryan O’Hanlon).
However, the signing of yet another world-class attacking midfielder for £60 million is a luxury for City, not an excellent transfer signing.
Jean Michael Seri
Last summer, excellent performances in Ligue 1 resulted in significant interest from Barcelona in Jean Michael Seri.
The move eventually fell through and Seri’s performances for Nice over the past season declined (though not significantly).
This meant that Seri is instead moving to Fulham, a massive coup for a newly promoted Premier League club. Nonetheless, the signings in the Top five were far more impressive.
#5 Jorginho
New Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is the type of boss that likes to play a very specific system and style of play.
For good reason too- under Sarri, Napoli was one of the most exciting teams in Europe as they became the first Serie A club to provide a legitimate challenge to Juventus in a half-decade. While most players in his Napoli system were replaceable, one that was not was Jorginho.
The Brazilian-born Italian midfielder brings a very important dimension to Chelsea’s midfield. While the Blues have the world’s best defensive midfielder in N’Golo Kante, they need a passing maestro who can help redistribute the play and help break down teams with through balls.
Cesc Fabregas was that player once, but his physical limitations have reached an extent where he is too much of a liability to play.
Instead, Jorginho fills the gap- the Italian averaged the most passes per game in Serie A last season, 10 more than his closest rival (the top four were all Napoli players). Moreover, he did so with an excellent pass success percentage of 89.5%.
What makes the signing special is Jorginho’s versatility: his creativity is special (1.5 key passes per game and he is great defensively (averaging 1.9 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game). While the midfielder was somewhat expensive at 50.4 millions, his fit in Sarri’s system makes it worthwhile.
#4 Fabinho
Monaco’s performances in the 2016-17 season when they won Ligue 1 and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League have been attributed to many factors: the attacking style of manager Leonardo Jardim, the attacking dynamism of Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar, the industriousness of Tiemauo Bakayoko or the contributions of full backs Djibril Sidibe and Benjamin Mendy. Yet what gets forgotten is the defensive steel of Fabinho.
The Brazilian midfielder continued to be brilliant for Monaco as he averaged an incredible 3.4 tackles (ranked 5th in Ligue 1) and 1.3 interceptions per game.
These defensive contributions make him a brilliant signing for Liverpool, considering the high-pressing game preferred by Reds manager Jurgen Klopp. Fabinho can effectively replace and surpass the recently departed Emre Can.
Yet what makes Fabinho such a special signing is the way he has managed to transform himself into an attacking threat.
He contributed seven goals (though four were penalties) and three assists in Ligue 1 last season.
Considering Fabinho’s youth (he’s only 24), this part of his game can only get better. Liverpool may have found their next defensive midfield general, even if he came to a relatively high price of €40 million.
#3 Xherdan Shaqiri
Last season, Xherdan Shaqiri was the leader of a listless Stoke side. While the Swiss international indeed performed well, there is only so much that the former Bayern Munich starlet could do for the struggling Potters as they were relegated to the Championship.
In fact, Shaqiri provided eight goals and seven assists, as he tied for 22nd in the Premier league in combined goals and assists (third among players not playing in the Premier League top six).
His class was further evident by his performances in the World Cup, as he was Switzerland’s best player on their way to the Round of 16. Now Shaqiri will have the opportunity to contribute to a truly world-class team like Liverpool.
Shaqiri likely won’t start considering the attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah. Yet as an impact sub, Shaqiri is as excellent an option as is possible.
However, let’s not ignore what makes Shaqiri such a great signing. It is the fact that in this day and age where it is impossible to get an impact player under £40 million, Shaqiri was signed for a mere £13.5 million.
This was a special release clause that was activated by Stoke’s relegation and this is what has allowed Liverpool to sign such an excellent player for such a small price.
#2 Naby Keita
The third consecutive Liverpool signing in this list (along with one honorable mention), it is evident what a great transfer window Liverpool have had.
As much as this may trouble this writer (a Manchester United fan), the Reds have been brilliant this summer.
Yet, their most impressive signing is one that was agreed upon last season: Naby Keita. However, technically the transfer only occurred this summer.
Keita was one of the best players in the Bundesliga last season, ranked 13th in WhoScored’s average player rating (sixth among non-Bayern Munich players).
Keita fits the modern description of the perfect box to box midfielder, as he is excellent both defensively and on the attack.
Keita averaged 2.4 tackles and 1.3 interceptions in the Bundesliga last season, displaying an ability to break up attacks. This will be especially useful for Liverpool as teams try to beat Liverpool’s counter-press.
Yet, Keita’s real value lies in his attacking contributions. He averages 2.5 dribbles per game, thus providing Liverpool with an option to take on defenders and create chances.
He also does the latter, having averaged 1.4 key passes per game last season in the Bundesliga. This attacking dynamism combined with his defensive solidity makes him the ideal central midfielder for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
The best thing? Keita is only 23 and will get better. He is the rare signing that can make £52.8 million feels like a bargain.
#1 Lucas Torreira
Once upon a time, £26.5 million was a lot of money. Players that cost that much were generally considered world-class or with the potential to reach that level. That is no longer the case, it takes at least £40 million to buy a player who is recognized worldwide as truly excellent.
Yet, Unai Emery has managed to turn £26.5 million into a truly great player: Lucas Torreira. The Uruguayan midfielder oozes potential as he is the rare tough-tackling midfielder who can also distribute the ball effectively.
At 22, it would be no exaggeration to suggest that Torreira has the ability to transform into one of the world’s best defensive midfielders.
Yet, what makes Torreira such a wonderful signing is the fact that he is already a great player. Torreira was brilliant from Sampdoria last season, averaging an incredible 2.8 tackles and two interceptions per game. He also displayed his passing ability, averaging 60.8 passes per game at an efficient percentage of 87.8%.
Moreover, at the World Cup, Torreira’s defensive effort was crucial for Uruguay as they were the only team not to concede a goal in the group stages. Arsenal has long needed an excellent defensive midfielder, having relied on subpar talent at that position. With Torreira, Emery has bagged an absolute gem and that too only at £26.5 million.
Do you agree with this list? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
