This summer’s transfer window has seen transfer fees skyrocket, with record breaking summer spending symptomatic of the inflation seen throughout the window. This inflation has made it harder than ever for Premier League club’s to find quality for an affordable price, but for those able to shop smartly as well as those prepared to spend big there has been quality available.
There has been good business executed by club’s throughout the league; with Norwich signing several quality players for small fees, Tottenham reinvesting the Bale money expertly and Manchester City typically splashing the cash. Ironically, one the club’s with the least activity throughout the summer were able to capture the biggest marquee signing in Mesut Ozil. Arsenal parted with £42.5 million to get their main but few have little doubt that he will be a huge success at the Emirates.
The former Real Madrid number 10 and Germany playmaker was welcomed to Arsenal by Jack Wilshere who stated “Signing of the Summer! Easily! Fantastic player, plays the ‘Arsenal way’. Welcome @MesutOzil1088 absolutely buzzing”. This tweet by one of the club’s most influential players, as well as similar messages from his teammates shows how excited the squad were by the new addition. Whilst the signing of Ozil was welcomed by those in England, it was met with shock and dismay by figures in both German and Spanish football. Cesc Fabregas thought that selling Ozil was strange as he was Real Madrid’s second best player, Germany manager Joachim Low described the Ozil sale as ‘incomprehensible’ and perhaps most worryingly for Real Madrid Ronaldo is reported to be angry and upset.
The reaction from around the football world shows just how big a signing Ozil is for Arsenal and if he can maintain his form (He has held the record for most assist in Europe for five years) he could be the player of the season. There has not been another player signed this summer who can genuinely stand a chance of being player of the year, with Manchester City’s signings all good players to help the squad but they are not of the world class calibre which Ozil possesses.
Chelsea and Manchester United both went into the transfer window with extremely strong squads which explains their relative lack of additions. It could be argued that the most important signing for Chelsea was in fact Jose Mourinho who is adored by the fans and has the managerial quality to mount a genuine title challenge. Tottenham have added players of international class in Capoue, Paulinho, Eriksen, Lamela and Soldado. These signings are brilliant business by Spurs who now have genuine depth in their squad, however, again none of them are world class players. Liverpool have added players of similar quality with clever additions such as Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho and Iago Aspas all of a good standard, but not A-listers.
It is other club’s lack of marquee signings which makes the Gunners’ already impressive signing of Ozil an unparalleled addition to the Premier League. The German schemer is a top class player in his own right, but other club’s lack of big spending has made it a quite simple choice for the signing of the summer. Welcome to the Premier League, Mesut Ozil.
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