5 surprising signings that could be on their way to the Premier League before the deadline
- Oli Gent
- Aug 6, 2018
- 4 min read
This report was published on the Eurosport website. You can read it at: https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/5-surprising-names-that-could-be-on-their-way-to-the-premier-league-before-the-deadline_sto6876501/story.shtml
Time is of the essence in the dying embers of the transfer window, and with many managers still scrabbling around for top targets, there is still a strong chance late deals across the division.
The window closes at 5pm BST on Thursday August 9, and no more business can be done after that time.
We’ve seen some big-money moves already completed across the footballing pyramid, with some of the most prominent being Riyad Mahrez at Manchester City for £60m and Alisson at Liverpool for £66m.
Elsewhere, Richarlison became Everton’s first signing after joining from Watford for an initial £40m, and Manchester United have hauled in Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk for £47m.
But with so many top-flight sides splashing their war chests like crazy in a bid to mount a title challenge or a survival scrap, it is certain that more big deals will be sealed by the midweek deadline.
However, there could some more under-the-radar names that move to the top flight, but will they join your team?
Christopher Jullien, Toulouse
While it would seem odd for Liverpool to splash out on a 25-year old French defender that no-one in England has probably ever heard of, it wouldn’t be a silly piece of business from Jurgen Klopp.
Whilst they have been linked with more high profile targets like Jonathan Tah and Kalidou Koulibaly, Jullien offers the same attributes as both of them, and would cost a fraction of what Tah and Koulibaly have been priced at.
6’5”, imperious in the air, quick and composed, he could just be the complete defender that Klopp desires, if he decides that he will flog Ragnar Klavan, Joel Matip or even loan out Joe Gomez.
If a move to Anfield doesn't materialise, it's said that Crystal Palace are sniffing around the Frenchman with some interest, especially with Mamadou Sakho's defensive partner undecided at present.
Jullien is a typical Roy Hodgson defender, and will willingly put his giant frame on the line to ensure his team preserves their advantage.
Breel Embolo, Schalke
After a season rankled by injury, Embolo is fit and firing again and raring to go in the Bundesliga.
However, at 6’1”, quick, agile and a fabulous finisher, the Swiss could be set for a big move to the Premier League as a potential backup for one of the title-chasing sides.
Spurs have no recognised striker other than Harry Kane, who needs the goalscoring onus eased a bit from his shoulders.
Embolo would have that down to a tee, offering Kane strong backup and even pushing for a start in the lesser games if he impresses in training.
He would fit into both Spurs and the Reds’ high-intensity pressing games, as, with his boundless energy he enjoys hunting down back lines and pinching the ball back high up the field.
Vincent Aboubakar, Porto
Here we have a 20-goal-a-season awaiting his liberation from Portuguese football into the higher realms of the European footballing hierarchy.
A move to the Premier League could be an enticing one, especially with reigning champions Manchester City involved.
But how would the Cameroon international fit in at the Etihad?
He would most probably spend the majority of his time warming the bench due to Guardiola’s willingness to play a trequartista instead of an advanced forward or an out-and-out target man, but, especially in the important Champions League games, Aboubakar’s physicality could come into play to devastating effect.
It was seen in Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Barcelona two seasons ago, where Manchester City’s physicality and high press put Barca under extreme pressure for the 90 minutes.
If they have someone to aim at as a plan B if things go wrong, then Guardiola’s job could be made even easier, and the opposition would then have two game plans to contend with.
Godfred Donsah, Bologna
Donsah is a true box-to-box midfielder and has a certain N’Golo Kante air about his play style.
Although not necessarily the tallest, Donsah makes up for this with his aggressive tackling and willingness to win back the ball and drive forward with it at pace; another key attribute of his.
He is a fabulous player who has gone under the radar due to not playing at one of the top clubs, and if he moved to the Premier League, he would slip in with definite ease. The fast tempo games we see in England are the types of scenarios Donsah loves; where he can cover every blade of grass.
He would fit into the systems at Fulham, Southampton and Bournemouth, with all of them playing flat midfield trios or quartets.
The Ghanaian would be more suited to playing on the side a trio, acting as the box-to-box ball-winner, but he would be able to operate as part of a central midfield partnership if his colleague were to be an anchor man, like Kevin McDonald at Fulham, Oriol Romeu and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at Southampton and Lewis Cook on the south Dorset coast.
Jordan Lukaku, Lazio
Yes, his brother may play for their biggest rivals, but Belgian left-back Jordan Lukaku would be an excellent addition for either the Citizens or the Reds as a rotational left-back option.
6’1”, bursting with pace and power and dangerous on the overlap, Lukaku is the complete full-back, gifted on the ball as well.
City and Liverpool don’t have much quality depth on the left-hand side of their back fours, with Benjamin Mendy the only natural left-back in the City ranks and Alberto Moreno not giving Andy Robertson sufficient competition at Liverpool.
It seems like the right time for Lukaku to call it quits in Serie A and join his brother in the Premier League, especially with such good openings arising at arguably the two best teams in the country at present.
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