In no particular order, here are the five new signings who have caught our eye for all the right reasons so far this season…
Ramires signed for £18.6m
Ramires – Chelsea (£18.6m from Benfica)
Ramires Santos do Nascimento’s first season in European football was enough to tempt Roman Abramovich into reaching into those deep pockets and producing £18.6m for the Brazilian’s services. His former side Benfica stormed to the Portuguese Liga title, losing just twice in the process, and Ramires is already showing why he was such an important part of that form. Fast, skilful and deceptively strong, the box-to-box midfielder is staking a strong claim to be a regular in a Chelsea side that already includes Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel.
Cheick Tioté – Newcastle United (£3.5m from FC Twente)
Chris Hughton might have hailed his Ivorian signing as ‘Newcastle’s Essien’, but Tioté, a £3.5m buy from FC Twente, has
Tioté battles with Marouane Fellaini
a long way to go before he reaches the heights of his Ghanaian counterpart. Tioté does, however, bring Essien to mind with his athleticism and composure, and although Hughton wasn’t permitted to spend a great deal this summer, the cash he did part with for the midfielder’s services could yet prove to be money well spent. A box-to-box presence with a footballing brain, Tioté’s arrival might well spell the end of Alan Smith’s hopes of securing a regular place in Newcastle’s midfield.
Marouane Chamakh – Arsenal (free from Bordeaux)
Chamakh celebrates for Arsenal
Having baulked in 2009 at an asking price of £7m, Arsene Wenger was happy to wait until this summer before signing the 26-year-old Moroccan on a free transfer when his Bordeaux contract expired. Doubts were quickly aired about his modest goalscoring record in Ligue Un, but Chamakh has started well in front of goal, netting five times already, and winning five penalties. Goals aside, the striker has succeeded in linking attacks and bringing midfielders into the game – something the outgoing Eduardo was unable to do in Arsenal’s lone-striker system.
Rafael Van Der Vaart – Tottenham Hotspur (£8m from Real Madrid)
Van Der Vaart has shone this season
It was a fantasy signing for Tottenham fans wanting Champions League qualification to take them to ‘the next level’, but Rafael Van Der Vaart’s impact since joining from Real Madrid has been beyond their wildest dreams. A late deadline day deal brought the Dutch international to White Hart Lane, and he has already found the net three times in five league games from midfield. Spurs’ strength in the final third of the pitch was already a concern for their rivals for fourth, but the classy midfielder’s arrival might even put the frighteners up one or two of the sides who finished above them last term.
Peter Odemwingie – West Bromwich Albion (£500,000 from Lokomotiv Moscow)
Three years ago, Lokomotiv Moscow paid out just under £11m to Lille for the services of Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie. Consequently, when West Brom managed to pick him up for just £500,000 this summer, the natural conclusion was that he was a spent force. Odemwingie has defied expectations, however, becoming a symbol for West Brom’s surprising start to the season. The striker has three goals in six Premier League starts, including a winner against Sunderland and the opener in the stunning 3-2 victory away to Arsenal. Quick, tricky and elusive off the ball, Odemwingie looks a good early bet for bargain of the season.
Odemwingie in action against Sunderland
