The madness of transfer deadline day is over and the dust has finally settled. The past has shown us that late signings don’t usually blossom into good deals, but these three Premier League giants will be well pleased with their deadline day business.
Most Premier League clubs got their business done nice and early, but deadline day always throws up some interesting transfers. The summer of 2016 was no different. However, the best transactions on deadline day were more about the big clubs getting rid of excess baggage than signing top talent.
Here’s a look at three of the best Premier League deadline day transactions.
1. Alvaro Arbeloa to West Ham United
The 33-year-old Spanish full-back is the perfect late signing, as the Hammers embark on their new journey at the Olympic Stadium. Manager Slaven Bilic has been forced to play Michail Antonio at right-back so far this season, with disastrous results.
Arbeloa is the perfect signing to relieve the English winger, who is too attack minded to play in that position. The Spaniard would easily slot into the right-back spot, and the World Cup and European Championship winner brings with him a world of experience. The Hammers already see him as a mentor to young defender Sam Byram.
The fact that the former Real Madrid man was signed on a free transfer means that it is a near perfect deal for West Ham United.
2. Jack Wilshere to AFC Bournemouth
Arsenal’s golden boy. The player who arguably embodies the club more than anyone else. Jack Wilshere made his first team debut at the age of 16, but his development has been jeopardized by a series of long term injuries. His Gunners career hit a new low when the 24-year-old was put up for loan the day before deadline day.
After courting interest from the likes of AS Roma and Crystal Palace, Jack joined AFC Bournemouth on a one-year loan deal. Gooners were devastated that one of their favourite players was leaving, but the future prospects of this deal could be beneficial for all parties involved.
Arsenal already have a surplus of talent in central midfield, with new boys Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka looking to usurp the old guard of Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin. Jack would have found it very difficult to break into the first team, but at Bournemouth he gets to play the star alongside the likes of Jordan Ibe and Harry Arter.
The Cherries will also hugely benefit from a player of Jack’s ability, provided of course that they can help him exorcise his injury issues.
3. Mario Balotelli to OGC Nice
Liverpool fans were extremely pleased with their only major transaction on deadline day, as Italian striker Mario Balotelli joined Ligue 1 side OGC Nice. The 26-year-old joined the Reds for £16 million in 2014, but was loaned back to AC Milan the very next summer after scoring just one Premier League goal in 16 appearances for the club.
Balotelli then equaled that tally in the Serie A, this time in 20 appearances for the Rossonerri. He managed to somehow worsen his situation by reportedly stating that he had never been happy at Anfield. Needless to say, his return wasn’t met with much excitement by Liverpool fans.
Although the club were desperate to get rid of him, there were very few clubs who wanted to sign the controversial forward. It came as a huge relief to the fans when Nice finally snapped him up on deadline day. Although it was a free transfer and meant that the Reds had made a massive loss on the deal, everyone involved with the club are just happy that they managed to offload Balotelli.
For their part, Nice finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season and saw French winger Hatem Ben Arfa redeem himself after failing at Newcastle United. This could be the Italian’s turn to revive his career at the Allianz Riviera.
