The top ten best Premier League signings so far this summer - including Arsenal and Chelsea coups

The transfer window is very much open, and the wheeling and dealing is very much underway. For the past few weeks, Premier League clubs have been doing their utmost to improve their respective squads ahead of next season, and while some have had slower starts than others, there are those who have come roaring out of the blocks.

We’ve taken a look at 10 of the best deals that have already been completed this summer, from big money raids to savvy free transfers...

Youri Tielemans - Aston Villa

Even before Leicester City were relegated, there was widespread speculation over where Youri Tielemans would end up this summer. The Belgian’s contract at the King Power slowly eroded down into a nothingness, and his subsequent status as a free agent was always likely to attract attention. In the end, it was Villa who snapped him up, and you can’t help feeling that they have pulled off a real coup. Well-rounded and brimming with pedigree, Tielemans should be a fine addition to Unai Emery’s squad.

James Maddison - Tottenham Hotspur

Another Leicester alumni, another barrage of speculation on where his next destination would be. For the longest while, Newcastle United looked as if they would win the race for the England international, but in the end it was Tottenham who convinced him of their project, and the playmaker arrives in north London looking to properly establish himself as one of the Premier League’s elite creative presences. With Harry Kane in front of him and plenty of talent around him, he might do just that.

Alexis Mac Allister - Liverpool

Liverpool have made a habit of signing players from smaller Premier League clubs and elevating them to new heights in recent years. Exactly how much you can elevate a World Cup winner remains to be seen, but at the very least, it should make for an intriguing prospect. Mac Allister is an immense talent, and on paper, looks like exactly the kind of player that the Reds have been crying out for. This could be an inspired piece of business.

Christopher Nkunku - Chelsea

Chelsea’s recent transfer activity has given us plenty of reasons to be distrustful, but Nkunku really does feel like a smart signing. Versatile, ruthless, and wanted by just about every top club in Europe, the Frenchman has all of the attributes required to be a real hit in the Premier League, and if he can produce even a fraction of the form that he so regularly showed for RB Leipzig, his acquisition will be justified.

Justin Kluivert - Bournemouth

Son of Dutch legend Patrick, Kluivert is a tricky, pacy winger who can score goals and give full-backs nightmares. Capped by the Netherlands and boasting plenty of experience in continental competition and a smattering of Europe’s elite divisions, the £9.6 million that Bournemouth have reportedly paid AS Roma for his services could prove to be one of the bargains of the window.

Kai Havertz - Arsenal

There have been some doubts expressed over Arsenal’s decision to spend £65 million on a player who has never truly reached his full potential in the Premier League, but if the Gunners can get the best out of Havertz, he could prove to be an inspired signing. Another versatile talent with plenty of big game experience - it doesn’t get much bigger than scoring in a Champions League final, after all - the prospect of him linking up with Martin Odegaard while Declan Rice sweeps in behind is a hugely tantalising one.

James Milner - Brighton

By no means the flashiest name on this list, but arguably one of the more astute. Brighton are about to embark on their first ever European campaign, and who better to come into the dressing room at this crucial juncture than a player of Milner’s immense know-how? The fact that he joins on a free transfer makes it all the more impressive too.

Mateo Kovacic - Manchester City

Losing Ilkay Gundogan could have been a hammer blow for Manchester City, and it might still prove to be, but the swiftness with which they swooped to bring in Kovacic suggests that Pep Guardiola has had his eye on the Croatian for some time, and that he is certain of what he can bring to the treble winners’ midfield. Expect this to be revered as a stroke of genius in several end of season reviews.

Jefferson Lerma - Crystal Palace

Again, maybe not the most eye-catching deal, but one that could be very, very smart. Lerma has done well with Bournemouth, and Palace nabbing him on a free transfer should prove to be a canny bit of a business. His presence in the midfield will bring energy and grit, and he has the feel of a player who could really thrive at Selhurst Park.

Dara O’Shea - Burnley

If there’s one thing Vincent Kompany knows when he sees it, it’s a decent defender. Dara O’Shea has impressed with West Brom in recent times, and at 24, is only just entering the prime of his career. The Clarets have acted quickly to take him to Turf Moor in a £7 million deal, and if he lives up to the potential that they clearly see in him, he could be worth an awful lot more than that in the very near future.