Football Club by club guide to this summer’s buys (part 1)
It’s the 1st of September and the football transfer window is shut all over Europe and the most baffling of all is that Arsenal are still without a goal keeper and Fernando Torres is still the only World class striker at Liverpool.
Here is a club by club guide to who has bought what in this summer’s transfer window:
Arsenal
Before the start of the season, Arsenal desperately needed a goal keeper and the window has been shut and Almunia is still their number one goalie. In the summer, Arsenal brought in Bordeaux’s, Marouane Chamakh, on a Bosman transfer, Laurent Koscielny for an undisclosed amount of sum from Lorient, and a central defender in Sebastian Squillaci, from Sevilla for a fee believed to be in the region of 6-8 million pounds.
Aston Villa
Surprisingly enough, Villa has only bought Stephen Ireland from Manchester City as a part of their player plus cash exchange for, James Milner. Perhaps it is not enough for a team that has Champions League aspirations but in the absence of a proper manager Villa can’t really be blamed.
Birmingham
The Blues impressed all and sundry last season with a finish in the top 10. They were very busy in the transfer market and have been very active. The Blues have brought in Ben Foster from Manchester United for 6 million pounds, Enric Valles from NAC Breda on a Bosman Transfer, Nikola Zigic from Valencia for 6 million pounds, Matt Derbyshire on loan from Olympiakos with a proposition of buying next summer, Martin Jiranek from Spartak Moscow for an undisclosed sum, Alexander Hleb on loan from Barcelona and Jean Beausejour from Club America.
Blackburn
Blackburn due to their paucity of funds have only brought in Mame Biram Diouf on loan from Manchester United and Benjani on a Bosman deal from the Blue half of Manchester. Two signings only perhaps won’t be enough to guarantee a place in the continental competitions but Sam Allardyce has high hopes.
Blackpool
After being tipped by all to be the whipping boys of the League this Season, Blackpool have been the busiest in the market. They bought Dekel Keinan from Maccabi Haifa for free, Craig Cathcart for 500k pounds from Manchester United, Ludovic Sylvestre from Mlada Boleslav for an undisclosed fee, Elliot Grandin from CSKA Sofia for another undisclosed sum, Marlon Harewood on Bosman from Aston Villa, Chris Basham for an undisclosed amount from Bolton, Luke Varney on loan from Derby County, Matt Phillips for 325k from Wycombe, and starlet DJ Campbell from Leicester City for an undisclosed fee.
Bolton
Bolton after a disappointing last few Seasons have gone and spent quite a few bucks in the market. Having bought Martin Petrov on a Bosman deal from Manchester City, Robbie Blake for free from relegated Burnley, Marcos Alonso from Real Madrid for an undisclosed sum, Ivan Klasnic free from Nantes, Tom Eaves from Oldham for a minimal fee and a last ditch deal for Rodrigo Moreno on loan from Benfica.
Chelsea
Perhaps Chelsea was the online side in the League that did not need to buy anyone in the summer. Yet they have bolstered their squad with Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool for 5 million pounds, Tomas Kalas from Sigma Olomouc for another 5 million pounds, and, Ramires for 17 million pounds from Benfica.
Everton
Everton are another club with Continental aspiration but with absolutely no money to spend in the market. The Toffees could in the summer have bought Jermaine Beckford on a Bosman transfer from Leeds, Joao Silva for 500k pounds from Desportivo Aves and Magaye Gueye for one million pound sterling from Strasbourg.
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