The new 2018-19 English Premier League season is rapidly approaching - the long-awaited competition will start on August 10th. This summer was a bit unusual for English clubs - officially the transfer window opened on May 17th and will close on August 9th. Clubs have already made significant changes to their squads, but until the last minute we can expect some surprises. The portal "EuroFootball.com" decided to take a look at all the Premier League newcomers and selected five players who could be pleasant surprises in the upcoming season. The list does not include famous names like Jorginho, Fabinho, Alisson, and other well-known players who joined the big clubs for impressive sums, so only the best performance is expected from them.
Jean Michael Seri (From Nice to Fulham) - The return of Fulham to the Premier League impressed many football fans this summer with their excellent work in the transfer market. A real surprise was when the London team announced the acquisition of 27-year-old midfielder Jean Michael Seri from Nice. The Ivorian player surprised many with this choice, as he was recently linked with clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. This summer he was also considered as a potential newcomer to London's Arsenal, but Fulham won the race. Fulham paid €30 million for this experienced player who signed a four-year contract on July 12th. Before coming to Europe, J. Seri played for the Ivory Coast team and later joined Porto and then Pacos de Ferreira. After two successful seasons, he received an offer to move to Nice, where he played until this summer. J. Seri's time at Nice was very successful - he became a key player in the starting lineup and appeared 123 times overall. The talented midfielder with excellent ball control and good vision has attracted interest from top clubs around the world. The Fulham coaching staff will try to use his full potential, which, when integrated into the right system, could make him a key player for the team.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (From AZ to Brighton) - This player made a strong impression during the World Cup, where he represented the Iranian national team in all three group stage matches. The 24-year-old impressed in the Eredivisie, where he became the top scorer with 21 goals last season. He has gained attention for his ability to control the ball and his scoring prowess. Brighton faced stiff competition to secure his signing, but they eventually announced the acquisition on July 25th. Although the transfer fee was not officially disclosed, it is estimated that Brighton paid around €20 million to AZ Alkmaar for the player. Jahanbakhsh signed a five-year contract with the club. The Iranian international player arrived in Europe in 2013 and previously played for various teams in Norway before joining AZ.
Lucas Torreira (From Sampdoria to Arsenal) - The Uruguayan defensive midfielder joined Arsenal this summer after the departure of Arsene Wenger and the arrival of Unai Emery as the new manager. Torreira's signing for Arsenal was in the works for a while, and he finally signed a five-year contract with the club after the World Cup. Arsenal did not hesitate to pay €30 million for the 22-year-old's signature. Torreira began his career in Europe in 2013 and rose through the ranks to join Sampdoria in Serie A. He played crucial roles for both his country in the World Cup and Sampdoria in Serie A. Given his talent and hard work, Torreira is expected to compete for a starting position under Emery's management.
Diogo Dalot (From Porto to Man Utd) - The 19-year-old full-back surprised many this summer by joining Manchester United. Jose Mourinho sought reinforcement in the full-back position and chose the young Portuguese player for his potential. Dalot's acquisition was meant to provide competition for Antonio Valencia, who faced criticism for his performances last season. The versatile defender signed a five-year contract with the club and arrived in June for a fee of €22 million. Dalot debuted for Porto in 2017 and quickly caught Mourinho's attention with his performance against Liverpool in the Champions League. Mourinho confirmed that both Valencia and Dalot will miss the start of the season due to injuries, but Dalot is expected to have opportunities to showcase his skills on the field.
Mohamed Elyounoussi (From Basel to Southampton) - The Moroccan-born Norwegian international has joined Southampton this summer for a fee of €18 million. The 23-year-old is known for his versatility in attacking roles and his impressive performances in the Swiss league. Elyounoussi arrived in Switzerland in 2016 and quickly became a key player for Basel. Last season, he scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists in 44 games, showcasing his talents in various attacking positions. Southampton likely acquired him as a successor to Dusan Tadic, who left for Ajax, and they were attracted by his flexibility on the field. With the club's reputation for developing young talents, Elyounoussi could attract attention from bigger Premier League clubs if he has a successful season.
Other notable names worth mentioning: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City), Florin Andone (Brighton), Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal), Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham), Diego Rico (Bournemouth), Fabian Schar (Newcastle), Felipe Anderson (West Ham).
Aivaras Katutis, eurofootball.lt
