With Premier League spending reaching £490 million it is easy to think that this summers transfer window was marked by the big money signings like Eden Hazard and Robin Van Persie.
While both players look set to be worth the significant outlay, looking through the list of transfers this summer there has been a number of shrewd signings that haven’t broke the bank.
In fact even some of the more significant transfers have been done relatively cheaply. The likes of Jan Vertonghen, Hugo Lloris, Lukas Podolski, Shinji Kagawa, and Marko Marin have all been near enough to the £10 million mark. And lets not forget about others such as Clint Dempsey and Adam Johnson. Few would argue against any of these players being good investements and great value for money.
Then we have the free transfers. Steven Naismith, Mladen Petric, and Hugo Rodellega look to be good acquisitions as free transfers go.
The big money moves will take the headlines but the cheaper transfers can be just as effective. Below are three players who could be the bargain’s of the summer.
Dimitar Berbatov
- Officially the Bulgarian moved for an undisclosed fee, although it is thought he cost the Cottagers around £5 million. Berbatov had been on the periphery at Old Trafford but there is no doubt he still has something to offer the Premier League. The obvious criticisms about the strikers attitude and work rate remain but he is a wonderfully gifted football and guarantees goals. If he can recapture the form he showed under Martin Jol at Spurs he will be a great signing for Fulham.
Michu
- The early signs would suggest that at £2 million, the Spaniard could be one of the signings of the season. Having scored three goals in two games Michu looks as if he will continue to get goals from midfield having registered 15 for Rayo Vallecano last season. There is more to his game, he is technically very good and given the transfer fee looks to be an inspired signing by Michael Laudrup.
Pavel Pogrebnyak
- Scoring goals is so often a problem for newly promoted teams so securing the services of the Russian on a free transfer is a good piece of business. Pogrebnyak has proved he can cut it in the Premier League with six goals in 12 games for Fulham last season and if he can replicate that form over the course of the season he will be crucial to Reading’s survival chances. With promotion to the Premier League reportedly worth £90 million, this free signing could potentially be a fantastic return.
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