‘Great business’ – Rio Ferdinand names Arsenal star as ‘signing of the summer | Football

Rio Ferdinand believes that Arsenal have made the ‘signing of the summer’ with their £34million deal for Christos Tzolis.

Having won their first Premier League title in 22 years, the Gunners did not rest on their laurels over the summer transfer window, spending almost £200m on five new signings.

Piero Hincapie’s move from Bayer Leverkusen was made permanent, with Ezri Konsa arriving from Aston Villa to add more depth across the defensive line.

Illan Meslier arrived as a third-choice goalkeeper from Leeds United, while Mikel Arteta’s side spent £75m on their marquee summer signing: Newcaste United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

While Arsenal failed in their pursuit of Vinicius Jnior on the left wing, the Gunners did sign Tzolis from Club Brugge to replace the outgoing Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

The Greek winger enjoyed an impressive league debut against Coventry City, and former Manchester United defender Ferdinand believes the 24-year-old could prove one of the best deals of the summer.

‘Who is the best signing of the transfer window? From what I’ve seen so far, I’m going to go for Tzolis,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘For the price you got him for, £35m, from what I’ve seen, jinky little winger, great vision, making good decisions in the final third.

‘I think, great bit of business done by the recruitment team at Arsenal.

‘I’m going to go early, I’m going to say he’s going to be my signing of the season, as in terms of value, and in terms of what he does.’

On the rest of Arsenal’s transfer window, Ferdinand said: ‘They’ve spent big and I think they’ve spent brilliantly well.

‘I think they’ve strengthened, they’ve looked stronger, they’ve bought more physicality, and a little bit of guile with Tzolis coming in the winger, who’s already looked really, really sharp and really bright, and looks a great sign at the price that he came in, which is a snip in today’s market.

‘You’ve got Ezri Konza, top player, top centre-half, reliable, will play many games and will never let him down.

‘And Bruno Guimaraes is a fantastic midfielder, who I think is a great signing for them, in terms of the mix that they needed, the type of player they needed, I think Bruno is a perfect signing for them.

Arsenal incoming and outgoings

INCOMINGS

• Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle) – £75m
• Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa) – £51m
• Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen) – £35m
• Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge) – £34m
• Illan Meslier (Leeds) – free transfer

OUTGOINGS

• Gabriel Martinelli (Al-Hilal) – £56m
• Leandro Trossard (Besiktas) – £17m
• Jakub Kiwior (Porto) – £14.8m
• Gabriel Jesus (Barcelona) – £8.6m
• Fabio Vieira (Hamburg) – £8.6m
• Christian Norgaard (Everton) – £7m

‘Yes, 75 million, there’s not going to be much sell-on value, but I think for the next three to four years, he will be an immense signing for Arsenal, and just gives them that extra bit of depth in there as well in that midfield.’

Ferdinand continued: ‘They didn’t have to go crazy in terms of loads and loads of players, but I think they’ve been really efficient in the way that they’ve gone and bought players in this window.

‘There’s been a few players go out, obviously Martinelli’s gone, Jesus has just gone as well, among a couple of others, but I think in all in all, they’ve had a fantastic window, and I think Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal team will be very quietly pleased with the business that they’ve done.

‘And Tzolis going to be a winger we’re going to have to watch out for this year, I think he’s going to do some good stuff, and I think he’s going to look like a snip, and could end up being one of the bargains of the season.’

Arsenal have made a perfect start to their league title defence but face ther sternest test on Sunday at home to Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea.

The Blues also spent lavishly this summer and have beaten Fulham and Brighton in their first two league matches of the season.

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