10. Gokhan Inler, $8m, Leicester City
They may have lost Esteban Cambiasso, but Leicester City managed to replace him with an experienced, talented, international in the heart of the pitch. Players with top flight experience are crucial to Leicester, who were just promoted prior to the 2014-2015 season and made a remarkable escape from relegation having been bottom of the league on Christmas day. Inler also comes at a very cheap price and will help solidify a position that was previously lacking for the Foxes.
They may have lost Esteban Cambiasso, but Leicester City managed to replace him with an experienced, talented, international in the heart of the pitch. Players with top flight experience are crucial to Leicester, who were just promoted prior to the 2014-2015 season and made a remarkable escape from relegation having been bottom of the league on Christmas day. Inler also comes at a very cheap price and will help solidify a position that was previously lacking for the Foxes.
9. Adama Traore, $11m, Aston Villa
It's not often that an extremely talented youngster from the Barcelona youth system would choose to move permanently to Aston Villa, but so are the odd circumstances surrounded the relegation of the Barcelona B team that Traore did just that. For 11 million dollars, Traore represents only a fraction of what Villa recouped from the Benteke transfer and will bring a flair and technical ability to the attack that the Villains have been lacking for years. As an added incentive, Traore's price will only rise over the next few years, and his resale value should eventually exceed twice or three times the 11 million dollars that Aston Villa paid for him.
It's not often that an extremely talented youngster from the Barcelona youth system would choose to move permanently to Aston Villa, but so are the odd circumstances surrounded the relegation of the Barcelona B team that Traore did just that. For 11 million dollars, Traore represents only a fraction of what Villa recouped from the Benteke transfer and will bring a flair and technical ability to the attack that the Villains have been lacking for years. As an added incentive, Traore's price will only rise over the next few years, and his resale value should eventually exceed twice or three times the 11 million dollars that Aston Villa paid for him.
8. Jordan Amavi, $14m, Aston Villa
Adama Traore is not the only incoming Villain that can provide flair and technical ability on the pitch, as Jordan Amavi has more tricks up his sleeve than you'd expect for a left back. He's a decent defender, but will become better at that portion of his game as he matures. On the other hand, his attacking ability is right where it needs to be and his pace is phenomenal. Most of all, he looks comfortable in the position, and Aston Villa have sorely been missing a confident left back the last couple years with Aly Cissokho manning the position.
Adama Traore is not the only incoming Villain that can provide flair and technical ability on the pitch, as Jordan Amavi has more tricks up his sleeve than you'd expect for a left back. He's a decent defender, but will become better at that portion of his game as he matures. On the other hand, his attacking ability is right where it needs to be and his pace is phenomenal. Most of all, he looks comfortable in the position, and Aston Villa have sorely been missing a confident left back the last couple years with Aly Cissokho manning the position.
7. Andre Ayew, Free, Swansea City
Admittedly, I wasn't sure that Andre Ayew was going to fit into Swansea's first team for much of the season with the excess of midfielders that they have on their roster, but he has burst onto the scene and made a real impact in their first few games. He's physically dominant, with great speed and a very sturdy build, while his technical skills are well above average and he seems to have a poacher's ability of being in the right place at the right time. And wait, you tell me they got him on a free transfer!? Yep.
Admittedly, I wasn't sure that Andre Ayew was going to fit into Swansea's first team for much of the season with the excess of midfielders that they have on their roster, but he has burst onto the scene and made a real impact in their first few games. He's physically dominant, with great speed and a very sturdy build, while his technical skills are well above average and he seems to have a poacher's ability of being in the right place at the right time. And wait, you tell me they got him on a free transfer!? Yep.
6. Nathaniel Clyne, $19m, Liverpool
Clyne is only 24 years of age now, but he's been among the best (if not the best) right back in the Premier League for several years now, so it's rather remarkable that Liverpool got him for only 19 million dollars. Factor in the massive gap between him and Liverpool's previous starter at right back, Glen Johnson, and you've got yourself a brilliant transfer by Liverpool.
Clyne is only 24 years of age now, but he's been among the best (if not the best) right back in the Premier League for several years now, so it's rather remarkable that Liverpool got him for only 19 million dollars. Factor in the massive gap between him and Liverpool's previous starter at right back, Glen Johnson, and you've got yourself a brilliant transfer by Liverpool.
5. Yohan Cabaye, $15m, Crystal Palace
For Crystal Palace to capture a 29 year old rotation player from PSG really speaks to how far the mid-to-low table BPL teams have come over the past few years. Just two years ago, Cabaye was at Newcastle and probably could have transferred to one of the top 5 in the Premier League if he'd wanted. Now, a mere two years later, he's been picked up by Crystal Palace (Crystal Palace!!) for just 15 million dollars. What a phenomenal capture.
For Crystal Palace to capture a 29 year old rotation player from PSG really speaks to how far the mid-to-low table BPL teams have come over the past few years. Just two years ago, Cabaye was at Newcastle and probably could have transferred to one of the top 5 in the Premier League if he'd wanted. Now, a mere two years later, he's been picked up by Crystal Palace (Crystal Palace!!) for just 15 million dollars. What a phenomenal capture.
4. Matteo Darmian, $19m, Manchester United
I actually had my doubts about Darmian when this transfer was confirmed, but the forward-thinking right back has done everything possible to reverse my opinion of him in the first few weeks of the season. He has offered dominant display after dominant display to lead Manchester United to three straight clean sheets and has also been alert in attack. With Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City lacking any real form or consistency at the right back position, Darmian and Clyne are undoubtedly the two best in the BPL right now and they were both captured for the lovely fee of 19 million dollars.
I actually had my doubts about Darmian when this transfer was confirmed, but the forward-thinking right back has done everything possible to reverse my opinion of him in the first few weeks of the season. He has offered dominant display after dominant display to lead Manchester United to three straight clean sheets and has also been alert in attack. With Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City lacking any real form or consistency at the right back position, Darmian and Clyne are undoubtedly the two best in the BPL right now and they were both captured for the lovely fee of 19 million dollars.
3. Xherdan Shaqiri, $18m, Stoke City
I said this about the Cabaye transfer too, but let me say it again -- look how far the mid-to-low BPL teams have come! Shaqiri is only two years removed from being a Bayern Munich player and only one year removed from playing for Inter Milan. He also had an incredible 2014 World Cup, leading Switzerland with relatively little help. Lastly, he's still only 23 years old! (that's the second exclamation point I've used in this paragraph because I'm so surprised by this transfer) I really like the transition that Stoke are making from a rough team that played for draws to an aesthetically pleasing team that plays with attacking intent, and there's no doubt that Shaqiri, when on his game, is both aesthetically pleasing and forward-thinking. Does he have some sort of attitude problem that has caused him to be cast off from Bayern and Intern? Maybe. But if Stoke can solve him then they've got themselves a gem for only 18 million dollars.
I said this about the Cabaye transfer too, but let me say it again -- look how far the mid-to-low BPL teams have come! Shaqiri is only two years removed from being a Bayern Munich player and only one year removed from playing for Inter Milan. He also had an incredible 2014 World Cup, leading Switzerland with relatively little help. Lastly, he's still only 23 years old! (that's the second exclamation point I've used in this paragraph because I'm so surprised by this transfer) I really like the transition that Stoke are making from a rough team that played for draws to an aesthetically pleasing team that plays with attacking intent, and there's no doubt that Shaqiri, when on his game, is both aesthetically pleasing and forward-thinking. Does he have some sort of attitude problem that has caused him to be cast off from Bayern and Intern? Maybe. But if Stoke can solve him then they've got themselves a gem for only 18 million dollars.
2. Dimitri Payet, $16m, West Ham
I liked this transfer by West Ham at the outset and I like it even more now that I've seen a few weeks of Payet. As an attacking playmaker, he's a silky smooth dribbler with good pace and a brilliant eye for passes, which is exactly what West Ham were looking for after letting Stewart Downing go. He lead the Ligue 1 in assists last year and if he had a better supporting cast at West Ham there would be a legitimate possibility that he'd top the Premier League. Watching him play is a joy and for only 16 million dollars, I'm not sure that the Hammers could have found anybody better to fill their attacking midfielder role.
I liked this transfer by West Ham at the outset and I like it even more now that I've seen a few weeks of Payet. As an attacking playmaker, he's a silky smooth dribbler with good pace and a brilliant eye for passes, which is exactly what West Ham were looking for after letting Stewart Downing go. He lead the Ligue 1 in assists last year and if he had a better supporting cast at West Ham there would be a legitimate possibility that he'd top the Premier League. Watching him play is a joy and for only 16 million dollars, I'm not sure that the Hammers could have found anybody better to fill their attacking midfielder role.
1. James Milner, Free, Liverpool
Sure, Milner's not a long term solution - at 29 years old he likely only has a couple more years of top flight soccer, but on a free transfer I'm not sure that you need a player that's going to grow because there's no incentive to earn back any transfer fees (if you paid $10m for him you might be hopeful to gain that $10m back at some point, but that's clearly not the case on a free). As for his ability and motor, until he begins to decline, he will be in my opinion one of the top 50 players in the BPL. Last year he was probably even higher on that list, as he played all over the pitch and scored all sorts of crucial goals for Manchester City. If Liverpool can get that sort of value from him this year, I don't care what he offers for the future, he will have been way more than worth it.
Sure, Milner's not a long term solution - at 29 years old he likely only has a couple more years of top flight soccer, but on a free transfer I'm not sure that you need a player that's going to grow because there's no incentive to earn back any transfer fees (if you paid $10m for him you might be hopeful to gain that $10m back at some point, but that's clearly not the case on a free). As for his ability and motor, until he begins to decline, he will be in my opinion one of the top 50 players in the BPL. Last year he was probably even higher on that list, as he played all over the pitch and scored all sorts of crucial goals for Manchester City. If Liverpool can get that sort of value from him this year, I don't care what he offers for the future, he will have been way more than worth it.
