Top 10 imports for the 2020/21 Premier League season
Premier League action returns this weekend with some cracking fixtures. Regardless, all eyes will be on some of the high profile imports to England as they go about their business on the pitch.
Some of the new players have hit the ground running while some are still warming up to the style of football in the Premier League.
We wait to see how they prove their skills and consistency as Premier League football returns this week. Here are our top 10 new imports to the Premier League for the 2020/21 season in no particular order, and we wait to see how things pan out for them at their various clubs this season.
Kai Havertz – Chelsea
The 21-year-old German international has been described as a generational talent. He arrived at Chelsea this summer after impressing with Bayern Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
Kai Havertz is a versatile playmaker whose preferred position is through the middle although he can also deputize as a center-forward and a right-side midfielder or right-winger.
His opening games for Chelsea saw Frank Lampard deploy him at the right to the chagrin of Chelsea fans who want to see him play behind the striker and as a Central Attacking Midfielder.
His start to life at Chelsea has been decent but not glittering as much as fans would have hoped. However, as Premier League action returns, the sleek attacker will be looking to prove a point and show that he’s not a fluke signing for the Blues.
James Rodriguez – Everton
It’s early days but the Colombian will easily pass for the best new import to the Premier League this summer and has established himself as one of the players that have started the season on a high.
James was deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid and the move to Everton already seems a genius decision by Italian gaffer Carlo Ancelotti.
The Toffees currently top the Premier League with 12 points and a 100% record with James scoring 3 goals, providing 2 assists in 4 games, and winning 1 MOTM award.
James has been a breath of life to the Toffees and has been instrumental in the positive results they’ve gotten this season. The Merseyside Derby comes up this weekend. All eyes will be on James Rodriguez for Everton.
Thiago Alcantara – Liverpool
This was an elite signing for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds who have been described as having average players in the middle of the park who benefit from the manager’s system.
Thiago Alcantara is arguably the best Central Midfielder in Europe and will bring his wealth of experience in the middle of the park from Barcelona and Bayern Munich to Liverpool.
The Spaniard was top-notch in the game he played before being forced into isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 before the international break. He’s one of the imports in contention for the signing of the season and should be in contention for a start in the Merseyside derby.
Rodrigo Moreno – Leeds United
One has to ask how newly-promoted side Leeds managed to acquire the services of one of the best strikers in Spain.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men have been a joy to watch and with the inclusion of a decent target man in the person of Rodrigo, underrating them would be foolhardy.
Leeds United have been decent this season and Moreno already has a goal for the Elland Road outfit in four games. He will be looking to find the back of the net more often in this fluid Leeds side. We’ll see how this move pans out for him.
Thomas Partey – Arsenal
Arsenal finally landed their prime target this summer according to various reports in Europe. The Ghanaian midfielder has been unveiled at the Emirates and will play a key role in Mikel Arteta’s first full season as a professional manager.
Partey, in his time at Atletico Madrid, established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in Spain and Europe with his strong defensive abilities, stamina, strength on the ball, strange dribbling skills, and an eye for goal once in a while.
The midfielder will add major physical presence and steel to Arsenal’s midfield and this is one area where the Gunners have lacked considerably in recent years. If he can be consistent, the Arsenal will be a force to watch out for this season. They’ve started decently this season, results-wise.
Thiago Silva – Chelsea
This may come as a surprise on the list due to the iconic defender’s age but Chelsea have been lacking leadership in central defense and the Brazilian will be sure to provide it for Frank Lampard’s side.
The former PSG man has been one of the best central defenders in Europe even at his age and is a welcome signing for the Blues. His debut in the Premier League is one he’s like to forget quickly but the following game against Crystal Palace showed he’s still got it.
It remains to be seen how long he can cope with the pace of the Premier League. Regardless, he’s one player the Blues will rely heavily on this season despite his age.
Edinson Cavani – Manchester United
With all the attention on Jadon Sancho and the likes as Man United’s summer transfer target, very few saw this move coming.
Despite his age, he makes it into our top 10 as the Red Devils have lacked that commanding presence in the center-forward position and more so a typical center-forward who has been there and done it at the highest levels of the game.
The Uruguayan forward will be raring to go but he must know that he has his work cut out for him in a United team that have been underwhelming in the opening games of the season.
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins will have many eyes on him with how quickly he has adapted to life at Villa Park. This is his first adventure in the highest level of English football and he is proving to be formidable and an excellent transfer decision by the Villa hierarchy.
The 24-year-old Englishman already has 3 goals and 1 assist in the Premier League for Aston Villa, including the first-half hattrick against Liverpool on Matchday 4 before the international break.
Now the question is this; Will he able to keep up with the standard of the Premier League in the long run? This will depend on how well Villa fare in the league this season. Regardless, we wait to see how it pans out!
Alex Telles – Manchester United
The new recruit from Porto! The last recruit from Portugal for the Old Trafford outfit in Bruno Fernandes has been a key man under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Will Alex Telles provide the bite that Man United have been requiring from the left full-back position?
The Brazilian is a very attack-minded left-back and United have lacked an efficient one for years. His defensive abilities are questionable though but we wait to see how he copes in the Premier League.
Is he the ideal solution for the Red Devils? We await!
Sergo Reguilon – Tottenham Hotspur
The 23-year-old Spaniard saw major interest from some of the big boys in England cool off due to the buy-back clause that was insisted on by Real Madrid. However, Jose Mourinho looked beyond it and acquired the man and it has been a decent decision thus far.
He’s a pacy fullback with some decent dribbling skills and has played 1 Premier League game for the North London outfit already. We look forward to seeing what he has in his kitty especially with Gareth Bale now at the club.
