With all the end of financial year sales over, we now look at the best bargain buys in the EPL transfer window so far in the Goal Keeper category. We are not including players who’s transfer fees are undisclosed and or are on loan!
To determine the best value players the following will be taken into account:
- Age
- Experience
- Form
- Transfer fee
- New team’s need for the player
Goal Keeper Transfer Rankings
1. Artur Boruc, from Southampton to Bournemouth, free
Age: 35
Experience: Champions League (36 apps) Poland (60 apps) Celtic (221 apps) Fiorentina (64 apps) Southampton (50 apps)
Appearances last season: Bournemouth (loan: 37 apps)
Bournemouth’s needs: With the second best defensive record in the Championship last year, Boruc has proved his value last season and was rewarded with a permanent contract this year. His experience and leadership between the posts will play a huge role whether Bournemouth will survive the EPL next season.
2. Petr Cech, from Chelsea to Arsenal, $20m
Age: 33
Experience: UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Golden Player: 2002
Best Goalkeeper of French League: 2003–04
UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament
Premier League Golden Glove (3): 2004–05, 2009–10, 2013–14.
PFA Team of the Year (2): 2004–05, 2013–14
Czech Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2008, 2009,[105] 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Golden Ball (Czech Republic): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper: 2005
UEFA Club Football Awards Best Goalkeeper: 2005, 2007, 2008
FA Premier League Player of the Month: March 2007
Chelsea Player of the Year: 2011
Appearances last season: Chelsea (16 apps)
Arsenal’s needs: Cech is clearly a better keeper than Boruc, but the Boruc transfer carries more value for Bournemouth than the Cech transfer does for Arsenal. Arsenal already has a well established Keeper in Szczęsny who is one of the best in the world and second keeper Ospina only 26 has 57 appearances for Colombia’s national team. This transfer may disrupt the balance of the playing group especially in the goal keeping ranks. However, Cech has the potential help Arsenal to more silver wear with his great positioning and command of the defense.
Adam Bogdan, from Bolton to Liverpool, free
Age: 27
Experience: Bolton Wanderers (104 apps) Hungary (19 apps)
Appearances last season: Bolton Wanderers (13 apps)
Liverpool’s needs: After releasing Australian Keeper Brad Jones Liverpool only had one Keeper in the first team until the signing of Bogdan. Bogdan is a fairly experienced Keeper, but his chances for playing first team football will be fairly limited. It is suspected that Liverpool will sign another keeper this transfer window who will put more pressure on Mignolet to perform.
Adam Federici, from Reading to Bournemouth, free
Age: 30
Experience: Reading (209 apps) Australia (10 apps)
Appearances last season: Reading (championship 42 apps)
Bournemouth’s needs: With their two keepers from last season only one keep has experience in the EPL with 3 appearances. Thus Adam’s added experience of 23 English Premier League (EPL) appearances helps create healthy competition with new permanent recruit Artur Boruc for first choice keeper.
