Top ten transfers of the summer

by Rob Fielder, from the superb Ademir to Zizinho

Wondering who the top transfers of the summer are? Then look no further, but first the rules that I’ve applied. Anyone can spend £100m to bring a big star in, but the best transfers need to provide value. So I’ve set an arbitrary bar of £20m to see who has spent their money wisely (hence no Aguero, Pastore or Sanchez). Secondly I’ve looked at the suitability of the player for the club. Ashley Young (for instance) might well prove to be a great player, but in a team already blessed with Nani, Valencia, Giggs and Park how much scope will there be for him to succeed?  Thirdly I’ve limited the list to just one player per club to make it more interesting.

10. Arda Turan (Galatasaray to Atletico Madrid) £11m

Having lost Sergio Aguero to Manchester City it did not take Atleti long to bring in a potential replacement in the shape of Turkish prodigy Arda Turan. The diminutive left-winger is unlikely to replace Kun’s goals but his trickery and vision are likely to mark him out as a future hero at the Vicente Calderon. Turan had been previously linked with a host of clubs (including Liverpool and Chelsea), but opted to make the move to Spain. With his excellent technique and love of dribbling, La Liga is likely to be perfectly tailored to the young Turk’s style.

9. Cristian Zapata (Udinese to Villarreal) £7m

While the outstanding forward play of Antonio di Natale and Alexis Sanchez may have gained the majority of headlines there was one man at Udinese last season who deserved far more plaudits than he received. Tremendously versatile (he can play in any position across the backline), Cristian Zapata was a rock at the heart of the zebras’ defence last year. The natural physicality of the giant Colombian, left Serie A attackers in fear as he shut down team after team. With Villarreal losing Santi Cazorla to Malaga, the onus will increasingly be on Zapata to prove just as influential in Spain as he did in Italy.

8. Shay Given (Manchester City to Aston Villa) £3m

Arguably the Premier League’s most consistent goalkeeper over the last ten years, the arrival of Shay Given at Aston Villa has given fans, restless at the appointment of Alex McLeish, something to cheer about. Having spent the previous season on the bench at Manchester City, Given will be delighted to look forward to playing time in 2011-12. Replacing Brad Friedel (himself a model of consistency) in the Villa net will not be easy, but when in form Given is often unbeatable. Despite being all of 35, the five year contract handed to him shows the faith that McLeish and Randy Lerner have in the Irish international.

7. Theo Janssen (Twente to Ajax) £3m

The outstanding performer in Holland last season, dead-ball specialist Janssen has made the move to Amsterdam giants Ajax seemingly at just the right time. With a minor revolution going on in the board room and the team appearing to be on the up under coach Frank de Boer, the experience of Janssen will give Ajax’s youngsters a guiding hand in the season ahead. Expected to line up alongside bright prospects Christian Eriksen and Vurnon Anita in central midfield, Ajax will need all of Janssen’s savvy and know-how if they are to make progress in the Champions League.

6. Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht to Chelsea) £19m

Top scorer in the Belgian top flight at just 16, Lukaku has long been regarded as one of the game’s finest prospects. Linked with all the top clubs in Europe, his decision to move to Chelsea would appear to answer any questions over finding a successor to Didier Drogba. Standing 6 foot 4 tall and still only 18 defenders will be petrified of the strength and power of the youngster, yet it will be intriguing to see how Villas-Boas manages to find room for Drogba, Torres, Anelka and Daniel Sturridge (as well as Lukaku) in the Chelsea line-up. This though is a signing for the future and if the young Belgian fulfils his potential Chelsea will have landed a bargain.

5. Gokhan Inler (Udinese to Napoli) £13m

The beating heart of Udinese, the move to fellow Champions League qualifiers Napoli will give Inler the chance to prove himself in a new arena. Full of running yet accomplished on the ball, Inler is the complete modern midfielder and will give Napoli far greater steel in midfield. With the attacking trio of Cavani, Hamsik and Lavezzi ahead of him Napoli are not short of inventiveness in the final third so the emphasis will be on Inler to provide the possession that can hurt opponents. His unveiling at Napoli may have had a touch of the pantomime about it (he was wearing a lion mask), but the stage of the San Paolo should suit Inler down to the ground.

4. Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon to Malaga) £9m

Due to his greying hair it’s sometimes difficult to remember that Toulalan is still only 27. Perhaps it is the maturity and composure he demonstrates on the field as well, yet the vigour of his play and determination to win show there is still youthful vitality in the French midfielder. More exciting names may have arrived in Malaga this summer (Santi Cazorla, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Diego Buonanotte for starters), but none are likely to have a greater influence than Toulalan. The stability he provides in central midfield is the perfect platform for attacking success while his positioning allows him to intercept scores of passes and kill attacks before they begin. Given the scarcity of top level defensive midfielders it was a surprise that none of the game’s biggest teams made a move for such a valuable player.

3. Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid) £9m

Without question Sahin was the primary factor behind Dortmund’s surprise victory in the Bundesliga last season. The metronomic control he displayed over the Dortmund midfield was bettered only by the game’s pass-master, Xavi, the man that Sahin aspires to emulate. With a buy-out clause allowing him to move for a pittance it was no surprise to see him join a bigger club, yet there have to be questions over whether Real Madrid will be the perfect match. With competition in midfield from the likes of Oezil, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Khedira, Granero, Diarra and Gago it is unclear whether the Turk can expect to start. If he does get a chance to prove his abilities then Sahin may well prove to be the bargain of the summer.

2. Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04 to Bayern Munich) £18m

While many recognise the difficulties faced by Manchester United in replacing Peter Schmeichel few have noted Bayern’s problems since the retirement of Oliver Kahn. While Hans-Georg Butt and Michael Rensing may be decent keepers in their own right, neither man could fill the shoes of the incredible German. By signing Manuel Neuer from Schalke, Bayern hope that they have nipped the problem in the bud. Long regarded as one of the world’s brightest keeping prospects, last season saw Neuer blossom into the player that many had hoped him to be. Despite Schalke’s mid-table finish Neuer was in imperious form both domestically and in Europe as they reached the Champions League semi-finals. While his start at the Allianz Arena has been a turbulent one, it is only a matter of time before the Bayern faithful embrace Neuer as their own.

1. Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen to Juventus) £9m

The dynamic Chilean’s move to Juventus stands out among all the summer’s transfers for the combination of price and suitability. 10 goals and 11 assists in the Bundesliga would have been good return for an attacking midfielder, yet for a player of Vidal’s ilk they were truly priceless. For Vidal is not your average South American playmaker, his combativeness brings steel to any midfield while his energy allows him to cover ground that few could dream of. With the attacking play that Antonio Conte has promised at Juve this summer, having a man who can tick so many boxes in the midfield will be of great importance. If his partnership with Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio works out, the Old Lady might well be back among the big boys next season.

Follow Rob on twitter @ademir2z or visit his blog at http://ademirtozizinho.blogspot.com/ for stunning articles on world football and the history of tactics.