With the 2021-22 season drawing to a close, the true value of some of the signings made across the Premier League over the last 12 months can start to be judged. Was money well spent on Jadon Sancho? Was Bruno Guimaraes a hit? What of Chelsea’s purchase of Romelu Lukaku?
Here, we pick the best five additions of the campaign.
Cristian Romero
The Argentine defender has been a revelation for Tottenham Hotspur after joining on loan from Atalanta. His desire and aggressive style have established him as a fan favourite and his role in the defence has complemented teammate Eric Dier. The 24-year-old is also one of the many modern defenders who likes to show composure when distributing the ball, something his manager Antonio Conte appreciates from his defenders and why he will be eager to sign him permanently this summer.
Jose Sa
When Wolverhampton Wanderers lost goalkeeper Rui Patricio to Roma, the club acted quickly to replace him with a fellow Portuguese shot-stopper from Olympiacos. Sa’s heroics for the Old Gold this term have been sensational and he has bailed them out on many occasions with some stunning saves. With 11 clean sheets and 120 saves, Sa has been one of the brightest sparks in Wolves’ season.
Marc Cucurella
When Brighton paid a club-record fee for the Spanish left-back from Getafe after triggering his release clause, Cucurella went on to merit the outlay and then some. In a year that has been a mixed bag of results for the Seagulls, the defender has been a constant ray of light with his fine performances, excelling both in and out of possession. He recently picked up the club’s Player of the Year award and reports now suggest he’s on Manchester City’s wanted list.
Dan Burn
The towering defender was one of the first players to join the revolution at Newcastle United in January from Brighton and he has been outstanding since moving up to St James’ Park. We’ve even included him ahead of Bruno Guimaraes such has been his impact. Considering all the money that the Magpies will have at their disposal in the future, Burn’s arrival was at first viewed as a short-term fix, but after helping the team climb the league table any defender who joins the club in the summer will have a tough job trying to push him out of the starting lineup.
Luis Diaz
Yes, that’s right. No Cristiano Ronaldo. While the Portuguese’s excellent performances have come at a faltering Manchester United, Liverpool made another brilliant piece of business which unquestionably improved their squad in signing Diaz. The Colombian’s superb skills with the ball and his desire to drive up the pitch have added a fresh dynamic to Jurgen Klopp’s forward line and he should be a part of the club’s forward line for some time to come despite all the competition. This signing helped reinvigorate the Reds’ campaign and he has helped inspire them in periods where leading man Mo Salah has not quite been up to his usual standards.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
