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Tuesday 3 August 2010

Premier League Transfer Update : Part 2 (Campbell, Bramble, Fletcher, Koscielny)

Sol Campbell (To Newcastle)

Good signing (I suppose). Sol Campbell was worryingly impressive for the most part during his return to Arsenal last season and his Premier League experience can only be a good thing for newly promoted Newcastle. The big centre-back is obviously only a short term measure and Newcastle will look to the likes of Steven Taylor or new signing James Perch to capably fill the position next to Fabricio Coloccini in the long term.

Titus Bramble (From Wigan to Sunderland, £1m)

Our views on Titus Shamble have been well documented but Steve Bruce is no mug and will know that Bramble is, at least, a good dressing room character. Bramble is highly unlikely to be a starter for Sunderland and for the price he isn't an awful back-up to the likes of Michael Turner and Anton Ferdinand.

Steven Fletcher (Burnley to Wolves, £6.5m)

£6.5m is a lot of money - especially for a club like Wolves - but Steven Fletcher has shown himself to be a capable striker with good pace, presence and an eye for goal. Fletcher bagged 12 goals in 38 games with little quality service in an unsuccessful relegation fight for Burnley last season prompting many clubs to come in for his signature. Wolves paid their joint highest ever fee (they previously paid £6.5m for Kevin Doyle) for the Scottish International who said recently of his new season's targets, "I don't want to put pressure on myself. If I beat last year's (goals) total it will be a good achievement." Wolves boss Mick McCarthy came under heavy criticism during last season for his persistence in playing one up top and despite vindicating himself by guiding the club to promotion, McCarthy has accepted the squad needs strengthening and will now hope for his potentially explosive strike pairing of Doyle and Fletcher to click in a bid to avoid the dreaded Second Season Syndrome.

Laurent Koscielny (Lorient to Arsenal, £10m)

What do William Gallas, Sol Campbell, Philippe Senderos and Mikael Silvestre have in common? They are all central defenders who were either released or out of contract at Arsenal this summer. The result? Arsene Wenger has taken a rare dip into that Arsenal wallet and splashed the cash on French centre back Laurent Koscielny. Wenger obviously has high hopes for the 24-year-old as Johan Djourou is the only other central defender in the squad. Arsene Wenger knows his French footballers and if Koscielny makes anywhere near the impact made by Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal fans will be rejoicing for years to come. It is still very possible however that Wenger will venture into the transfer market again this season.

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