This summer’s transfer window still has over a month to run, but already we’ve seen a host of exciting newcomers sign for Premier League clubs.


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As part of our build up to the 2016/17 campaign, Adrian Clarke runs the rule over what some of the new faces will offer in the coming months.

After looking at Southampton prospect Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Clarke turns his thoughts to a figure likely to be key to Pep Guardiola in the new campaign.

Ilkay Gundogan

Once he makes a full recovery from a dislocated kneecap, Ilkay Gundogan has the ability to transform the vibrancy of Manchester City’s midfield unit.

While there are understandable concerns over the ex-Borussia Dortmund star’s fitness – he has missed 36% of matches through injury over the course of the last seven-and-a-half seasons – rarely has the German struggled to deliver when he has taken to the field.

Both with and without the ball he consistently delivers high-end play.
His natural athleticism and drive are likely to create a spark that others will feed off, and this will be important to Pep Guardiola, who demands intensity for 90 minutes from his charges.

The 25-year-old is also a very competent footballer who loves to dictate the flow of matches – and City missed that kind of orchestrator last season.

In previous years Yaya Toure had been happy to take on that mantle, but the Ivorian endured a dip that meant his side lacked a dominant figure in the central heartland last season.


Gundogan is eager to receive possession, he passes excellently, and also has the tools to slice through opposition lines with the occasional driving run, in a way that is reminiscent of Toure at his best.

Pedestrian and predictable at times last term, Man City’s central midfield proved to be one of the side’s most obvious weak spots. Once their ebullient new German takes his place in the starting XI that will no longer be the case.

“I have my best years ahead of me and I think we can achieve great things together,” the central midfielder told mancity.com recently.