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The transfer window has been flung open by Monaco and this summer could be spectacular for player movement given the number of high profile clubs that have changed manager or who are coming off perceived down seasons. Over this summer, I will be explaining and analysing the major moves around and giving each one of them a grade.
Simon Mignolet – Sunderland to Liverpool (£11m)
What’s the deal? Mignolet was outstanding for Sunderland last season and caught the attention of major clubs around Europe.
Is the price right? £11m is a lot, not many keepers have ever been sold for so much. However, he is just 24 so they could be investing in him for 10 years if all goes to plan. Sometimes you have to pay to get the best.
Why sign him? Liverpool are preparing to try and win the Premier League in a couple of years time. By the time their young outfield core mature, Reina would be 33 and a bosman. Liverpool evidently feel Mignolet can be the best in the world and didn’t want to miss out on him.
Why sell him? Sunderland’s new management seem to be trying to purge the club of it’s current staff and need money to restock. Goalkeepers can be found inexpensively and yet be serviceable.
Will it work? Very rarely do big goalkeeper moves go wrong and this shouldn’t be one of them. He’s playing behind a better defence and should only grow in confidence.
Grade: A- He’ll be an excellent keeper for a long time. I guess the only thing stopping this being an A is that they already have Reina who could do a good job for a few more years, even despite the sound logic behind the move.
Andy Carroll – Liverpool to West Ham (£15.5m)
What’s the deal? West Ham end Carroll’s Anfield purgatory by making his loan spell permanent.
Is the price right? It’s pretty right, if a tad on the expensive side. However, Liverpool had to recoup as much as possible so couldn’t really take much less. The extra .5m means they didn’t quite lose £20m!
Why sign him? At times he was unplayable for West Ham last season. His sheer size and willingness to throw himself around make him a real nightmare for defences to cope with. Their style of play needs his menace at the top of the attack to be effective. It’s also a sign of ambition.
Why sell him? He couldn’t be less of a fit for Rodgers’ system.
Will it work? It should do, but whether he’ll deliver what you’d expect a £15m player to do is up in the air. He will be the focal point of the team playing in it’s current style. The only question is; how long will West Ham be happy to play like that and if they change manager will Carroll be relevant?
Grade: B- They made him their priority and on his day he’s untouchable. However, for the £15m they could have secured more quality.
Andreas Cornelius – FC Copenhagen to Cardiff City (£7.5m)
What’s the story? Cornelius arrives on the back of a 20 goal season in Denmark and is just 20 years old.
Is the price right? Cardiff have smashed their club record and £7.5m is a lot for a 20 year old with one season under his belt. Especially coming from a smaller league.
Why sign him? Cardiff were very efficient Championship winners last season but lack for a true goalscoring forward. Helenius has the physical presence needed and clearly has goals in his boots. It’s worth taking a chance, but not if they are solely relying on him to adapt and thrive immediately.
Why sell him? This is a huge amount of money in the Danish league so Copenhagen can reinvest on several players.
Will it work? Only if they properly support him with quality. He’s a young man and will need to adapt quickly and a relegation scrap is not an easy place to learn. Mind you, the same could have been said of Christian Benteke last season.
Grade: C+ It’s a serious chunk out of their supposed £25m budget and to pay so much for a young man with no top level experience is strange. Not every young striker is Benteke.
Dejan Lovren – Lyon to Southampton (£7m)
What’s the story? Lovren has been very highly thought of for a few years but perhaps stagnated at Lyon last season. Southampton making a big statement though.
Is the price right? It’s about right. Lovren has raw talent but makes mistakes, a little like a lower grade David Luiz. With that in mind, it’s a good price if he grows and improves but it’ll be a lot if he struggles to adapt.
Why sign him? Southampton’s weakness was in defence last season so Lovren will be a real solution if he settles quickly. Off the pitch, it continues Southampton’s impressive start to life in the Premier League transfer market.
Why sell him? He lost his place in the team at Lyon who have gone in another direction.
Will it work? It should do. He’s got the raw tools to be successful but he needs to find his confidence and settle quickly if he’s to make an impact.
Grade: B+ Despite him losing his place it’s still a big signing. Only last summer Lovren was linked to Arsenal. He does need to settle quickly though so it’s not exactly risk free.
Luis Alberto – Sevilla to Liverpool (£7m)
What’s the story? Luis Alberto was an offensive machine on loan with Barcelona B last season and fits in to Liverpool’s young technicians policy this summer.
Is the price right? It’s possibly a tad much, but it’s possibly really cheap. This is a little like the Phillipe Coutinho deal. At the time it seemed like quite a bit but now he looks a £20m+ player. Luis Alberto could easily fall in that category.
Why sign him? Liverpool are trying to get themselves a group of young, technical forwards as they try to phase in Brendan Rodgers’ philosophy of play. Last season he got 11 goals and 18 assists and Liverpool need players who could produce consistently. Looks like an ideal compliment to Coutinho.
Why sell him? £7m is a lot of money for a prospect at a club like Sevilla who are trying to reload with new players.
Will it work? It certainly can do. He’s probably going to the best possible fit. He’ll be playing for a manager who trusts young players and trusts technicians. Could be the new Coutinho.
Grade: A Liverpool are learning from previous mistakes in the market and are operating to a specific plan. He isn’t just an athlete they are trying to teach, he’s shown he can score and make goals.
