Whilst the headlines were dominated by Manchester United’s swoop of Falcao and release of Welbeck the transfer deadline day didn’t disappoint elsewhere with a raft of unexpected signings and failed attempts.
It all began with George Boyds arrival at Burnley and ended late into the night with an extension for the aforementioned duo and in between lay a multitude of bids, loans, and bartering, enough to keep Jim White in throat pastels for the days to come.
The Cutter looks beyond the hype and picks out the five best deals using the simple criteria of their value for money and how much impact these players will have in their new surroundings.
Abel Hernandez to Hull
Who would have guessed it would be Hull City who would be the big-hitters on deadline day – outspending Napoli, AC Milan and Inter along the way – but in truth Steve Bruce needed reinforcements and the club had funds available.
Where they particularly required a quality upgrade was up front and in Abel Hernandez they can look forward to not only goals but plenty of bustle and work-rate to fit in with the Tigers’ team ethic.
The Uruguayan impressed in Brazil this summer but perhaps more noteworthy still was his one-in-two strike rate in a mean Serie A for Palermo last term and with Ben Arfa looking to recover his reputation the 24 year old can expect chances galore to fall his way.
Sandro to QPR
A striker topped the Hoops’ wish-list and with Harry Redknapp being such a specialist deadline day wheeler and dealer it was a surprise they came up short failing to snag either Borini or Jermaine Defoe.
Ample compensation however lies in the formidable form of the Brazil international who Spurs bafflingly allowed to leave in favour of retaining his inferior fellow countryman Paulinho.
Sandro will provide some muscle and nous to the Rangers midfield and assisted by Fer and Barton you feel there’s now sufficient quality in their engine room to ensure the spectre of relegation haunts elsewhere.
Nick Powell to Leicester (loan)
The Foxes will be extremely pleased with their acclimatising to the top flight and were unlucky not to grab a headline-splashing victory over Arsenal last week. But for all their undoubted solidity they require some creativity in the final third to make the difference, particularly in games where chances are hard to come by. Powell is just the player they need – young, with a point to prove and possessing a combination of graft and guile.
The 20 year old had an impressive spell at Wigan last season scoring 12 goals along the way and his shoot-on-sight fearlessness and passing game brings another dimension to a Leicester side already on the up.
Toby Alderweireld to Southampton (loan to become permanent)
An accomplished centre-back we’ve long been a fan of this is a significant coup for the Saints who were in desperate need of incoming personnel and ideally of such a stature as this. Alderweireld arrives on the south coast with a La Liga medal after enjoying a sensational season with Atletico Madrid and will compliment skipper Jose Fonte perfectly.
Southampton still look light in numbers in certain positions but compare their situation now with only a few weeks back when their exodus of players made them the butt of a thousand gifs. New gaffer Koeman is swiftly shaping a new team in his image and in Alderweireld he has a stylish stopper to build it around.
Daley Blind to Manchester United
The completion of possibly the most drawn-out medical in the history of football was understandably overshadowed by the arrival of Falcao to Old Trafford but securing the services of last season’s Eridivisie player of the year for under £14m was an extremely astute piece of business. Blind is comfortable in a variety of roles but logic suggests he will nestle alongside Herrera in the United midfield and allow Di Maria, Mata and co free rein to create for Falcao as United look to out-score the opposition in a bid to compensate for a weak defence.
Equally at home playing left wing-back – as he under Van Gaal at the World Cup – offers needed competition for fellow newbie Luke Shaw but let’s not fall into the trap here of demeaning Blind as a utility man: the 24 year old is an outstanding talent with every attribute required to flourish in the Premier League.
