Transfer Grades: Jovetic, Negredo, Hulk, Digne and Mannone

Vito Mannone – Arsenal to Sunderland (£2.5m)

What’s the deal? After some decent showings when covering for injured Poles, Mannone gets a Premier League starting role for himself with Paolo Di Canio.

Is the price right? It’s a decent price all told. Not too much for it to be a big gamble.

Why sign him? The club sold Simon Mignolet to Liverpool which left them needing a starting calibre goalkeeper. He’s shown himself do be fairly good when deputising for Fabianski and Szcz?sny and obviously did enough to catch Sunderland’s eye. There are those who argue about how important the goalkeeper is but Sunderland fans might well get a lesson.

Why sell him? Arsenal already have two keepers and might be looking for a third. Realistically, they probably couldn’t really stand in Mannone’s way given that he’ll get a starting job.

Will it work? It’s one thing looking OK behind the league’s second best defence but quite another behind what could be an entirely new Sunderland back four. He’s unproven so it’s a big leap of faith when the likes of Mark Schwarzer were available. Not convinced.

Grade: C He’s an OK player I guess but like some of these other signings Sunderland have made, the question is whether they are really getting any better?