Now that the Transfer Deadline Day is over, and clubs have made their final moves until the end of the year, the new entrants will want to make themselves count, with a new beginning and a renewed approach at their new clubs. Most of the moves yesterday were for the departing players to get more first-team time, rather than bench roles at their previous clubs. Five of the moves into the Premier League that we at FootballFriendsOnline.com look forward to are:
1. Radamel Falcao: AS Monaco to Manchester United, loan –
Radamel Falcao wanted a move away from AS Monaco, that was a known fact. However, Manchester United were never among his options. He wanted a move to Real Madrid, and went so far as to put up a tweet about Real, before removing it. Manchester City and Arsenal were in the frame to get him on loan for the season, but Manchester United got there first. The move had a domino effect, with both Arsenal and Madrid, who were in pursuit of Falcao, getting United’s third and fourth-choice strikers, Daniel Welbeck and Javier Hernandez. The move has been panned, as the money paid to AS Monaco has been humongous, and United were in need of a central holding midfielder, as they have lacked presence in that area since the beginning of the season. Falcao was not what the doctor ordered, and United have either made a huge mistake, or there is some sort of plan behind this.
2. Daniel Welbeck: Manchester United to Arsenal, 16m –
Wenger had whetted fans’ appetite by going for big names such as Falcao, Cavani and Reus. the expectations of the fans had been raised by last year’s deadline-day signing of Ozil, when Arsenal fans had not expected him to move to their club. Welbeck might not be as big a name as some of the others to whom Arsenal have been linked, but he possesses a skill-set which is different from that of his compatriots at Arsenal: Yaya Sanogo, Olivier Giroud, Joel Campbell and Lukas Podolski. Welbeck is quick with the ball and can find space in tricky areas, which gives Wenger more options in terms of players. Welbeck is a hardworking player who will easily fit into Arsenal’s work-ethic, and he might claw his way to the top, with Wenger’s able guidance. With a better supply line to give him chances, he could end up scoring more goals, and possibly turn into a goal-threat (like Sturridge at Liverpool).
3. Toby Alderweireld: Atletico Madrid to Southampton, loan –
Toby Alderweireld is a Belgium-team regular and has shown his skills to play in central defence or on the right. He played for Belgium in the World Cup, and although he has not set the world on fire yet, he has the talent and the ability to adapt and play an important role for Southampton in the Premier League this season, as they recover from the spate of departures earlier in the transfer window. He didn’t get enough of a chance while at Atletico Madrid, as he played just 12 games for them over last season. He has proved himself while at Ajax, which is why he can play a role while at Southampton, under Ronald Koeman. He is a powerful presence, is good at building play from the back, with a good eye for long passes, and can be one of the good deals in this transfer window.
4. Abel Hernandez: Palermo to Hull City Tigers
Hull City has been in need of an attacker after the departure of Shane Long to Southampton, and although he is their record signing, Abel Hernandez is one of the few bargain buys they could get, in this age of overpriced attackers. He has performed while at Palermo over the last 5 years, scoring 14 goals in 28 games last season. It could take him time to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, but expect him to consistently score at least 1 goal in every 3 games for Hull, which would be a decent-enough return. In the company of an improved supplying line of attacking midfielders (Gaston Ramirez, Hatem Ben Arfa on loan), one could expect him to score goals more freely, if he can stay injury-free.
5. Federico Fernandez: Napoli to Swansea
Swansea has needed cover in terms of its defence, in case Ashley Williams gets injured. Williams has been the rock of Swansea’s defence since their promotion into the Premier League and there was a need for a good centre-back to partner him, now that Chico Flores has left to join his former manager Michael Laudrup. Federico Fernandez has represented Argentina at the heart of their defence, and his pairing with Williams could help Swansea win games, with both Wilfried Bony and Bafetambi Gomis at the club to score a truckload of goals, Gylfi Sigurrdsson to supply assists, and Williams and Fernandez to keep clean sheets. Holding on to all of them in January might not be possible, but Swansea have already got off to a surprise super start, and a further good run could keep them in the hunt for a European spot.