Premier League clubs spent over £3bn on latest players last summer but Wayne Rooney believes a £17m acquisition has proved to be the ‘signing of the season’.
Top-flight clubs smashed the previous record for essentially the most spent in a single transfer window, with defending champions Liverpool the largest spenders.
Arne Slot welcomed over £400m on latest talent to Anfield however the arrivals haven’t had the specified effect, with Liverpool’s title defence already hanging by a thread.
Liverpool twice broke their very own transfer record, first signing Florian Wirtz for £116m after which buying Alexander Isak for £125m.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United also spent heavily over the summer, each laying out greater than £200m on transfers.
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For all that money splashed, Rooney has named Sunderland’s £17m signing Granit Xhaka because the ‘signing of the season’.
The Black Cats signed Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen after gaining promotion from the Championship via the play-offs.
Most pundits feared for Sunderland but Regis Le Bris’ side have exceeded expectations, losing just two of their first 11 games to sit down within the top-four going into the November international break.
Sunderland stunned Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the top of last month and have become just the third team to take points off Premier League leaders Arsenal on the weekend.
Ex-Gunners captain Xhaka has been integral to Sunderland’s successful return to the top-flight and Rooney heaped praise on the ‘unbelievable’ signing.
‘Granit Xhaka has been unbelievable,’ the Manchester United and England legend said on his BBC podcast. ‘He’s never been the quickest but he’s got that have to simply manage the sport.
‘When he had the situation at Arsenal when he fell out with the fans, I feel it showed his character to play for the club again and even captain the side.
‘To get through that and perform for Arsenal shows his mentality after which he went and won the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen.
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‘He’s shown what an excellent player he’s. You wondered if he could still do it within the Premier League, especially at a promoted team, but he’s probably been the signing of the season, he’s been that good.
‘It was a brave move to go to Sunderland despite them being a unbelievable football club. Everyone tipped them to be relegated so he deserves credit for being up for that fight.
‘The fans love him and they’re going to do along with his performances on the pitch. It’s that desire and work-rate and influence he’s having on the opposite players.
‘He’s been incredible, I didn’t think he’d have a season like he’s having to date. Sunderland have a really young squad so he’ll almost be a father figure to a few of the players and an enormous help to the coaches.
‘He probably is the very best signing of the summer, needless to say.’
Sunderland have taken 19 points from their first 11 Premier League games to sit down fourth within the table in the course of the November international break.
Just 26 points was enough to avoid relegation to the Championship last season. The Black Cats return to motion against Fulham.
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