TOP SIGNINGS
DANNY RUST picks his Premier League team of the year from players who joined their clubs last summer...
A team of the best newcomers
THE PFA Premier League Team of the Season was announced at the end of April, with Premier League champions Chelsea dominating. Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Nemanja Matic, PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were all included.
It’s difficult to argue the players have got it wrong. But let’s look at a different selection.
There have been some fantastic signings, who have improved clubs and the Premier League as a whole. Here is my Team of the Season if only players snapped up since last summer were included:
GK David Ospina
Ospina joined Arsenal originally as back-up to Poland’s Wojciech Szczesny. The latter was dropped after a number of poor performances and a smoking-in-the-showers incident at Southampton on New Year’s Day. Ospina was impressive at the World Cup in Brazil last summer and was a major reason for Colombia’s success at the tournament.
His performances at the World Cup resulted in Arsène Wenger spending £3m to sign the goalkeeper from Nice and it has turned out to be a shrewd piece of business. Ospina has looked confident between the sticks for the Gunners and Szczesny has found it difficult to break back into the side.
RB Carl Jenkinson
The England U21 international defender signed for West Ham on a season-long loan deal from Arsenal last August and has become a fans’ favourite at the Boleyn Ground. Now the Hammers are looking to sign the full-back on a permanent deal this summer but, due to his fine performances for Sam Allardyce’s side, the East London club will have to pay a substantial fee to secure his services.
The former Charlton defender may struggle to get back into the Arsenal side when he returns from his loan deal, thanks to the emergence of Hector Bellerin and so a move may be in his best interests. But Jenkinson’s season at Upton Park has certainly been his best in the Premier League.
CB Toby Alderweireld
The Belgian international joined Southampton on loan until the end of the season from last season’s La Liga champions Atlético Madrid and has proved to be a rock at the back.
Alderweireld has formed a fantastic partnership alongside Portuguese central defender José Fonte – the duo have been a big reason for Saints’ success this term.
Alderweireld was one of Ronald Koeman’s first signings when he took over at St Mary’s and has been a big hit.
The former Ajax man has caught the eye of others too, including Tottenham, and so it may be difficult for Saints to keep the Belgian on a permanent deal.
LB Aaron Cresswell
Cresswell was one of the hottest properties in the Championship last term, and so West Ham had to move quickly to sign the left-back from Ipswich. The Liverpudlian cost the club only £3m and is now being tipped for an England call-up in the near future.
The likes of Chelsea and Manchester City have also been impressed with the former Tranmere man’s performances, with reports suggesting that Chelsea could be willing to pay up to £20m for him to join José Mourinho’s men. The left-back, 25, has a big future ahead of him and is now seen as a dead ball specialist after scoring a fantastic free-kick against Stoke in April.
RM Dusan Tadic
The Serbian international attacking midfielder has been impressive for Southampton since he made the move last summer. Tadic, 26, joined from FC Twente after two successful years in the Netherlands, which saw him score 29 league goals in 70 appearances.
Tadic has only scored four Premier League goals for the Saints this season, but he has been involved in so many more for the South Coast club. He has claimed numerous assists and was a major reason for Graziano Pellè being free-scoring in the early stages of the season.
CM Cheikhou Kouyate
Kouyate joined West Ham from Belgian heavyweights Anderlecht last summer and the athletic central midfielder has caught the eye for the Hammers all season. The Senegalese international joined the club as a central defender, where has played on a few occasions for the Irons this term.
But Kouyate has shown his versatility and been confident in the centre of West Ham’s midfield alongside Alex Song and Mark Noble. Now Sam Allardyce will be hoping to hold on to the 25-year-old.
CM Gylfi Sigurdsson
Sigurdsson is now in his second spell at Swansea, and Swans fans are delighted that he returned to the Liberty Stadium. Michel Vorm and Ben Davies’ moves to Tottenham saw Sigurdsson return in the opposite direction, and it looks as though Garry Monk got a good deal.
Sigurdsson carried on where he left off in Wales, scoring the late winner at Manchester
United on the opening day of the season. More goals and assists have followed and the Icelandic international will be hoping to continue his good form next term.
CM Cesc Fabregas
It came as a huge surprise when Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger decided not to re-sign the midfielder when it became clear that Barcelona were willing to offload Fabregas, but Chelsea will be relieved that he did ignore the opportunity. The Spain international, 27, has made a fantastic start to his Chelsea career, claiming 16 assists for the Blues.
Although Fabregas has not been as productive in the second half of the season, he has still been instrumental in Chelsea winning the Premier League title this campaign.Wenger certainly missed a great opportunity to re-sign an Arsenal legend.
LM Alexis Sanchez
The Chilean international attacker shone at last summer’s World Cup. However, appearances were limited at Barcelona last season and so Wenger snapped up the 26-year-old in a deal worth £35m.
Sánchez has been tremendous for Arsenal, scoring over 20 goals in all competitions. Gunners fans will be hoping for more of the same if they are to challenge for the title next year.
CF Diafra Sakho
West Ham paid £3m to sign Sakho, who was unheard of to many before his move to the Premier League, and he has broken records since his move from Metz. The Senegalese international, who won the Barclays Player of the Month award in October, notched his fourth goal in his first four starts for the club at Manchester United, breaking a 26-year-old club record held by Leroy Rosenior.
Sakho then broke another record a month later when he scored against Manchester City. That goal resulted in Sakho becoming the first Hammers player to score in six straight Premier League games. Goals have not been so easy to come by as the Irons’ season has deteriorated since the turn of the year, but the 25-year-old has still scored ten Premier League goals in his first campaign in England.
CF Diego Costa
Chelsea had to part with £32m in order to sign Atlético Madrid frontman Diego Costa last summer and, although he was disappointing for Spain at the World Cup last summer, he has been fantastic for the Blues. Costa got off to an explosive start for Mourinho’s men, scoring goals in the majority of Chelsea’s opening games of the season.
Although injuries have affected the striker’s progress, Costa has still notched 19 goals in his debut season. Mourinho will just be hoping he can find a way to stop the Brazil-born striker lashing out as he has at various stages this term.