Summer Transfer Window Round Up – Part Two

The next five teams brought in a whole host of new signings this summer, with both sides of Merseyside arguably two of the sides to have done the best business of all the teams in the division.

EVERTON

Roberto Martinez’s first preseason in charge of the Toffee’s was dominated by the speculation surrounding the future of their two stand out players from last season – Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini.

They managed to keep hold of the former to the delight of the clubs supporters and their new manager alike, while the latter’s move to Manchester United for £27.5m was one of the final deals to go through on deadline day.

Victor Anichebe is another notable departure, as is the recently retired former captain Phil Neville though they have recruited extremely well.

Romelu Lukaku’s last minute loan switch from Chelsea was one of Monday evening’s biggest surprises, with former Wigan srtiker Arouna Kone and Spanish starlet Gerard Deulofeu adding further firepower while James McCarthy and Gareth Barry will help fill the void left by Fellaini.

Martinez also raided his former club for defender Antolin Alcaraz and goalkeeper Joel Robles who will provide further back-up in their respective positions.

FULHAM

Manager Martin Jol, with the support of new owner Shahid Khan, has been shrewd in the transfer market this summer, undoubtedly strengthening a squad that wobbled during the second half of last season, and only narrowly avoided a relegation dog fight.

Scott Parker and the loan signings of Darren Bent and Adel Taarabt are the stand out additions, while Dutch international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is a more than adequate replacement for former number one Mark Schwarzer, who has joined Chelsea following the expiration of his contract.

Sasha Reither has joined on a permanent deal following a successful loan spell last term, while Derek Boateng and Fernando Amorebietta may need time to settle after moving from Ukraine and Spain respectively.

Chris Baird, Mahamodou Diarra and Mladen Petric have been allowed to move on despite racking up forty-two league appearances between them last season, while Simon Davies also leaves on a free after six years at Craven Cottage.

HULL CITY

Steve Bruce’s dealings in the transfer market were enough to at least momentarily make Hull fans forget about the change of their team’s name.

The Tigers brought in midfielder Tom Huddlestone for a club record £5.25m while Jake Livermore has also swapped White Hart Lane for the KC Stadium on a season long loan.

In Allan McGregor and Steve Harper, Bruce has recruited two goalkeepers with thirty-two years of playing professional football between them, while they have also landed experienced defenders Maynor Figueroa and Curtis Davies, and completed permanent deals for George Boyd and Ahmed Elmohamady, who impressed as they gained promotion last term.

Forwards Danny Graham and Yannick Sagbo will be tasked with getting the goals to help the club beat the odds by avoiding an immediate return to the second tier.

There have been few departures from the club, though defender Jack Hobbs has been allowed to move to Nottingham Forest on a season long loan despite playing in almost half of the clubs league games last season, while Corry Evans also remained in the Championship having moved to Blackburn Rovers.

LIVERPOOL

Much like their City rivals, the Reds summer was overshadowed by the speculation of one of their key players.

Despite looking almost certain to be securing a move elsewhere, Luis Suarez has remained at Anfield and is ready to help the club challenge for a top four spot, once his suspension has finished.

Pepe Reina has joined Napoli on a season long loan, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing have both moved to West Ham United, and a host of squad players including Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing have also been allowed to move on but, again like Everton, the club have recruited well.

Simon Mignolet is the clubs new number one goalkeeper, and has impressed with three clean sheets in his first three games, while the arrivals of Kolo Toure, Aly Cissokho, Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho have more than compensated for the retirement of Jamie Carragher at the back.

Victor Moses will be hoping for more games than he could have wish for at Chelsea this term after joining on loan, while Iago Aspas and Luis Alberto have both swapped La Liga for Liverpool after joining from Celta Vigo and Sevilla respectively.

MANCHESTER CITY

Unlike their local rivals, last year’s runners up conducted the majority of their business early by splashing out close to £90m on Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Alavaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic.

The late arrival of Argentina international Martin Demichelis gives some much needed support to their defensive line, not least due to the injury of captain Vincent Kompany, who is set to be out injured for another month.

They have lost a number of squad players on free transfers, with Wayne Bridge, Roque Santa Cruz and Kolo Toure all being allowed to find new clubs. Brazilian defender Maicon has been sold to Roma, while Gareth Barry moved to Everton on loan on transfer deadline day.

Their biggest loss in undoubtedly that of Carlos Tevez, who has moved to Juventus after four seasons with the club, though the void left by the Argentina forward has been filled by the arrivals of Negredo and Jovetic.