Premier League teams have been as busy as ever this transfer window, signing more than 100 players between them.
It seems we’re almost spoilt for choice when it comes to new talent arriving from abroad, so we’ve taken a look at four new arrivals who we’re interested in checking out in the upcoming season, plus one who will be under the microscope after trading one English club for another.
Memphis Depay
With all the noise over the Angel Di Maria and David De Gea transfer sagas, Manchester United’s big-money new arrivals have received less media coverage than might normally be the case.
This ought to play right into the hands of Depay, who has quietly gone about his business in pre-season, showing us more than enough to get excited about.
The decimation of United’s frontline should provide the Dutchman with the chance to begin the campaign in an advanced role, and we can’t wait to see what he’s capable of when given free rein alongside Wayne Rooney.
Roberto Firmino
There were a few question marks about the kind of player Liverpool would be able to attract without the carrot of Champions League football, but Firmino looks to be a perfect fit.
A hard-working midfielder with an eye for goal, the Brazilian offers similar attributes to the now-departed Raheem Sterling and will look to dovetail with compatriot Philippe Coutinho behind new number nine Christian Benteke.
It’s another case of the Reds spending big on a newcomer to the Premier League, but Firmino has the quality to hit the ground running.
Dimitri Payet
With West Ham replacing Sam Allardyce as manager with former fan favourite Slaven Bilic, plenty of us have been excited about the prospect of a more entertaining brand of football.
A number of new faces have come in, but Payet – a French international who tore up Ligue 1 for Marseille last season – is the one most likely to set pulses racing.
The 28-year-old has impressed in pre-season, showing his talents from set pieces and in open play, and will have a big role to play as the London club look to end their stay at Upton Park on a high.
Slo-mo of Dimitri Payet's free kick yesterday, just mesmerising. pic.twitter.com/1Fee207uO8
— West Ham (C)entral 🏆 (@WestHam_Central) July 19, 2015
Jordy Clasie
Southampton are amazingly adept at improving their squad while somehow saving money, and while a direct replacement for Morgan Schneiderlin’s talents will be tough to find, Clasie is undoubtedly an astute signing.
The 24-year-old has been in the Dutch national set-up since 2012, playing twice at the last World Cup and attracting the attention of a handful of Champions League clubs, making him a snip at under £10m.
He might be small in stature, but the former Feyenoord man ought to have no trouble adapting to the Premier League after being reunited with Ronald Koeman and Graziano Pelle on the south coast.
Radamel Falcao
While the other names on this list fill us with excitement, in Falcao’s case it is more a matter of intrigue.
Was last season an anomaly, as the Colombian took longer than anticipated to recover from a serious injury, or is he now a spent force at the top level.
Chelsea could do with the Falcao who looked unstoppable in Spain and Portugal, particularly if Diego Costa’s injury troubles rule him out of action, but there has to be a nagging doubt that he’ll follow the likes of Ferando Torres and Andriy Shevchenko and struggle to make an impression at Stamford Bridge.
