Is this the summer of bargain buys in the Premier League?

Could Ricky van Wolfswinkel turn out to be a bargain buy for Norwich?

This summer Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain, and Radamel Falcao have all moved to new clubs.

Falcao joined French big-spenders Monaco, Higuain moved to Italy with Napoli and Cavani followed Falcao to Ligue One by joining PSG.

Premier League

All three of the players were linked with big money moves to the Premier League.

The likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City were believed to be sniffing around the strikers like flies round sugar.

Yet, not one of those clubs actually signed any of those so-called star players. Did Cavani and Falcao not fancy a trip round the Trafford Centre, or did they see yachts and historic monuments as a more attractive proposition?

Prospects

Surely, however the trio could have lived on £100,000 a week, if they wanted to play in a decent standard of league. It is hard to even compare the standard of Ligue One to the Premier League, never mind compare it to La Liga.

The Premier League may not be the best league in the world, but it is one of the most competitive in the world. The big clubs failing to sign these big-name players allows the others to catch up slightly, which could be a major plus for the Premier League.

Money

All the players mentioned above moved for massive fees, fees that most English clubs were probably unwilling to pay. More importantly for the players they moved to clubs that would line their wallets with extra crisp bank notes of euros.

To be honest good luck to them, if they can double their wages and make themselves and their families secure for the rest of their lives then good on them. Footballers are only human beings at the end of the day and securing your long-term future in life is a priority.

Therefore, Cavani, Falcao and Higuain have probably now secured their long-term futures. When they retire they will probably be going nowhere near a television studio to do match analyst, they will be too busy counting their cash.

Premier League clubs have received more cash than ever from television rights this season. The biggest television deal ever has meant that top-flight clubs did have more to spend, but have chosen not to spend much, with the exception of Manchester City.

There has been the odd bit of busy from the big clubs such as Chelsea buying Andre Schurrle or Tottenham signing Brazilian international Paulinho from Corinthians. The big clubs have been trying to broker deals, but as of yet not much has happened.

Bargains

This summer could be the summer of bargains. The best managers are the ones, alongside their scouting staff that can identify a gem of a player for a low fee. Last summer’s bargain buy was undoubtedly Swansea’s Michu.

At the start of last season, I was tipping him to be the buy of the summer after watching him in La Liga the previous season. I was laughed out of most conversations and told ‘Whose Michu?’ Those same people who doubted me are now saying how good a player the Spaniard is and a bargain at £2million.

Swansea, Norwich, and Sunderland have gone about their busy in a very similar way, bringing in lesser-known players for relatively small fees, by previous summers standards anyway.

This summer strikers Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Jozy Altidore arrived at Norwich and Sunderland respectively, and Wilfried Bony joined Swansea, all three scored goals in decent European leagues last season.

They are regarded as goalscorers. However, their arrivals in the Premier League seem to have gone unheralded, because of the likes of Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney, and Cesc Fabregas are dominating the headlines.

The fees may seem like a lot for clubs that are not accustomed to paying big fees, but one of these players could turn out to be next season’s Michu (relative unknown turned star), albeit with much bigger fees attached.

Signing quality players at relatively low fees is how the likes of Norwich, Swansea, and West Brom have been successful in the top-flight. You have respect for those clubs. They do not have massive finances, but every season they seem to improve their team and develop as a football club.

Surprise

A whole host of unknown players have joined Premier League clubs this summer with a hunger for success in the new season. They may not be high-profile players like big-name trio mentioned, but they could surprise the English top-flight next season.

Who needs Cavani, Higuain, and Falcao, when the Premier League has Van Wolfswinkel, Altidore, and Bony eh? (No really!).

Is it the summer of bargain buys in the Premier League?