THE transfer window slammed shut in the Premier League on Monday night after an exciting deadline day.
With hundreds of millions spent, clubs weren’t shy in bringing in new talent, despite the financial repercussions of coronavirus – especially Chelsea.
How the PL’s best transfer XI for this summer could look
A host of top stars swapped Premier League clubs in the summer, while the top-flight also welcomed a host of superstars newbies.
But who makes SunSport’s best XI of transfers from the summer window?
We’ve picked our top TWO teams – and there’s no room for Manchester United new-boy Alex Telles in either…
GOALKEEPER – Edouard Mendy
Chelsea signed Edouard Mendy to be their No1 replacing £71.6m KepaCredit: AFP or licensors
From: Rennes
To: Chelsea
Cost: £24m
BOY, did Chelsea need a goalkeeper with error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga continuing his abysmal for between the sticks early on this season.
And although it’s early days, Mendy appears to have brought a sense of calm to the Chelsea back-line.
In his one league start, Mendy kept a clean sheet in a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
RIGHT-BACK – Nelson Semedo
Semedo joined Wolves this summer from Barcelona on what could become a club-record dealCredit: PA:Press Association
From: Barcelona
To: Wolves
Cost: £36.8m
WOLVES went on something of a Portuguese spree this summer, with Semedo just one new face from boss Nuno Espirito Santo’s home nation.
The right-back is a good-looking upgrade on Matt Doherty – who left in a £15m deal to Tottenham in the same window.
Semedo struggled a tad for consistency at Barcelona, but there’s no doubting his talent at right-back.
For a fee potentially rising to a club-record £36.8m, Wolves could still have landed a bargain in Semedo.
CENTRE-BACK – Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva was snapped up by Chelsea on a free transferCredit: EPA
From: PSG
To: Chelsea
Cost: Free
HE struggled mightily during his first-ever Premier League game – the shock 3-3 draw at West Brom.
But Silva, 36, will eventually bring a veteran know-how to a young Chelsea back-line having been let go by Paris Saint-Germain at the end of last season.
And he performed much more admirably in the 4-0 drubbing of Palace.
CENTRE-BACK – Ruben Dias
Guardiola once again spent big in the pursuit of a solid back-fourCredit: AP:Associated Press
From: Benfica
To: Man City
Cost: £64.5m
PEP GUARDIOLA knew he had to bolster his defence – again – this summer.
And he did so twice, bringing in both Dias and Nathan Ake for more than £100m combined.
Only time will tell if they prove good value for money – with City struggling in the bottom half as things stand.
LEFT-BACK – Ben Chilwell
Ben Chilwell was worth every penny of the £50m Chelsea spent on him
From: Leicester
To: Chelsea
Cost: £50m
ENGLAND’S first-choice left-back and arguably the second-best in the entire Premier League, behind only Andrew Robertson, Chelsea spent big to land Chilwell.
But it was a position they sorely needed a star, with Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri struggling last season – so much so, Cesar Azpilicueta was often deployed instead.
But in Chilwell, the Blues have a player who’s solid in defence and dangerous in attack – a bargain at £50m in the current era of inflated transfer fees.
There were so many top Premier League signings this summer, we had to make two XIs
CENTRE-MID – Thiago Alcantara
Alcantara excelled during his only 45 minutes with Liverpool against ChelseaCredit: AFP
From: Bayern Munich
To: Liverpool
Cost: £27m
SOME eyebrows were raised when Liverpool moved to sign Thiago from Bayern despite having a backlog of central midfielders in the squad.
But with the games coming thick and fast – as well as transfer speculation surrounding James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all summer – Jurgen Klopp decided to grab him.
And in his first match, Thiago broke the Premier League record for most passes in a single half in the 2-0 win over Chelsea.
Despite playing just once, the Reds clearly missed Thiago against Aston Villa – he’ll be arguably the PL’s bargain buy of the window.
CENTRE-MID – Thomas Partey
Arsenal fans were thrilled after Partey completed his move on deadline dayCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS
From: Atletico Madrid
To: Arsenal
Cost: £45m
FEW saw this coming after months of arguing over a transfer fee between Arsenal and Atleti.
But on deadline day, Gooners were left pleasantly surprised after the club triggered Partey’s release clause.
The Ghanaian will surely become the rock in the heart of midfield they so desperately needed.
CENTRE-MID – James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez has been on-fire since joining EvertonCredit: The Mega Agency
From: Real Madrid
To: Everton
Cost: £22m
MANY wondered if Rodriguez’s best days were behind him. Many also wondered how he’d cope in the Premier League.
Extraordinarily well, as it happens – with the Colombian scoring three goals and laying on two assists in his opening four games.
Everton are now top of the Premier League thanks in no small part to Rodriguez – who has linked up with boss Carlo Ancelotti for the third time in his career.
RIGHT-WING – Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz will hope to show off his talent when played in his natural No10 roleCredit: EPA
From: Bayer Leverkusen
To: Chelsea
Cost: £70m
ANOTHER transfer saga which seemed to rumble on for months, Chelsea finally got another of their top targets.
Havertz will likely play in his favoured No10 role once Frank Lampard has a fully-fit squad to choose from.
And at just 21-years-old, Blues fans should be excited at what the once-in-a-generation talent can bring to Stamford Bridge.
LEFT-WING – Timo Werner
Timo Werner will be hoping to get amongst the goals in the Premier LeagueCredit: AFP or licensors
From: RB Leipzig
To: Chelsea
Cost: £48m
CHELSEA feature heavily in this XI – and it’s easy to see why given the calibre of their signings.
Werner was being pursued by champions Liverpool and the Blues – with Klopp and Co pulling out over Leipzig’s valuation.
But Werner will undoubtedly be a star at Chelsea when he’s played in his favoured centre-forward role, rather than out on the left.
Quick and lethal in front of goal, the German could be just the player Chelsea have needed since losing Didier Drogba.
STRIKER – Edinson Cavani
Cavani is costing Man Utd £200k a week, but the club will hope he still has his lethal touch in front of goalCredit: AFP or licensors
From: PSG
To: Man Utd
Cost: Free
THIS one could go either way… in Cavani, United may have bought the next Zlatan Ibrahimovic – but they could have signed the next Radamel Falcao.
A global star who shone in Europe, Cavani is a risk worth taking on a free transfer – despite his £200,000 a week wages.
The Uruguayan is a lethal finisher, but United will need to get him match ready after he sat out most of his final season at PSG last term.
Desperate Man Utd snap-up striker Edinson Cavani on free transfer worth £200,000-plus a week
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
