Premier League Transfers 2020/21: Five who can make a big splash

 Premier League Transfers 2020/21: Five who can make a big splash

There's a while to go yet in the summer transfer window but Jamie Pacheco has picked the five most significant deals so far, including Matt Doherty to Tottenham...

We're not here to talk about Messi

Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room. There are other sections of this site where we discuss possible transfers, what sort of players certain teams need and perhaps even some news on whether 'you know who' will be joining Man City or not, for how much, and why.

Right now though, we're going to look at the players who have actually put pen to paper and worn the team shirt already in those big press conferences.

Willian (Arsenal)

There were times last season where I looked at Arsenal's starting attacking midfield and forwards and thought to myself that if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang didn't have a great game, I just couldn't see where their goals, or attacking threat for that matter, were going to come from. I'm sure Mikel Arteta has his reasons for not playing Mesut Ozil but I'm far from convinced he shouldn't be in the side. But anyway.

So, it was something of a masterstroke to have signed Willian on a free. Sure, at 32 he isn't one for the future but he could be vital in helping develop the skills of the talented but raw youngsters Arsenal do possess.

More to the point, he's exactly what they need right now. A real classy player who contributes with goals, assists and excellent deliveries from set pieces, has bags of Premier League experience and is settled in London already.

I think we can safely assume Liverpool and Man City will occupy the Top 2 again and Chelsea (see below) will be dangerous, but I think Arsenal can secure a Top 5 finish one way or another under the impressive leadership of Arteta, at 2.14.

Timo Werner (Chelsea)

I've always liked Olivier Giroud's somewhat unusual mixed qualities but he's almost 34 so hardly a player to build a side around. And I'm sure Tammy Abraham will become a fine proven goalscorer, if he isn't one already.

But right now, Chelsea need the finished product. Step forward Timo Werner.

A total of 92 goals in 154 appearances for RB Leipzig tell their own story and it's worth pointing out that this is Leipzig we're talking about, not Bayern Munich. He's set all manner of records for being the youngest player in Germany to do all manner of things and is arguably the most important attacking player for the German national side.

As if his goals, pace and work ethic weren't enough, there's one more advantage to Chelsea buying him: he can play out wide if need be, which would allow him to play alongside Abraham rather than instead of him.

You'll see far worse bets this season than the 11.50 he's the league's top scorer.

Nathan Ake (Man City)

I think it says it all that Pep Guardiola preferred to play both Fernandinho and Rodri in defence rather than the likes of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, when Aymeric Laporte was out injured.

Nathan Ake, bought from Bournemouth, is unlikely to be the difference between them not winning the Champions League and doing just that.

But he'll certainly make them much stronger at the back on the domestic front. Strong, quick and good on the ball, he could help City keep quite a few more clean sheets than they did last season.

Odds of 11/2 that they win the Premier League and EFL Cup once again, could be of interest.

Adam Lallana (Brighton)

A 32-year old who hardly played last season and left Liverpool on a free transfer may not seem like the most obvious player to make our list, but that's missing the point.

Lallana was a stand-out player at Southampton a few years ago and an extremely important one for Liverpool for the first two or three seasons he was there.

Excellent on the ball with a good footballing brain, he should provide a quicker and better alternative to what Aaron Mooy , who has just moved to China, did for the Seagulls last campaign.

I still think Brighton are a great bet to be relegated, as I've explained here, but at least Lallana will increase their chances of staying up.

Matt Doherty (Tottenham)

I must say I was quite stunned when I heard that Matt Doherty only cost around £15 million from Wolves. Daniel Levy, despite his questionable decision to get Jose Mourinho on board a few months ago, clearly still knows how to be on the better end of a deal when it comes to players.

He rarely misses a game for any reason, scored eight goals in each of the last two seasons, provides plenty of assists, often appears inside the opposition's six-yard box and is a strong, tall, well-positioned presence when it comes to his job of defending.

He's also still only 28 so they should get at least four good seasons out of him. Lastly, he can operate as a right or left-back and is well-versed in the art of being a wing-back, giving Mourinho a better option to Serge Aurier if he chooses to play a back three and wing-backs for certain games.

The 1.85 on Spurs beating an Everton team on the opening game of the campaign, who had plenty of problems last season and haven't done much in the transfer market, could just about be considered value.