Once again, it is D-day. Nine days ago, it was deadline day. This weekend, it will be debut day for the last acquisitions in the Premier League’s £1.2 billion (Dh5.88bn) summer spending splurge. But buying or borrowing players is one thing, finding where to play them is another. So where will the newcomers fit in?
David Luiz (Chelsea)
Chelsea’s search for a centre-back took them back to where they began: David Luiz has returned to Stamford Bridge as an ebullient enigma. Antonio Conte has started the season pairing Gary Cahill and John Terry in the middle of the defence. The Italian prefers a high defensive line, which scarcely suits the slow captain. Luiz, 29, would be a quicker replacement. Another option for Conte, who fielded three centre-backs with both Juventus and Italy, would be to switch formation and accommodate all three. The manager has ruled out using Luiz’s formidable athleticism in midfield.
Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham’s joint record signing, the £30million man represents two players in one: an underachiever in Newcastle United’s relegation season and France’s finest footballer in the Euro 2016 final. It is not merely a question of which Sissoko turns up, but where Mauricio Pochettino fields him. With Mousa Dembele still suspended, his debut could come in the centre of midfield if Victor Wanyama is deemed too similar to Eric Dier. There is a theory he will be used as a more powerful alternative to Dele Alli as a No 10. In the short term, however, Eric Lamela’s long journey back from Venezuela, where he played for Argentina on Wednesday, could make him a doubt. Sissoko, 27, starred for France on the right. He may reprise that role.
Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth)
Bournemouth have been playing 4-2-3-1 and the hints are that Wilshere, 24, could be used as a No 10. If so, he would be a direct, if very different replacement, for the quicker Josh King, more of a forward. The two holding midfielders have been Andrew Surman and Harry Arter, two firm favourites of manager Eddie Howe.
One option would be to switch to 4-3-3 and create a triangle with Surman at the base and Wilshere and Arter either side.
Islam Slimani (Leicester City)
The Algerian scored 31 goals for Sporting Lisbon last season. At £29.8m and 28 years old, he is signed to make an immediate impact. The logical suggestion is that Slimani takes Shinji Okazaki’s place as Jamie Vardy’s sidekick and the striker who drops a little deeper. The Japanese forward is admired for his work rate but has only mustered five goals in 39 league games. Tellingly, he was omitted at Hull City on the opening day when Ahmed Musa started, but there is a theory the Nigerian is a duplicate of Vardy. Slimani is not.
Alvaro Arbeloa (West Ham United)
A straightforward one. While West Ham played three centre-backs at Manchester City 12 days ago, Slaven Bilic favours a back four. He has shown little confidence in right-back Sam Byram, with winger Michail Antonio often deployed out of position, sometimes with unfortunate consequences. While Arbeloa, 33, could compete with summer signing Arthur Masuaku to deputise for the injured Aaron Cresswell at left-back, the logical move is to bring him in on the right and push Antonio further forward.
Lucas Perez (Arsenal)
Not technically a deadline-day buy – the Spaniard’s £17m move from Deportivo la Coruna was sealed on August 30 – but he should be another debutant. While Perez, 27, can play on the wing, Arsenal have a surfeit of options on the flanks and he seems signed as a striker. Alexis Sanchez flourished as the lone front man in the last game at Watford but had seemed miscast before then. He should return to the left wing, leaving Arsene Wenger with a decision whether to pick the more physical Olivier Giroud, who was granted an extended break after Euro 2016, or the speedier Perez as the spearhead.
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