Premier League Transfer Deadline Day: 5 best Summer deadline day transfers that have happened in the Premier League in the past.
The Premier League transfer window will close tomorrow at 5pm BST. Most clubs have made their purchases and sales and look ready for the new season. There are still others though, who may yet make that one final move as they look to iron out the chinks in their squad.
Also read: PSG ask for Ivan Rakitic and Ousmane Dembele to be included in Neymar deal
The Premier League has seen several high-profile signings on the deadline day in the past and there is no reason to believe that the same can’t happen by tonight or tomorrow. Huge stars such as Phil Coutinho, Paulo Dybala and Neymar continue to be linked with Premier league sides. We will have to wait and see what happens tomorrow. For now, we can sit back and look at the 5 best Summer signings on the Premier League transfer deadline day.
Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid to Arsenal)
Mesut Ozil has received a lot of flak in Arsenal off late. However, he was at his peak when he moved to Arsenal and continued to do the same at North London. Ozil joined the Gunners on 2nd September 2013 for £42.5 million (€50 million) making him the most expensive German football player of all time.
His transfer drew the ire of many Real Madrid players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who wanted him to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Ozil has said that he did not have the faith of his bosses at Real. While Arsene Wenger had offered him the respect he desired.
With 13 assists and 7 goals in his first season at the Emirates, it is safe to say that Ozil repaid Wenger’s faith in full. He has since made 142 appearances for the Gunners, finding the back of the net 27 times and helping them win two FA cups. But more importantly, he has created more than 500 goal scoring opportunities for his teammates!
Hugo Lloris (Lyon to Tottenham)
Hugo Lloris joined Tottenham on 31st August 2012 for €10 million and €5 million variable. He was already the captain of France by then. However, he played second fiddle to Brad Friedel. He soon usurped him to the spot though and went on to become permanent captain by the summer of 2015.
Lloris has proved to be a very capable captain and keeper under Mauricio Pochettino. Together they have taken a mid-table team and converted them to a top-4 side who have become the perennial dark horses in the Premier League title challenge.
Lloris may not have won a trophy with Spurs. However, he is a phenomenal leader who inspires men around him through his performances. A Euro runner up medal and World Cup trophy is testament to his leadership. However, the French shot stopper would like to end his career with a trophy at London. With the way they have been performing though, a medal with his club may come sooner than later.
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham to Manchester United)
This was a move that caused a rift between the two sides. Prior to the 2008/09 season, Alex Ferguson was quoted by newspapers saying he expected to sign Dimitar Berbatov. Tottenham then submitted a complain to the Premier League accusing United of breaking league rules.
The Saga continued all summer before Tottenham finally sold him on 1st September 2008 for £30.75 million. Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger had claimed that Tottenham had used the complaint to negotiate a higher price. However, with how his career panned out in the end, United will not mind the money they shelled out.
Berbatov spent 4 years at Manchester United and won the Premier League twice. He was phenomenal in the 2010/11 season in which he scored 21 goals to help United to the League and himself towards the Golden Boot. In all, Berbatov made 149 goals for United and racked up 56 goals for the Red Devils.
Ashley Cole (Arsenal to Chelsea)
Talking about rifts between clubs, this was one that shattered all relationships between the concerned player as well. Chelsea and Ashley Cole were found guilty of making contacts with each other without informing Arsenal. Cole, Chelsea and Jose Mourinho were all punished for the incident.
A year later Arsenal confirmed that they were in civil talks with Chelsea over the transfer of Ashley Cole. However, the move seemed to be heading to a deadlock as both the teams failed to agree on Cole’s value.
They finally agreed on a £5 million fee, that also included William Gallas in the deal, on 31 August. The deal was not confirmed until an hour and a half after the deadline had passed. Wenger and Mourinho have since been at each other’s throats while the Gunners fans have turned their backs on Cole, who they had dubbed Cashley.
However, he was adored by Chelsea fans, who blindly adored him for he bought to the team. Cole went on to make 338 appearances for the Blues and won 9 trophies with them including one Premier League crown, four FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League – Chelsea’s first ever triumph in the competition. He has since secured a name for himself as a legend in the Club.
Wayne Rooney (Everton to Manchester United)
Sir Alex Ferguson had a knack for spotting talent. However, very few of his findings compare to the absolute gem that is Wayne Rooney. Manchester United had paid a whopping £25 million for an 18-year-old in 2004 to bring the teenager on the last day of the transfer season.
Rooney immediately proved Ferguson right by scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist on his debut. In a champions league match no less. At his prime there were very few who were as good as him, let alone better.
Wayne Rooney went on to become the record goal scorer for United, finding the net 282 teams in over 500 matches. He has also won 16 trophies at the Old Trafford. His trophies include, the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, League Cup, UEFA Europa League and FIFA Club World Cup.
In terms of the legacy he left behind, the impact he made in the team and the number of trophies won, there is no denying that Wayne Rooney is the greatest Premier League transfer day deadline signing of all time.
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