Blasphemy! Seven clubs lock horns for the title after sir Alex Ferguson's retirement!

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Bad boy of Italian football back in England
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Last Updated: 26th June 2015

MARIO given a chance to revive Premier League career with Spurs

Memories are still fresh from Mario Balotelli's scandalous spell with Manchester City. It was little surprise that ended in tears and the Italian moved to his native country to reboot his promising career. Three years later Michael Laudrup decided to give him another chance to prove his worth, this time with Tottenham. The 24-year old accepted a 26.0 million pounds move from A.C. Milan, claiming he has unfinished business in England. This transfer continues this summer's spectacular spree of high-profile players returning to the Premier League.
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Mario is back in England

Flamboyant super Mario is no longer the rough diamond who contributed massively to Roberto Mancini losing his job with the Citizens. He has shown consistency during his spell with A.C. Milan, breaking double-digits in goals in each of his seasons in Serie A. More importantly, he has finally began to decrease the large number of fouls he gave away so often in the past - he was only sent off twice in the last campaign!

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Mario Balotelli transfer verdict: 7.5/10 - this transfer ensures Laudrup is far less likely to suffer the unprecedented injury crisis up front that ultimately got Andre Villas-Boas the sack.
 
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Gunners raid Southampton for Nigeria star
Enforcer gets his big move after largely successful spell with the Saints
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Midfield grit to finally return to the Emirates
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By Alan Smith
10:36AM GMT 1 Jul 2015

Those who didn't quite rate Mathieu Flamini will say the Gunners have lacked a genuine midfield destroyer ever since Patrick Vieira left the club. This is finally to come to an end as Arsene Wenger has sanctioned a big transfer in this particular area - Arsenal officially announced the signing of Victor Wanyama (24) from high-flying Southampton for a 19.25 million pounds fee. It is a miracle the Saints managed to keep their team together for so long after captivating the neutrals for two seasons in a row but it seems the time has come for a number of their stars to look for pastures anew and Wenger moved swiftly to take advantage.
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Wanyama gets his dream move

The Nigeria international is exceptionally physical hard working midfielder with one heck of a thunder in his right foot. He was a major part of the Saints' rise to European football over the past two years but rest assured he is more than just a tank protecting the back four. The fans will be a little upset as he has publicly stated his support for Manchester United in the past but that will be quickly forgiven if he pulls the same level of performances in the red and white shirt.​

Victor Wanyama transfer verdict: 7.5/10 - yet another breathtaking transfer for Wenger this summer as the Gunners look to find their way back in the top four.
 

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Phil Collins @PhilCollinsFeed what a tool @ Marseilles can -u-----------e 1m

#THFC about to announce another striker signing from Italian market!!!

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Laudrup turns to Higuain!
Spurs build amazing strike force​
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David Pleat
The Guardian, Monday 6 July 2015
Tottenham are either very scared of repeating last campaign's injury crisis or plain crazy as Michael Laudrup has decided to add yet another big striker to the fold. This time it is Argentina international Gonzalo Higuain (27), who arrives from Napoli in a 33.0 million pounds move. Gonzalo is joining a strike force which already contains Roberto Soldado, Karim Benzema, Diego Costa and new acquisition Mario Balotelli. This will certainly end the White Hart Lane career of Jermain Defoe and young Harry Kane.

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Higuain at White Hart Lane
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Higuain is a prolific striker and wowed Naples with his clinical finishing over his two-season spell with the Italian club after his move from Real Madrid. Gonzalo bagged 53 goals and created 17 more in 80 games for the Serie A outfit and will certainly expect a starting place for Spurs. It will be interesting to see how Michael Laudrup intends to keep all those strikers happy.​

Gonzalo Higuain transfer verdict: 7.5/10 - great addition if Laudrup can maintain hunger instead of dissatisfaction along a devastating but rather large group of strikers he now has at his disposal.
 

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Liam Gallagher @liamgallagher what a tool @ Marseilles can you--iiiiiiiiiiiiiii 1m

Buddy at #mcfc tells me we are about to make first signing of the summer LGx

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Lee Dixon: Citizens land Iceland international in surprise move
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LEE DIXON Thursday 9 July 2015
Manchester City have made their first move on the summer transfer market and it definitely caught their fans off-guard. Instead of the usual high-profile superstar, Jurgen Klopp has opted to sign an established attacking midfielder in the face of Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson (25). Gylfi arrives from title rivals Tottenham in a cheap 6.75 million pounds move. He has definitely failed to live up to the hype from his Swansea stint during his three seasons at White Hart Lane and many City fans are already questioning the move in the social media.

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Gylfi joins the Citizens
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The cultured midfielder is an all-round offensive player with great skill when it comes to set-pieces but his overall lack of mobility has raised frequent doubts over his ability to cope with the pace of the Premier League. Klopp has obviously shrugged off this criticism as he looks to add something different to a team already brimming with talent.

Gylfi Sigurdsson transfer verdict: 5.5/10 - the midfielder does add something different to the squad and comes at a cheap price but whatever Klopp sees in him isn't that obvious to everybody else.
 

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Phil Collins @PhilCollinsFeed what a tool @ Marseilles can -u-----------e 1m

#THFC sanction three more deals, don't know how many are in and out. More
strikers, anyone?

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One in - two out for Tottenham
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Last Updated: 10th July 2015

AYEW brothers united at White Hart Lane

New manager Michael Laudrup is certainly not wasting his time in his attempt to overhaul the Tottenham side that failed so spectacularly last term. His latest move is to unite the Ayew brothers at White Hart Lane - Jordan Ayew (23) has also made the trip from Marseilles to London after the French club accepted a 10.5 million pounds bid for Andre's sibling. If you thought nothing could surprise you with Spurs anymore, think again - that's right, Jordan is also a striker!!! He scored 16 goals in 38 appearances for Marseilles last season and has stated his preference to spearhead attacks but it seems far more likely he will be utilized in his secondary right winger role in England.
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Jordan Ayew joins brother Andre at the Lane

After Gylfi Sigurdsson already left the Lane for Manchester City, another midfielder through the exit door is Andros Townsend (24). Tottenham have accepted a 5.75 million pounds offer for the winger from freshly promoted Liverpool and the academy product leaves his hometown club without living up to the initial hopes he is England material.
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Townsend sent to Liverpool

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Another Tottenham midfielder leaving for a promoted club is Mousa Dembele (28) who has made the trip to Elland Road after a 13.5 million pounds offer from Leeds was swiftly accepted. Mousa was reduced to a squad player last season and asked for a move to rebuild his Belgium international career.

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Dembele in Leeds switch
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Jordan Ayew transfer verdict: 5.5/10 - decent backup player but we can only accept he is a direct replacement for Andros Townsend as there is no place for him up front.

Andros Townsend transfer verdict: 5.5/10 - never lived up to the hype surrounding him in his early career and Spurs were right to let him go as they should aim at better than average Premier League players.

Mousa Dembele transfer verdict: 6.0/10 - the Belgian could have given more to the first team but we accept Laudrup deserves a chance to reshape the first team to his liking and the fee picked up for a player in his late 20's isn't that bad.
 

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Sting @OfficialSting what a tool @ Marseilles can you beiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilieve 1m

Finally a first team signing on the way for #nufc - word is it's a midfielder!

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Magpies make rare move on English market for Championship midfielder

July , 2015

By Kevin Keegan

We had to wait for over a month for the Saint James' Park power brokers to finally agree on the transfer direction the club has to take this window and the fans will be relieved there is finally substantial movement at the North East. Time of speculation is now over - Newcastle have announced the signing of Derby County wonderkid Will Hughes (20). The transfer fee is even more impressive - 45.0 million pounds, although as usual payments have been structured with 15 million straight cash and 30 more spread over the next 4 years. While Hughes has commanded rave reviews with his displays in the Championship it remains a fact he is yet unproven at the top level and such a massive outlay on someone barely out of his teens represents a significant risk.

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Hughes becomes first major signing this summer
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Will Hughes is widely expected to become an England great in the near future although has only made one international appearance and questions will be asked if this move to the big time comes a little bit too early for him. Manager Dimiter Hristov brushed such doubts aside:

Reporter: The fans will be happy to see you splash the cash once again after all the doubts surrounding your future. Can we accept you will be resuming your duties as Newcastle manager in the next season?
Dimiter Hristov: Yes, new owner Olivier Bernard and I sat together and he was impressed with the support my regime has built over two short years at Tyneside. I must say a big thank you to our fans for staying with us but they can relax now - we are all looking in the same direction again.
Reporter: Let's discuss the Will Hughes deal. He is a big talent, no two minds about it, but was he the right player to replace Anita and Tiote given his tender age and lack of experience at this level?
Dimiter Hristov: There were a number of reasons we picked Will Hughes out of what was a very short list of potential recruits. First of all he continues the great policy of bringing hugely talented players who will reach their best at Saint James' Park and establish a name with us. I want them to be part of something big, grow together with the club and develop a genuine affection for our project. There is a very practical reason behind it as well. As you know, we were very limited in the squad numbers we could register for the Champions League last season and that went a little haywire in the end. Players like Depay and Santon just had to be left out of the group as we didn't have enough homegrown talent. Will will provide a swift resolution to that problem and I am very, very happy to have him here.

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Wonderkid profile
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Will Hughes transfer verdict: 7.5/10 - I second everything Hristov said about this signing, but it also comes with a risk attached and I'm not sure it is good for a young player to have such pressure on his shoulders.

This is without a shadow of a doubt the biggest transfer window Newcastle have had for at least a decade and we will keep a tracker on how the transfer budget is spent. The transfer fee spent on Will Hughes (18.75 million pounds to this window) has been deducted from the pot:

Newcastle transfer budget: 108.29 million pounds (32.54 million initial)
 
Arsenal turn to former fullback
Wenger wants additional experience in back four​
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Sol Campbell
The Guardian, Sunday 19 July 2015
Arsene Wenger has gradually shifted his transfer strategy and opted to add much needed experience to his back four as Arsenal announced a former player is about to rejoin the team. Fullback Gael Clichy (30) was one of many to leave the Gunners four seasons ago but after enjoying success with Manchester City, the French international has agreed to return to the Emirates in a 3.6 million pounds move.

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Clichy back at the Emirates
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It is still unclear how the fans will welcome Gael as his betrayal is unlikely to have been forgotten. Whatever their reaction, Clichy will need to show his best at the Emirates to prove doubters he is in for a last paycheck wrong.​

Gael Clichy transfer verdict: 4.5/10 - questionable transfer at best because the player will have to fight off the negative initial reactions.
 

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Sting @OfficialSting what a tool @ Marseilles can you beiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilieve 1m

#nufc about to announce Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa replacement!

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Newcastle smash transfer record on enthusiastic Brazilian

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Rob Lee
Published at 9:33AM, July 20 2015

It's good to see business as usual back at Tyneside after Hristov and Olivier Bernard held clear-the-air talks. The club is operating at top gear once again to wrap up targets on the transfer market and this aggressive pursuit is bearing fruit. Newcastle have announced the second first team signing in the window - enthusiastic center back Marquinhos (21) has been unveiled as the one to fill the void Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's departure left. The Brazilian comes from Paris Saint-Germain for a gigantic 54.0 million pounds fee. Sources at the club revealed further details about the deal for the Chronicle - as usual, the club opted to break down the fee to 25 million initial payment and 29 million further installments spread over the next four financial years.

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Marquinhos in black and white
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Anyone doubting new owner Olivier Bernard's commitment with the club has definitely been forced to eat humble pie - this transfer has allowed manager Hristov to once again break the club's record outlay. The Bulgarian spoke at length about the message this sends:

Reporter: Mr. Hristov, you have broken the bank to dust your own transfer record again. Would you say it is important for the club to conduct such deals in order to establish itself on a level competitive field with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City?
Dimiter Hristov: I am not a fan of spending for the sake of it. It's simple as far as I'm concerned - you identify the player you believe will take the team forward and invest the required money to sign him. It's a question of having it and being able to spend it, not the other way around.
Reporter: Are you confident Marquinhos is the type of player you are talking about? He wasn't even a regular for Paris Saint-Germain!
Dimiter Hristov: Oh, I really do. He is so young and is already on par if not better than Mapou. If you have any doubts about how far he can go, let's put this conversation on hold and return to it in two years.

It is easy to say the right things when you do have that kind of money to spend but I am sure Hristov is pleased to be in this position after surviving the scare the owner could decide to fire him.

Marquinhos transfer verdict: 8.5/10 - exceptionally talented youngster but he is also very young and lacks Premier League experience.

This is without a shadow of a doubt the biggest transfer window Newcastle have had for at least a decade and we will keep a tracker on how the transfer budget is spent. The way the fee for Marquinhos has been structured by the club means 28.5 million pounds have to be deducted from the pot:

Newcastle transfer budget: 79.79 million pounds (32.54 million initial)
 
Mourinho steals Red Devils talent under Moyes' nose
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Tony Cascarino Commentary
Last updated at 10:51AM, July 22 2015

Jose Mourinho never turns his back on an opportunity to hurt an opponent. That's probably why when he realized Chelsea could snap a promising player off the hands of Manchester United, he never thought twice. For whatever reason things didn't work out for Wilfried Zaha (22) at Old Trafford but he is definitely one of England's bright up and coming players and matches the Blues' policy of recruiting top youngsters for big money. In Zaha's case 20.5 million pounds were enough to force the hand of a reluctant to sell David Moyes.

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Zaha in Stamford Bridge move
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Zaha only managed seven first team appearances at Old Trafford - just one of them coming last season. The jury is still out on him if he can cut it in the top flight as some specialists have questioned his determination to succeed at this level but his incredible displays for Crystal Palace were enough to secure him a debut for the England national team.

Wilfried Zaha transfer verdict: 5.5/10 - let's face it, Zaha is unlikely to make the grade in this Chelsea side - but getting one over your rivals was probably worth the shot.
 
Lee Dixon: Brazil center back arrives at the Etihad
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LEE DIXON Thursday 30 July 2015
Manchester City have made their only second signing in the summer transfer market but this time Jurgen Klopp has decided to splash the cash on experience and proven international quality. The Citizens have convinced French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain the time is right to cash in on big defender Thiago Silva (30) and a 41.5 million pounds package was sufficient to close the deal. The Brazilian spent three years with the Parisians and played a major part in their return to fame.

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Thiago Silva at the Etihad
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Some might question if spending so much on a player approaching the end of his career is justified but acquiring defenders of this quality is exceptionally hard and there really aren't any better than Thiago. He has won trophies in Brazil, Italy and France, as well as on the international level and can offer tremendous experience.

Thiago Silva transfer verdict: 8.5/10 - quality is quality no matter the age and Klopp was right to add more of it to the mix.
 
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