Liverpool have arguably had the most outstanding transfer window of the summer- and their most exciting in years- by bringing in four key quality signings in their eager pursuit of domestic and European success.
Following the Reds’ loss in the Champions League Final to a classy Real Madrid outfit last May, manager Jürgen Klopp has rung in the changes, identifying the areas needing improvement and splashed the cash without frugality on world-class players which have left Liverpool fans dreaming.
Fabinho was snatched under the noses of a host of top clubs on the continent by arriving from AS Monaco for £40million, Xherdan Shaqiri was a £13million snip from Stoke, and perhaps most importantly, Alisson became briefly the world’s most expensive goalkeeper ever in an attempt to banish Karius/ Mignolet memories.
Naby Keita also completed his long-awaited move to Anfield following his extended stay at RB Leipzig, and subsequently produced an outstanding performance on his Premier League debut.
Liverpool’s emphatic pre-season and opening day victory over West Ham showed the Klopp's crew have started as they mean to go on, and now The Sportsman takes a look at some of the best transfer dealings in a single season that brought unequivocal success to the following clubs over the past 15 years.
Liverpool look to continue their rampage tonight at 8pm with another blistering performance over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and you can follow the match live with The Sportsman at the bottom of the page.
Manchester City 2010/11
Key Signings: David Silva / Yaya Toure/ Edin Džeko
Though City wouldn’t win the title for another season, manager Roberto Mancini did manage to end the trophy drought that had plagued the club for 35 years, in part to some astute signings that would go on to become club legends, some of the effects of which are still intrinsic to their success today.
It was Yaya Touré‘s goal in the FA Cup Final against Stoke City that would eventually end the heartbreak. Touré, a £24million purchase from Barcelona, would go to imperative to City's first Premier ;League title, before having the most outstanding season in 2013/14, when he was arguably the best player in his position in Europe.
Following his departure from the club this year, City unveiled a stunning tiled mural and renamed youth training pitch after him, in recognition of the Ivorian who perhaps best epitomises the first period of City’s 21st Century success.
The summer of 2010 will be most prominently remembered however for the arrival of Spanish magician David Silva to our shores; City’s Number 21 ‘El Mago’ becoming one of the greatest ever players to grace the English league. Silva has made close to 350 appearances for the Cityzens, contributing over 60 goals and, incredibly, becoming the provider of 115 assistance.
Though fellow ’10 summer signing Jérôme Boateng would be shipped off to Bayern Munich just a year later, James Milner from Aston Villa brought a utility and workmanship amongst the glamour, proven useful with City going on to establish themselves as a major force in English football.
The following season that saw Sergio Agüero arrive would eventually lead to Premier League success in 2012 and ultimately 2014, when City would under the stewardship of Manuel Pellegrini.
Edin Džeko, though a much-maligned figure among the faithful due to an oft-regarded club-foot, with the goal that drew City level with QPR on the final day of the 2011/12 season that would go on to allow Agüero put his name in the history books, should always be fondly regarded by the Blue side of Manchester, and the Bosnian’s subsequent establishment at Serie A side Roma has allowed him to demonstrate himself as one of the most effective and dangerous front-men in Europe.
- Games: 249
- Goals: 48
- Premier Leagues: 3
- League Cups: 3
- FA Cups: 1
One of the greatest foreign players ever to grace the Premier League
EL MAGO!
#MCFC
Manchester United 2005/2006
Key Signings: Edwin van der Sar/ Nemanja Vidic/ Patrice Evra
A group of signings that didn’t make the most immediate impact but would bear fruit over the course of the next few years. In the summer of 2005 and January transfer window of 2006, Sir Alex Ferguson would acquire some exquisite purchases who would help Manchester United to recapture league dominance from Chelsea.
The summer saw Peter Schmeichel’s first true successor, Edwin van der Sar arrive from Fulham, deputised by Ben Foster from Stoke City. In addition, Park Ji-Sung would become a much-beloved Red Devil, the cynicism that has originally greeted of pandering to United’s expanding Asian market eradicated by the Korean’s commitment, passion, and versatility shown in his time in Manchester.
It was the following January however that would leave the greatest impression and determinedly shoot down criticism of United’s apparent propensity for big money purchases.
A fantastic partner for Rio Ferdinand in Nemanja Vidic from Spartak Moscow at the heart of defence, and AS Monaco’s Patric Evra just five days later would reap dividends as United wrenched back dominance of the league, in a defence that has arguably never been surpassed at the club.
The success these group of players would bring to Old Trafford has yet to be bettered in the time since, with three successive Premier League titles interspersed with the double of 2008, when United, arguably the best team in Europe at the time, would go on to solidify that claim with a Champions League Final win over Chelsea in Moscow, before reaching the same stage the year after.
The proposed total accumulating to just under £20million for all five players seems absolutely astonishing in today’s market.
Also gets brownie points for getting rid of Kleberson in the same period, marking the last great overall transfer year Manchester United have probably had.
Chelsea 2004/2005
Key Signings: Didier Drogba/ Ricardo Carvalho/ Petr Čech
Though the Roman Abramovich-era started with Claudio Ranieri at the helm, it was up to José Mourinho to bring in his own astute purchases with the Russian billions that would eventually lead Chelsea to their first, and subsequently back-to-back Premier League titles and demolished league records.
Mourinho would sign Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira from his previous club Porto, as well as probably the greatest forward Chelsea have had during the Premier League era, in Didier Drogba of Marseille.
And though a Ranieri buy before the Italian’s departure, Petr Čech would be a mainstay in the Chelsea goal for years to come after his summer arrival, positioned behind a defence that would concede just 15 goals in the 04/05 English League.
Chelsea and Mourinho would reunite and have further success in 2015, and the brilliant summer purchases of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, and Nemanja Matic creating a dominant spine that again romped to the title. The fact that several of these players would lead to Mourinho’s second downfall at Stamford Bridge edges them out of the list.
