A flurry of transfer activity marked the end of the transfer window for the summer as English clubs scramble to buy players available on the market, sometimes at ridiculous prices.
Sunderland's acquisition of Michael Turner costs 12 million pounds. Whether the Hull defender who came on the scene last year with Hull City can live up to his billing remains to be seen. Valued by Liverpool at a considerably lower price, Turner might be a solid defender with a knack for scoring from set-pieces, but he is still some way from becoming a full fledged England international.
Everton did a bit of smart buying by adding Johnny Heitinga (above) from Athletico Madrid. Replacing Lescott who left for Man City, Heitinga adds some poise and class at the back, and with a proven player like Slyvain Distin also joining from Portsmouth, the central defence is well covered by David Moyes. Moyes also managed to add Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov whom if he manages to settle in quickly into English football could add some much needed creativity for the Toffees.
Niko Krancjar marks another astute signing by Harry Redknapp. Portsmouth's most creative player was signed by Harry for next to nothing really. He provides excellent cover for Modric who is out with a broken leg and his ability to run at defenders and smooth playmaking abilities resemble that of Spurs hero David Ginola who could also play across the midfield or just behind the front two.
Richard Dunne, a loyal servant of Man City for close to ten years now deserved better from his club for his loyalty and stellar performances for a team who had not went through the best of times during his playing days. It seems ill fitting that the club captain has been sent to Aston Villa as he was deemed surplus to requirements with Toure and Lescott preferred at the back. Dunne is a classic English defender, hard to play against and no-nonsense. Most importantly, he understood Man City and what it stood for. The transfer of Dunne to Villa signifies the change-of-guard at Man City, when a new era of highly paid "superstars" will now officially take over from the old boys of Man City.
The other clubs did their best to secure services of bit part players to push their bid for survival and a mid-table finish. Stoke City signed defender Danny Collins from Sunderland, Aston Villa secured another defender James Collins from West Ham, Portsmouth got centre-back Ben Haim from Man City, forward Nugent swapped Portsmouth for Burnley, Hull got Ibrahim Sonko from Stoke to replace Michael Turner who left for Sunderland. Bolton secured Croatian veteran striker Ivan Klasnic as they desperately look for goals upfront.
No big signings from outside the Premier League this season as all the clubs look to consolidate from within the league where the seasoned players understand the guile and doggedness of the Premier League game in game out.
Sunderland's acquisition of Michael Turner costs 12 million pounds. Whether the Hull defender who came on the scene last year with Hull City can live up to his billing remains to be seen. Valued by Liverpool at a considerably lower price, Turner might be a solid defender with a knack for scoring from set-pieces, but he is still some way from becoming a full fledged England international.
Everton did a bit of smart buying by adding Johnny Heitinga (above) from Athletico Madrid. Replacing Lescott who left for Man City, Heitinga adds some poise and class at the back, and with a proven player like Slyvain Distin also joining from Portsmouth, the central defence is well covered by David Moyes. Moyes also managed to add Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov whom if he manages to settle in quickly into English football could add some much needed creativity for the Toffees.
Niko Krancjar marks another astute signing by Harry Redknapp. Portsmouth's most creative player was signed by Harry for next to nothing really. He provides excellent cover for Modric who is out with a broken leg and his ability to run at defenders and smooth playmaking abilities resemble that of Spurs hero David Ginola who could also play across the midfield or just behind the front two.
Richard Dunne, a loyal servant of Man City for close to ten years now deserved better from his club for his loyalty and stellar performances for a team who had not went through the best of times during his playing days. It seems ill fitting that the club captain has been sent to Aston Villa as he was deemed surplus to requirements with Toure and Lescott preferred at the back. Dunne is a classic English defender, hard to play against and no-nonsense. Most importantly, he understood Man City and what it stood for. The transfer of Dunne to Villa signifies the change-of-guard at Man City, when a new era of highly paid "superstars" will now officially take over from the old boys of Man City.
The other clubs did their best to secure services of bit part players to push their bid for survival and a mid-table finish. Stoke City signed defender Danny Collins from Sunderland, Aston Villa secured another defender James Collins from West Ham, Portsmouth got centre-back Ben Haim from Man City, forward Nugent swapped Portsmouth for Burnley, Hull got Ibrahim Sonko from Stoke to replace Michael Turner who left for Sunderland. Bolton secured Croatian veteran striker Ivan Klasnic as they desperately look for goals upfront.
No big signings from outside the Premier League this season as all the clubs look to consolidate from within the league where the seasoned players understand the guile and doggedness of the Premier League game in game out.
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