Transfer Grades: Gomez, Kone, Mkhitaryan, Anelka and Altidore

Nicolas Anelka – Free agent to West Brom

What’s the deal? Anelka comes back for another crack at the Premier League with his 6th club.

Is the price right? If West Brom have refrained from giving Anelka a huge wage then yes. They tend to pay lower wages and then give pay rises to keep their own so it would be unusual if they break character.

Why sign him? West Brom have lost the pace and goals of Lukaku so needed to bring something new to their attack.

Why sell him? He’d run down his contract in China after it didn’t go at all well.

Will it work? Clarke worked with Anelka at Chelsea so he knows all about his ‘Le Sulk’ personna and is presumably willing and able to cope with that. Anelka revived his career at Bolton playing in a mid table team where he was the big name so perhaps being the big fish could get a good season from him.

Grade: D He’s 34 now and not what he was. Very unlike West Brom to make a signing like this. They tend to prefer careful and good scouting for players who will battle for the club.