Arsenal, Blackburn, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Premier League
Five… Top Premier League Signings Of The Season
It has been a vintage Premier League season and with a fresh influx of cash, a record amount of money was spent in the summer of 2007. Footballing World picks out the five best signings from last year.
It has been a vintage Premier League season and with a fresh influx of cash, a record amount of money was spent in the summer of 2007. Footballing World picks out the five best signings from last year.
Do you agree with our selections? Who else deserves a mention? Have your say in the comments section below. And see our pre-season list of the seven star signings who we thought would rock the Premier League.
Carlos Tevez has shone for Manchester United this season
1. Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn)
Position: Forward | Appearances: 43 | Goals: 23
Blackburn narrowly missed out on a European place, but the club’s fans were treated to a first-hand view of sizzling Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz. As Benni McCarthy went AWOL, Santa Cruz stepped up to the plate to score 23 goals, with 19 coming in 37 Premier League games. Mark Hughes can clearly spot a bargain and the former Bayern Munich hitman cost just £3.5m. However, it was an investment still seen as a risk due to Santa Cruz’s previous injury problems. Yet Hughes took that gamble - and has won the lottery five times over.
Santa Cruz can help fire Blackburn to Uefa Cup glory
Who On Earth Is… Roque Santa Cruz?
2. Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Position: Forward | Appearances: 46 | Goals: 33
Another striker who adorns the number nine on the back of his shirt, but that’s where the comparisons end. Torres cost around seven times what Blackburn expended on Santa Cruz but the Spaniard has been worth every penny, scoring an outstanding 33 goals in 46 matches at a rate of one every 1.4 games. Six in Europe aided Liverpool’s run to the Champions League semi-finals but it was an otherwise disappointing season for him and the club in terms of silverware. Yet Torres, the most prolific foreign goalscorer in a debut season and the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler in the mid ’90s to score 20 league goals in one season, offered the supporters fresh hope for a Premier League challenge next year.
Torres tipped to become a Premier League jewel
3. Carlos Tévez (Manchester United)
Position: Forward | Appearances: 48 | Goals: 19
This Argentine sensation has been the secret star of Manchester United’s brilliant season. While Cristiano Ronaldo has taken all the plaudits, hard-working Tévez is the diligent back-bone of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, incessantly scampering all over the pitch like a 16-year-old on trial and working conscientiously with his fellow front-men. Just 1.64m tall and still young at 24, Tévez has often been the architect of United’s goals rather than scorer, but nevertheless netted 19 in total and was suitably impressive in the Champions League final in Moscow to cap off a wonderful year.
Adding the brilliance of Tévez ensures Ferguson’s side will be irresistable
4. Bacary Sagna (Arsenal)
Position: Defender | Appearances: 40 | Goals: 1
Arsenal looked a different side this season, leading the Premier League for an extended period and finishing just four points off Manchester United in the final reckoning. One reason for this was the shrewd signing of French international Bacary Sagna from Auxerre for £6m. Arsenal had the fourth tightest defence in the league and Sagna’s phenomenal pace and talent played a key role in the Gunners’ prolonged challenge for the title and their run in Europe. Just 25, he could become a great for the club.
5. Martin Petrov (Manchester City)
Position: Midfielder | Appearances: 38 | Goals: 5
The Bulgarian, mysteriously sold by Atlético Madrid last year, took no time to adjust to the Premier League and was Manchester City’s most creative and consistent player. Just edging out Brazilian Elano as City’s best summer signing, Petrov was an ever-present, totalling 38 appearances and missing just four league encounters. He also chipped in with five goals, but his bursting runs from midfield, excellent technique and eight assists are what distinguished him from the rest as City impressed with a top ten finish.
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javier masherano has to be in there, also eduardo
where is eduardo silva.
[...] a fantastic spell of results, and superlative home form. Amongst a plethora of new signings, Martin Petrov and especially Elano dazzled at first, although this became less frequent as the season progressed. [...]