Premiership New Boys Transfer Movement

Written by a DBS Football guess writer - Follow Him on Twitter @RealJoeFranklin

When a club is promoted from the Championship to the Premiership, it is never an easy feat to settle in to the league that is often hailed as 'the best in the world'. Norwich, Queens Park Rangers and Swansea all have points to prove as they enter what now seems to be the top tier of English and Welsh football.

Norwich have forced their way forward with back to back promotions, QPR earned promotion after several seasons of Championship football, and Swansea had also seemed settled in the Championship since their promotion from League 1 in 2005.

Transfers are seen as the most important factor when a club wants to move up the ranks, so how have the Premier League's newest arrivals acted in this summer's market?

Norwich have been busiest in terms of bringing in new players, but only three of the seven have come from Premier League clubs, and two of those (De Laet-Manchester United, Naughton-Tottenham) are loanees. The other is the signing of James Vaughan from Everton for £2.5million. The remaining transfers are Pilkington (Huddersfield, £2milllion), Morrison (Millwall, £2.8million), Elliot Bennet (Brighton, undisclosed), and Johnson (Leeds, free). Manager Paul Lambert has also let go of Daley, Gill, Habergham, and Askou, receiving no transfer fee for any of them. 

Lambert has explained that he intended to bring in players who are hungry for success, and wanting to fight for a place in the team, regardless of which team and league they come from. This is understandable, but there is no use in a team of players who are barely established at Championship level when coming up against sides like Manchester City who have completely transformed in the last couple of years. For example, when captain Grant Holt plays his first match in the Premiership against Wigan on 13th August, he will have played in four divisions in as many seasons. It shall be interesting to see how Norwich fare for the entire season. 

QPR have not been as active, as they seem to have had complete focus on keeping star asset Adel Taarabt, which cannot have been easy with PSG lining up a big money move for the Moroccan. However, signings such as Danny Gabbidon, Jay Bothroyd and Kieron Dyer are sure to provide QPR with more balance and quality throughout the team. Pascal Chimbonda has also been released, and he is a player who has previous experience in the Premiership, but could barely force his way into the team last term. QPR have also not received any transfer fees for the players who have left, showing how room needs to be made at clubs that are intent in the transfer market.

Swansea have also only signed 3 players thus far; Danny Graham (Watford £3.5m), Steven Caulker (Tottenham, loan) and Jose Moreira (Benfica, undisclosed). These are no doubt quality signings, and I cannot wait to see how Swansea's passing method of play works out in the Premiership. One of the key players of last season, keeper Dorus de Vries, has been offloaded to Wolves for free, and he had proved to be an incredibly valuable part of the team, keeping a great number of clean sheets. Also, Darren Pratley (free) has moved on to sign for Bolton, proving there is already Premier League quality in the squad.

Teams in recent years have been promoted from the Championship, and cemented their place in the top tier, if only for a couple of seasons. Teams such as Wigan, who are contenders for the drop again this year, have now been in the Premiership since 2005. Other clubs such as Sunderland, and particularly Stoke, have also excelled in the Premier League. 

So the question is, can the new Premiership minnows survive, or will they make a swift return to the second division from whence they came?

Written by a DBS Football guess writer - Follow Him on Twitter @RealJoeFranklin

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Emmanuel Eboue to Leave? - Djourou Wants Reward

While Arsenal battle to keep hold of one of their vital play makers, Samir Nasri, another player, who can be considered a little less important in terms of Arsenal's future challenge for trophies, Emmanuel Eboue may be on his way out of the Emirates.

Newly promoted Queens Park Rangers manager, Neil Warnock is said to be interested in bringing the Ivorian to Loftus Road. The 28 year old's experience and versatility at the top level of English football could prove crucial in QPR's fight for survival next season, and Eboue, who has proved a useful squad member at Arsenal may be a player forced out of Arsenal as a result of Wenger's busy summer of transfers.

A sale would add to Arsenal's spending power in the market - not by much, but surely enough to add to the transfer kitty that Wenger has been so reluctant to use over the past few years. QPR would offer Eboue the chance to stay in London rather than relocate to a foreign country where he has been linked to Roma in Italy.

Eboue would add his athleticism, tireless attitude and versatility to QPR as well as his enthusiasm and comical personality - often seen as the joker of the Arsenal side off the pitch. On the pitch however, he can be equally as comical with sometimes unpredictable errors and mistakes which have often proven costly for Arsenal over the seven seasons he has been there.

Meanwhile, Johan Djourou, Arsenal's Swiss defender has tried to get his team mates and manager inspired and prepared for next season where he hopes to reward the patient Arsenal fans with success. On the back of the 2 - 2 draw with England he said:

"Obviously, now we want to do better as a team and as individuals to get something. I think that the fans deserve and the manager deserves something. We need to get better, get stronger, and really prepare well for next season."

When questioned about Arsenal's busy summer ahead, and what impact the possible new recruits may bring, Djourou was less certain but insisted that new players and competition for places is always good:

"I don't know - that's for the manager to answer. I think competition is always good. That pushes you in your position. When you want to make a team better, you have to have a good squad. I think that we had a good squad but if players with experience or different players can bring quality, they're welcome." 

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Adel Taarabt Would "be very happy" at Arsenal Interest

He may have been ineffective during his time at Tottenham, and unable to gain a regular first team place, but Adel Taarabt has become a major part of QPR's promotion push as they sit top of the Championship table, with the 21 year-old Moroccan wearing the captains armband.

He has been impressive for the Championship leaders, and has gained his admirers - namely, his manager, Neil Warnock, who believes that Taarabt is good enough to play for Real Madrid. The attacking midfielder, who is given licence to roam and really be a creative spark in the Rangers side, has scored 13 goals for his side, and is in top form. Form that is attracting the top sides, if reports are to believed.

When reading reports on the players performances, it is a running theme that the young midfielder can drift in and out of the game. Sometimes he can be world class, yet sometimes he can be completely out of the game. He does however, continue to create goals for his team mates as well as scoring goals, and is usually the biggest threat to the opposing defence in is team.

He is also a big admirer of Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. The QPR manager insisted that the player is going nowhere this January, but Taarabt has suggested that if Arsenal were to come calling, he would jump at the chance of joining a French legend, Arsene Wenger:

"I would progress with Arsene Wenger. He is a legend in France. I like the way Arsenal play. If Arsenal come, I'll be very happy."

The question is, would Taarabt be able to make it in the Premier League? He may be lighting up the Championship, but as he is all to aware from his time at Tottenham, the difference in quality between the Premier League and Championship is, a big leap. Taarabt would argue that he has improved significantly since 2007, and his time at QPR has taught him more about English football with a regular team place, but one thing that must improve, must be his consistency.
He may have the quality for it, but does he have the consistency for the Premier League? He is certainly an exciting prospect.