5 New Premiership Signings To Watch Out For

As the English Premiership season kicks off today (and has actually already started with Liverpool’s early kickoff against Sheffield United) I’m going to take a look at five of the new faces who could light up their new clubs’ Premiership season.

1. Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham Hotspur) – A big money move from Bayer Leverkusen sees the Bulgarian striker get his big chance at Spurs after turning down Manchester United to join Martin Jol’s White Hart Lane revolution. Strong and skilful on the ball, he has a deceptive turn of pace and will be ready to continue his fine preseason form with a few goals in the white of Spurs this year.

2. Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal) – The Czech Republic’s former great young hope hasn’t really lived up to expectations at Borussia Dortmund over the past few seasons and it’s no surprise that sometime-transfer miracle worker Arsene Wenger was the man who felt he could do a job in reinvigorating the playmaker’s career. A fantastic dead ball specialist coupled with a quick footballing brain and a wide range of passing, Rosicky could well provide the link between midfield and attack that Arsenal need after Robert Pires departure.

3. Andrew Johnson (Everton) – An England squad player over the past few seasons after his goal scoring exploits under Iain Dowie at Crystal Palace brought him to Sven Goran Eriksson’s attention, Johnson now has the chance to get an extended run in the Premiership at an Everton side desperate to make amends for last season’s underperformance. Strong around the box and able to earn his fair share of penalties, look for Johnson to make a good pairing with James Beattie at Goodison park.

4. Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) – While his move was completely overshadowed by the more press worthy transfers in of German captain Michael Ballack and Ukrainian superstar Andriy Shevchenko, don’t underestimate the Ivory Coast born striker if he gets his chance under Mourinho. 35 goals in 68 appearances at Feyenoord mean that he leaves Rotterdam with a fearsome reputation and he could be the surprise top signing of a Galactico summer for the Russians (I won’t call them Siberian Shysters for fear of a Ken Bates style court battle!)

5. Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) – Courted last season by both Spurs and Newcastle, Kuyt has landed at Anfield with a big reputation for scoring goals. Adding to an already strong Liverpool side, Kuyt offers a different kind of attacking option to either Peter Crouch, Robbie Folwer or fellow new boy Craig Bellamy and should relish the cut and thrust of the Premiership. Whether he turns out to be another Ruud Van Nistelrooy or a Mateja Kezman in the Premiership remains to be seen although with a scoring record in the Eredivisie like his I rather think it would be Ruud to assume anything other than success for the Dutchman.