THE summer transfer window in football can often feel more like hype than substance, especially on deadline day.
However, this year it very much feels like the hype was justified with an incredible level of spending and intrigue, with huge deals going all the way to the end of the window.
ReutersIt is easy to look at the big signings of the window as the best signings[/caption]
GettyBut there are some signings which are arguably even more impressive[/caption]
GettyThe likes of Jack Grealish are set for stellar seasons with their new clubs[/caption]
Significant signings were made throughout the window as Liverpool brike the transfer record twice by signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and Alexander Isak from Newcastle.
Other major money signings have included the likes of Matheus Cunha joining Manchester United from Wolves, or Xavi Simons heading to Tottenham later on.
We cannot, however, ignore the signings and spending from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, who have once again strengthened for the title chase.
When the window closes, it’s easy to concentrate on the impact of the “biggest” players or the ones that cost the most money when we consider which teams have done the best business.
But that is not always the case.
And in this article we will consider three of the transfers that we believe could have the biggest impact on their teams.
Jack Grealish
The first player we have identified as having the potential to have a big impact on his new club is Jack Grealish.
He moved from Manchester City on loan to Everton during the window, and has arrived at a pivotal time following the club’s move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Grealish is something of a throwback in that he is a wide attacker who is more of a ball carrier and 1v1 specialist, as opposed to being one of the inverted forwards who want to break into the area and get shots away – as is common in the game today.
And it feels like the perfect fit for a team like Everton and their fanbase.
Here, we see how Grealish will provide value for Everton as he is able to create threat by both carrying the ball forwards and before picking a line-breaking pass
Grealish, along with the addition of the 22-year-old French striker Thierno Barry, has given Everton a new dimension in attack.
The fact they now have a truly top-class wide attacker who can beat players in 1v1 situations and create threat either for himself or for team-mates will generate excitement for the Toffees this season.
And the 29-year-old has already been repaying that faith with four assists in just two league appearances.
There are few, if any, signings this summer that truly feel like the player will raise the floor of their new team significantly.
Grealish’s threat means defenders commit to him, which in turn creates spaces for teammates
With Everton adding Grealish to their squad, they have a top-level attacking addition who can affect the game in the final third but also help the team to progress through the thirds with real quality.
This is a significant improvement on the likes of Dwight McNeil from last season, and with Grealish ready to take on a leadership role at the club we may well see a new dimension from Everton this season.
Eberechi Eze
GettyEberechi Eze is set to be a key player for Arsenal this season thanks to his unpredictability[/caption]
For most of the summer, we saw speculation around the future of England midfielder Eberechi Eze.
It was widely believed he would leave Crystal Palace, where his goal won the club the FA Cup last season, but the move took some time to materialise.
In the end, it seemed that Eze would be moving across London to sign for Spurs before Arsenal came in at the last minute to secure the deal for a reported £67.5million.
Arsenal signing Eze represents a move from the club, and Mikel Arteta, to bring balance to the attack.
Eze brings a sense of unpredictability to the Gunners’ attack as he can outplay and drive past defenders on either side
Eze will play mainly from either the left of the attack or the left side of the centre of the midfield.
This will provide balance from them typically relying so heavily on the combination of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard on the right side.
Eze is a game breaker from almost any position in the final third. He has real 1v1 ability with the capacity to attack and beat a defender either on the inside or the outside and to drive past and into space.
From those positions, he has shown he can score for himself or create chances for others, adding an extra dimension to the Arsenal attack.
Eze will be important in transition too as he can collect the ball by dribbling or passing to a team-mate
He is a player who can grow and reach the next level and become one of the most important players for this Arsenal team, in much the same way as he was for Crystal Palace.
He is so creative and capable of drawing defenders towards him and creating space in the final third that teammates can exploit.
Joao Pedro
GettyJoao Pedro’s intelligence will be key to Chelsea’s success this season[/caption]
The final player that we have selected for this article is 23-year-old Brazilian forward Joao Pedro, who has moved this summer from Brighton for a reported £60m fee.
Pedro is an interesting player as he profiles as a mix between a traditional centre forward and a more creative number 10.
Whether he plays mainly as a 9 or a 10 for Chelsea remains to be seen, but as a player, he has the capacity to provide an important link between the midfield and attack.
This is especially important for a team like Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, who play with such a structured style and need a player who can operate and play between units.
Pedro has shown he can find and exploit little pockets of space in the final third
Pedro has started his Chelsea career well, with two goals and two assists in his first three Premier League games for his new club.
Aside from his goals and his obvious creativity, it is his ability to find pockets of space to receive the ball and help his team move forward that has really stood out.
With Chelsea being coached to be so structured in the way they attack, they often find themselves in the final third with numbers and a relatively narrow shape.
But last season, they really lacked a forward player who had the creativity and ability to break the game open and allow them to create space and time around the final third.
Here Pedro gets on the ball in the final third and once again shows intelligent movement and good timing to create a pocket of space and time for himself
This is an area in which Joao Pedro is very strong. He receives the ball and can hold it up and shield under pressure.
He shows the ability to stay on the ball when he is pressed and he can carry and drive in possession to move away from traffic and find space that he can exploit around the final third.
Conclusion
The summer transfer window was one of the most interesting in recent history, not to mention the most expensive ever.
And in the Premier League, all of the traditional big clubs have strengthened their squads in order to push and try to challenge Liverpool at the top of the table.
All three of the players that we have looked at in this article will bring real quality to their new teams.
And they will be integral players across the whole season.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
