Recent transfer windows in England have brought to the fore the financial strength of the English clubs. Driven by multi-billion pound broadcast deals and numerous commercial arrangements, teams in the English top flight have not been shy of breaking the bank to sign the players they desire.
Nonetheless, there have been instances in the recent past where managers have landed key players on a free transfer and in this segment, we profile the top 5 Bosman transfers you need to watch out for in the upcoming season of the Premier League.
Trending
#5 Jérémy Pied
Southampton’s new manager Claude Puel played a huge role in bringing Jeremy Pied to St Marys Park. Having previously managed the player Lyon and Nice, Pied was more than happy to join his former manager on a free transfer. A player believed to be in the mould of Southampton’s first choice right-back in the last season, Cedric Soares, Pied brings attacking threat and defensive stability to his new employers.
While he might not have been as creative as Soares in terms of chances created per 90 minutes last season, the Frenchman would definitely thrive in the presence of creative forces at Southampton and is expected to add to the attacking firepower of the side.
The only major concern with regards to the player is his ability to stay focused during the course of the game. He has a tendency to make defensive errors presenting the opposition with an opportunity and in a league where a single goal can make a world of differenc, he will need to improve on this aspect of his game.
#4 Havard Nordtveit
Over the last few seasons, West Ham have shown a penchant for plucking out gems for peanuts. In Nordveit, the club has made another such signing. The 26-year-old defensive midfielder has been signed from Borussia Mönchengladbach and adds steel to the side’s midfield. The Norwegian player played a key role in his former side finishing amongst the top 4 in the Bundesliga last season and is expected to play a critical role in his side’s push for a Champions League spot.
The former Arsenal midfielder is a strong, consistent midfielder, who is not an easy man to get past. His ability to understand the game and break up the opposition’s rhythm with interceptions and tackles made him a great asset at the Borussia-Park and the West Ham faithful should be excited about landing the player.
#3 Victor Valdes
The former Barcelona number 1 is one of the eight players signed by Middlesbrough as the club is keen to avoid a return to the Championship. Valdes’ desire for first team football is believed to the major reason behind the transfer and given the other choices at the club, he will surely start the season as Middlesbrough’s number one.
While things might not have gone as per plan for Valdes at Manchester United, at 34 years of age, he is in his prime for a goalkeeper and the move to Riverside Stadium is expected to help his rapidly falling stock gain some upward momentum.
Valdes is a proven winner, having won numerous trophies with Barcelona and Spain in the past. While a trophy might seem a distant dream for the side, given that they have just been promoted, survival, even a mid-table finish would prove to be great progress for the club.
#2 Joel Matip
Liverpool have been plagued by defensive inabilities in the past and Jurgen Klopp was quick to realise the issue at hand and signed Matip even before the 2015-16 season ended. The right-sided centre-back has a proven track record as a central defender and would be a huge upgrade to the error prone Reds’ defence.
Solid on the ground and imperious in the air, Matip was Schalke’s best defender in the last season, making crucial tackles, interceptions and blocks and is expected to replicate the same at Anfield in order to bring back the glory days.
The well-built defender will not find it tough to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League. However, it remains to be seen if he can cope with a faster league.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
We had no choice but to place him on the top spot in our list, simply because we do not want to anger Zlatan. Signed from the resurgent Paris Saint-Germain, Zlatan is a shrewd piece of business done by the new manager Jose Mourinho. While he might not have the exuberance of a youngster, Zlatan brings some much-needed experience to the young United line-up.
Zlatan scored 156 goals in 180 appearances for PSG and has shown signs of getting better with age over the course of the last few seasons. However, given the presence of Rooney, Martial and Rashford at the club, Zlatan might find game time hard to come by. While that might prove to be a deterrent for most players, we are sure Zlatan will take it as a personal challenge to ensure that he is still the best around.
