5 Summer Transfers That Represent Good Business

The summer transfer window is well and truly open for business right now, as managers set about compiling their squads for the upcoming football season. With clubs around Europe generally showing about as much thriftiness as Roman Abramovich’s girlfriend on a shopping spree in Knightsbridge, Just-Football will be periodically taking a look around the world and assessing those we believe are doing good business, and those whose purchasing looks slightly more questionable, starting with five transfers over the past week that look to be shrewd bits of business:

1, Ronaldinho (Barcelona to AC Milan) – Ronaldinho’s recent transfer to the Italian giants finally ended months of speculation about the player’s future, while simultaneously winding Thaksin Shinawatra’s neck in from the clouds. In the case of Mr. de Assis Moreira the feeling lingers that despite the non-existent form, the fall from grace and the messy break-up with his former club, like the romantic poet who temporarily loses inspiration all the guy needs is a pat on the back, a big hug and to be told that he’s the best before the two-time World Player of the Year rediscovers just what it was that made him so good in the first place. 35,000 fans showing up at the San Siro to greet his arrival is not a bad start for a confidence boost. If Carlo Ancelotti can find a system that duly benefits both Ronaldinho and Kaka (something Carlos Albero Parreira failed to do in the 2006 World Cup) as well as the precocious talent that is Alexandre Pato, then AC Milan might well manage to put last season’s disappointments behind them and re-emerge as a force in Serie A. When you also consider that just a few short years ago Chelsea were preparing to bid upwards of £54 million for the services of the midfield maestro, the £16.7 million pound fee paid by the Rossoneri does not look a bad deal at all.

2, Gilberto Silva (Arsenal to Panathinaikos) – A good deal for Arsenal, that is. It became most painfully evident that Gilberto’s star was somewhat on the wane back in April 2008 during the Gunners’ Champions League quarter-final second leg clash at Anfield. With Arsenal holding the upper hand in the tie and looking strong, injury to Mathieu Flamini meant Gilberto was brought on to occupy the holding midfield role. The rest is history. While of course not entirely to blame, the Brazilian was half a yard off the pace for much of the game and failed to offer the swashbuckling energy of the man he replaced. Arsene Wenger’s shunning of Gilberto in favour of William Gallas when choosing a club captain this time last year also reflects something of a lack of confidence in the man, which translated into limited opportunities for first team football in the 2007/2008 season. Indeed many Arsenal fans, while praiseworthy of the player’s commitment, feel that a move away from the Emirates was quite overdue. A move to the Greek Super League could be just what Gilberto needs to reinvigorate his career.

3, Scott Carson (Liverpool to West Bromwich Albion) - For a long time it appeared as though Scott Carson was heading for newly-promoted Stoke City, which would have been something of a coup for Tony Pulis’ men. However, at the 11th hour Tony Mowbray batted his eyelids at the England goalkeeper and managed to secure his services for a £3.25 million pound fee. This looks to be an extremely shrewd piece of transfer activity from the Baggies. Although Carson made a complete mockery of his competitive debut for England, allowing Croatia to score from what should have been a routine save, the 22-year old already has a good level of Premier League experience and represents a major boost to West Brom’s squad. With the regular first team football that he is no doubt certain to get at the Hawthorns, Carson could well stake a claim for the number one spot at international level as well if he continues to develop as he has done in the early part of his career.

4, Bakary Kone (Nice to Olympique Marseille) – With Samir Nasri gone from the Stade Velodrome, Marseille fans were looking for some attacking talent to aid their quest to challenge Lyon’s dominance of France’s Ligue Une in the coming season. In Bakary Kone they have a player that offers bags of talent and one that, at just over £7million pounds (half of what Arsenal paid for Nasri) represents a very astute signing. Kone is quick, nimble and technically very gifted. Not only that, at 26 years of age he is coming into the peak of his career and is definitely ready to make the step up from playing for Nice. Anyone that watched the recent African Cup of Nations will know of his exquisite shooting ability, but for those that are not aware check out this magnificent strike of his during the 2006 World Cup.

5, Claude Makelele (Chelsea to Paris-SG) – He may be 35 years old, but Cla
ude Makelele remains a magnificent player, and reaction from the Chelsea correspondent at The Offside alone tells you what Blues fans think of the deal. In the case of some players age really means very little, and the Frenchman definitely falls into that bracket of player; just a few months ago he played practically all 120 minutes of a Champions League final, a fine testament to both his current ability and his immense stamina. John Obi Mikel may be in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s plans to take over at Chelsea in the holding role that Makelele has come to define as his own, but there is no doubt that Chelsea have lost a fine player. Their loss is very much PSG’s gain, and given that no fee is involved Paul LeGuen appears to pulled off a real coup. Makelele’s experience alone will be vital at the Parc des Princes.

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Bakary Kone, Claude Makelele, Europe, Gilberto Silva, Ronaldinho, Scott Carson, Transfer News