Top Five: Available Premier League bargains and where they might move

With Premier League clubs looking at signing players to bolster their squads, there is an increasing and good quality stock pile of players who can be acquired fairly cheaply and do a good job at the top level. Often this is because of their high wage or just that a new manager wants to take things in a a different direction. Here is a list of the top five options on the Premier League transfer list.

Darren Bent – Aston Villa

Scout Report

Bent has made a career at the top level with his pace and finishing. Wherever he has been – Charlton, Spurs, Sunderland and Villa – he has always been capable of scoring 15-20 goals with good supply. He’s going to miss chances at times but if he is trusted to play regularly as the lead striker, he has always shown that he will score goals. This is a player who has cost over £15m three times in his career. Clubs pay for goals, and Bent has always supplied them. He can play as the lone striker or as part of a two.

How much?

Villa don’t have great leverage but are demanding £8m. However, a bid of £6m or so should really tempt them.

Who should sign him?

He’d be a great option for Newcastle or Everton. Both clubs are on the look out for a regular goal scorer to finish off the multitude of chances that the creative midfield will fashion. He’d be brilliant at Swansea, who have a whole ream of attackers and for whom Bent could play on the last line of the defence to exploit his pace.

Joleon Lescott – Manchester City

Scout Report

Lescott is a prototypical build for a Premier League defender and has shown signs that he can be an excellent operator in the top flight. The one weakness is his mental lapses and that is what Roberto Mancini grew tired of. He didn’t cost them £24m and accumulate so many England caps for no reason. For a club not competing for the League title, he would be a really solid option, particularly somewhere he could be partnered by someone more cerebral.

How much?

City so obviously want to sell him but anything around £6-7m would still be necessary.

Who should sign him?

He’d be a great compliment to the less pacey Brede Hangeland at Fulham or even returning to his old club Everton could be a good idea.

Demba Ba – Chelsea

Scout Report

Ba was an odd signing for Chelsea as he didn’t really compliment their existing players, but he’s got a fabulous goalscoring record for West Ham and Newcastle at better than a goal every two games. He is fairly quick and strong and has good technique which means he is a prolific finisher. He can be a little patchy at times and is reliant on confidence and playing in exactly the right position but if used properly near enough guarantees goals.

How much?

Chelsea paid £7m, and with Lukaku and Schurrle competing with £50m Torres and maybe another, they don’t have room for him. He’s probably worth £12m though.

Who should sign him?

I think he’d be a great pickup for Liverpool, able to compete with and push Daniel Sturridge and get good game time. He’d be a reliable rotation option and can be given a chance to win the starting job too. A real statement can be made by Southampton or West Brom about their intentions and offer him a two year shop window

Anderson – Manchester United

Scout Report

Anderson was bought with great expectations that he could turn in to the kind of driving flair central midfielder they are now seeking by all over again by being on the verge of signing in Thiago Alcantara. When in form, he has shown to be an excellent and devastating player able to attack from deep with dangerous runs and incisive passing. He works hard in defence and is also a solid passer of the ball. He’s been inconsistent at United, which sees him in and out of the team, but if he’s the starter elsewhere he could be amazing.

How much?

They could probably still get £8-10m for Anderson given he’s still only 25 and showed at Porto, and at times at United, just what he can do.

Who should sign him?

Spurs are looking at similar players for more money, so if they miss them, he’d be a decent option. Swansea would be paradise for him and Michael Laudrup could certainly get the best from him. Don’t discount Mark Hughes’s Stoke as they will be looking to add flair and Norwich who have money to spend and can make him the star of the team.

Tom Huddlestone – Spurs

Scout Report

Huddlestone is one of the best technicians and ball strikers in the Premier League. The problem for him has been taking his game on beyond the solid levels he has reached so far. He has a wonderful range of passing but at times doesn’t show it off to its maximum, perhaps due to lack of confidence or trust, but he clearly has the skill. His defensive work is pretty solid too but his tactical versatility is somewhat limited to being part of a three man midfield as he isn’t the most athletic and won’t get goals but if partnered by those types of players, he can shine.

How much?

£4-5m. Spurs need money to sign midfield targets without selling Gareth Bale.

Who should sign him?

He could really suit West Brom, who have Yacob in a similar area and they would make for a good combination. Fulham are known admirers and need a player who can dominate the ball. West Ham don’t really have a string puller and Allardyce may be intrigued by the possibility of Huddlestone crossing to Carroll and Nolan.