With around 1.2 billion pounds (1.5 billion dollars)
spent on new players in the summer transfer window, a host of names,
some new and some familiar, will be looking to prosper with their new
Premier League clubs this season.
After a late flurry of transfers, the window closed at 5pm local time
(1500 GMT) Thursday, with Chelsea and Everton among those to sign new
players in the last 24 hours.
Liverpool were the highest spenders after forking out 167.9 million
pounds on bringing Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri
to Anfield.
The single biggest signing was made by Chelsea, who snapped up
goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao for 71.6 million
pounds, breaking the record for a goalkeeper transfer for the second
time in a month, after Alisson's 66.8 million-pound arrival
at Liverpool from Roma.
Champions Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United all made
notable signings but newly-promoted Fulham also spent 72 million
pounds on new players in the hope of staying in the top flight.
City manager Pep Guardiola brought in just four players, the vast
majority of the spending going on convincing Leicester to part with
winger Riyad Mahrez.
The Algerian, who cost City 60 million pounds, helped Leicester win
the title two seasons ago and will add even more class to an already
smooth attacking machine.
"There's no doubt about the quality of Mahrez," Guardiola said. "He
can play in three or four positions. He can play in the middle but
also right and left.
"With his addition we could also give a little bit more competition
to our strikers and wingers."
Unlike some summer signings, Mahrez will not have to adapt to the
Premier League.
"(He) is not a guy that comes from Spain, Italy or another country
where they might need a little more time," he said. "Riyad already
knows absolutely everything there and I think he's going to settle
quite well into our team."
Though Keita, Fabinho and Shaqiri carry some weight of expectation,
Liverpool hope Brazil international goalkeeper Alisson, 25, could be
a key piece in the jigsaw as they look to win the title for the first
time since 1990.
"We got him here because of his existing strengths, which is in all
goalkeeper departments the highest level," Liverpool manager Juergen
Klopp said.
"But of course he still has to adapt and age-wise he can improve, the
best years are coming in the goalkeeper life, so it's all good."
Chelsea will look to a Brazilian-born player for inspiration after
new manager Maurizio Sarri brought Jorginho with him from Napoli.
The Italian, who turned down Manchester City to join his manager at
Stamford Bridge, was an integral part of the Napoli team last season.
Manchester United will hope Fred, a 47 million-pound signing from
Shakhtar Donetsk, is a success but the big clubs are not the only
ones to splash the cash.
Everton paid Watford 50 million pounds to sign another Brazilian,
Richarlison, and lifted their overall spending to more than 80
million with three signings on the final day.
West Ham spent 95.9 million pounds in total, with a club-record fee
of 36 million pounds going on Felipe Anderson from Lazio.
And the signings of Fulham have caught the eye, in particular the
arrival of Jean-Michael Seri from Nice.
Former Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen said the London club may just
have pulled off a real transfer coup.
"I tell you what, Jean-Michael Seri, an absolute steal, in my
opinion," Meulensteen told BBC Radio 5 Live. "He is a top six, if not
a top three player. He reminds me of Clarence Seedorf - he's got that
guile and moves the ball - and Fulham's got him. Fantastic."
Tottenham Hotspur were the only side not to add to their squad.