Premier League: Alexandre Lacazette, Romelu Lukaku, Aaron Mooy all feature in most compelling transfers
MONEY has flowed and transfer activity has been fierce as the Premier League gets ready for the new season starting next weekend. Here are 6 of the best moves.
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MONEY has flowed and transfer activity has been fierce as the Premier League gets ready for the new season starting next weekend.
From Lacazette through to Morata, Lukaku and Ryan, here are the most compelling moves in England so far this off season.
Alexandre Lazazette
Age: 26
Position: striker
Cost: $87.5m
Where did he come from?
French side Lyon, where he scored virtually every second game, netting 100 goals in 203 appearances. There has been talk of his departure for a few seasons now but the Ligue 1 side have been patient and waited until his stock was at its peak.
Where has he gone?
Arsenal. With a new two-year deal in the bag, Arsene Wenger has freed up funds fans have been calling on him to spend for years. The purse strings were finally released, with Lacazette one of his first pieces of business.
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“I really have the impression I have moved into another world, be it in terms of the players, the technical staff, the football, everything is different. That’s what I came here for. I have to adapt and do that as quickly as possible.”
What does he bring to the table?
A proven goalscoring record for one, versatility for another, but by his own, and even Wenger’s, admission, settling into the English way may take some time. Aussie fans got a fleeting glimpse of his capabilities when the Gunners played in Sydney in July. In France he scored at a relentless pace — 28 from 30 games last season alone. He’s someone Wenger obviously sees as a potential golden boot winner and long-term rival to Spurs’ Harry Kane who has been the league’s top scorer now for the last two seasons. Arsenal — spoiled by the goalscoring exploits of Thierry Henry — have not had a 30-goal player since the glory days of Robin Van Persie seven years ago. Alexis Sanchez came close last season with 24 but as far as strikers are concerned, Olivier Giroud was the best with 12. Flexibility is also a key part of Lacazarette’s game. He can play out wide, in midfield and as the talismanic striker. Oh, and he is also an excellent penalty taker.
Alvaro Morata
Age: 24
Position: striker
Cost: $96 million
Where’s he come from?
The bench at the Santiago Bernabau — if you’re going to be a first reserve anywhere there are few more creditable places. Morata played backup to Karim Benzema last season and Real Madrid obviously deemed him surplus to requirements.
Where has he gone?
Chelsea — looking to unload Diego Costa in any way possible — played the striker transfer merry-go-round for a while before settling on the young Spaniard.
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“It’s an incredible emotion to be part of this big club. I am looking to work hard, score as many goals as I can and to win as many trophies as possible.”
What he brings to the table?
A fresh perspective up front after three seasons of Diego Costa. Even though he scored 20 goals in a title-winning campaign last season, manager Antonio Conte has obviously grown disenchanted with serial malcontent Costa and sees Morata as the ideal replacement. Doubts though have been raised over his physicality — something Costa could never be accused of lacking — but Morata does bring an impressive pedigree to Stamford Bridge after successful stints in both La Liga and Serie A. He spent two seasons with Juventus, scoring 15 goals, before Real Madrid brought him back to Spain. And while he couldn’t unseat Benzema from the starting striker role, he still enjoyed a break through of sorts, scoring 20 goals in 24 games. Chelsea will have to adapt their tactics to bring Morata into the game. While Costa brought brute strength, cunning, a dose of angst and showmanship, Morata is far more technically proficient.
Romelu Lukaku
Age: 24
Position: striker
Cost: $125 million
Where’s he come from?
Familiarity won’t be an issue as most rival defenders have faced the Belgian star over the last five years. Containing him is another thing though. With Wayne Rooney returning to Goodison, Everton bit the bullet and moved Lukaku to an EPL rival for a profit of almost $100 million.
Where has he gone?
After finishing sixth last season, Manchester United have predictably spent big to try and get better. Lukaku is the jewel of the transfer crown thus far and Jose Mourinho will be expecting the targetman to provide the goals that were so sorely lacking last season.
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“I cannot wait to run out at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 fans”
What he brings to the table?
While Arsenal and Chelsea went searching in Europe for their striker, Manchester United went with a proven record of goalscoring in the Premier League. Not that the move was cheaper! In fact Lukaku’s price tag is the biggest in the English transfer market thus far. But it’s hard to argue against his quality. Over the last four seasons Lukaku has scored 68 goals for Everton, with his 25 last season representing a personal best. United scored 30 goals fewer than Chelsea, Spurs and Manchester City last season and not one of their players has topped the goalscoring charts since Robin Van Persie in 2012-13. Jose Mourinho is banking on the 24-year-old to not only fare better than Zlatan Ibrahimovic did last campaign but also inspire the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. A good, old-fashioned English-style No. 9, Lukaku can expect excellent service from the likes of Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the goals should continue to flow.
Mohamed Salah
Age: 25
Position: winger
Cost: $62 million
Where’s he come from?
Salah has hardly stood still since leaving Basel in 2014. Chelsea was the first stop followed by Fiorentina and finally Roma, where the winger enhanced his stock immeasurably with some excellent form, especially last season.
Where’s he going?
Liverpool targeted the Egyptian winger early and even laid down a club record amount of cash to land him. That’s how much Jurgen Klopp believes in his abilities.
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“I will give 100 per cent and give everything for the club. I really want to win something for this club
What’s he bring to the table?
Frightening pace, versatility and a knack for scoring goals. Liverpool may already have that in abundance but there’s no harm in planning for the future, especially with rumours swirling around the future of Philippe Coutinho. The Egyptian star is back for a second stint in the Premier League, this time seemingly better equipped to be more successful. The 25-year-old joins Liverpool after a wonderful season in Serie A with Roma, scoring 15 goals in 31 matches and forming a deadly strike duo with Edin Dzeko. Salah’s quality was actually recognised by an EPL boss four years ago. Jose Mourinho brought him to Chelsea from Basel FC but he played sparingly and was later loaned out to Fiorentina in Italy. He was again loaned out 12 months later, this time to Roma who signed him on a permanent basis in 2016. He certainly gives Liverpool plenty of attacking options. He can play right across the frontline but would seem best deployed out wide where he can really menace a defence.
Aaron Mooy and Mat Ryan
Ages: 26 and 25
Positions: midfield and goalkeeper
Costs: $13m for Mooy and $9m for Ryan
Where have they come from?
Mooy — on loan at Huddersfield last season — took the Championship by storm, making the decision to land there on a full-time basis easy for both parties. Ryan spent 18 frustrating months at Valencia in Spain — where he only played 10 times — before going out on loan to Genk in Belgium.
Where are they going?
Mooy is staying put despite plenty of interest from all around the Premier League. Manchester City made a nice little profit for making him Huddersfield’s record signing — at the time. Ryan lands at another promoted club, Brighton, and his shot-stopping skills will be put to the ultimate test.
Quotes:
“Playing for Huddersfield has been a fantastic experience this year and, thanks to the fans, David [Wagner], the owner Dean [Hoyle] and all the team, I’ve grown to feel part of the Terriers family.” - Mooy.
“For me, that’s where you create the best memories, memories you’re going to remember and tell your grandkids about one day. I felt like I had a bigger chance to do that at Brighton than at Valencia and I’m very happy to be here. It’s all ahead of me now and I want to prepare myself to help the team.” - Ryan.
What do they bring to the table?
Mooy proved such a hit for Huddersfield in their Championship promotion push that a full-time hook up needed to be consummated. Ryan, on the other hand, endured a frustrating time with Valencia but rebuilt his stock with a six-month loan period back in Belgium. Both Socceroos will vital to their team’s chances of EPL survival. Mooy brings a huge workrate while his distribution once in possession looks well suited to the elite level. But his biggest asset — and one that is continually raved about — is his comfort level on the ball. But that is sure to be more restricted in the Premier League so he will have to be more pragmatic in his use of his time on the ball. Huddersfield are certainly going to need him to not only adjust quickly but rise to new levels in order to stave off a relegation fight. Newly-promoted Brighton saw their primary need for their first EPL season as defensive solidity. And, with Ryan, they have a great shotstopper and a quick thinker who can distribute the ball adroitly to set up attacks. His litmus test will be his lack of height and his subsequent ability to deal with corners. The Premier League is full of towering centre forwards who will prey on any nerves and mistakes.
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