Following a deadline day which saw Premier League clubs spend a record £270m on just over 20 players, the 2023/24 summer transfer window has finally closed for English clubs.
However, with multiple clubs scrambling to get last minute deals over the line and big marquee transfers such as Brennan Johnson to Tottenham and Cole Palmer to Chelsea taking the headlines, it was difficult to keep up with every new Premier League arrival on September 1.
As a result, we’ve provided you with three deadline day transfers that you may have missed took place, who are three exciting players which you should look out for in their respective new clubs this season.
- Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Strasbourg to Wolves, €15m)
First up is Wolves’ signing of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde from Strasbourg, who The Wanderers have picked up for €15m following his impressive start to the Ligue 1 season under Patrick Vieira’s new side- where he scored two and assisted two in just three starts.
The 25-year-old is a versatile, dynamic, and well-rounded player, with excellent work rate both in and out of possession. Although capable of playing out wide- where he has started the newest campaign- Bellegarde has often been deployed as the more advanced midfielder in a double pivot, or as an attacking number eight in a midfield three- which plays in front of Strasbourg’s back 5.
The freedom of these roles have highlighted his skill in winning the ball back and progressing his side up the field through his fantastic dribbling and ball carrying; as he often looks to make surging runs with or without the ball into the half spaces (the area in between the opposition full-back and centre back) to create goal scoring opportunities for his team.
Consequently, with the Frenchman also a proficient set-piece taker, he is set to be a valuable addition to Gary O’Neil’s side following the coming international break, as Wolves aim to bounce back from their underwhelming start to the new campaign- where they’ve lost three of their four opening fixtures.
- Ibrahim Sangaré (PSV to Nottingham Forest, €35m)
Although it may have gone under the radar amid the raft of incomings and outgoings to take place at The City Ground this deadline day, Nottingham Forest’s signing of Ibrahim Sangaré from PSV could prove to be one of the most underrated transfers of the season.
Arriving for a club-record €35m, the Ivorian international is still an excellent coup for The Reds and has been of interest to several top European clubs over the years- impressing with his excellent ball-winning, aerial ability, and proficiency at dribbling round the opposition press or playing progressive passes into forwards.
Making 140 appearances, the defensive midfielder been a pivotal member in PSV’s side during his time at the club, helping them to achieve three consecutive finishes as runners-up in the Eredivisie. If he continues these performances, the 26-year-old will undoubtedly make a significant impact for Steve Cooper’s side this season- who have already made a notable start to the season, winning two of their four matches and equalling last season’s tally for away wins with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
- Mike Trésor (KRC Genk to Burnley, loan with option-to-buy)
The final transfer we have selected is Mike Trésor to Burnley. The 24-year-old has signed for The Clarets on a year-long loan with an option-to-buy from KRC Genk, and will become part of somewhat of a Belgian contingent at Turf Moor- joining seven of his compatriots in the first-team squad, as well as head coach Vincent Kompany.
Predominantly playing on the left-wing and drifting inside, but also capable of starting centrally as an attacking midfielder, the 24-year-old makes the move to the Premier League following an astounding season in the Belgian Pro League, where he accumulated eight goals and 24 assists in 39 appearances.
With 10 of these 24 coming from set-pieces, these numbers highlight Trésor’s playmaking variety, with him being able to either utilize his superb dead-ball delivery, or link up with teammates and execute sharp, intelligent passes to create goalscoring opportunities.
These creative attributes will be vital to Kompany’s side this season, as they look to continue last year’s Championship winning performances and reclaim their status as a Premier League club for years to come.
So there are three deadline day transfers that you may have missed amidst the chaotic end to the window last Friday.
Be sure to keep an eye out for each of their performances for their new clubs over the coming season, in what looks set to be yet another enthralling Premier League campaign.
Travis Levison | Get Football
