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5 Premier League signings to look out for

5 Premier League signings to look out for

From eye-wateringly expensive superstars to relative unknowns, keep your eyes peeled for these sizzling summer signings

As the revolving door of the transfer market continues to spin, we’ve singled out five signings to watch in the new 2018/19 Premier League season

Match Of The Day, Saturday 11 August, 10.20pm, BBC One/HD (CH 101/108). Also available for 30 days in Catch Up > Channels > BBC iPlayer

From battling Boreham Wood on a Sunday afternoon to feisty encounters with arch rivals across the pond, the Premier League teams are fit and ready to face another dramatic season after a long, hot summer.

 

Unsurprisingly, all have been busy pursuing transfer targets from overseas and closer to home. And while some have been more successful than others, each of the 20 clubs will hope to have the bulk of their business done and dusted before the season gets under way. Especially after the transfer deadline day was moved three weeks forward compared to this time last season!

As is often the case, this summer has seen an interesting mix of mega deals and bargain buys for clubs both big and small, so we’ve decided to cut through the noise and single out some of the most interesting new signings to look out for this coming season. And in case you’re still sorting out your fantasy football picks, check out our verdict on each player’s Premier League potential.

 

You can catch up on the performances of these players and all of the other Premier League teams this season as Match Of The Day returns to our screens. Expect Messrs Lineker, Shearer, Wright and more to dish out their fair share of insight, encouragement and criticism as these guys get used to life in the biggest (and best) league in the world!

 

1. Alisson Becker – Roma to Liverpool

Alisson Becker for Liverpool

Let’s kick things off with the most expensive move so far which, surprisingly, is for a man between the sticks. Despite smashing a whopping seven goals past him back in May’s Champions League semi-final, Liverpool doggedly pursued the Brazilian, supposedly paying £67million to bring him to Merseyside. In his time with Internacional, Roma and the Brazilian national team, Alisson has built a reputation for being a solid shot stopper and, most importantly, a reasonably safe pair of hands.

 

Key stats:

Position - goalkeeper

Age – 25

Career appearances – 210

Clean sheets – 49

 

Fantasy football verdict: Though he’s unproven in the Premier League, his form for Roma is hard to overlook – definitely worth a punt.

 

2. Bobby Reid – Bristol City to Cardiff City

Though by no means this summer’s most glamorous move, Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock may be onto a winner after snatching Bobby Reid from Bristol City for a reported £10 million. After a high-scoring season in the Championship last year (and a number of noteworthy performances in the Carabao Cup), Reid will be keen to prove that he’s ready for the big time. Whether or not he can adapt to the top flight remains to be seen, but with his rapid pace and eye for creating and scoring goals it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on.

 

Key stats:

Position – attacking midfield

Age – 25

Career appearances – 201

Goals – 32

 

Fantasy football verdict: Practically untouchable with Bristol last season, he could prove to be a solid points scorer and may be worth including further into the season.

 

3. Jorginho – Napoli to Chelsea

Jorginho with Chelsea

Jorginho (or Jorge Luiz Frello Filho, to his friends) has copied his manager Maurizio Sarri in trading the light blue of Napoli for the slightly darker blue of Chelsea. A highly versatile midfielder, the Brazilian-born Italian can be hugely effective in key areas, so he will no doubt prove an invaluable asset to Sarri in his first ever season managing abroad. While his £57 million price tag may cause some Chelsea board members to choke on their morning cuppa, if he plays to his full potential, he could be seen as something of a bargain.

 

Key stats:

Position – midfield

Age – 26

Career appearances – 289

Goals – 18

 

Fantasy football verdict: As former banker Sarri would (probably) say: buy, buy, buy.

 

4. Sokratis Papastathopoulos – Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal

Though this Sokratis isn’t quite as legendary as the similarly named Greek philosopher, he’s by no means an underwhelming acquisition. Over his five years with Borussia Dortmund, the towering Greek centre-back earned a more than justified reputation for being a solid, dependable defender. As such, it’s easy to see why newly appointed Arsenal manager Unai Emery was keen to snap him up, and at just £17.6 million, too.

 

Key stats:

Position – midfield

Age – 30

Career appearances – 394

Goals – 16

 

Fantasy football verdict: A guaranteed starter and a consistent performer, he’s definitely a decent shout.

 

5. Fred – Shakhtar Donetsk to Manchester United

Fred signing for Manchester United

José Mourinho’s second signing of the summer is, so far, the most exciting. Fred (or Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos to his friends) shone in the Champions League for Shakhtar last season – notably bagging a brilliant free kick against Roma. As part of a lethal Brazilian trio (alongside Bernard and Taison) that has plagued some of Europe’s toughest defences, Mourinho will be hoping that Fred will be able to replicate the blistering form that raised so many eyebrows last season.

 

Key stats:

Position – attacking midfielder

Age – 25

Career appearances – 210

Goals – 22  

 

Fantasy football verdict: Pace. Power. Strength. Need we say more?

 

Match Of The Day

 

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