The new Premier League season is underway with a host of new and exciting players set to grace the stage. Chelsea, in particular, have spent large sums of money but there are also numerous other signings from the top and bottom of the league for fans to get excited about. We take a look at three of the most intriguing players to keep an eye out for in their maiden Premier League season.
Ferran Torres
Manchester City have been somewhat quiet in the transfer window by their own relative standards, but the signing of Ferran Torres promises a great deal. The highly-rated Spanish winger is only 20 years old but contributed 4 goals and 5 assists for Valencia in La Liga last season. Valencia’s financial troubles allowed City to pick the player up at the bargain price of £21 million and the player has since picked up his first cap for the senior national team. An explosive player with superb dribbling ability, Torres perhaps represents the ideal replacement for Leroy Sane in his style of play and future potential. Fans and neutrals alike will hope he can maximise the returns from his supreme talent on the Premier League stage.
James Rodriguez
The break-out star of the 2014 World Cup, James represents quite a coup for Everton following his time at European giants Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Still just 29 years old, the Colombian has plenty of time to re-discover the huge ability which once made him one of the most sought-after talents in world football. James certainly showed flashes of brilliance in Everton’s victory against Tottenham Hotspur and the club appear to be in rude health as they sit at 11/4 in the latest odds on soccer matches to finish in the top six. Combined with the astute signings of Allan and Abdoulaye Doucore, Everton fans will be hopeful of challenging for the European spots under the masterful Carlo Ancelotti.
Rodrigo
The Spanish striker has had an inauspicious start to life at Leeds after costing them a point away to Liverpool after giving a penalty away in the closing minutes. Despite this, the promoted side’s capture of the Spanish national side’s starting striker is certainly a huge transfer market achievement for the Yorkshire side. Although his statistics don’t suggest he is going to be prolific, he scored 4 goals in 27 games last season, his hold-up play and endurance are likely to be ideally suited to Marcelo Bielsa’s style of play. Indeed, Patrick Bamford (the man Rodrigo will aim to usurp upfront) has been more valued by the club for his tireless running and link-up play. Nevertheless, Rodrigo should prove to be an intriguing addition to the team and should bring some extra class to Bielsa’s Leeds side.
The Premier League is welcoming a number of exciting imports this signing; notably Kai Havertz and Timo Werner for Chelsea at the top end of the table and the likes of Timothy Castagne and Fabio Silva further down the table. Some players will adapt faster than others, but there will certainly be a number of stand-out performances from these Premier League debutants. Time will tell if any of them can establish themselves as legends of the English game.
Do check out:
