Premier League clubs are not shy of splashing the cash in the transfer market. Sides across England’s top flight spent a colossal £1.1billion last year, even spending £295 million in January alone. To put that in perspective, LaLiga, often considered Europe’s second biggest league, spent by comparison £254 million in the summer and £66 million in January; less than a quarter of the total gross spend. It is no surprise then that the best and brightest players continued to be lured to English shores to ply their trade in the best league in the world, and this summer is no different. Premier League sides have spent over £700 million on players during this summer to date – dwarfing their total outgoings for the last five summer transfer windows. Some big names have arrived in England since June as a result and fans can expect to see more still to come. With the 2022/23 campaign now in full flow, we take a look at some of the best signings made to date in this year’s summer transfer window.
When we think of the biggest signings made in the months since the transfer window opened, it’s hard to look past Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker is quite simply a goalscoring sensation. The former Dortmund frontman scored 114 goals for the German giants in the space of his three seasons with the club and consistently terrorized defences not only in the Bundesliga but in the Champions League as well. Manchester City was arguably the best team in the world in 2021/22, winning the Premier League despite lacking a recognised goalscorer and are favourites to lift the trophy again this year. For those in America who want to place a bet on this year’s Premier League title winner, make sure to use the best sites when betting in the USA. They scored 99 goals last season favouring a false nine that rotated Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva, with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez providing the creative spark in midfield. It makes you wonder just how good the Blues could be now with the prolific 22-year-old in their ranks. Not only that but acquiring the services of one of the world’s best strikers for £51.5million in the current market is a staggeringly good bit of business on City’s part and come the end of the season will surely represent the best return on investment in the entire league.
While City mount another charge on the Premier League title, it yet again seems as though Liverpool are emerging as their most likely contender. Losing someone as gifted as Sadio Mane is a big hit to take and it remains to be seen how well the Reds will be able to challenge on all fronts without someone of his calibre at their disposal this year. However, Jurgen Klopp has delved into his pockets for his replacement in the up-and-coming Uruguayan, Darwin Nunez. The 22-year-old’s stock is on the rise and when he scored home and away for Benfica against Liverpool in April, Klopp clearly saw enough potential in the youngster to warrant the hefty £85million price tag. He has a proven goalscoring pedigree bagging 34 goals from his 41 games last term and the striker will give his manager some fresh options through the middle. With the likes of Luis Diaz, Mo Salah, Trent Alexander Arnold and Andy Robertson supplying him, the prospect of handling Nunez will terrify defences throughout the Premier League.
Away from the league’s two big hitters, you can’t ignore the work that’s been done in North London. Antonio Conte’s pleas to the Tottenham board have been heard and he has now assembled a squad that looks primed and ready for a top four finish this season. They have strengthened in all key areas of the pitch with Ivan Perisic, Clement Lenglet and Yves Bissouma all big additions to the squad but perhaps the marquee signing of the summer will be Richarlison from Everton. The 25-year-old is fast, agile and a gifted finisher in front of a goal. His goals have been a key contributor in Everton maintaining their Premier League status and he is unquestionably a good addition to Conte’s attacking options. However, the Brazilian is unlikely to get in the starting XI ahead of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. The squad depth he offers at Spurs is invaluable but only time will tell whether he will perform off the bench.
Tottenham’s North London rivals Arsenal have enjoyed a similarly successful window as well. The Gunners had slots they needed to fill and acted decisively. Fabio Viera was brought in to help provide the creative spark in midfield, Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived from City to help prop up the defence, while the recall of William Saliba from a loan in Marseille has proved to be an inspired call from Mikel Arteta thus far. But it is the Brazilian Gabriel Jesus that has made the biggest splash. The forward has been in electric form this pre-season and has started this campaign strongly with two goals and assists to his name within the opening two games. While the 25-year-old was always playing second fiddle to Sergio Aguero in Manchester and routinely struggled for game time, the opportunity for him to act as the focal point of the Gunners’ attack seems to be one he is relishing. Arteta has managed to bring quality out of him that Pep Guardiola could not but it is yet to be seen whether he will continue to flourish and beat his previous best tally of 14 goals in a single Premier League season.
Sticking to the capital, Chelsea has endured a lot this summer but has come out relatively unscathed all things considered. Thomas Tuchel has handled to loss of multiple high-profile players at the back well, bringing in two great signings in Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella while maintaining an impressive midfield. The star signing though is Raheem Sterling from City. The England international’s arrival at Stamford Bridge is massive for the club, especially after losing an attacking option in Romelu Lukaku on loan to Inter Milan. The early signs are positive after good performances against Everton and Tottenham, but he will be under immense pressure to sustain it. The step down from champions City will be a tough mental hurdle to overcome, and Chelsea is a team in transition who will be looking to Sterling to carry them through this turbulent period. Whether the pressure will tell on the 27-year-old is hard to say but Tuchel and Blues fans alike will have their fingers firmly crossed that he can help see them through to a top four finish.
Read more:
