Most Premiership managers have used the distraction of the World Cup to quietly get busy in the transfer market and strengthen their squads for the new season.
Here are our Top 10 summer signings:
Top 10 Premiership summer signings continued…
10 Quinton Fortune (Bolton Wanderers)
The versatile South African was nothing more than a bit-part player at Old Trafford – you try getting into a midfield containing David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs – but I always thought he was underrated, and he’s still only 29. Another shrewd signing by Big Sam Allardyce.
9 Joleon Lescott (Everton)
Tipped as a future England centre-back five years ago, Lescott’s career stalled at Wolves (knee surgery meant he missed all of the club’s Premership season of 2003/04), but I think he has the class to shine at Goodison Park. And at 23, he has time on his side.
8 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Charlton Athletic)
Critics might call him a mercenary, but JFH gives 100% wherever he plays. Plays a bit deeper these days, but still good enough to teach new teammate Darren Bent a trick or two.
7 Julio Arca (Middlesbrough)
Sunderland fans will be sad to see the back of their best player. The Argentine is always a threat down the left and has been one of the most consistent foreign signings of the past decade. Hard to believe he’s still only 25.
6 Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur)
Already hailed as one to watch on this site, Zokora had a fine World Cup, playing every minute of the Ivory Coast’s campaign. Competition for midfield places at Spurs is fierce, but the Ivorian should have established a regular starting place by Christmas.
5 Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal)
The signing of Rosicky should go some way to filling the massive void left by Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires. The Czech playmaker is world-class.
4 Jimmy Bullard (Fulham)
Can’t believe Paul Jewell let Bullard leave Wigan, but their loss is Fulham’s gain. The old-school midfielder will be a cult hero in west London, as he was at the JJB.
3 Craig Bellamy (Liverpool)
The most irritating player in the world is talented enough to become an Anfield legend. Either that or he’ll get caught in one too many nightclubs and Rafa Benitez will kick him out. I hope it’s the former.
2 Michael Ballack (Chelsea)
A much better player than Frank Lampard – and look what Lampard has been capable of, with Claude Makelele sat behind him. Should thrive under Mourinho, as long as he knuckles down and cuts out the sulking.
1 Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur)
Berbatov has been scoring for fun in Spurs’ pre-season games. Scarily ruthless in front of goal – the Bulgarian has a shark-eye stare that reminds me of Marco Van Basten.
Ollie Irish