From Football365..:
10) Joe Hart - Manchester City to Birmingham on loan
A decent goalie doesn't guarantee survival or even a decent defensive record (see Ben Foster at Watford, Scott Carson at West Brom, David James at West Ham), but it bloody helps. A move that should be advantageous for all parties, Hart's development will be better served where he will play every week, rather than understudying Shay Given. With the relative paucity of goalkeeping talent in England at the moment, if Birmingham stay up this season Hart could well be on the plane to the World Cup.
9) Michael Owen - Newcastle to Manchester United on a free
It seems strange talking about a 29-year-old with more than 300 league and 89 international appearances under his belt as 'potential', but that's what Owen is at United. He's potentially excellent, potentially a match-winner, potentially a man to provide the inspiration lacking since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, it all hinges on him staying fit. So far he's managed a whopping 98 minutes of league football without falling over and snapping something, and has scored once in that time. That sort of ratio kept up over the season would be more than enough to justify Alex Ferguson's faith. Many have said that because Ferguson paid nothing for the player the move is risk free, but that's neither here nor there for a club of United's stature. It's the faith of signing only Owen to boost Ferguson's forward line - making him one of just three senior strikers - that makes it risky.
8) Gareth Barry - Aston Villa to Manchester City for £12million
Last summer we were all bored to bitter, salty tears by Liverpool saying 'We'll give you £14million...£14.5million...£16million and Steve Finnan', only for Aston Villa to respond every time with 'Nope - £18million, and not a penny less'. For months that bloody saga dragged on, but this summer - with the wheels suitably greased by Barry's expiring contract - the deal was done almost while everyone else was looking the other way. £12million bid accepted, no quibbling, bish, bash and indeed bosh.
Penny-saving is not exactly important to City these days, but getting a player of Barry's stature for two-thirds of his previously stated value is excellent business indeed. And as an aside on that subject, our man in Spain is most impressed with the acquisition of Sylvinho on a free.
Barry provides the stability in City's midfield that will allow Mark Hughes to chuck his shinier baubles forward and tell them to attack mercilessly, and thus the midfielder could be the most important signing he makes.
7) Lorik Cana - Marseille to Sunderland for £5million
One of the more coveted midfielders doing the rounds in this transfer window, Cana could be politely described as 'nails'. The Albanian was wanted by Arsenal among others, if you believe the papers, and for Sunderland to snap up such a highly-rated 26-year old represents a significant coup for Steve Bruce.
In fact, with the purchases of Cana, Darren Bent (more on him later), Michael Turner, Lee Cattermole, Fraizer Campbell and the loan of John Mensah, Sunderland have probably been the most successful side in the market this summer.
6) Jordi Gomez - Espanyol to Wigan for £1.7million
If the reports about his weekly wage at Real Madrid are true, it will take Cristiano Ronaldo a little more than two months to earn £1.7million. As this piece is being written, Sky are reporting that Richard Dunne's move to Aston Villa is being held up over a 'loyalty' payment of a little under that amount.
In short, you can't get anything for £1.7million in football these days, so Roberto Martinez snapping up one of his most impressive performers at Swansea last summer for that amount could well represent terrific business. Granted, the standard of defender in the Championship is significantly lower than those he will face this season, but Gomez had a handy knack of finding and creating space at Swansea. If he can do that at Wigan, Gomez will be the bargain of the window.
5) Thomas Vermaelen - Ajax to Arsenal for £10million
Is it any wonder that Arsene Wenger tends not to shop in England? Joleon Lescott cost Manchester City £22million (rising to £24million) after a torturous pursuit that involved falling out with another Premier League club and generally looking like total d*cks. Arsenal signed a player of (arguably, and on meagre evidence so far) a similar standard for less than half that price.
What's been especially interesting about Vermaelen's appearances so far is how much his presence seems to have improved William Gallas's performances and - perhaps most importantly - temperament. Gallas looked half the player he once was next to Kolo Toure, but alongside Vermaelen he has been rock solid. It might be a stretch to say this, but has Arsene Wenger in fact spent £10million on two new centre-backs?
4) Sylvain Distin - Portsmouth to Everton for around £5million
Although Distin has four years on the man he was bought to replace, who can say with a straight face that Joleon Lescott is worth the thick end of £19million more than the Frenchman? A proven rock at the middle of pretty much any defence he's ever been a part of, we've often wondered why none of the big boys - Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa - have ever made a concerted effort to sign him. One thing that Everton perhaps lack (Phil Neville excepted) is a little guile and experience, and imagine what playing alongside Distin for a few years will do for Phil Jagielka.
3) Glen Johnson - Portsmouth to Liverpool for £17million
We were sceptical - extremely sceptical - about this one. £17million for a defender whose strength is not defending? A shade under half of Rafa Benitez's summer budget on a right-back when arguably other areas of the team needed more urgent attention?
However, going on his initial performances, Johnson has provided some of the impetus that those with more faith in Benitez promised. Alvaro Arbeloa was a solid enough defender, but barely found himself beyond the halfway line in his two years at Anfield, whereas Johnson has already scored twice in four games. If he can learn a little more about positional play and gain some nous from Jamie Carragher et al, Benitez could be on to a winner.
2) Darren Bent - Tottenham to Sunderland for £10million
In the gossip rags over the summer Darren Bent was often described as a 'flop' at Spurs, and while an awful lot of money was paid for him a couple of years ago, he was simply unlucky to be transferred in the same summer and for roughly the same fee as Thierry Henry.
One suspects that Bent needs to be the sort of striker around whom an attack is built. That's what happened at Charlton, when he was asked to play up front alone, and with Kenwyne Jones a useful and bloody awkward presence without being prolific, Bent provides their most significant goal threat by a distance. A 20-goal season is likely, and with that sort of return could Fabio Capello ignore him for South Africa?
1) Sanli Tuncay - Middlesbrough to Stoke for £5million
It was a constant source of bemusement to all at F365 that clubs across Europe were not beating down Boro's door from the moment their relegation was confirmed. His contract at the Riverside was due to expire next summer, which explains how Stoke managed to pay less for him than for Robert Huth. So in this window of relative prudence from the big boys (Manchester City apart), why did nobody a little further up the ladder snap him up?
All of that will concern Tony Pulis not a jot. Stoke did what they had to last season by bullying enough points for firstly survival then a comfortable 12th-place finish, but everything about this move smacks of a club looking to better themselves. He offers them the requisite reliability and industry, but a level of quality and class that they did not have. And for £5million? By some distance the best purchase of the summer.
Subject: The Top Ten Summer Transfer Window Signings. 
Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:18 am
