Top ten Premier League transfers

It's been a relatively quiet summer so far in the Premier League, but there have still been some impressive buys. We assess the best deals of the window so far.

10. Cristian Riveros (Sunderland, free)

With his craggy look and oft-broken nose, Steve Bruce long seemed a stereotypical British centre half. In management, however, he has shown a more cosmopolitan approach. First at Wigan and now at Sunderland, Bruce has raided Latin America astutely and Cristian Riveros, Paraguay's passing midfielder, could extend that tradition of buying wisely on the other side of the Atlantic. He should prove the replacement for the former captain Lorik Cana.

9. Magaye Gueye (Everton, £1 million)

The least well-known of these ten newcomers, Magaye Gueye is also probably the lowest-profile of Everton's summer signings. In pre-season, though, he appears to be the best. The 20-year-old Frenchman, brought in from Strasbourg, has operated in attack and on the left wing, while it is also thought he can play in the centre of midfield. Signed as one for the future, he may also prove one for the present.

8. Jerome Boateng (Manchester City, £11 million)

Former European Cup winners as they are, Hamburg can appear Manchester City's feeder club. First Vincent Kompany, then Nigel de Jong and now Jerome Boateng have exchanged north Germany for east Manchester. The German has the distinction of being the cheapest of City's summer signings so, in that respect, it should be easiest for him to offer value for money. At 21, he looks a long-term recruit and, after a few years when a host of different players have been tried at right back, Boateng is the one who may finally make the position his own.

7. David Silva (Manchester City, £25 million)

Critics of Manchester City's buying suggest there is no galactico among their new recruits. That may be true but, in David Silva, City appear to have found a world-class attacking talent and a man equally capable of scoring and making goals. The former Valencia winger is the sort of player routinely expected to join either Real Madrid or Barcelona, so enticing him to Eastlands seems something of a coup for Roberto Mancini.

6. Martin Petrov (Bolton, free)

Manchester City's inevitable spending spree left Martin Petrov unneeded at Eastlands. There is no shame in that and, if City do not feel a sense of loss, it should be Bolton's gain nonetheless. The Bulgarian's direct running and forceful left foot meant that, when used by City, he tended to make an impression and other wingers, such as Chris Eagles, Vladimir Weiss and Chung-Yong Lee, have benefited from Owen Coyle's management. His signing should aid Coyle in his bid to make Wanderers more watchable.

5. Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan, free)

Paraguay's resilient displays in the World Cup prompted reports that Antolin Alcaraz was intent upon extracting himself from his freshly-signed contract at Wigan to find employment at a bigger club. They were swiftly denied in Lancashire, but it is probably just as well Roberto Martinez concluded the deal before Alcaraz scored against Italy. Defensively dependable and a threat at set-pieces, he looked just what a porous Wigan back four needs.

4. Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal, £8.5 million)

Out with the old, in with the new: Arsenal have lost three thirty-something defenders in William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre and Sol Campbell and signed a man with a solitary year's experience in France's top flight. The initial impression, however, is that £8.5 million has been well spent on Laurent Koscielny, whose speed, comfort in possession and reading of the game indicate a potential star.

3. Javier Hernandez (Manchester United, £7 million)

Sir Alex Ferguson has already made the comparison to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and, at Old Trafford, praise rarely gets headier. Javier Hernandez's sharpness was evident in front of goal for Mexico in the World Cup: as he was also timed as the fastest player in South Africa, he brings speed as well as a predatory instinct. It may not be good news for Michael Owen, but it bodes well for United. And as Ferguson has said, had he waited until after the World Cup, Chivas could have commanded a rather higher price.

2. Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal, free)

A year ago, Bordeaux valued Marouane Chamakh at £15 million. When his contract expired, Arsenal actually acquired the Moroccan striker on a free transfer. That is not the only reason to believe it was a fine piece of business by Arsene Wenger, however. Arsenal's pre-season games suggest a mobile, skilful target man who is well suited to their progressive style of football. While never prolific in France, Chamakh looks capable of scoring reasonably regularly, too.

1. Joe Cole (Liverpool, free)

The significance of some signings extends beyond their impact on the pitch. Joe Cole might be one such. His arrival was a first indication of the allure of Liverpool as a club and the persuasive powers of Roy Hodgson as their manager. If it helped persuade Steven Gerrard to stay, it had an added bonus. Cole's creativity could help Liverpool shed the image of a two-man team that irritated them; as he was available without a fee, it enabled Hodgson to bring in a player he might not have been otherwise able to afford.

Source from: ESPN Soccernet