The old saying is that the best things in life are free, and previous seasons’ loan stints for Romelu Lukaku and Daniel Sturridge have taught us that the saying holds its weight in the Premier League as well.
So when it comes to loans and free transfers, which Premier League clubs have done well in this summer’s window?
[ RELATED: Monday’s transfer rumor roundup ]
Well for starters you have to wonder what’s in the water at Sunderland that kept them from signing three legit players to contracts (or at least transferring them and getting some dough before they skipped town on frees). A trio of solid Premier Leaguers have left the Stadium of Light for other PL locales, including Craig Gardner (West Brom), Phil Bardsley (Stoke City) and Jack Colback (Newcastle United).
Queens Park Rangers gets on our list twice as recipients of Rio Ferdinand, who’s worth a look just for leadership (granted the Loftus Road club isn’t brimming with inexprience) and a great loan deal for Juve’s Mauricio Isla.
Bonus points from some low-risk, high-reward moves, including striker Bafe Gomis joining up --and potentially replacing -- Wilfried Bony on a free, Everton rolling the dice on Christian Atsu and Frank Lampard’s intra-ownership group move from NYCFC to Manchester City.
As for the best, here are our top five bargains of the window so far:
5. Didier Drogba, free to Chelsea
When you can bring in a club legend with this much UEFA Champions League experience, at little to no risk to your pocketbook, you do it. The reception he received on Saturday at Stamford Bridge says it all.
The goodness of this move is more a product of desperation after the Saints sold a wealth of talented backs, but Bertrand is a low-cost fix while they develop their academy.
3. Philippe Senderos, free from Valencia to Aston Villa
A welcome addition to the Premier League, Senderos has already helped Brad Guzan and Aston Villa to its first consecutive clean sheets to start a season since 1999.
2. Saphir Taider, loan from Inter Milan to Southampton
Watch out for this kid, who has a chance to be absolutely magical. And considering he came the other way on loan in exchange for getting rid of misfit Dani Osvaldo... there’s a bit of a double bonus here.
1. Bacary Sagna, free from Arsenal to Manchester City
Say what you will about his age, but adding a world class outside back to its ranks is a brilliant move for loaded City. When it comes time to make a run for the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League title, this move will ring out.