The third part of our round up begins with the activity done my the Premier League champions, before discussing that of four teams that will be hoping to avoid any fears of relegation this time around, having finished in the bottom half of the table last season.
MANCHESTER UNITED
David Moyes first preseason in charge of Manchester United was dominated by the future of England international Wayne Rooney, who for much of the summer looked set to secure a move away from Old Trafford.
Chelsea failed with two bids for the 27 year old, who will remain now remain in Manchester, and work under the man who handed him his professional debut at Everton in eleven years ago.
Moyes’ only major signing of the summer was that of Belgium international Marouane Fellaini, who was one of the last players to put pen to paper on deadline day while Uruguay U20 defender Guillermo Varela is one for the future.
The club failed to secure deals for a number of targets, most notably Leighton Baines, Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrara, though a fresh bid for the latter is expected to be made in January while the retirement of Paul Scholes is the only major loss from last season’s first team squad.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
The Magpies had a much quieter summer in the transfer window than their manager and fans would have hoped for, with the club failing to secure any major permanent deals.
17 year old midfielder Olivier Kemen has been brought in from Metz, whle Loic Remy, who is a long time target of the club, joins on a season-long loan from Queens Park Rangers.
Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the club made no less than five signings in the January transfer window, so their squad is arguably in a healthier state than it was this time twelve months ago.
Long serving goalkeeper Steve Harper has left the club after two decades on Tyneside, while defender Danny Simpson has moved to Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer.
One other player to have dropped down a division is the versatile James Perch, who has to FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic for £750,000.
NORWICH CITY
The Canaries have vastly improved their squad that finished in eleventh position last season by bringing in a plethora of attacking players in Gary Hooper, Johan Elmander and Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
However, their most promising signing is that of England U21 midfielder Nathan Redmond, who got his first goal for the club in the victory over Southampton at the weekend, while Leroy Fer adds further quality in the middle of the park.
Defender Javier Garrido has signed a permanent deal after impressing on loan last season, while fellow defender Martin Olsson has been brought in from Blackburn Rovers.
Moving away from Carrow Road are three time player of the year Grant Holt who has moved to Wigan Athletic, fellow striker James Vaughn who joins Huddersfield Town and midfielder Tom Adeyemi, who having spent much of his four years with the club out on loan, has signed for Birmingham City.
SOUTHAMPTON
The Saints transfer activity this summer demonstrates their ability to mix it with the big boys, after smashing their transfer record on two occasions by bringing in Victor Wanyama from Celtic and Pablo Osvaldo from Roma.
The capture of defender Dejan Lovren from Lyon rounds of the list of the players Maurcio Pochettino has brought in this summer, and the Argentine’s recruitment has left many tipping the club for a top ten finish.
Defender Vegard Forren has returned to former club Molde having failed to turn out for the South Coast club since joining in January, while midfielder Jason Puncheon has been allowed to join boyhood club Crystal Palace on a season-long loan.
Another player to leave the club on a temporary basis is forward Emmanuel Mayuka, while no less than ten players have been allowed to leave on free transfers including defender Frazer Richardson, winger Steve de Ridder and Dean Hammond.
STOKE CITY
New manager Mark Hughes concluded his summer dealings by bringing in two players on loan, and sending striker Cameron Jerome to Crystal Palace for the season.
Stephen Ireland will be looking to recapture the form he produced under Hughes at Manchester City five seasons ago, while Austrian winger Marko Arnautovic brings experience gained in three off Europe’s top leagues despite being just 24 years old.
Oussama Assaidi comes in from Liverpool until the end of the season, with left backs Erik Pieters and Marc Muniesa have signed from PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona B respectively while Jermaine Pennant, whose career at the Britannia Stadium looked to be over, started to repay the clubs offer of a new one-year deal with the winning goal against West Ham United on Saturday.
A host of players including Rory Delap, Matthew Upson and Madamy Sidibe have been allowed to leave on free transfers, while Michael Owen announced his retirement from professional football at the end of last season.
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