The Premier League clubs have all done a wonderful job in the summer transfer window. For the first time ever, the total spend has crossed the 1 bn mark as 13 of the 20 top flight clubs in England broke their transfer records. With the added spending power, clubs weren’t afraid to shell out, as Arsene Wenger calls it. ‘Scary’ sums to get their players in. It has resulted in Paul Pogba making a move from Italian champions Juventus back to his former club Manchester United for a sum of £89m (€105m).
While the big money transfers were the talk of the window, there were quite a few number of transfers which clubs secured on a free or on loan as well. There’s no denying the fact that managers always look to get a player for the best price (except some), and when the signings which were secured on a loan or as free transfer does well it represents the best bit of business being done giving immense pleasure to everybody at the club, knowing that they have got it spot on.
Let’s now look at some of those deals which do have the potential to make some serious impacts on their clubs secured on loan or without paying the transfer fee:-
- Jack Wilshere (Arsenal To Bournemouth, Loan)
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere became one of the most sought after players of all time when he received a mind-boggling 22 offers right after the Gunners made him available on loan. Wilshere, as we know has tremendous potential but with the personnel available at the moment at the Emirates, he would have to fight quite a bit to get into the first team.
The England international midfielder needs extensive game time for which he made a decision to join Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth. It was termed as the biggest signing in the club’s history as Howe proudly presented his new signing the club shirt in front of the media just outside Dean Court.
Signing a player of the calibre of Wilshere could transform the Cherries as they will now have the perfect piece in the middle who can masterfully orchestrate their young but exciting squad and can very well be the reason for the club thriving in the league for a second consecutive year.
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG To Manchester United, Free)
When any club signs a player who has scored 38 goals from 31 appearances in the French League last season with a further 13 assists for a free, it has to go down as one of the best bits of business ever irrespective of the age of the player. It’s true that Ibra is 34 now which is exactly not the age group you would bet on to be a success in a high paced, super competitive and physically intensive league as the Premier League but as long as the name reads Zlatan Ibrahimovic, we all know it’s going to be anything but the usual.
While Zlatan can realistically tire out and suffer in the second half of the league season finding it very difficult, he is almost guaranteed to make up for it in the first half of this campaign. Three goals already in his first three league games with a winner against Leicester in the Charity Shield match already suggests that the Swede is underway and is doing just fine.
- Wilfred Bony (Manchester City To Stoke City, Loan)
Mark Hughes pulled off a fantastic signing when he decided to take Ivorian Wilfred Bony to the Bet365 Arena on a season-long loan deal. The Potters already have the likes of Bojan, Shaqiri, Arnautovic, Afellay, Imbulla and Allen but has lacked a proven goalscorer upfront.
Their style of play would suit Bony and the striker has already proved his worth in the Premier League with the Swans before. Getting a player of the ability of Bony can turn out to be a masterstroke by the former Manchester City manager and if the 27-year-old forward gets into the groove then Stoke City are in for a wonderful season in the Premier League for sure.
