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New kids on the block: The Premier League’s star recruits

Brendan Rodgers has moved to Celtic.
Roar Guru
21st July, 2015
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Another year, another crop of big name superstars on display in the world’s most watched football league.

Some sides have been busier than others as we enter the final three weeks before the Premier League kicks off for yet another much awaited campaign. So who are the players that will take to the English pitches this season that fans have not seen before?

Bastian Schweinsteiger
A man who needs no introduction. A winner of the World Cup, Champions League and a seemingly uncountable stack of Bundesliga titles with German powerhouse Bayern Munich, Schweinsteiger will certainly not be a new name to lovers of the world game.

His move to Manchester United was the talk of the transfer window and he will provide them with something that they have sorely missed since the departure of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson… a knowledge of how to win.

The fee for the German ace was thought to be roughly £15 million and it could prove an absolute steal for Louis van Gaal’s side if he can settle quickly and stay fit throughout the campaign. Needless to say, one to watch.

Dimitri Payet
A pacey French midfielder and all round tricky customer. Payet joins West Ham United from French club Marseille for a fee estimated at around £10 million and he comes with no shortage of experience. Having plied his trade in the Champions League and Ligue 1 he’s no stranger to top level football.

Payet brings with him a more than impressive set of statistics – having made more successful through balls than any player in Europe’s top five leagues last season, bar Barcelona star Lionel Messi. He is no slouch in front of goal either, netting seven times and recording a huge 17 assists in just 36 league appearances last term. A massive coup for the Hammers, a player they will be expecting big things from this season.

Roberto Firmino
Brendan Rodgers has been a busy man this month and the piece of business he will be most proud of will be Liverpool’s acquisition of Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim for a somewhat pricey £29 million. The 23-year-old starred for Brazil in the Copa America recently and the Reds will be hoping his skills help alleviate their issues in front of goal.

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Having notched seven goals and 10 assists in 33 appearances for Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, along with his large price tag, the weight of expectation will definitely be felt on the shoulders of the attacking midfielder who can also operate out wide if need be. A name that could well be on the lips of fans a lot this season, whether it be for positive or negative reasons remains to be seen.

Memphis Depay
Yet another Manchester United signing who is no stranger to the spotlight. Since bursting onto the scene at last year’s World Cup, Depay has had a dream season at PSV Eindhoven. The 21-year-old found the net 22 times and played the final pass six times in just 30 league appearances.

Depay has very much earned his ticket to the big time with the Red Devils with whom he signed for a fee of approximately £25 million. With youth and experience on his side, it is hard to see the winger not being a success in England – he will likely become a fan favourite at Old Trafford for seasons to come.

Georginio Wijnaldum
Another Dutchman who has made the foray into the Premier League, and like Depay he too has arrived from PSV Eindhoven. He joins a Newcastle United outfit crying out for his creativity and guile. The Flying Dutchman, who plies his trade mostly in attacking midfield, cost roughly £14 million following an impressive 14 league goals in 33 appearances in the Eredivisie last season.

Toon fans will be over the moon with their acquisition and will be hoping he lives up to the hype during his stay on Tyneside. He is a player of serious class, expect him to make multiple defenders look foolish this season.

Jordy Clasie
A name some people may not be overly familiar with. He was a part of the Netherlands set-up who finished third at last year’s World Cup, although he did not play an overwhelming number of minutes. He is a defensive midfielder with a wide range of passing and arrives at Southampton as a replacement for Manchester United signing Morgan Schneiderlin.

Clasie had a respectable season for Feyenoord in the Eredivise last campaign, notching twice and achieving five assists from defensive midfield. He is a solid if uninspiring player who goes about his role well, a good replacement for Schneiderlin who probably won’t capture the headlines.

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Andre Ayew
Swansea City’s new number 10 plies his trade out on the left flank. The Ghanaian technically arrived on a free transfer however the Swans shelled out almost £6 million in the form of a signing-on fee to the winger, who arrived from Ligue 1’s Marseille.

Ayew brings a big reputation with him, having already played 63 caps for his national side, notching 11 goals in the process. Last season, he scored 10 and assisted six for Marseille. The 25-year-old is highly rated in France but only time will tell whether he can hack it in the more physical Premier League.

Angelo Ogbonna
Centre back Ogbonna arrives at West Ham from Italian champions Juventus. The strong defender had in the past been linked with sides such as Manchester United and represents a good signing for the Hammers.

During his time at Juventus he won two Serie A titles as well as a Coppa Italia and comes with no shortage of experience. The fee for the Italy international is thought to have been around the £10 million mark. Ogbonna is an accomplished defender who should fit into the Hammers’ backline with ease.

These are the men who have arrived in the world’s most watched club league, and they will no doubt be joined by others before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August.

Which of them will join the ranks of other Premier League legends and which will flop? Only time will tell.

Watch out for these players as the Premier League gets back underway on August 8. Who do you think will succeed? Have your say in the comments section!

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