Premier Signings
Despite the financial impact suffered by clubs globally, the Premier League has seen a pretty healthy outlay in the transfer window, with the ongoing Jadon Sancho and the recent Lionel Messi saga also providing some added spice to what we expected to be a relatively quiet window.
As a consequence of the undeterred business of the free-spending Premier League, there are some new faces between the sticks (and on the bench) as the 2020/2021 campaign kicks off this Saturday.
Ahead of the curtain raiser tomorrow lunch time, we take a look at the goalkeepers who have made a change through the summer and could make their bouts for new clubs over the weekend.
Aaron Ramsdale – Sheffield United
The first of two Monday evening games, Sheffield United host Wolves with Aaron Ramsdale likely to be handed the unenviable task of filling the void left by Dean Henderson.
Ramsdale, like Henderson, has just one season of top-flight football under his belt and although it ended in disappointment with Bournemouth relegated to the Championship, he impressed enough for Chris Wilder to shell out £18 million for the twenty-two-year-old.
The young ‘keeper had the daunting prospect of playing behind a paper-light defence at Dean Court and his performances despite this fact won him Bournemouth’s Player of the Year award in 2020.
With 'The Blades’ success last season build on solid foundations, eyes will be on Ramsdale as he takes the baton from one of the most sought-after stoppers in the English game.
Alphonse Areola - Fulham
Fulham’s £100 million splurge in 2018 ended in immediate relegation and they are attempting to be a bit more shrewd in their transfer business this time around.
French international Alphonse Areola, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, has joined Scott Parker’s side for a year-long loan from PSG.
After Marek Rodak’s impressive season and heroic display in the Play-Off Final victory over Brentford, it remains to be seen whether Areola will take the number one spot straight away or not, but it should be a fascinating tussle for the gloves at Craven Cottage.
The highly-rated Frenchman was rumoured to be an Arsenal target, but Scott Parker has pulled off a coup by signing the former Madridista who featured in two Champions League ties last season and seven in Real’s title-winning La Liga campaign.
David Button - West Bromwich Albion
David Button has just four Premier League appearances to his name after a two-year spell with Brighton and will be hoping to better that and wrestle the gloves from Sam Johnstone at West Brom.
Johnstone has been a main-stay in Slavan Bilic’s side as they returned to the Premier League at the second time of asking, but with his lack of Premier League experience, Button may secretly hope his counterpart’s debut season in the topflight goes the opposite way to that of Dean Henderson.
Button has undoubtably been brought in as cover, he admitted as much himself, but you would you would think that he will have a greater chance of first team football this coming season than he would have of dislodging the impressive Matt Ryan at Brighton.
Will Norris - Burnley
Two of England’s best goalkeepers, Tom Heaton and Nick Pope, have Sean Dyche to thank for their success and Will Norris will be hoping that it’s not too late for him to follow in the footsteps of these two.
Nick Pope is of course still at the club, but after Joe Hart left for Spurs, Will Norris will see his transfer to Burnley from Wolves as an opportunity to join a club who are well-versed in churning out good goalkeepers.
Norris spent last season on loan at Ipswich and did well by all accounts, but at twenty-seven will be eager to take his chance in the topflight after just one Premier League appearance with Wolves, a 1-0 win at Fulham in 2018.