Wednesday, 27 May 2015

Arsenal nabbing Alexis Sanchez? Or Diego Costa at Chelsea? Who has been the best signing of the Premier League season? Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3096475/Alexis-Sanchez-Diego-Costa-best-signing-Premier-League-season

With the Barclays Premier League done and dusted for another season, who can we say has been its best addition?
Mario Balotelli? Radamel Falcao? Rickie Lambert? Not quite. Here, Sportsmail picks our top 10 signings of the season with Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester City among the clubs represented.
As always, get involved in the debate in our comments section below and tell us who you feel should have been included.
 
10. Bojan Krkic (Barcelona to Stoke City for £1.3million)

BOJAN SUPER STAT 

Bojan’s four Premier League goals this season won Stoke eight points in total
From playing with Xavi and Andres Iniesta to Jonathan Walters and Charlie Adam. Bojan was a surprise signing but a bargain at £1.3m.
He made just 18 appearances in all competitions before his season was ended by a cruciate knee injury, but Bojan looked a superb swoop by manager Mark Hughes up until that point.
After his signing, Hughes said: 'Anyone who knows European football will be aware of him as a player and the fact that he sees his future at Stoke City is really exciting.' It was, indeed.
Bojan brought with him the flair that saw him link up with Lionel Messi at Barcelona, and could certainly do it on a wet, windy night at the Britannia. Roll on his return from injury next season. 
Spanish forward Bojan left Barcelona to join Stoke at the beginning of the 2014-15 season
Spanish forward Bojan left Barcelona to join Stoke at the beginning of the 2014-15 season
Bojan hasn't played since January due to injury but scored five times before being sidelined
Bojan hasn't played since January due to injury but scored five times before being sidelined
 
9. Dusan Tadic (Twente to Southampton for £10.9m)

TADIC SUPER STAT 

Tadic created more chances than any other Southampton player this season (68)
Tadic ripping his shirt off at Old Trafford in January reminded us of an iconic moment or two – a smidgen of Ryan Giggs against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final in 1999, but mainly Cristiano Ronaldo against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final in 2014.
Tadic's winner against United ended Southampton's 27-year wait for a victory at the Theatre of Dreams and served to remind us what an astute manager Ronald Koeman is.
The attacking midfielder from Twente became Koeman's first signing since replacing Mauricio Pochettino and was among the recruits to guide Southampton to seventh in the table.
There is more to come from the man with 30 caps for Serbia but Tadic has given us and Southampton supporters a memorable moment or two in his debut year. Not a bad signing at all.
Dusan Tadic celebrates his winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford in January
Dusan Tadic celebrates his winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford in January
Tadic was Ronald Koeman's first signing as Southampton manager from Twente last summer
Tadic was Ronald Koeman's first signing as Southampton manager from Twente last summer
 
8. Gylfi Sigurdsson (Tottenham Hotspur to Swansea City, involved in swap deal for Michel Vorm and Ben Davies) 

SIGURDSSON SUPER STAT 

Sigurdsson was one of five players to reach double figures for assists (10) in the Premier League this season (Cesc Fabregas, Santi Cazorla, Angel di Maria and Chris Brunt are the others)
Joint-third in the Premier League for assists with 10 – behind only Santi Cazorla on 11 and Cesc Fabregas on 18 – and with seven goals, Sigurdsson found his mojo after returning to Wales.
His two years in north London with Tottenham Hotspur did not go according to plan but moving back to Swansea under manager Garry Monk paid off.
Sigurdsson was intelligent, deadly with set-pieces and created chances. He fitted in perfectly and led the club that were 5/1 to be relegated pre-season to eighth in the Premier League.
Gylfi Sigurdsson moved back to Swansea from Tottenham at the start of the 2014-15 campaign
Gylfi Sigurdsson moved back to Swansea from Tottenham at the start of the 2014-15 campaign
Sigurdsson spent two years in north London which didn't go to plan before moving back to Wales
Sigurdsson spent two years in north London which didn't go to plan before moving back to Wales
 
7. Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao to Manchester United for £29m)

HERRERA SUPER STAT 

Herrera recorded his best goal tally in his career at United this season (6)
Had someone told you in September that Manchester United would have just one name on this list, then you probably would have suspected it to be Angel di Maria or Radamel Falcao. Afraid not.
Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind or Luke Shaw, maybe? Again, not quite. There is room in our top 10, however, for Herrera after his debut season in English football went admirably.
It began with a lack of game-time and a rib injury which cost him three weeks but his ratio of six goals from seven shots is astounding, particularly given he had scored just 11 in total across five La Liga seasons with Athletic Bilbao and Real Zaragoza.
Herrera rolled his sleeves up and proved a handful in midfield despite his small frame. He has been Louis van Gaal's best signing by far.
Ander Herrera has been a key part of Manchester United's midfield under Louis van Gaal this season
Ander Herrera has been a key part of Manchester United's midfield under Louis van Gaal this season
Herrera celebrates scoring a goal against Arsenal at Old Trafford for Manchester United
Herrera celebrates scoring a goal against Arsenal at Old Trafford for Manchester United
 
6. Sadio Mane (Red Bull Salzburg to Southampton for £11.8m)

MANE SUPER STAT 

Mane was one of four Senegalese players to hit double figures this season (Biram Diouf and Papiss Cisse 11, Diafra Sakho and Mane 10)
So much for Southampton's disastrous transfer window. Like Tadic earlier in this list, Mane has proved a surprise star at St Mary's.
It was Mane, Mane, Mane in just two minutes and 56 seconds at St Mary's in May, when he scored the Premier League's fastest-ever hat-trick against Aston Villa, shattering Robbie Fowler's record.
Mane enjoyed an outstanding debut season following his £11.8m move from Red Bull Salzburg. He's a nightmare to defend and his pace alone could keep his markers tossing and turning.
He scored 10 goals for Southampton, including a cute lob over Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after the experienced John Terry lost his man. More of the same next year, please.
Sadio Mane joined Saints from Red Bull Salzburg and scored the fastest Premier League hat-trick in May
Sadio Mane joined Saints from Red Bull Salzburg and scored the fastest Premier League hat-trick in May
 
5. Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal to Swansea for FREE)

FABIANSKI SUPER STAT 

Only Joe Hart (14) collected more clean sheets this season than Fabianski (13)
When Arsenal were going through turmoil with Wojciech Szczesny after the goalkeeper was caught smoking in the showers following a defeat by Southampton, they must have winced.
That is because over in Swansea was a man who left for absolutely nothing and their inability to tie him to a new contract would come back to bite them on May 11.
It was then when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger witnessed his former goalkeeper heroically keep a clean sheet with a series of brilliant saves, and leave the Emirates with a 1-0 win. Wenger had always suspected Fabianski was special and he was proved correct on this particular Monday night.
An absolute steal in the summer, Fabianski replaced Michel Vorm with ease at the Liberty Stadium and killed off the nickname 'Flappyhandski' he was cruelly given at Arsenal.
Lukasz Fabianski has found a home and regular first-team football at Swansea after leaving Arsenal
Lukasz Fabianski has found a home and regular first-team football at Swansea after leaving Arsenal
 
4. Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan to Leicester City for FREE)

CAMBIASSO SUPER STAT 

Cambiasso's total of five goals is his best tally in a league season since 2010-11 at Inter Milan (7) 
He really does get better with age, it seems. 
Leicester were just about favourites to be relegated at 13/5 pre-season but nobody banked on this 34-year-old joining them.
Some argue Leicester's escape from relegation was the greatest of all time and, if so, then Cambiasso was the cheerleader for Nigel Pearson's revival. 
Calm. Classy. Composed. He was fundamental in front of Leicester's back four, and an ever-present in that run of six wins in seven games to secure their Premier League status for another year. 
How Pearson would love him to stay. Those at the King Power Stadium may argue he should be higher in Sportsmail's list, but we find Cambiasso was not quite as influential as our next three.
Experienced midfielder Esteban Cambiasso was a key figure in Leicester avoiding relegation
Experienced midfielder Esteban Cambiasso was a key figure in Leicester avoiding relegation
 
3. Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid to Chelsea for £32m)

COSTA SUPER STAT 

Costa is only the fourth Chelsea player to score 20-plus goals in a Premier League season (after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard)
The curse of the Chelsea striker is a myth, then. Andriy Shevchenko, Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Samuel Eto’o and the rest just didn't cut it – Costa, however, hit the ground running.
Seven goals in his first four games – a scoring rate which, at the time, put him on course to beat Everton striker Dixie Dean's 60 in the 1927-28 First Division season.
The Premier League lacked a menace but got one in Costa, and then some. Forever throwing his weight around, wreaking havoc for defenders, getting involved in scraps.
Twenty goals in his debut season in English football is an outstanding return and it led Chelsea to the Premier League title they craved after five years without.
Chelsea fans love him; all other fans hate him, but secretly wish he wore their shirt. That's why Costa makes it to No 3 in our list. He may have cost £32m but Jose Mourinho considers him a steal.
Diego Costa joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid and hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge
Diego Costa joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid and hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge
Costa was the third-highest scorer in the Premier League behind Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane
Costa was the third-highest scorer in the Premier League behind Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane
 
2. Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona to Chelsea for £27m)

FABREGAS SUPER STAT 

Fabregas's 18 assists this season is the most he has ever managed in a single Premier League campaign 
The man who still has a poster hanging outside the Emirates, where Arsenal supporters try to recall the time when he used to pull on a red shirt instead of blue, has been outstanding.
He dominated Chelsea's midfield and ended the season with 18 assists – by far the most in the Premier League this year, and just two shy of Thierry Henry's all-time record.
He waited years for a title in England, having never won it during his eight with Arsenal, and finally got the medal he craved. Not to mention his own song involving a 'magic hat' too, which he was not impartial to singing during Chelsea's victory parade around the streets of west London.
Arsenal could have had him back. They opted not to, preferring to back Mesut Ozil, and Chelsea made them pay for their mistake by winning the trophy Fabregas always wanted.
Cesc Fabregas was a creative mastermind in Chelsea's midfield and had 18 assists this season
Cesc Fabregas was a creative mastermind in Chelsea's midfield and had 18 assists this season
Fabregas joined Chelsea in the summer from Barcelona over his former team Arsenal
Fabregas joined Chelsea in the summer from Barcelona over his former team Arsenal
 
1. Alexis Sanchez (Barcelona to Arsenal for £35m)

SANCHEZ SUPER STAT 

Sanchez has been involved in 35 goals in all competitions for Arsenal, the most of any player at the club this campaign (24 goals and 11 assists)
Without a doubt, the pound-for-pound greatest signing of this Premier League season.
The Chile international was electric at the 2014 World Cup and Arsenal thought they could make use of the wide man who was playing a bit-part role at Barcelona. Kudos to Wenger.
He terrorised defenders with pace and trickery, and used the instincts of a world-class forward by scoring outstanding goals in high-pressure games, such as against Manchester City on September 13, 2014, and Liverpool on April 4, 2015.
Arsenal forked out £30m for Sanchez but he was worth every penny, scoring 16 goals with eight assists in the Premier League. Much like Chelsea's Costa, he and English football just clicked.
Wenger recently said he feels Sanchez was his best signing since Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, and we find it difficult to disagree. That is why the man that stole the hearts of Arsenal supporters comfortably makes it to No 1 in our list of this season's best signings.
Alexis Sanchez had an excellent debut season in the Premier League after his move from Barcelona
Alexis Sanchez had an excellent debut season in the Premier League after his move from Barcelona
Sanchez scored 16 goals for Arsenal in the Premier League in his first season since a £30m move
Sanchez scored 16 goals for Arsenal in the Premier League in his first season since a £30m move

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