This week in transfers: Hojbjerg, Ibe, Janssen, Pelle, Skrtel, Tore and more
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | July 15, 2016
Janssen earns his Spurs switch
Netherlands striker Vincent Janssen completed his widely anticipated £17m transfer from Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar to Coral’s 7/1 Premier League title hopefuls Tottenham this week.
Transfer complete: Vincent Janssen signs. Full story here – https://t.co/raDxvj1Lw4 pic.twitter.com/wcpzvVmBou
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 12, 2016
Scoring on his full international debut against England back in March, 22-year-old Janssen has struck three times in five senior Clockwork Orange caps. He was also the Eredivisie’s leading marksman with 27 goals last term and signed a four-year contract at White Hart Lane.
While Janssen is set to provide competition and much-needed support for Spurs striker Harry Kane, not all Dutch forwards have fared so well when stepping up to Premier League level.
Hojbjerg in, Pelle out at Saints
There’s been comings and goings at Southampton, meanwhile, with Italy frontman Graziano Pelle making a lucrative £12m move to the Chinese Super League.
#SaintsFC is delighted to announce it has signed Pierre-Emile Højbjerg from @FCBayern on a five-year contract: https://t.co/flXl8R42KS
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 11, 2016
Saints fans may be smarting at the loss of their star striker, but they have been placated by the reported £12.8m capture of Bayern Munich and Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on a five-year contract.
Many other players from Scandinavia have turned out at St Mary’s before, so there are plenty of examples for 20-year-old talent Hojbjerg to draw from on the south coast.
Fletcher and Tore taken to Hammers
West Ham United, 7/1 to make a top four Premier League finish, have added two attackers to their ranks with the loan arrival of Gokhan Tore from Besiktas and free transfer of former Manchester United youngster Ashley Fletcher on a four-yer deal.
#WelcomeTore to our club and follow him @Gokhan_Tore7 pic.twitter.com/1Ltjmi8wPa
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) July 11, 2016
Turkey winger Tore, 24, spent time in Chelsea’s academy and has since played senior football in the Bundesliga (Hamburg), Russian Premier League (Rubin Kazan) and the Turkish Super Lig.
It was with Besiktas where he played under Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, and Tore’s season-long loan to the Olympic Stadium is one made with a view to a permanent transfer.
Keighley-born forward Fletcher, meanwhile, was at both Bolton Wanderers and Old Trafford during his youth career, and caught the eye at Barnsley last term where the 20-year-old scored nine goals in 27 outings for the League One play-off winners.
Will West Ham’s attacking additions, including Algeria international Sofiane Feghouli, fire them into contention for a Champions League place?
Ibe and Skrtel head quartet of Liverpool leavers
Winger Jordan Ibe has signed for Bournemouth on a four-year contract for a club-record £15m, as Eddie Howe continues to bring homegrown youth to the Cherries. He follows talented Leeds United midfield youngster Lewis Cook to Dean Court.
BREAKING: #afcb complete the signing of Jordon Ibe from #lfc! More: https://t.co/ZMf9T3U3r3 pic.twitter.com/1ZDNKnL4td
— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) July 14, 2016
Ibe, 20, is joined in leaving 13/8 Premier League top four finish chances Liverpool by former vice-captain Martin Skrtel, who has completed a reported £5m move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Slovakia centre back Skrtel, 31, skippered his country in all four games they played at Euro 2016, where they were eliminated by Germany in the first knockout round.
In other Reds news, Spain Under-19 international winger Sergi Canos has signed for relegated Norwich City on a permanent four-year deal, having spent last term with Brentford. The Canaries have paid Liverpool a reported £2.5m up front, but the fee could rise to £4.5m through add-ons and bonuses.
Jurgen Klopp has also loaned Wales understudy goalkeeper Danny Ward to Championship club Huddersfield Town for the season, despite the player penning a five-year contract extension at Anfield. The Terriers are managed by the German gaffer’s former Borussia Dortmund coaching colleague David Wagner.
Digne deal follows Umtiti arrival at Nou Camp
Bienvenue @LucasDigne
Welcome to @FCBarcelona! #DigneFCB pic.twitter.com/7cprKuMYw1— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 13, 2016
Away from the Premier League, Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona made their second signing from French football this summer by purchasing PSG-owned left back Lucas Digne in a £13.9m five-year deal.
Acting as Les Bleus’ reserve in his position behind veteran Patrice Evra at Euro 2016, Digne follows fellow defender Samuel Umtiti to Catalonia from across the border.
Set to provide cover for Spain counterpart Jordi Alba, Digne spent last season on loan at Serie A side Roma. Read how have Barca benefited from an international footballing summer that has proved to be a watershed for new and existing Nou Camp talent.
Related
You’ll find more transfer round-ups and Premier League features during pre-season on Coral’s dedicated page.
